About

Gabriela is a senior urban designer and planner with a multidimensional perspective on urban projects, honed through extensive experience in the public sector, private industry, and nonprofit organizations. She holds a bachelor's degree in Architecture and Urban Planning from the Universidade de São Paulo (FAU-USP, 2009), a master's degree in Urban Design from Columbia University (GSAPP, 2011), and is currently a doctoral student at UIC Barcelona. With over fifteen years of international experience, Gabriela has led and collaborated on a diverse range of projects, from small community-based public space interventions to large-scale citywide redevelopment plans, guidelines, and policies.

She has worked with prominent international design firms such as AECOM, as well as local offices in Brazil. In the public sector, Gabriela contributed to major urban plans at São Paulo Urbanismo, coordinated social housing feasibility studies at São Paulo’s Metropolitan Housing Company (Cohab-SP), and spent a year with the NYC Department of City Planning. During her time in New York, she also served as a Teaching Associate for the master's program at Columbia University, coordinating design studios in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, where students and faculty collaborated with local authorities on ongoing urban projects.

In 2014, inspired by her international experience, Gabriela founded Cidade Ativa, a Brazilian think-and-do tank focused on promoting livable cities through urban design. As the organization's director, she has played a pivotal role in shaping its vision and strategies, coordinating research efforts and projects, and managing its overall portfolio. Her leadership has fostered strong relationships with a wide array of partners, furthering Cidade Ativa's mission to create healthy and sustainable urban environments.