People for Cities

Cristina Hernandez Santin Cristina is a biologist who recently completed a Master of Environment. Her research with the UN Global Compact Cities – Programme was part of an RMIT University research project called Biodiversity Sensitive Urban Design (BSUD). The BSUD project aimed to alleviate human impact caused by urban development and sprawl. Cristina’s research analysed...

Cynthia Lam Cynthia Lam undertook a research-focused internship with the Global Compact Cities Programme in late 2011/early 2012, where she explored sustainability initiatives in Melbourne local government. Her research internship led her to undertake a minor thesis as part of her Masters degree. Her thesis explores the theory of ecological modernisation and argues its theoretical...

Daniella Davi Daniella Davi recently completed a Masters in Urban Planning at the University of Amsterdam. She is from New York in the USA but is currently residing in Amsterdam. Her internship is based at the City of Amsterdam, where she is leading the process of the local government undertaking a Global Compact City Scan...

David Teller Born in Italy, raised in the US and France and educated in China and Australia, David Teller’s multidisciplinary career has seen him hold senior management positions in both the private and not-for-profit sectors. Tertiary qualified in Asian studies, Chinese language, economics, marketing and cross-sectoral partnerships, David was the inaugural international Director of the...

Dean Amhaus Dean Amhaus has served as the first President and CEO of The Water Council since March 2010. The Council was formed with the purpose of growing the Milwaukee region into a world hub for water research, education and economic development. The only organisation of its kind in the United States, the Water Council...

Dennis Obel Dennis Obel is an international development professional. His most recent role was in Timor Leste as a Technical Adviser with a HIV/AIDS program. Dennis has a Master of Project Management from the University of Southern Queensland and a Bachelor Arts from the University of Makere, Uganda. Dennis completed his internship with the Global...

Diego Velasco von Pilgrimm After a 35-year long career as a diplomat with the Foreign Service of Chile, Diego Velasco von Pilgrimm is now the Deputy Director for the Asia Pacific Region at the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has been working in foreign service since graduating from the Academia Diplomática Andres Bello, one...

Dr Andy Scerri Dr Andy Scerri is a Lecturer at the Department of Political Science at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in the USA. His long-standing association with the Global Compact Cities Programme began with his role as a Research Fellow at the Global Cities Research Institute at RMIT University, where he worked...

Dr Elizabeth Kath Dr Elizabeth Kath is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at RMIT University. Her research interests include Latin American and Caribbean society, politics and culture (esp. Cuba and Brazil), public heath (esp. maternal-infant health), informal and second economies. In 2010 Elizabeth published a book, Social Relations and the Cuban Health Miracle, based on her...

Dr Fiona Macdonald Dr Fiona Macdonald is a Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow with the School of Management and the Centre for Sustainable Organisations and work at RMIT University. Fiona has many years’ experience of practical policy-focussed research related to work, employment, training and skills, including policy and program evaluation and development. Fiona’s current research focus...