
UrbanByNature brings together a diverse team of experts combining in-house technical knowledge and external strategic guidance. The initiative is supported by ICLEI’s dedicated team on nature-based solutions and biodiversity, which provides scientific expertise, policy insight, and practical experience from cities worldwide. This work is complemented by an advisory board composed of representatives from external organisations, offering multidisciplinary perspectives, strategic advice, and strong links to global networks.
ICLEI Team

Paola Lepori
Advocacy / Capacity- Building

Shreya Utkarsh
Climate-Environmental Quality-Health Nexus

Kassia Rudd
Communication, Dissemination & Awareness Raising

Anna Bruen
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services & Restoration

Priscila Franco Steier
Green Infrastructure / Blue Infrastructure
Advisory board

Monika Nemeth
BURST: 'Bright URban Solutions Team'
Mónika Németh is Managing Director of Bright Urban Solutions Team (BURST) and coordinator of the Hungarian NetworkNature NbS Hub, TeAM HUb. She is an economist and holds an MA in International Relations / European Studies. She has over 15 years of experience in EU regional and cohesion policy and has worked at both programme and project levels to support sustainable development. Her expertise lies in facilitating cooperation across scales, translating EU and national priorities to the local level, and helping stakeholders turn challenges into concrete actions through effective partnerships.

Ainhoa Gaudes Saez
LEITAT TECHNOLOGICAL CENTER
Ainhoa Gaudes Saez has a degree in Biology and a PhD in Ecology from the University of Barcelona. She worked for 5 years in a small laboratory specialized in water, as responsible for microbiology and process improvement in industrial WWTPs through concept tests (using respirometry and batch experiments). Afterwards, she has continued her career as a Project manager in different private and public entities, while at the same time she has been collaborating with the UB in small local water treatment projects. She is currently working as a principal investigator at LEITAT, in the Circular Economy department. Her mission is to develop and coordinate projects related to Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) and Ecosystem resilience in the Environmental Technologies group.

Javier Pérez
AITIIP TECHNOLOGY CENTRE Javier Pérez Jiménez holds an Environmental Sciences degree and a master’s degree in Land and Environmental Management, both by the University of Zaragoza. Currently working on EU research and development projects management, his previous experience is focused on international product standards and certification, and testing lab accreditation. He has also worked on quality and environmental management systems implementation and maintenance.

The UrbanByNature programme is funded by the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme of the European Union under Grant Agreements No. 730222 and No. 776604. It has received funding for an update by the Horizon Europe Programme under the Grant Agreement No 101003818. The sole responsibility for the content of this website lies within UrbanByNature and in no way reflects the views of the European Union.

