Dr Ellie Cosgrave joins Publica as Director of Community Interest Company and Research
Dr Ellie Cosgrave will lead Publica's not-for-profit arm and its research team
Cosgrave's appointment reinforces Publica’s commitment to addressing the gaps in urban planning and design
Publica is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Ellie Cosgrave as Director of its not-for-profit arm and of its research team.
Cosgrave joins Publica from UCL, where she is an Associate Professor in Urban Innovation and co-director of the university's Urban Laboratory, the world-leading cross-disciplinary centre promoting critical, creative, and collaborative inquiry into urgent urban problems.
She is a leading voice on inclusive and just urban development, and her arrival reinforces Publica's commitment to addressing the gaps in urban planning and design at a time of social and environmental crisis, by continuing to work with policy makers, and collaborating on in-depth applied urban research.
"I'm delighted to be joining Publica’s dynamic and inspiring team at such an exciting moment for the business," says Cosgrave. "Whilst cities are being confronted with deeply complex and pressing challenges, I believe it is the energy, optimism, creativity and intellectual clout of companies like Publica that will catalyse the meaningful change we need."
Cosgrave has worked with a variety of organisations, such as the C40 Cities Women4Climate research programme, Nesta, Greater London Authority, and UN Women, and Connected Places Catapult, setting policy and conducting research on issues related to just climate transitions, safer cities for women and girls, and radical, innovative approaches to urban policy. She regularly contributes to leading academic journals, including Nature and Nature Sustainability, particularly on the intersection between climate change and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, with a particular focus on gender and cities.
She is an experienced broadcaster and co-presents the BBC World Service programme My Perfect City, which scours the world looking for the most innovative and exciting urban policies. Cosgrave was named by the Women’s Engineering Society as the 'top 50 women in sustainability' and was also counted amongst the BBC's Top 50 women.
She is a respected women’s rights campaigner and Chair of the My Body Back Project, which provides healthcare services tailored to women who have experienced sexual violence, and is often asked to speak on the topic of gender and urbanism to journalists, built environment organisations, local authorities, and transport agencies globally who are looking to take action on women’s safe access to the city.
Cosgrave joins Publica as a full-time member of the team. She will also remain an Associate Professor of Urban Innovation and co-director of UCL's Urban Laboratory, further strengthening the practice's academic collaborations.
"Publica is proud to have been setting policy for the Mayor of London and a number of Local Authorities for 11 years. We are also very proud of our Community Interest Company which has supported a wide range of community organisations. Ellie's appointment will allow Publica to continue to expand the influence of our research-led practice and to actively address an international programme of radical urban change that puts innovation, equity and long-term thinking at the centre of our work," says Publica founder, Lucy Musgrave.
News ⋅ September 2021
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Dr Ellie Cosgrave joins Publica as Director of Community Interest Company and Research
Dr Ellie Cosgrave will lead Publica's not-for-profit arm and its research team
Cosgrave's appointment reinforces Publica’s commitment to addressing the gaps in urban planning and design
Publica is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Ellie Cosgrave as Director of its not-for-profit arm and of its research team.
Cosgrave joins Publica from UCL, where she is an Associate Professor in Urban Innovation and co-director of the university's Urban Laboratory, the world-leading cross-disciplinary centre promoting critical, creative, and collaborative inquiry into urgent urban problems.
She is a leading voice on inclusive and just urban development, and her arrival reinforces Publica's commitment to addressing the gaps in urban planning and design at a time of social and environmental crisis, by continuing to work with policy makers, and collaborating on in-depth applied urban research.
"I'm delighted to be joining Publica’s dynamic and inspiring team at such an exciting moment for the business," says Cosgrave. "Whilst cities are being confronted with deeply complex and pressing challenges, I believe it is the energy, optimism, creativity and intellectual clout of companies like Publica that will catalyse the meaningful change we need."
Cosgrave has worked with a variety of organisations, such as the C40 Cities Women4Climate research programme, Nesta, Greater London Authority, and UN Women, and Connected Places Catapult, setting policy and conducting research on issues related to just climate transitions, safer cities for women and girls, and radical, innovative approaches to urban policy. She regularly contributes to leading academic journals, including Nature and Nature Sustainability, particularly on the intersection between climate change and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, with a particular focus on gender and cities.
She is an experienced broadcaster and co-presents the BBC World Service programme My Perfect City, which scours the world looking for the most innovative and exciting urban policies. Cosgrave was named by the Women’s Engineering Society as the 'top 50 women in sustainability' and was also counted amongst the BBC's Top 50 women.
She is a respected women’s rights campaigner and Chair of the My Body Back Project, which provides healthcare services tailored to women who have experienced sexual violence, and is often asked to speak on the topic of gender and urbanism to journalists, built environment organisations, local authorities, and transport agencies globally who are looking to take action on women’s safe access to the city.
Cosgrave joins Publica as a full-time member of the team. She will also remain an Associate Professor of Urban Innovation and co-director of UCL's Urban Laboratory, further strengthening the practice's academic collaborations.
"Publica is proud to have been setting policy for the Mayor of London and a number of Local Authorities for 11 years. We are also very proud of our Community Interest Company which has supported a wide range of community organisations. Ellie's appointment will allow Publica to continue to expand the influence of our research-led practice and to actively address an international programme of radical urban change that puts innovation, equity and long-term thinking at the centre of our work," says Publica founder, Lucy Musgrave.
News ⋅ September 2021
See more