Architect, Urban Innovator, Civic Activist, Founder & CEO at Ciudad Emergente, MSc City Design & Social Sciences LSE, living in Santiago de Chile.

Visionary leader in social innovation and urban planning, with a solid track record in the development and execution of high-impact projects in Latin America. Founder and Executive Director of Ciudad Emergente, a pioneering organization in the promotion of citizen participation, tactical urbanism and urban sustainability. Co-founder of Plataforma Urbana, Plataforma Arquitectura / ArchDaily, main sites for the dissemination of urban planning and architecture at a global level. Proven experience in the co-creation of innovative solutions awarded with the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honor, the most prestigious recognition given by the United Nations to projects that promote sustainable urbanization in the world.

javier@ciudademergente.org
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 International Work Experience

International Education

MSc City Design & Social Sciences

London School of Economics & Political Sciences, 2009.

Architect

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Maximum Distinction, 2006.

Harvard Executive Education

Certificate Diploma Negotiating Across Differences. Harvard Kennedy School. Luksic Scholars. Jan 2024 - Mar 2024

Local Democracy Academy Certificate

"Transformative local governments: bringing people and politics together. Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy - ICLD. Sweden. 2022.

GPRO Certificate

Green Professional Building Skills Training. Fundamentals of Building Green. U.S. Green Building Council. New York Chapter. USA. 2010.

Articles & Publications

Honours

Recognitions, Leadership & Scholarships

  • UN-Habitat, Scroll of Honor Award. “Shared Streets for low carbon cities” (2021).

  • UNDESA. Incorporation of CEM Social Cohesion Initiatives into the Catalog of Good Practices of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (2021).

  • First place National Competition for Good Neighborhood Practices of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning: “Malón Urbano” (2013). 

  • First place Best Citizen Practice Contest: “Malón Urbano”. Santiago 2041 Forum, Chile (2014). 

  • Finalist for the National Innovation Award of Chile (AVONNI) 2014, 2015 and 2016. 

  • World Best Blog in Spanish Language for Plataforma Urbana.cl. Atina Chile (2006).

  • Mention Award. Plaza Rental, Caracas International Competition. Venezuela (2004).

  • Member of Advisory Board for “Congreso de Ciudades”. Chilean National Congress, CAF & Polistica (2023).

  • Member of the Jury of the 4th WeGo Awards Contest, World Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGo) as an expert in Smart Cities and Sustainable Development, organized by World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization, Seoul. Korea (2020).

  • Member of the Advisory Council of Mobility Experts for the Metropolitan Regional Government of Santiago (2021-present). 

  • President of the Civil Society Council (COSOC) of the Santiago Metropolitan Park. MINVU. (2019 - 2022). 

  • President of the Republic Scholarship. Former Ministry of Planning MIDEPLAN (2008).

  • Selected among the 100 Young Leaders of Chile by El Sábado Magazine of El Mercurio and the Strategic Leadership Center of the Adolfo Ibáñez University (2006).

Selected Speeches, Talks and Lectures

  • Lecture Columbia GSAPP Urban Design Through Prototyping in Latin America: Civic Innovation, Tactics, and Strategies (2021).

  • Sustainable and Participatory Cities: Congreso Jóvenes Futuro. Chilean National Congress. Santiago, Chile (2023).

  • Greener Urban Futures Dialogue. World Urban Forum 11. Katowice, Poland (2022).

  • World Habitat Day 2021. (UN-Habitat). Yaounde, Cameroon (2021).

  • International Mayors Forum. Lilongwe, Malawi. (UNOSD) United Nations Office for Sustainable Development (2019).

  • TED x UDD: Thinking about a New Future: Marisol García/ Javier Vergara (2013).