WPC60-NCC Conference Team
Track 1
Ari Krisna Mawira Tarigan
Ari Krisna Mawira Tarigan is native Indonesian. He currently serves as an Associate Professor in city and regional planning at the University of Stavanger, Norway. He teaches courses for bachelor, master and doctoral programs. He is a former study program coordinator for bachelor, master, and doctoral programs in city and regional planning at University of Stavanger. He is acting as a main supervisor for three doctoral students and co-supervisor for one doctoral student at University of Stavanger.
His research interests include road safety, traffic engineering, travel behaviour, transportation planning, urban infrastructure planning, and nature-based solutions. He obtained a doctoral degree in Engineering from Kyoto University, Japan, where he focused on Transportation Planning. He also completed a Master of Science program at IHE Delft in the Netherlands, specializing in Municipal Water Infrastructure. He is part of the project consortiums of several EU and Norwegian projects. Ari publishes research articles in recognised journals.
Mark Roeland De Castro
Mark is a licensed Architect and Environmental Planner with over 20 years of experience and a holder of Masters Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of the Philippines. He is the former Global President, current global board member and leader of the Austronesia Chapter of the International Metropolitan Fellowship (IMF), a network of more than 250 metropolitan planners and professionals in various continents with the mission to pioneer, advocate and spread the metropolitan discipline. He developed and spearheaded the MetroHackathon and Metro X in Metro Cebu and other metros. He was part of the metropolitan planning of Bhubaneswar in India. His planning firm, EnPraxis, was a finalist in the masterplanning competition for Clark Green City (now called New Clark City). He has worked with UN Habitat under the Global Future Cities Programme (GFCP) that initiated the following interventions for New Clark City, Philippines: Mixed Income Housing, design of the country’s largest Central Park and the first government-initiated Sustainability Unit. He is a Certified BERDE (Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence) Buildings and District Professional under the Philippine Green Building Council (PGBC). He is currently a consultant of the country’s top developer, AyalaLand, in developing sustainable master planned estates.
Track 2
Felicisimo A. Tejuco, JR
Felicisimo A. Tejuco, JR. is a licensed architect, environmental planner, and real estate broker and holds a Master’s degree in Architecture. Presently, he is pursuing his doctorate studies in the University of the Philippines. He has been in professional practice for two decades, which include consultancy works of government projects on tourism and urban planning. His interests include tourism, heritage, and Second World War Studies.
As mentor and researcher, he has been in the academe for 13 years. He has presented and published papers on tourism and heritage during the 2019 Manila Studies Conference, the 27th Union Internationale des Architectes Congress of Architects (online / Brazil), and the 57th ISOCARP World Planning Congress (Doha, Qatar).
As member of the Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners (PIEP) and the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), he has served both organizations in various capacities as national officer and convention organizer. Aside from being a Lifetime Member of ISOCARP, he is also a UAP Fellow (Architectural Education) and registered APEC Architect (Masterplanning) and ASEAN Architect (Tourism Planning).
Serin Geambazu
Serin Geambazu, an urban planner and researcher, expert in strategic planning, specialized in urban management at TU Berlin, Habitat Unit, teaching at Ion Mincu University of Bucharest and other international universities as a guest. My experience as a researcher at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality led to a PhD in cotutelle at Istanbul Technical University and Ion Mincu University.
I have a teaching experience of 9 years at master level and bachelor level, on themes comprising – governance, urban regeneration, digital twins, urban design, sustainability, urban law, and urban management. I own an urban design office and I have almost a decade of experience in the private sector in local and international projects, in urban planning and consultancy (in Berlin, Istanbul and in EU funded projects in different geographical settings – Interreg’s, Erasmus + projects on social innovation and climate change issues) and in the public sector in consultancy (municipality, ministry). I took part in projects of infrastructure, housing and retail, strategic municipality development plans and recently been involved as a consultant for the ministry for the Urban Planning New Code in Romania. I am also part of the board of directors of the Romanian Association of Urban Planners, Romanian Society of Construction Law, and different local urban planning committees at municipality level for approving plans.
Vanel Mudimbi
Vanel Mudimbi, is an urban planner and expert in risk and disaster management, specialising in social innovation design and geographic information systems (GIS). He is a graduate of the Institut Supérieur d’Archictecture et d’urbanisme de Kinshasa and of ESA-Saint-luc, UC Louvain and IHECS. Vanel leads projects in planning, mobility, environmental management, GIS, landscape and territorial intelligence.
Track 3
Dushko Bogunovich
Dushko Bogunovich is an architect, urban designer, town planner, academic and advocate with residence in Auckland, New Zealand. He recently retired as an adjunct professor from the School of Architecture and Planning at Auckland University.
Before that, Dushko was the inaugural Dean and Professor at the Ba Isago University in Botswana (2017-2018). Dushko received his education at the universities of Sarajevo; Belgrade (PhD); Cyprus; Pennsylvania (MCP); and California/Berkeley (Post-Doc).
He is a Life Member of the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP) and has served as a Member of its Board and Executive Committee, and as the Chair of its Scientific Committee. Dushko was twice a Fulbright scholar; has won many urban design competition awards and research and travel grants. He has worked as a consultant with UNDP, UNEP, UN-Habitat, and the NZ government.
Dushko has travelled widely and has been a visiting scholar or professor at the universities of Oxford, Bologna, Genoa, Wismar and the Milan Polytechnic.
His current research is on peri-urbanisation and retrofitting suburbia, aiming to show that ‘urban sprawl’ is not all bad news. Low density, when coupled with decentralised, clean and green infrastructure, can deliver the sustainable and resilient city-region able to face the coming climate disruption.
EnP. Gerald V. Paragas
Gerald Paragas, a TV journalist-turned-Municipal Councilor-turned-Environmental Planner, has served as the Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator, Culture & Tourism Officer, and Public Information Officer in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan (north of Manila). He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism in 2004 and obtained a diploma in Urban and Regional Planning in 2012, both from the University of the Philippines – Diliman. Paragas also works as a trainer-facilitator for the cultural mapping program of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and as a consultant on media and development planning for several local government units. He is an alumnus of the Young Planning Professionals Program of the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP) in Bodo, Norway, and the International Training Course on Disaster Risk Management of Cultural Heritage by UNESCO-Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan. Before earning his license in urban planning, Paragas worked as a researcher and producer-writer for investigative shows and documentaries at the Manila-based TV companies GMA7 and TV5.
Larisa Glenda Togonon-De Castro, fpiep
Lara is a licensed Environmental Planner with over 15 years of experience in urban development and climate resilience. Working with government, communities, private sector, and other stakeholders, she has guided the development of climate-resilient spatial and sectoral plans, provided critical support to vulnerable sectors through post-disaster planning, and steered innovations in climate risk assessment, climate change planning, and resilient urban design. She has helped shape national urban policy, particularly in mainstreaming climate resilience in the National Urban Development and Housing Framework, and in crafting the National Housing and Urban Development Sector Plan as well as the Resilient and Green Human Settlements Framework.
Lara has served as President of the Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners (PIEP), and continues to be involved as a PIEP Fellow. She likewise served as PIEP Representative to the Council for the Built and Natural Environments, and is currently a Member of the Commission on Higher Education’s Technical Committee on Environment-Focused and Sustainability-Oriented Academic Programs. She holds a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of the Philippines, and is an urban planning and climate change specialist at the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
Track 4
Julio Carrillo, AICP, LEED AP ND
Julio Carrillo, AICP, LEED AP ND, is a Senior Planner & Manager at Parkhill’s Planning Sector. He is a Certified Planner (AICP), Peruvian Architect (CAP), and LEED Accredited Professional. Julio co-founded Peru’s Green Building Council and has chaired various committees, including Austin’s AIA Urban Design Committee (2022) and the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee at the Urban Land Institute of Austin – Texas (2022). Recognized for his urban design practice, Julio was selected as an International Expert in 2021, leading a research team for future city planning in Asia. In 2023, Julio was the General Co-Rapporteur of the 59th World Planning Congress (Toronto, Canada). He is also the Director of Planning Commitment Inc, driving the PLANNING 2050 initiative for positive impacts in Equity, Climate Change, and Resiliency.
Simba Chitapi
Simba is a Technical Advisor within GIZ’s Green Economic Corridors for Intra-African Trade project. A registered urban planner, he has worked on infrastructure planning projects with a focus on climate change adaptive and mitigating projects. Simba has worked on urban development projects in several countries across the African continent and has extensive experience in participatory planning and informal settlement upgrading. More recently, he has supported startups and micro-, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with homegrown digital solutions aimed at boosting intra-African trade and sustainable, resilient development.
Track 5
Dr Leah M.Punongbayan-Dela Rosa
Dr Leah M.Punongbayan-Dela Rosa is an Associate Professor, architect .environmental planner and senior researcher. Specializes in urban design, community planning, urban mobility, climate change adaptation and resiliency, safe, green and resilient schools and hospitals.
Currently the Department Chair of MC Alviera and concurrently OIC Chair of MCLoyola Environment Department. She is also a lecturer in the MS Program of Mapua University and UG and GS Programs of Miriam College since 2014 and currently the Chair of the Environment Department. Practicing professionally for over 38 years; involved in various Master Planning development projects locally and abroad since 1998. Her current ongoing projects include the BSP Central Bank Clark Master Plans ( Semi Restricted and Restricted Zones) and PUP LUDIP Master Planning.
She is also an international consultant in architecture, urban planning and environment for Asian Development Bank ,World Bank and World Health Organization for their various mission projects in the country and South East Asia since 2012. Likewise, currently member of the scientific committee panel of Asian Development Bank Institute.
Dr. Manju Baisoya Pundir
Manju is a seasoned urban planning and policy professional who extends her varied experience of 22+ years to achieve socio-culturally vibrant cities and places, sustainable habitats, and climate resilience. She is a strategic urban and regional planner with a livability and sustainability focus to urbanism. Her experience spans over national, regional and city strategies, holistic master plans, residential and mixed-use developments, technical feasibility studies and multi-dimensional sustainability and urban research. She contributed towards National Spatial Strategy and National Spatial Planning Act of Saudi Arabia, TOD strategy and manual of Dubai, among other integrated planning studies, master planning projects and actionable city policies etc., and curated international research on quantitative indicators for planning ecological townships in high density cities in Asia and has also provided services for urban management delivery and training to city managers and mayors.
She holds a Doctorate in urban planning, a Master’s in environmental planning and Bachelor of Architecture, and has led teams working at the cross-sections of consulting, research and academics across India, Middle East and Singapore. Her strength lies in being a thought leader and bringing in passion for integrated solutions for sustainable development, actionable policies, climate positive solutions and critical strategies for healthy urban living and a resilient planet. She is an ISOCARP member committed to meaningful and compelling research and coordination work covering current issues in urbanism, planning, design and implementation. She is keen on working at the intersection of planning and policy for sustainable and livable cities and communities that rely on tradition and technology both, adopt circular economy practices and celebrate their cultural, built, and natural heritage through people centric approaches and climate resilient strategies.
Dr. Teti A. Argo
Dr. Teti A. Argo is a lecturer and regional environmental planning and community based disaster management at the Regional and City planning program – School of Architecture, Planning and Policy Development (SAPPD) – Bandung institute of Technology (ITB) – Indonesia. She graduates from The School of Community and Regional Planning (SCARP) – University of British Columbia – Canada.
She has researched on issues on environmental planning, Urbanized regions, community based disaster management in the context of Indonesia, working together with various groups, governments agencies, including lately with the Ministry of Health – Indonesia on Healthy Cities and Districts. She has worked on the roles of religious organizations on disaster management, the roles of women in disaster management, and agricultural areas in Disaster management. She has researched on the urbanized regions for Indonesia including contribution to the National Urban Forum – Indonesis 2015 & 2023 as well as participate in the UN Habitat – New Urban Agenda 2016-2036.
As a professional Planner, she has worked with various ministries to set standards and guidelines among other for strategic environmental assessment, professional development planners and for urbanized regions. She also worked with various NGOs to engage in training and facilitate community organizing for disasters, urban activities as well as energy transitions.