Research

My passion is to help students and professionals become effective city makers. To do this, I develop concepts and tools for

interdisciplinary collaborative governance in area development research and practice. The concept of urban development force stands for a governance capacity to (re)develop or transform urban areas for the better. It signifies a complex collective effort produced by a diverse and interdependent network of people, groups and organisations. At TU Delft, my research work has focused on understanding what it takes to create urban development force and what principles, methods and tools help practitioners to do so. In Delft, I lead a research program on sustainable area development (governance, planning, design and finance) that includes academic (PhD) research projects as well as studies for policy and practice.

Themes

Collaborative Governance for Urban Development Projects

Urban development projects are major, long-term governance challenges that cut across public, private and third sector boundaries and need input from a variety of spatial, technical and social science disciplines. The actual work that needs to be done can thus be a far cry from what we learn about project management, which often assumes top-down client-contractor relationships and linear processes of design and implementation.

In my research, I develop and test governance concepts and ideas that are more attuned to the interdependencies between public, private, civic, and other actors in the complex, iterative process behind contemporary urban development projects. I am particularly interested in the rules that shape the legal, organisational, financial and cultural field within which actors shape collaborative strategies and effective long-term partnerships for sustainable and just outcomes.

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Governing the Port-City Interface

For many people, today's ports are perceived as relics from an industrial past. While some may have an eye for the technological sophistication and the seamless logistical operation of the modern seaport, most people only witness the historic maritime structures closer to the city center. Some port areas may be in a fenced-off state of dilapidation, while others are opened up to offer basic but cheap space for startups and light industrial activities. Some of these areas may later turn into 'hip' sights of significant urban transformation and urban investment.

In my governance research, I focus on the places where modern water-bound industries get surrounded by urban functions. Here, I pose Robert Dahl's famous question "who governs?", and focus on networks and arenas in which actors vie for the capacity to decide about the spatial future of the 'port-city interface', i.e. the many sites and dimensions of city-port relationships. I aim to uncover the mechanisms, soft and hard, that shape the decisions made in these arenas.

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Dutch Area Development

Since the summer of 2018, the Dutch Foundation for Area Development Knowledge [Stichting Kennis Gebiedsontwikkeling] has entrusted me to co-develop an academic program that includes research projects, professional education, knowledge exchange events and an online platform called gebiedsontwikkeling.nu.

Together with a brilliant team of students, PhD candidates, researchers and professors, we have a strong presence in the Dutch Area Development [Gebiedsontwikkeling] research and practice community. With a critical pragmatist approach, our goal is to be a transformative force in pursuit of (more) sustainable governance processes and outcomes in Dutch as well as in international city making.

At TU Delft, the Area Development team is based at the Faculty of Architecture, as part of the Management in the Built Environment department.

Find more information about the Stichting Kennis Gebiedsontwikkeling (SKG) here.

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Activities

Academic Research

Proposals & Grants

2020-22: NWA-ORC Proposal 'Real Estate Development & Building in Low Urban Environments (RED&BLUE)' in collaboration with academic and societal partners in The Netherlands - GRANTED

2019: NWO Transitions and Behaviour Proposal 'Changing Mobility Behaviour in a Transition Toward Sustainable and Inclusive Accessibility' in collaboration with professors Van Arem and Mugge (TU Delft)
2018: ESPON EGTC Proposal 'European Sustainable Urbanisation through Port City Regeneration (ENSURE)' in collaboration with Ecologic Institute Berlin
2017: Climate-KIC Sustainable Production Systems Loop Flagship Programme Proposal 'Circular Cities Co-Creation Platform' in collaboration with Chalmers University (Sweden)
2016: ERA-NET Cofund Smart Urban Futures (ENSUF) Pre-Proposal 'SITES: Smart and Integrated Transformations for Economic Synergies: Co-Creating Strategies for the European Port-City Interface' in collaboration wth the University of Antwerp (Belgium), Gdansk University of Technology (Poland), and the Univesity of Porto (Portugal)
2015: NWO Smart Urban Regions of the Future: Research Proposal 'Metropolitan and Mainport Economies in Tandem for Transition (MMETT)' in collaboration with Erasmus University Rotterdam
2015: EU Marie Curie Actions International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES) Urban Knowlegde Network Asia (UKNA) - TRAVEL GRANT for a Case Study in Shanghai, China, in association with the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences
2011: Nicis Kennis voor Krachtige Steden [Knowledge for Strong Cities]: Proposal 'Katalysatorprojecten voor krachtige stedelijke regio’s' [Catalyst Projects for Strong Urban Regions] in collaboration with Erasmus Univesity and the Netherlands School of Public Administration
2007: European Research Counsel (ERC) Proposal 'PORTCITI The Development of the Port-City Interface: Dynamics in decision-making' in collaboration with the Institute of Transport and Maritime Management of the University of Antwerp (ITMMA).

Editorships & Peer Reviews

Director of SKG, a foundation that funds the Dutch online platform gebiedsontwikkeling.nu

Editorial Board Member, Real Estate Research Quarterly, VOGON/PropertyNL, 2011-2018
Reviews for the Journal of Social and Economic Geography (TESG), Environment & Planning (EPA/EPC), European Journal of Spatial Development (EJSD, open access), Journal of Transport Geography (JTG), and Planning Practice & Research (PPR).

Memberships & Networks

Member of the ULI European Urban Regeneration Council and co-organiser of the Urban Infrastructures Forum and (potential) product council.

Expert in the network of the International Association of Cities and Ports

Member in the network of Holland Metropole, a collaboration between The Netherlands' five largest conurbations.

Member of the Advisory Board of Stadsmakersfonds, a fund for city/place making initiatives with social and fair economic return.

Member of the Dutch Democratic Party D66, active particularly for the local branch in the municipality of Haarlem.

TU Delft is member of the Association of European Schools of Planning. Since 2005, I attended most annual AESOP of AESOP/ACSP conferences.

Since 2021, I am part of the FRESH Mentor Program, offering advise to students who are contemplating a career in real estate.

Onder Planologen In 2020, I became member of an emerging network of mid-career academic professionals in spatial planning and related fields of research and education. A first set of (online) meetings took place in 2020 (July 3 and October 27) and in 2021 (June 17 and December 9) in the absence of (inter)national conferences and meetings.

Contract Research

2021: C0-Leader of the Research Project 'Infrastructuur voor Duurzame Gebiedsontwikkeling' in collaboration with Vereniging Deltametropool for the Ministry of Infrastructure (I&W)
2019: Project Leader and Co-Researcher in the Research Project 'Fondsen voor verstedelijking' for the Ministry of the Interior (BZK)
2019: Project Leader and Co-Researcher in the Research Project 'GebiedsInvesteringsZone (GIZ): naar een praktijkexperiment' for the Ministry of the Interior (BZK)
2019: Project Leader and Co-researcher in the Research Project 'Succesfactoren alternative bekostiging van openbaar vervoer en gebiedsontwikkeling' for the Ministry of Infrastructure & Water (I&W)

2018: Project Leader and Co-Researcher in the Research Project 'Ruimte voor bedrijven' for the Municipality of Rotterdam
2017: Research Proposal 'Innovatieve Stadshaven: Eilandje - Steenborgerweert' for Vespa AG Antwerp (not granted)
2016-17: Co-Resercher in the Research Project 'Area Transformations' for the Dutch Ministry of Internal Affairs (BZK)
2015-17: Project Leader and Principle Researcher in the Research Project 'Governance for Next Generation Waterfronts' for SmartPort Knowledge Institute
2013: Co-Researcher in the Research Project 'Kennismotor' for the Municpality of Rotterdam
2012: Project Leader and Co-Researcher in the Research Project 'Sturen tussen haven en stad' for the Municpality of Rotterdam/Programmabureau Stadshavens
2011: Co-Researcher in the Research Project 'REAP2' for Programmabureau Stadshavens
2011: Project Leader and Co-Researcher for the Research Project 'Sturen op Waarde 2' for the Municpality of Rotterdam
2010: Project Leader and Co-Researcher for the Research Project 'Sturen op Waarde' for the Municpality of Rotterdam (together with Erasmus University Rotterdam).

2018: Co-Researcher and Co-Author of the Research Essays on Urban

Transformation for the National

Program Stedelijke Transformatie.

Conference Activities

2022: Speaker at the G10 Municipal Controllers Meeting on Governance Capacity in Urban Development, November 30, Utrecht
2022: Panelist at the Expert Meeting Watertorenberaad on Eindhoven's Regional Development, November 22, Eindhoven
2022: Panelist at Resilient Delta (EUR-TUD) Expert Meeting 'Insuring the Dutch Delta' at The Loft, November 14, Rotterdam
2022: Moderator at the first Dag van de Gebiedsontwikkeling at Delft University of Technology, November 9, Delft
2022: Speaker and Moderator at the Real Estate Development & Building in Low Urban Environments (Red&Blue) Kick-Off Symposium and Field Trip, September 12-13, Valkenburg
2022: Organizer and Co-Moderator at the SKG Jaarcongres Gebiedsontwikkeling 'Uitvoeringskracht', March 31, The Hague

2022: Speaker at Pizzasessie Alternatieve Bekostiging, Metropoolregio Rotterdam-Den Haag, March 29, Rotterdam
2022: Speaker at the Symposium Kansen boven het Spoor at NS Stations, March 18, Utrecht
2022: Speaker at an online Rabobank Expert Meeting on speeding up Housing Construction in The Netherlands, January 13
2021: Organizer and Speaker of the sLIM Webinar on Healthy Area Development, December 1
2021: Organizer and Moderator of the SKG 15-year Anniversary Meeting at Delft Faculty of Architecture, November 5
2021: Speaker at a workshop for the Nationaal Vervoerscongres (NVC), October 27, Utrecht
2021: Speaker at the CROW Inspiratiemiddag HOV at Muntgebouw, October 14, Utrecht
2021: Organizer and Co-Moderator of the sLIM Masterclass on Healthy Area Development, 23 September, Utrecht
2021: Organizer and Speaker of the livestream SKG Studio, broadcasted from Leiden, March 31 (online, 80+ audience)
2021: Plenary Speaker at the Jaarcongres Stedelijke Transformaties, February 11, Woerden (online, 400+ audience)
2021: Moderator of the ULI Europe Urban Infrastructure Forum, February 4 (online, 40+ audience)
2021: Panelist at the ULI Netherlands Annual Meeting, January 7
2020: Moderator at the Diner Pensant Virtual Meeting of the Opdrachtgeversforum voor de Bouw, October 28
2020: Co-Moderator of the sLIM Webinar 'Energie en GO', October 14
2020: Moderator of the AIVP Webinar 'How to Plan Waterfronts after the COVID-19?', June 4
2020: Moderator at the Provada LIVE Webinar on the Future of Urban Living, June 17, Amsterdam (RAI)
2020: Co-Organiser and Speaker at the SKG Expert Meeting Real Estate & Infrastructure Climate Risk Management, March 12, Delft
2020: Co-Organiser and Moderator of the ULI Infrastructure & Real Estate Forum, February 4, Amsterdam
2020: Co-Organiser and Moderator of the sLIM Evening Debate 'The Common City', January 19, Amsterdam

2019: Director of the Annual SKG Conference 'Gebiedsontwikkeling: meer waarde door samenwerking', November 7, The Hague (240 participants)
2019: Speaker at the 'Programmabijeenkomst Stedelijke transformatie', October 8, Utrecht
2019: Invited Expert and Panelist at the AIVP Days, June 6-8, Riga, Latvia
2019: Organiser and Moderator of the SKG Expert Meeting 'Ontwerpend onderzoek en gebiedsontwikkeling', May 24, Delft
2019: Speaker at the Conference '20 jaar PT', March 28, Tilburg, The Netherlands
2019: Organiser and Moderator of the Seminar 'Bereikbare verdichting', February 13, Delft
2019: Speaker at the Annual Conference 'Stedelijke transformatie', February 14, Eindhoven
2019: Co-Organiser and Moderator of the Evening Debate 'The Post-Growth City', January 15, Amsterdam
2018: Round Table Discussant on Linking Port and City Economies, Spaces and Cultures at the Port City Futures Conference, December 17-19, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2018: Invited Expert at a seminar for the H2020 project 'Docks of the Future', October 29-30, Porto, Portugal
2018: Rapporteur at the 16th AIVP World Conference 'Next Generation', Jun 11-14, Quebec, Canada
2018: Presenter and Discussant at the national conference Stedelijke Transformatie, February 22, Amersfoort, The Netherlands
2017: Presenter at the EXPO Real 2017 Urban Innovation and Investment Seminars, October 4, Munich, Germany
2017: Moderator and Presenter at the European Real Estate Society (ERES) Annual Conference, June 27-July 1, Delft, The Netherlands
2016: Invited Speaker at the European Week of Regions and Cities, October 12, Brussels, Belgium
2016: Poster Presentation at the 15th World Conference Cities & Ports, October 5-7, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2015: Presenter at the Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers (AAG) 2016, April 1, San Francisco, United States
2015: Keynote Speech at ISOCARP2015 Rotterdam Workshop, October 19, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2014: Initiator, Co-organizer and Presenter: Spoorzone Delft Mobile Workshop, AESOP 28th Annual Congress, July 11, Delft, The Netherlands
2014: Co-organizer and Presenter: Round Table 'Port CityScapes', AESOP 28th Annual Congress, July 9-12, Utrecht/Delft, The Netherlands
2011: Co-organizer: Urban Area Development Track, MISBE2011 Conference (Management and Innovation for a Sustainable Built Environment), June 20-22, Amsterdam
2011: Reviewer and Presenter: AESOP Young Academics Meeting, February 16-18, Delft, The Netherlands
2007: Co-organizer and Presenter: ACTP – Seminar for Port Related PhD Research, Academic Centre for TransPort/Port of Rotterdam, April 27, Rotterdam.

2019-present: Co-Organiser and Moderator of Vastgoedcafé Network Meetings hosted by City of Delft and members of Delft's construction, property development, investment, and social/affordable housing industry: 09May19, 18Sep19, 5Feb20, 1Jul20, 13Apr21, 18Jan22, 31Jan23

RESEARCH