The Secretariat

Sasank Vemuri is the Coordinator of the Global Secretariat for the MobiliseYourCity Partnership in Brussels, Belgium.  

Before joining the MobiliseYourCity Secretariat in May 2019, Sasank worked for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) since 2013. In his last position at the ADB as an Urban Development Specialist in the South East Asia Urban and Water Division, he was responsible for overseeing the implementation of infrastructure investments and technical assistance in Vietnam and Laos of approximately $300 million. Prior to joining the ADB Sasank prepared pre-feasibility studies for climate change related infrastructure projects with the Cities Development Initiative for Asia (CDIA), where he led the CDIA portfolio for India, Bangladesh, Thailand and Kyrgyzstan. Before moving into the urban infrastructure finance space, Sasank lived and worked with GIZ in India for 6 years, where he spent most of the time advising the Indian rural development bank on developing new financing products for projects related to sustainable resource use.  

Sasank is a father, a committed development professional, an economist, and an American. In addition to Belgium, he has also lived in worked in Vietnam, Philippines, India, Germany and the United States.

Eleonore is the Partnerships and Outreach Manager at the Global Secretariat of the MobiliseYourCity Partnership in Brussels, Belgium. 

Before joining the MobiliseYourCity Secretariat in February 2020, Eleonore has worked for the World Secretariat of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability in Bonn, Germany since 2016. In her last position at ICLEI as Communications Officer, she was responsible for strengthening the place of the organization in the global landscape of likeminded players and supported project teams to achieve their communications and advocacy goals. 

Prior to joining ICLEI, Eleonore has worked for the International Urban Food Network coordinating a study funded by the French Environment Ministry in order to devise reform-oriented policy recommendations for French actors. Before moving into the urban sustainability space, Eleonore has gained experience in project management in a large industrial company where she supported the design and implementation of an international project which aimed to turn the company into a learning organization, geared towards innovation. 

Nicolas is a Sustainable Mobility Expert at the Global Secretariat of the MobiliseYourCity Partnership in Brussels, Belgium. As part of the Capacity Development team of the Secretariat, he contributes to the definition of the overall methodological framework of the Partnership.  

Before joining MobiliseYourCity in December 2021, Nicolas worked for international organizations such as SLoCaT, CAF (the Development Bank of Latin America) and the UNFCCC. For some years he also supported in planning and implementation processes of sustainable mobility policy in Bogota, Colombia as well as environmental actions in the transport sector in the city.  

Milnael is a climate change adaptation expert at the World Secretariat of the MobiliseYourCity Association in Brussels (Belgium). He contributes to the definition of climate change adaptation strategies in urban mobility planning for cities and member countries of the Association.

Milnael is a Colombian engineer passionate about cities and committed to sustainable development. Prior to joining MobiliseYourCity in November 2023, Milnael worked as an urban mobility specialist at CAF - Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean. There he promoted projects to improve mobility in cities in 9 countries of the region considering cross-cutting aspects such as climate benefits, road safety, gender and accessibility.

Giuliana is the Communications Officer at the Global Secretariat of the MobiliseYourCity Partnership, in Brussels, Belgium. 

Before becoming part of the MobiliseYourCity team, Giuliana was a Communication Trainee at the European Commission, within the Directorate - General for Translation. During her traineeship, she actively contributed to several aspects of Communication Projects and helped in the organization of conferences and events. Giuliana also worked as an Assistant Project manager for different international organizations dealing with European Projects.
 

Zofia Bochinska is a Junior Project Officer at the Global Secretariat of the MobiliseYourCity Partnership in Brussels, Belgium. Before joining MobiliseYourCity, Zofia completed a Schuman Traineeship at the European Parliament, working with the Directorate-General for Regional Development on Cohesion Policy, focusing on research and expert knowledge to promote sustainable and equitable development across the EU.

Zofia has also conducted climate change research in Indonesia and worked at Transport for London in the Planning and Development sector for West London. Additionally, she is the project lead at Generation Climate Europe, focusing on circular economy and sustainable food systems.

Alexandra Heitplatz is the Mobility Capacity Building Intern at the Global Secretariat of the MobiliseYourCity Partnership in Brussels, Belgium. Before joining MobiliseYourCity, Alexandra completed her master’s degree in Urban Studies, with a focus on planning, sustainable mobility, and gender.

Alexandra has experience working in associations representing the interests of urban stakeholders. Moreover, she has conducted research as part of a project on bicycle mobility and completed an internship in an urban planning office focusing on participation.

Ángel Manuel Almendros Salerno is a Mobility Capacity Building Intern at the Global Secretariat of the MobiliseYourCity Partnership in Brussels, Belgium. Before joining MobiliseYourCity, Ángel completed a Master’s degree in European Political and Governance Studies at the College of Europe in Brugge, focusing on energy & climate policy and the growth of bottom-up, local forms of governance.

Ángel also holds another Master’s in International Relations and a BSc in Psychology. Moreover, he has volunteered for various student associations and civil society organisations, where he has gained experience organising events, managing communities, and delivering trainings.

Solène Baffi is a Doctor of Geography and coordinates technical cooperation in Senegal, Egypt, Kenya and Côte d’Ivoire within CODATU, as well as training and scientific activities. In this capacity, she is also a research associate of the PRODIG laboratory (UMR 8586). She currently collaborates closely with the MobiliseYourCity Secretariat, supporting the Capacity Building team.