M. Budding-Polo Ballinas (Monserrat)

Monserrat is an architect and urban manager specialized in climate resilient cities. With nearly 15 years of experience spanning the public, private, and academic sectors, she stands as a Senior Researcher at the Centre of Expertise City Net Zero at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS), specifically within the Climate Resilient City reserach group (Klimaatbestendige Stad).

Her expertise encompasses climate change mitigation and adaptation, urban resilience, urban environmental management, green buildings and biobased construction materials, participatory planning and governance, nature-based solutions, ecosystem-based adaptation, urban agriculture, land policies for sustainable urban development and most recently climate science communication.

Monserrat's impact resonates globally, having contributed to a multitude of international projects and events across Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America. She has collaborated in several consortia with clients such as the European Commission, European Environment Agency (EEA), UN-Habitat, The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, Cities Alliance, Nuffic-OKP, EIT-Climate KIC, Dutch Research Council (NWO), The Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality and with local governments from different cities around the world.

Monserrat holds a Masters degree in Urban Environmental Management and Climate Change from Erasmus University Rotterdam, complemented by a Bachelors degree in Architecture from the Universidad de las Americas Puebla, Mexico.

Her career journey has been diverse, encompassing roles as researcher, advisor, and project manager at Wageningen Environmental Research, as well as a lecturer and researcher at The Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies at Erasmus University Rotterdam. She has also worked as an external researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and as an architect and urban planner in both Mexico and the Netherlands.

Monserrat's effective organization, visionary leadership, and creative problem-solving skills make her a sought-after expert for impactful projects. As a Senior Researcher, she's committed to developing climate-resilient urban solutions and fostering collaborations with organizations in the Netherlands, Europe, and the Global South to drive positive changes at local and global scales.