Prof. Inés Sánchez de Madariaga

Inés Sánchez de Madariaga is an acclaimed City Planner, Director of the UNESCO Chair on Gender, and Professor of City Planning at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, renowned for her pioneering work in gender in cities and architecture. With over 30 years in the city planning industry, Inés has a profound expertise in gender and women responsive design and planning. She holds degrees from Columbia University and Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and has been instrumental in designing pioneering urban plans and projects addressing women’s needs around the globe.

Throughout her career, Inés has been honoured with the Fulbright grant, the MISTI-MIT award, the RCC Harvard grant, and the Matilde Ucelay Award from the Spanish Government in recognition for her professional career and her commitment to promoting equality in transportation and urban design. In addition to her academic career, she has held high-level government positions including Advisor to the Minister of Housing, Advisor to the Minister of Research and Innovation, Director General of Architecture, Director of the Women and Science Unit at the Cabinet of the Secretary of State for RTD, and member of the Board of Directors of the Spanish Public Housing Corporation. From all these positions she led major projects ranging from land-use legislation, regional plans, urban development plans, urban regeneration projects, housing, public space, and train stations, always with a focus on promoting inclusive design and equality. Her work has not only reshaped the way we think about cities and how people live in them, but also set new benchmarks in how cities should be designed to promote equal access for all.

Inés Sánchez de Madariaga is a renowned public speaker at national and international forums, sharing insights on women’s needs in transportation, housing, public space and urban facilities. She has published extensively on the subject of gender planning in professional and academic journals. Her professional contributions extend into her role as Chair of the Advisory Group of Gender Issues to the Executive Director of UN-Habitat (AGGI), and a board member for the UNESCO Consultative Group for Women in Science, where she helps steer conversations and policies shaping the future of cities and of science and technology. Outside of her professional life, Inés is an avid reader, a passion that complements her deep appreciation for the interdisciplinary nature of planning work.