Sławomir Ledwoń, PhD Eng. Arch

I am an urban planner, researcher and academic teacher. I have worked on a broad range of projects in various design scales. I specialise in local master plans, comprehensive planning, retail development, design guides and reports concerning spatial planning. Currently I work as a Senior Urban Planning Specialist for the Ministry of Municipality and Environment in Qatar. I was Adjunct Professor at Department of Urban Design and Regional Planning, Gdansk University of Technology, Poland. Back in Poland I was also leading my own planning consultancy as a Principal and chartered urban planner.

I have graduated from Gdansk University of Technology. My PhD thesis was on the relationship between modern retail and cities – the impact of shopping centre development on downtowns. In 2010 I was a Fellow at Special Program for Urban and Regional Studies, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.

In practice I have worked on various planning documents and concepts including communal studies, local master plans, revitalisation programmes and spatial concepts. Apart from that I am an author of expert analysis, design guidelines and architectural concepts. I was the Chairman of City Commission for Urban and Architectural Development in Elblag, Poland. For over 5 years I have run my own consultancy UrbiS Design Studio in Poland, before I relocated to Qatar.

My academic research interests include the use of new technologies in cities, retail analysis and planning as well as didactic methods and innovations. Currently I am leading research in physical activity in cities. I have also organised many events and conferences. I am devoted to work with students, including workshops and outside university initiatives, always trying to achieve the best teaching results. I was actively involved in shaping the planning curriculum, as a member of the Programme Committee at Architecture Faculty and a member of the Task Force for Education and Carrier Development in the field of Spatial Economy at the Committee for Spatial Economy and Regional Planning, Polish Academy of Sciences. I have started Mentoring Programme at ISOCARP.

Between 2013 and 2019 I served two terms in the Executive Committee (Board) of the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP) as Vice President Congresses and Events / Congress Director. I have been in charge of organising the annual ISOCARP World Planning Congress. I successfully made it grow – before I started this role the congress had been declining and fell below 200 delegates – but currently it is attracting more than 500 attendees, with a record number of 700 last year.

More information available on my LinkedIn profile.