Maria is a city and an urban place strategist. Focusing on inclusive making, social value, collaborative design, culture, and funding models that are inclusive, equitable, and underpin good growth. She works with diverse organisations, communities and partners from around the world, and across sectors.Her career started in planning, environment, and human rights law. Moreover, she's developed a portfolio of work that underpins ethically driven, inclusive co-created and economically viable places, spaces and cities using a mix of frameworks, from social value to heritage and culture.She's is the former CEO of the Foundation for Future London and the Founder of Living Space Project.She was awarded an Inaugural Knowledge Equity Fellowship at the Centre for Knowledge Equity at the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, Oxford University. And, an Ambassador for the Design Council.Maria sits on a number boards, and advisory groups including the Heritage Lottery Fund (Chaired the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Taskforce), the Environment Agency and the London Sustainable Development Commission (LSDC - Co-Chair of the Social Regeneration Committee).She has sat Place Making Leadership Council, and the Raynsford Planning Task Force Review.She regularly writes articles and blogs and has written for, amongst others - The Guardian, New Start, Prospect Magazine, the United Nations and Policy Press. Her book ‘The Place Making Factor - Disrupting Siloed Appoaches’ which blends fact and narratives on environment, place and grantmaking is described as a “must read.” Maria is a regular speaker on urban placemaking and cities. And she's been invited to talk at ECO City 2023, TEDx Women London, Placemaking Week, the WOW (Women of the World) Festival, United Nations, and the World Bank. She’s also received numerous distinctions including a Mayor’s London Leaders Award and a Clore Social Fellowship. If she could change one thing through her work everyone would have a decent home and a great place to live, work and play.In her spare time, she collects 'knackered old Penguin paperbacks,' enjoys taking walks around neighborhoods and having a laugh with her family or settling down to a few a good book or a podcast.