Mokena Makeka is the Special Advisor to the Vice President of Academic Affairs at the Cooper Union in New York, and Partner at Axum, an Afrocentric impact firm working at the intersection of climate positive urbanism and related ecologies.He is a South African raised in Maseru, Lesotho and New York, USA and is an accomplished architect, artist, creative, curator, global leader, scholar, speaker, urbanist.He holds a B.Arch Dist. Hons, (Magna Cum Laude) University of Cape Town (UCT), and various executive leadership qualifications, from the Harvard Kennedy School, Oxford University and others. He served as the Azrieli Visiting Critic of 2020, Carleton University School of architecture and urbanism- Canada, Adjunct Professor Cooper Union/Columbia University- New York, and is a Board member of the South African Green Building Council and served as a board member of the Cape Town Central City Improvement district.He is a Young Global leader at the World Economic Forum, 2015 and is a member of the WCS Young leaders in urbanism. (Singapore)He is a co-founder of the first Independent (Non-state sponsored) School of Architecture, and served as the President of the South African Institute of Architects.For three years he held the role of Principal at Dalberg Advisors Africa and acted as a global director for climate change strategy, urbanism, and Climate Smart Forest Economies. Mokena Makeka WEF Young Global Leader 2015, Archbishop Desmond Tutu Fellow 2014, Aspen fellow in leadership 2023.As a Special Advisor to the Vice-President Academic Affairs at Cooper Union, (1859) I advance innovation at the intersection of urgent issues such as social justice, ecology, inclusive economies, sustainability, and climate across the whole institution.For 18 years I ran a global award-winning Architecture and urban design practice, Makeka Design Lab, and I have designed and realized cultural and urban strategies for many cities and institutions. With over 20 years of experience in architecture, urbanism, and design, I bring a unique perspective and expertise, as well as a passion for creating positive change in the world through leadership and strategy. I leverage my skills and knowledge in sustainable architecture, placemaking, and regenerative environmental design to deliver solutions that are impactful, equitable, and resilient. I have advised and collaborated with various stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, corporations, and communities, on projects ranging from affordable housing, green building, urban planning, to forest economy.