Beatriz Pineda Revilla

urbanist at heart in Pamplona, España

View my portfolio

After 14 years of living and working in The Netherlands, I have returned to Spain, to Pamplona. One of the primary motivations for this change in life has been professional, the desire to be able to improve Spanish society with the experience and knowledge acquired abroad over the years.

In my last position as a Senior Researcher/ Lecturer at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, I worked on projects advancing urban governance and social innovation issues. Most notably, I contributed to the Horizon2020 project ATELIER, where I focused on two key aspects to accelerate the energy transition, citizen participation, and behavioral change.

In previous research, which I conducted between New York, Berlin and Amsterdam, I addressed, among others, the role of the community in shaping social norms related to energy issues, self-organization in urban agriculture projects, and the ritualization of household food practices looking at their impact on preventing food waste. I am a qualitative researcher with a special affinity for ethnography and action research.

People, sustainability, and creativity, along with a desire to understand the change from a socio-spatial perspective, have guided my education. I have a Ph.D. in Social Sciences (sociology and planning) (2020) and an MSc in Urban Studies (2014) from the University of Amsterdam. I also hold a Bachelor's and an MA in Architecture with a specialization in Urban Planning from the University of Navarra (2007).

Before starting my academic career, I worked as an urban planner/designer on projects in the Netherlands, the UK, and the Dominican Republic. In this dance between research and professional practice, I have become a bridge between the two worlds, realizing that my strengths lie in this hybrid identity. I know how to speak the language of multiple disciplines, and I understand their different ontological foundations, methodologies, and ways of working. This, coupled with my ability to empathize with my colleagues' needs and points of view has undoubtedly added value in all the workplaces and projects where I have worked.

Currently, I am knitting new networks and looking for ways to better contribute with my experience back in Spain, focusing on the local, Pamplona, but without losing the global perspective that all these years living abroad have given me. If these words resonate with you, do not hesitate to get in touch ([email protected]).

  • Work
    • Urbanist at heart
  • Education
    • University of Amsterdam + Fordham University
    • University of Navarra