I work at the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Center and the American Red Cross, Global Disaster Preparedness Center (GDPC) as the Senior Urban Specialist. Focus of my work is strengthening local capacities through close collaboration with global partners and field teams and developing innovative approaches, tools and methodologies aimed at scaling up impact in urban settings. Some examples of work include starting and leading the Urban Collaboration Platform of IFRC (2015-21), leading the Coastal Cities and Coalition Program (2017-21) and managing the Extreme Heat Small grants program of the GDPC and CC (2022). My motivation is to use my educational background in city and regional planning, combined with earlier work in the development arena with the UN and the World Bank to help RCRC National Societies be confident and skilled in understanding and taking action against the compounding risks that the urban communities are facing.