BK Talks: Act together!

Maarten van Ham
Professor of Urban Geogrophy

Maarten van Ham is professor of Urban Geography and head of department at the Department of Urbanism, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, Delft University of Technology. His research focusses on better understanding patterns of spatial inequality and segregation, and the effects of these spatial inequalities for the lives of individuals, neighbourhoods and cities. He received his PhD from Utrecht University in the Netherlands and has worked at the university of St Andrews in the UK for many years.

Lucia Martin
Councillor for Housing and Urban Development, City of Barcelona

Born in Lugo (Galicia) in 1979, Lucia Martin holds a Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering and a PhD in environmental sciences (UAB). She came into contact with social movements through the Ateneu Candela in Terrassa, and in 2009 became a member of the team promoting the Platform for People Affected by Mortgages (PAH). In 2016 she left her research work at Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) to join the En Comú Podem per Barcelona political party group list for that year's national elections. She was elected to Spain’s Congress that year, holding her seat until 2019, and was also the Housing spokesperson for the Unidos Podemos-En Comú Podem-En Marea political party group. During the 2019 municipal elections she joined the Barcelona en Comú political party group list and was chosen as Councilor for Housing and Renovation at Barcelona City Council and as the Sant Andreu District Councilor.

Björn Mallants
Managing director Vereniging van Vleemse Huisvestingsmaatschappijen

Björn Mallants is the managing director of VVH, Vereniging van Vlaamse Huisvestingsmaatschappijen. VVH is the umbrella organization of the Flemish social housing companies. He has been in function for over ten years. Before, he was vice-president of a social housing company. Since the end of 2020, he has been appointed managing director of ASTER cv. ASTER (Access to Sustainability Through Energy Effective Retrofit) is an initiative of VVH and her member social housing companies. ASTER's aim is to invest in a sustainable energy transition for social tenants in Flanders, in order to tackle energy poverty. Björn is President of the Flemish Social Housing Platform and has been member of the Board of Directors of Housing Europe for a couple of years now.

Karin Schrederhof
Councilor Housing, city of Delft

Karin Schrederhof is councilor housing for the city of Delft. She has started her career as a designer, through design she discovered her interest in the experience of residents in the city. Which lead to her involvement in social work, participation processes and in the end politics. Housing has always been a red thread throughout her career, which she now applies by serving as councilor in Delft.

Hans Rupp
CEO at Allgemeine Baugenossenschaft Zürich (ABZ) and member of the Board of Directors Cooperative Housing International

Hans Rupp is CEO of Allgemeine Baugenossenschaft Zürich, Switzerland’s biggest housing co-operative, and a board member of Co-operative Housing International. Hans is adept in complex and diverse environments, on national and international level. ‘The co-operative model offers sustainable solutions to many problems we’re facing worldwide, that’s why we need to further promote its benefits’, states Hans. He studied psychology and modern history and holds an Executive MBA in General and International Management.

Desiree Uitzetter
Director of Area Development BPD

Desirée Uitzetter has been the Director of Area Development at BPD (Bouwfonds Property Development) since 2015. In early 2019, she was appointed Chair of the Netherlands Association of Property Developers and Investors (NEPROM). Right from the very beginning of her career, Desirée has focused on area development, and in particular on bringing together public and private interests in order to enable the development of sustainable projects and areas. Given the current demand for housing (totalling an additional 800,000 units over the coming 10 years), her call for increased direction and collaboration in order to meet this challenge has never been more pertinent. Desirée is a member of the Supervisory Board of Platform31 and of Vereniging Deltametropool, an independent network for metropolitan development. She also represents the Netherlands at the IFHP as a Council Member. Desirée studied Social Geography at Utrecht University and at Middlesex University in London.

Trevor James
Chairman Cooplink

Trevor James is active as chairman of Cooplink, a network organization for and of housing cooperatives. As a consultant at Vannimwegen, the common thread through his work is to inspire, involve and activate residents and other stakeholders in life in the city. He supports and guides parties in the development and implementation of self- and co-management projects.