Meet the team
Ash Dowler, Senior Innovation & Net Zero Consultant
Ash brings a background in transport and future mobility to the team, and has worked across both public and private sectors. As DG Cities' Senior Innovation and Net Zero Consultant, Ash contributes her expertise to a range of innovation and net zero projects, including rural electric mobility growth, fleet electrification and mobility hubs on housing estates.
Balazs Csuvar, Director of Innovation & Net Zero
Balazs leads the delivery of our innovation projects, solving challenges through the integration of new technologies and holistic thinking. He is a civil engineer by background, with 10 years of international experience as an urban consultant, leading a wide range of projects from developing smart city strategies, planning connected and autonomous mobility, and in local government capacity building.
Director of Research and Insights
Ed leads our social and behavioural research and evaluation practice. He is a mixed methods researcher with interests in participatory research, systems-thinking, and understanding 'what works' through evidence-based policy and practice,
Gabriela Mihaylova, Graduate Evaluation and Data Analyst
Gabriela, with a background in human geography and quantitative analysis, gained practical experience in the rail sector during a year in industry at the Rail Safety and Standards Board. She’s passionate about spatial analysis, quantitative and qualitative research, and urban issues. Gabriela’s recent dissertation explored the concept of 15-minute cities and applied it to Leeds, UK.
Iona Norton, Housing Energy and Sustainability Manager at Royal Borough of Greenwich
Iona is a chartered mechanical engineer with a background in sustainability, building physics, energy and mechanical building services design. She specialises in low-carbon heat network and heat pump design, and residential retrofit strategy. She is currently working in the Directorate of Housing and Safer Communities at the Royal Borough of Greenwich, leading the retrofit and energy efficiency strategy and delivery for their social housing portfolio.
Lara Suraci
Behavioural Scientist
Lara is an applied behavioural scientist with a foundation in quantitative research. She has a PhD in Behavioural Economics with a research focus on barriers to the adoption of novel, digital technologies and brings extensive experience in the design of online experiments and surveys. She is passionate about utilising behavioural science to amplify the benefits of innovation while mitigating its risks, as well as bridging the gap between research and policy-making.
Leanne Kelly, Behavioural Economist
Leanne brings experience in socio-economic planning, assessment, business cases and evaluation across infrastructure. She has an MSc in Behavioural Economics, including research on commuting changes and subjective wellbeing, and draws on both economic and behavioural insights to design and deliver successful urban interventions.
Nima Karshenas, Graduate Consultant
A Meng graduate in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Imperial College London, Nima previously collaborated with DG Cities on a digital connectivity initiative in Greenwich and worked for a year in industry with PlayStation. Nima contributes his in-depth technical knowledge of AI, Statistics, and Signal Processing to diverse projects that promote social impact and sustainability. He appreciates the broad scope of projects at DG Cities, offering insights and embracing the opportunity to shape a brighter future for cities and communities.
Rasheed Sokunbi, Net Zero & Innovation Consultant
As a specialist in Net Zero, Rasheed is involved in a range of decarbonisation projects, in Greenwich and beyond. Previously, he worked for one of UK’s largest housing associations as an energy advisor, where he gained exposure to district and communal heating systems, and for a sustainable energy consulting firm, managing retrofit meter exchange projects.
Sarah Simpkin, Head of Communications
Sarah Simpkin has worked in communications in the built environment for more than 15 years, first managing written communications for architects, Foster + Partners and later freelancing as a writer and publicist for a number of leading studios. She works part-time with DG Cities, helping the team find new ways to share their insights into how technology is transforming the way we live, work and travel.
Trevor Dorling, Managing Director
Trevor has extensive experience working in senior positions in planning, employment & skills and economic development within London local government. He has played a key role in establishing Greenwich as one of the UK’s leaders in smart city innovation.
