“Large cities and metropolitan spaces are key arenas for all the challenges humanity faces. At Metropolis, we will work relentlessly so that the voice, action, and cooperation of their authorities lead to tangible impacts and to gender and social equality, so desperately needed by both the planet and their inhabitants.” – Jordi Vaquer
© Metropolis | 2022
Metropolis, the global network of large cities and metropolitan areas has a new Secretary General, Jordi Vaquer. After a long professional career working in international relations, public administration, applied research, academia, and non-profit organisations, Vaquer commenced working with Metropolis on April 16, 2022.
The climate emergency, accelerated urban growth, social and gender inequalities, the digital revolution and vulnerabilities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic are just some of the challenges that face large cities around the world. Vaquer will lead Metropolis in examining these challenges and work to expand membership and alliances, diversify sources of funding and strive to bring the metropolitan voice into global discussions maintaining a focus on effectiveness and transparency.
“Metropolitan spaces gather a growing proportion of the worldwide population and economy. They face global challenges, and the problems of communities and people that good local governance must tackle. Nevertheless, the planning, governance, and management of these intimately interconnected spaces are often hindered by administrative borders, jurisdiction clashes, the lack of a shared strategic vision, individual interests, and the exclusion of the experiences and preferences of women and marginalised social groups. Hence the local, but also international, relevance of the metropolitan scale in inclusive governance and planning. Metropolis is a unique global player where key metropolitan governance agents can share experiences, look for solutions, and raise their voice within the international arena,” stated Vaquer.
Vaquer has a PhD in International Relations and prior to joining Metropolis was Director for Foresight and Analysis at Open Society Foundations, Director of CIDOB (Barcelona Centre of Internaitonal Affairs) and an Associate Professor at IBEI (Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals) where he has lectured for over a decade. From 2011-2014 he was a columnist for the Spanish newspaper El País and often provides media commentary on international affairs.