​Cecilia     ​

Professor of Spatial Planning, The University of Manchester

Director of Spatial Policy & Analysis Lab, Manchester Urban Institute

Fellow of the UK Academy of Social Sciences

Fellow of the UK Royal Town Planning Institute​

Chair of UK 2021 Research Excellence Framework sub-panel C13

Commissioner of the UK 2070 Commission on Regional Inequalities

National Infrastructure Commission’s Levelling Up Expert Advisory Panel

Commissioner of the Productivity Commission

Member of the UK Digital Planning Task Force

University of Manchester Distinguished Achievement Awards – Researcher of the Year 2021 (Faculty of Humanities).

​

I am a chartered town planner and have over 25 years research expertise on policy monitoring and spatial analysis, strategic planning, and urban and regional development policies. I have conducted major research projects for UK central government departments (particularly MHCLG and its predecessors), Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Economic & Social Research Council, Royal Town Planning Institute, Homes and Community Agency, and regional and local bodies. I was a commissioner of the Lyons’ Independent Review of Housing for the Labour Party.​

​

I have assessed research grants for the UK Economic & Social Research Council and different international bodies: Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the Netherlands. I was a member of DCLG’s expert panel on housing and planning and an expert panel member of the European Commission’s Urban Audit II.​

​