I am a Lecturer in Urban Studies based in the Division of Urban Studies and Social Policy. My teaching ranges from postgraduate courses primarily in the City Planning discipline and a few social policy undergraduate courses.

I have a National Diploma and Bachelor of Technology in Town and Regional Planning from the University of Johannesburg, South Africa and a MA in International Planning and Sustainable Development from the University of Westminster. I completed my PhD in Urban Studies which focused on socio-spatial transformations in South African cities and how public space users perceive these transformations considering the apartheid legacy.

Prior to undertaking my PhD in the UK, I lived in Johannesburg, South Africa where I was employed as a professional planner at a private consultancy for over 5 years. I specialised in development management, developing spatial planning frameworks, urban design, project management and tender preparation and management. I am registered as a Professional Planner with the South African Council for Planners (SACPLAN).

City Planning Discipline Interests

• Urban transformation in developing countries
• African cities
• Sustainable urban development
• Planning theory and cities
• Space, place and the user experience

Teaching Pedagogy

• Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
• Student Engagement
• Creative Pedagogies
• Cultural Diversity and Collaborative Learning

Research groups

• Place & built environment
• Innovative Pedagogy Hub
• Just Cities & Societies

List by: Type | Date

• August 2025 - July 2026: UofG SoTL Scheme: Engaging Diversity - How Cultural Backgrounds Shape Group Engagement in Collaborative Learning, Principle Investigator.

I am interested in supervising PhD projects in related to my research interests, in particular:

• Urban, social and spatial transformation
• Planning in developing countries particularly in the African context
• Sustainable urban development
• Urban planning in cities
• Spatial ineuality

Current research students

• Wanjie Xu (with Amin Kamete and Bilge Serin): Tourism-led rural gentrification in peripheries of large inland cities in China
• Grace Deane (with George Onatu): Addressing spatial inequality through the management of mega housing projects: A case of Matlosana Local Municipality [This is jointly supervised for a student based at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa]

Course Convenor

• Planning Systems and Procedures (URBAN5157)
• Contemporary Planning Systems (URBAN5081) (2024/25)

Postgraduate Teaching Contributions

Present

• Sustainable Urban Futures (URBAN5093)
• Spatial Planning Strategies (URBAN5046)
• Economics of Planning and Development Lab (URBAN5037)
• Designing Places (URBAN5010)

Past

• Professional Practice, Ethics and Management (URBAN5091)
• Governance and Markets (URBAN5085)
• Contemporary Planning Systems (URBAN5081) (co-course convenor with Dr Amin Kamete - 2021/22 and 2023/24)
• Understanding Public Policy (URBAN5093)
• US Research Design, Methods and Ethics (URBAN5119)
• Researching Public Policy (URBAN5135)

Undergraduate Teaching Contributions

• Foundations of Welfare (SPP1A)
• Understanding Glasgow (SPP1B)

Dissertation Supervision

• REPR Programme (URBAN5054P)
• Public Policy Programme (URBAN5080P)
• Honours Social and Public Policy
• Joint Nankai-Glasgow Programme

Awards

• Teaching contribution award as part of the Public Policy and Management team (2021).
• I was awarded first place for the South African Cities Network Young Planners and Designers Competition 2020: Planning for the Future of our Cities (2020).

Creative Output

I participated in an international collaborative partnership focusing on creative pedagogies. The output of this collaborative project was a vlog titled "Transnational Campus Conversations - Building Bridges Between Culture and Identity". The vlog was uploaded to YouTube and is available here.

Professional Memberships/Affiliations

• Professional Planner of South African Council for Planners (SACPLAN)
• Member of the Golden Key International Honour Society