Petra Hurtado is the Research Director at the American Planning Association in Chicago, IL. In addition to managing APA’s research team, she is heading the Green Communities program with a research focus on the integration of technology, community, and nature; including topics such as sustainable planning practices, smart cities, planning and equity, and nature-based solutions. Prior to joining APA, Petra worked as an advisor, researcher and educator in the global urban sustainability arena, where she collaborated with the public, private and academic sectors in the U.S., Europe, and South America. Petra has a PhD in Urban Planning, focused on urban sustainability and environmental psychology, from the Vienna University of Technology, where she teaches the course “Psychology of Urban Sustainability.” She authored and co-authored multiple books, research papers, and articles.