Ilektra Kouloumpi

Senior Cities Strategist, Circle Economy

Ilektra Kouloumpi is a Senior Cities Strategist at Circle Economy, and leads the Thriving Cities team, designing a journey for cities to become socially just and environmentally safe places within planetary boundaries. The programme takes the Doughnut Economics model of Kate Raworth and downscales it to the city level, turning it into a practical tool for transformative action. 

At Circle Economy, Ilektra has also led the Circle City Scans team and worked together with cities in Europe, USA, and Asia helping them to implement circular economy strategies and pilot projects on the ground. 

Prior to Circle Economy, Ilektra has conducted research projects on smart & sustainable urbanism at TU Berlin and on EU policies for the built environment at Buildings Performance Institute of Europe in Brussels, while she has also worked as sustainability and buildings engineer for the international firm Arup in Amsterdam.  

A fond lover of people and groups working creatively, and deeply curious about new ways of living in harmony with nature, Ilektra has designed and led participatory processes for city changemakers in multiple countries across the world, while she often lectures and presents in conferences, universities and international events about thriving cities and societies.