Leading the Transformation of Europe's Cities - Anna Lisa Boni

Europe’s cities are rapidly transforming as they seek to respond to the challenges they face and create good places to live for their citizens. Affordable housing, efficient transportation, welcoming immigrants, healthcare, effective stewardship of the environment, good quality education, leisure and recreation, and strengthening and extending democratic citizen participation are some of the challenges that cities are tackling today. Information technology provides many tools that will help them to do this and at the same time must be managed carefully to ensure risks to citizen privacy and welfare are addressed.

Anna Lisa Boni is the Secretary General of Eurocities, which is the network of 198 European cities, representing them to the European Commission and Parliament and other institutions and supporting and leading a very active urban community network, online and in live events. She discusses the challenges that cities face and their efforts to improve the lives of their citizens today and in the future. Eurocities’ website has a wealth of resources on the activities of Europe’s cities today.

Anna Lisa Boni has been secretary general of EUROCITIES since June 2014. She has 25 years of professional experience in EU public affairs in the field of local and regional government and has successfully worked for a stronger recognition of cities’ challenges within the European agenda.
Her aim is to act in a way that best serves European cities as key players in the European project and centres for generating renewal and growth. Anna Lisa has a Masters degree from the University of Bologna in political science, and from the University of Leuven in European studies.