Gil
Penalosa
Helping You Create 8 & 80 Cities, for Everyone
Gil’s
Call to Action
Good Intentions are NOT Enough.
Cities should make living
Older, Healthier, Happier
The Easy Choice.
Neighborhood-Cities that are
sustainable, equitable, and
playful, to attract and retain
people and businesses.
Who is Gil
Gil (Guillermo) Penalosa has a unique blend of experience, knowledge and pragmatism that has taken him to work in over 350 cities around the world.
In Bogotá, Colombia, he led the construction of over 200 parks, and transformed a small program called Ciclovia into the world’s largest ‘linear park’, over 120 km, where every Sunday and Holiday over 1.5 million people of all ages and backgrounds come out to walk, bike, run, shop, and mostly, to enjoy the presence of each other.
He’s a sought-after keynote speaker in multiple topics, for his capacity to inspire, open minds, get people moving from talking to doing. He is a Certified Professional Speaker.
Gil’s Main Topics
Services
Offered by Gil

Inspirational Keynotes

Strategic Advising

Master Classes

Cities for Everyone WEBINAR
The 8 80 Cities Connection
Gil is the Founder & Chair of 8 80 Cities. After many years running the organization as Executive Director, he now serves as Chair of the Board of Directors.
8 80 Cities, Gil Penalosa & Associates, and Cities for Everyone, work closely on some projects when they require the strengths of more than one organization.
Gil’s Cities
Because of Gil’s unique blend of experience, pragmatism and passion, many cities and organizations worldwide seek his leadership and valuable advice.
He has worked in over 350 different cities in all continents. His work intersects with. a number of fields such as transportation, public health, urban planning, parks and recreation, environment, education, and economic development.
Testimonials
From the webinars
Madeleine Spencer & TJ Maguire • Placemaking: Participation & Belonging
Guests: Madeleine T. Spencer • Principal, Diamond Heart Enterprises, USA and Thomas (TJ) Maguire • Senior Urban Designer at Evergreen, Canada Key Takeaways ⇢ Designing for delight—playful “snot-and-drool” moments—makes places memorable and adored. ⇢ Embody kindness in...
Mayor Linda Buchanan • Building a Healthier City of North Vancouver. Canada’s 2024 Most Livable City
Guest: Linda Buchanan • Mayor City of North Vancouver Key Takeaways North Vancouver’s ambition is to become the “healthiest small city in the world” by placing public health at the center of urban planning and design. The city’s vision is rooted in the idea that every...
Giselle Sebag • How Thriving Cities Define Our Health, Happiness, and Future
Guest: Giselle Sebag • Executive Director Int. Society for Urban Health (ISUH) Key Takeaways The stark differences in life expectancy and health outcomes across neighbourhoods result from systemic urban planning decisions. Everyone—policymakers, planners, architects,...




