Gil
Penalosa
Helping You Create 8 & 80 Cities for Everyone
Gil’s Vision
is creating
‘Neighbourhood-Cities’
that are Equitable, Sustainable and fun, where everyone, especially Children and Olders, live Healthier and Happier.
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
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
What do Missing Middle Housing, Walkable Urbanism, Zoning Reform, More Resilient Communities, Have in Common?
Placemaking: Participation & Belonging
Key Takeaways ⇢ Designing for delight—playful “snot-and-drool” moments—makes places memorable and adored. ⇢ Embody kindness in design: small gestures of care ripple into broader social solidarity. ⇢ While individual “first acts” (unpaved road, treehouse, school...
Building a Healthier City of North Vancouver. Canada’s 2024 Most Livable City
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 decision should be evaluated based on its impact on...