EIT Urban Mobility Emerging Leaders

Join the 2025 EIT Urban Mobility Emerging Leaders cohort

A modern leadership program

The EIT Urban Mobility Emerging Leaders program fosters the ongoing professional development of high-potential leaders within the public sector, equipping them with leadership soft skills needed to drive innovation and tackle the complexities of modern urban mobility. This six-month, participant-led program brings together 8–10 rising leaders from cities and public transport authorities across Europe, encouraging innovation and collaboration.

Are you our next urban leader?

The EIT Urban Mobility Emerging Leaders Program is designed for the next generation of urban mobility leaders. Candidates must be:

Nominated by a senior figure in their city council - Such as the head of their organisation, senior executives, city council leaders or leaders from organisations involved in urban transformation projects, including public transport authorities
Based in Europe – Based in a city or metropolitan area with a population of more than 300,000 inhabitants
Professionals in the public sector – Working in a city council, public transport authority, or a related public entity (urban planners, city officials, public sector project managers)
Mid to senior-level leaders – Holding a technical or strategic role in urban mobility or governance
Agents of change – Actively involved in urban transformation initiatives
Committed to impact – Driven to shape the future of sustainable and inclusive urban mobility
Team leader – Capable of balancing leadership and teamwork dynamics through a growth mindset

Be bold

Emerging Leaders will enable you to take the next step in shaping the future of your city. You will gain the leadership skills and vision you need to bring about meaningful change, and open the doors to career growth through executive coaching and discussions with senior leaders.

Be heard

Do you want to participate more actively at the policy making level? Make your expertise count by elevating your voice in the right places. Through Emerging Leaders, you will have the opportunity to learn from your peers and exchange knowledge.

Feel supported

Through Emerging Leaders, you will be one of a new wave of urban leaders where technical expertise drives policy. The opportunity for peer-to-peer interaction and support doesn’t stop after the program has ended. You will be able to join our unique alumni network and pay it forward by supporting new alumni network members’ growth as well.

How to be nominated for the program

Participants need to be nominated by senior figures in city councils, such as the head of their organisation, senior executives, city council leaders or leaders from organisations involved in urban transformation projects, including public transport authorities.

To join our next cohort starting in October 2025, nominators must fill out the nomination form. Our team will inform selected candidates.

Nominate today

Unlock your potential with this professional development program

Following a successful launch in Barcelona in May 2024, the EIT Urban Mobility Emerging Leaders Program has brought transformative experiences to seven cities across Europe through an alternative learning experience.

The 2025 edition builds on this foundation, offering a six-month program with approximately 40 hours of tailored professional development. Emerging Leaders is a hybrid training program blending immersive in-person sessions with interactive online learning to maximise flexibility and growth.

This participant-driven program thrives on active engagement from both participants and their organisations, fostering a cycle of continuous learning and collaboration applied to the urban planning and sustainable mobility sector.

Our pillars

The program is built on a series of interconnected pillars that reinforce each other, creating a continuous process of learning and impact for participants’ career development. Over six months, participants will engage in the following activities:

The Learning Circle

Participants draw on each other’s experiences and insights to explore future leadership challenges and enhance their skills to deal with those challenges. Each learning circle is bespoke, its composition and outcomes unique to each set of participants.

Coaching

Many future leaders may never have experienced the benefit of focused coaching. The program provides a short, time-optimised series of executive coaching sessions where participants can explore their personal leadership goals and aspirations.

The Conversation

Experienced professionals recognise that leadership is a craft. The program offers participants the opportunity to meet with experienced senior leaders and explore their approach to leadership in unscripted, closed-door sessions.

The Conference

Participants are invited to join and shape a bespoke conference with their peers, people from their cities and guests. They will explore leadership challenges for the workforce of the future, including how to deal with the pace of change, cultivate trust, drive positive impact, and create shared value.

The Community

The program is participant-centred, meaning that total commitment and participation from future leaders and their cities will drive a growth loop of benefits. On completion, participants are invited to remain as part of the alumni community of practice to maintain ongoing collaboration and connection.

Be a part of the next generation of city leaders to drive sustainable urban change

Join a unique participant-led program that offers tailored leadership development and access to a strong alumni network for ongoing collaboration and impact across Europe.

Why should you join?

Boost your career by developing leadership skills that shape the future of your city
Expand your influence by engaging effectively with policymakers and stakeholders
Join a network of changemakers in a growing community that’s committed to urban mobility innovation

Download the brochure (PDF)

Program pricing

The program fee is €5,000 per participant.

For the 2025 Fall cohort, EIT Urban Mobility will cover 40% of the program cost, reducing the fee to €3,000 per organisation. Additional financial support may be available for cities with significant needs.

Any associated travel costs will be covered by the participating organisation. 

Please contact emerging.leaders@rmit.edu.au for further assistance.

Emerging Leaders cohort #2 2025

Hinesh Mehta, London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham

Hinesh Mehta is part of the second cohort of Emerging Leaders, nominated by the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham. He leads the council’s climate strategy and sustainable transport initiatives to help achieve net zero emissions by 2030.

Olev Parts, City of Tallinn

Olev Parts, a member of the second cohort of the Emerging Leaders program, is a transport policy expert leading Tallinn’s Public Transport Operations and Infrastructure Unit. From managing daily services to driving long-term mobility strategies, Olev is at the forefront of transforming urban transport in Estonia’s capital.

Jack Kavanagh, City of Dublin

Meet Jack Kavanagh, Open Data Lead for Smart Dublin and a participant of the Emerging Leaders program, cohort 2. His work spans mobility planning, digital twin development and leadership.

Leire Balzategui, City of Vitoria-Gasteiz

Meet Leire Balzategui, an Emerging Leader nominated by Vitoria Mobility Lab, who is leading innovative projects in transport modelling and mobility planning.

Nuria Blanco Caballero, City of Las Rozas

Meet Nuria Blanco Caballero, a participant in the second cohort of the Emerging Leaders program, who is shaping the future of mobility in Las Rozas through people-centred, impact-driven projects.

Áron Halász, City of Budapest

Meet Áron Halász, a participant in the second cohort of the Emerging Leaders program, whose innovative work enhances sustainable mobility in Budapest.

Emerging Leaders cohort #1 2024

Julia Azpiroz de Achával, Barcelona

“Urban mobility is key to reducing social and territorial inequalities”

Péter Dalos, Budapest

“We started with the seeds; now we have a jungle”

Lianne Cassar, Malta

“It’s my dream to replicate this program on local levels”

Jordi Marfà Vives, Barcelona

“It’s important to develop the skills to listen, understand and negotiate”

Silvia Demetri, Milan

“In urban mobility, we have to practise what we preach”

Sayalee Pendharkar, Munich

"I want to actively contribute to discussions with policymakers on mobility transformation"

Kate Riggs, Croydon

“I think urban mobility is still a work in progress with everyone learning from each other all the time"

Hear from past participants

Péter Dalos, Budapest

"The program enhanced my self-awareness and people management skills. It was an empowering learning experience in an engaging international environment. I highly recommend it to professionals seeking to develop their leadership capabilities and connect with a global network!"

Julia Azpiroz de Achával, Barcelona

"An incredible opportunity for personal and professional growth! The program offered valuable tools and insights within a supportive environment to develop as a leader. Learning alongside peers from diverse cities and backgrounds was enriching, highlighting our shared challenges and aspirations."

Silvia Demetri, Milan

"The program helped me connect with young professionals across Europe and build a strong network. It offered fresh perspectives on leadership and practical ways to apply its principles across all levels of teamwork."

Ready to lead?

Be a part of the next cohort of emerging leaders and join our community of innovators shaping tomorrow's cities.

For any queries, please get in touch emerging.leaders@rmit.edu.au

Nominate today

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