Simona Azzali

Simona Azzali is a senior lecturer and researcher in urban design at the Singapore campus of James Cook University where she coordinates the Master of Planning and Urban Design and teaches core, elective, and studio modules on disaster management, urban research methods, urban planning and sustainable urbanism. She is a member of JCU's Tropical Urbanism and Design Lab, an interdisciplinary team of geographers, architects, sociologists and planners interested in tropical urbanism, and JCU's Centre for International Trade and Business in Asia (CITBA). Prior to commencing her appointment at James Cook University, she worked and researched for various renowned academic institutions as the National University of Singapore, UCL London, Politecnico di Milano, and Qatar University.

Simona has published extensively and presented her work in international conferences in the field of urban studies and planning. Her teaching experience covers four different universities in Milan, Doha, and Singapore where she has taught core modules, elective courses, and studios. She has also contributed to organizing several events, workshops, and initiatives on urban design and architecture topics. Simona's academic interests on issues in the fields of urban design and planning in tropical Asian cities; liveability and sustainability of public open spaces; Arab cities; urban regeneration and renewal processes; walkability and pedestrianization; spatial practices of migrant communities; environment-behaviour studies; mega sporting events and their impact on the built environment.

Simona actively supervises students in the Master of Planning and Urban Design and Doctor of Philosophy and is interested in receiving inquiries from prospective PhD and Masters by Research candidates with research experience and interests in urban planning and design in the Arab or tropical world. Scholarship funding is available through the James Cook University Postgraduate Research Scholarships.

Research Projects

• Measuring social and physical wellbeing of age-friendly residential buildings: the Silver Population Wellbeing Index

• Tropical Constrained Environments, Sustainable Adaptations: Businesses and Communities

• 1st Sustainable Tropical Urbanism Symposium: Tropical cities in a warming world

• World Cup 2022 and its impact on the city of Doha

• Urban Qualities and Emerging Knowledge Based Economies

• TUDLab projects