Internationally renowned liveable city advisor and social marketing strategist, Gil Penalosa is passionate about cities for people. Gil advises decision makers on creating vibrant and healthy cities for all: from 8 to 80. His focus is walking and cycling as activities as well as the design and use of great parks, streets and other public spaces.

As Executive Director of the Canadian non-profit organization 8-80 Cities, Gil’s tireless commitment to fostering healthy communities remains front and centre. Because of his unique blend of pragmatism and passion, Gil’s leadership and advice has been sought out by many cities and organizations around the world. 


A speaker in high demand, Gil has been delivering keynotes which inspire audiences throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

Gil’s presentations draw on his experience and successes in both the private and public sector. As former Commissioner of Parks, Sport and Recreation for the City of Bogotá, Colombia Gil successfully led the design and development of over 200 parks of which Simón Bolívar, a 360 hectare park is the best known; here they created the Summer Festival, with over 100 events in 10 days and more than 3 million people attending making it the main recreational and cultural event in the country. Gil’s team also initiated the “new Ciclovia”—car-free Sundays— today an internationally recognized weekly program which sees over 1.3 million people walk, run, skate and bike along 121 kilometers of Bogotá’s city roads.

Gil also works as Senior Consultant for the renowned Danish firm Gehl Architects. He serves on the Boards of Directors of City Parks Alliance, USA, Ciclovias of the Americas, and Senior Advisor to Velo-City Vancouver 2012, the International Sport and Culture Association ISCA, StreetFilms and ParticipACTION Canada.