Ebru Kurt Özman

PhD, Alumni

I am an urban geographer and a hold a PhD in Geography and Planning at the University of Amsterdam (UvA). I hold a BSc and MSc in Urban and Regional Planning from Istanbul Technical University (ITU), where I gained extensive teaching and research experience. My research explores the socio-spatial and socio-political dynamics of entrepreneurial urban governance, urban regeneration, and policy networks.

I have received prestigious grants, including the Urban Planning Large Grant from the Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR) and a fellowship from the Netherlands Institute in Turkey (NIT). I have contributed to impactful projects such as the ORA-funded What is Governed in Cities (WHIG), a comparative study of governance frameworks in London, Amsterdam, and Paris. As a member of the Urban Governance Research Network (UGoveRN), I employ interdisciplinary and mixed-methods approaches to address complex urban policy challenges. Additionally, I train professionals in sustainability practices through Turkey’s Green Energy Certification Program for Buildings and Settlements (YES-TR).

Research title

Pathways of Entrepreneurial Urban Governance: Spatial Dynamics and Community Politics in Urban Regeneration.

Question

How do entrepreneurial governance frameworks, implemented through regeneration projects, enable urban actors to navigate, challenge, and reshape governance structures?

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