Simona Azzali is an urban designer and scholar at Canadian University Dubai, where she teaches design and urbanism and leads studio projects focused on public space, placemaking, and inclusive city-making. Her current work centres on walkability, tactical urbanism, and climate-responsive design in Gulf cities. She frequently speaks at regional and international conferences and talks, mentors student teams on real-world briefs, and collaborates with cultural institutions and academic partners on research and public programs related to the public realm. As a member of City Space Architecture, she contributes to global knowledge-sharing on public space.