Abigail Friendly

Abigail Friendly is an Assistant Professor in Spatial Planning at Utrecht University's Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, part of the Faculty of Geosciences. Previously, she held a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto. She earned her PhD in Planning from the University of Toronto's Department of Geography and Planning.

Her research focuses on urban planning, international development, and governance, particularly in Latin America. Key themes include participatory planning, spatial justice, urban policy in Brazil and Canada, and housing challenges in the Global South. She has published extensively on topics such as urban vacancy in São Paulo, activist co-production in Rio de Janeiro, and the evolution of housing policies in Mexico.

Dr. Friendly teaches courses on urban governance and policies at Utrecht University. She has also served as a visiting professor at the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Her work emphasizes qualitative research methods and the intersection of theory and practice in urban development.

Her recent publications highlight trends in participatory planning mechanisms, the role of urban social movements, and the governance of metropolitan areas. She collaborates with international scholars and institutions, contributing to debates on sustainable urban development and equity.