Helping Local Leadership Navigate a Global World
Project Highlights
Dr Hochadel runs large scale projects for both public and private clients around the world. The following is a sample of some of her recent work.
The Urban Lab at Expo City Dubai
Founded by Dr. Hochadel, the Urban Lab is Expo City Dubai’s flagship patform for rethinking how cities are run, built, and experienced. Positioned at the heart of one of the world’s most ambitious urban experiments, the Lab transforms the entire city into a live testbed—where new models of governance, data use, citizen engagement, and urban economics are trialed at scale. Its mission is not just to pilot technologies, but to rewrite the rules of how cities operate in the 21st century.
Through the Urban Lab, Dr. Hochadel launched Blueprint 2029, a radical, practice-based framework that helps cities move beyond outdated masterplans and towards agile, challenge-led innovation. From procurement reform to AI-enabled public services, the Lab offers a new playbook for future-ready cities—one grounded in experimentation, co-production, and real-world outcomes. No other initiative matches its ambition or whole-of-city scope.
Global City Innovation Twins
The Global City Innovation Twins programme, established by Dr Hochadel, establishes strategic partnerships between cities worldwide to foster innovation, economic growth, and sustainable development. By pairing cities with complementary strengths and challenges, the programme facilitates the exchange of knowledge, technology, and best practices to address urban issues effectively.
For example, the UK–Republic of Korea Innovation Twins Programme celebrates the longstanding diplomatic relations between the UK and South Korea by pairing cities such as Belfast and Sejong, Liverpool City Region and Busan, Birmingham and Ulsan, and Glasgow and Daegu. These collaborations aim to support job creation, promote shared socio-economic prosperity, and facilitate lasting research and innovation partnerships.
The programme focuses on three key areas:
Civic and policy knowledge exchange: Sharing governance strategies and policies to improve urban management.
Academic collaboration: Engaging in joint research initiatives to drive scientific and technological advancements.
Business collaboration: Encouraging partnerships between enterprises to stimulate economic growth and innovation.
By connecting cities globally, the Innovation Twins programme leverages shared knowledge and resources to tackle common challenges, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for citizens and promoting sustainable urban development.
A Message to City Leaders
Disruption isn’t the threat. Stagnation is. If you're leading a city today, you already know what you're up against:
- Shrinking budgets
- Rising public expectations
- Climate shocks and
- AI and automation changing how cities function
Most city systems weren’t built for this. They were designed for a slower, more predictable world — and they haven’t fundamentally changed in over a century.
Cities won’t survive the 21st century by looking backwards. Best practice will only get you what’s already been done — within a system that’s no longer fit for purpose.
If you want to lead, you have to think differently. You have to run your city differently. You need to ask: Where do we need to be by 2029? …because 2030 is too late.
And then use practical tools — and the growing network of reform-minded cities — to get there. And lastly, we can’t afford to ignore what really holds cities together. Culture isn’t decoration — it’s infrastructure. Cities that invest in creativity, identity, and civic pride build resilience, attract talent, and unlock new forms of value.
Upcoming Speaking Engagements…
ASTRI Tech Applied Summit, Hong Kong
Dr Hochadel is speaking on 10 February 2025 in Hong Kong at the ASTRI Tech Applied Summit on: Smart Cities – Technologies for a Better Tomorrow. Learn More
Previous Events…
Borneo, Malaysia World Congress
2 - 6 October: Dr Hochadel will be speaking at the World Congress on Innovation and Technology on: Decarbonising Cities
World Mayors Forum, Seoul, Korea
Dubai, Mobility ME Live Conference 2025
24th–25th of June 2025
Dr Hochadel will be speaking on: Transforming urban landscapes: the impact of clean & autonomous transportation on city design.
24 - 26 September: Dr Hochadel will be attending the World Mayors Forum in Seoul. The theme this year is “Liveable and Sustainable Cities: Forging an Inclusive and Resilient Future”.
Dr Hochadel’s BOOK:
Local Leadership in a Global Era: Policy and Behaviour Change in Cities
Praise for Local Leadership in a Global Era:
“Amy Hochadel has provided a practical set of policy recommendations for transformative, local city officials seeking to create entrepreneurial and sustainable global cities.” Keith Clarke, CBE, Chairman, Future Cities Catapult
“Local Leadership in a Global Era presents a unique look at the intersection of behaviour and policy in local government acting on the global stage. This book is a significant contribution to the body of literature in International Political Economy.” Leila Simona Talani, King's College London, UK
“Cities and local governments around the world are currently undergoing an exciting, dynamic and complex set of changes. In this important work Amy Hochadel provides a unique perspective to our understanding of 'how' and 'why' local elected officials are playing an increasingly influential role in the global marketplace.” Alan W. Cafruny, Hamilton College, USA