Alice Charles has 20 years’ experience at the intersection of infrastructure, data and city development, she is Director for Cities, Planning & Design at Arup, advising governments and city leaders worldwide on how to deliver smarter, more resilient urban systems. Her work focuses on how digital infrastructure — from data platforms and digital twins to AI-enabled planning — is reshaping transport, housing and energy systems, and enabling more proactive, connected public services.

She previously led Cities, Infrastructure & Urban Services at the World Economic Forum, where she worked on global infrastructure strategy, digital transformation and the future of cities, and continues to shape international thinking through partnerships with organisations such as the UN Global Compact and the Earthshot Prize Cities programme.