Aamena Desai
About Aamena Desai
Aamena Desai is an Urban Designer currently working at the University of the Witwatersrand and Arup, with extensive experience in urban design and architecture.
Current Roles and Positions
Aamena Desai serves as a Sessional Lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand since 2020. Concurrently, she is an Urban Designer at Arup, where she has been employed since 2015. Her work at these institutions involves both teaching and applied urban design, integrating academic insights with practical applications.
Previous Professional Experience
Before her current roles, Aamena Desai worked as an Urban Designer at Luyanda Mpahlwa Design Space Africa in Cape Town from 2009 to 2015. She began her professional career as a junior architect at Albonico Sack Mzumara in Durban, working there from 2007 to 2008. These experiences provided a foundation in both technical design and urban planning.
Educational Background and Qualifications
Aamena Desai holds a Master’s Degree in Urban Design and City Planning from the University of Cape Town, obtained between 2009 and 2013. She completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture at the University of KwaZulu-Natal from 2002 to 2006. Additionally, she has an MSc in Business Economics from Imperial College Business School, earned between 2018 and 2019. She also attended Boston University Questrom School of Business for Urban Power and Influence and Wits Business School for Women in Leadership, both courses completed between 2017 and 2018.
Focus on Urban Design Strategies
Aamena Desai focuses on developing urban design strategies that integrate spatial, economic, governance, and institutional structures to deliver impactful urban infrastructure projects. Her work emphasizes the importance of comprehensive planning that addresses multiple facets of urban living.
Research Interests
Aamena Desai engages in research that explores the future of cities, focusing on strategic planning and urban design. Her research aims to uncover innovative solutions for urban challenges and to inform the development of sustainable, resilient urban environments.
Transition to Strategic Roles
Aamena Desai has transitioned from a purely technical role in design to a more strategic position in urban planning and research. This shift allows her to leverage her extensive technical background while contributing to broader urban development strategies and policy-making.