For over 20 years, Maria Pia Ancora has led climate-resilient urban development programs and environmental policy advisory in Asia, focusing on water, energy, air pollution, and recently circular economy. Since 2019, she has overseen the Asian Development Bank’s urban, water, and climate programs in the South Caucasus, emphasizing digital tools. An Italian native, she holds a Master’s in Environmental Engineering and Land Use Planning from Trento University and a PhD in Environmental Science and Engineering from Tsinghua University.