Penelope Vasquez Hadjilyra was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Republic in 1987 and grew up in Limassol, Cyprus. She is an architect, researcher and active citizen.
From 2022 to 2025, she was the project coordinator for the Limassol Municipality's participation in the European Mission "100 Climate Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030", while also contributing to the design and implementation of innovative actions aimed at facilitating and improving the daily lives of Limassol residents.
She has worked as a municipal officer in the field of urban planning control and the enforcement of urban planning regulations, gaining substantial knowledge of legislation, the functioning of local government and the challenges of implementing policy in practice.
Today, she collaborates with research institutes and innovation centres to develop and implement solutions in the areas of urban greenery, mobility, and energy, while also participating in initiatives that promote sustainable mobility, road safety, and the fair redesign of public spaces.
He runs the architectural research workshop 'the way space begins' in Limassol, which focuses on construction project management and the restoration of listed buildings, and is an active member of professional and scientific committees.
She is the author of the award-winning children's book "Karolina Eats the Seasons", published in Greek in 2021 and in English in 2022, with the aim of cultivating environmental awareness from an early age, and is a Climate Ambassador for the European Commission.
She is a PhD candidate in Architecture at Frederick University and a graduate of the Architecture Research Centre at the University of Nicosia (DipArch Hons, summa cum laude), as well as the Leicester School of Architecture at De Montfort University, graduating with awards for academic excellence and innovation.
Penelope is a partner, mother, daughter and sister - roles that coexist and shape the way she perceives care, responsibility and collective life.
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