Patrick Boel is advisor and partner in urban development. He works for companies, not-for-profit organizations and public institutions, with a special focus on economic development, property redevelopment and stakeholders participation. Boel began his career in 1978 as a city planner in urban rehabilitation. Working in Western and Central Europe, Russia and the Caucasus he has gained wide and international experience as social entrepreneur, consultant, project developer and director. Age and experience enable him to see complex situations in a broader context in order to get to the essence. Since 2008 he works in urban development with its wide range of (conflicting) interests and long term development processes. At present he focuses on economic and community development in a period of economic crisis and retreating local government. The challenge is a new role for entrepreneurs and citizens. Social entrepreneurship and renewed citizenship become main stream in all sectors of business and society. As a citizen he is practising this new role in his own neighbourhood in many local initiatives. As an advisor he uses this practical hands-on experience to develop new concepts and methods for bottom-up urban renewal. |