Cassie Kozyrkov
Google's First Chief Decision Scientist | Founder, Decision Intelligence | CEO, Kozyr | Adviser to NASA, Gucci & Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Enrique Peñalosa
Two-Time Mayor of Bogotá | Creator of the TransMilenio BRT System | Global Authority on Sustainable Cities & Mobility | Author of City, Equality, Happiness | TED Speaker
Enrique Peñalosa is one of the world's most influential thinkers on cities, and a two-time Mayor of Bogotá who proved a city can be rebuilt for people rather than cars. Creator of the TransMilenio transit system now copied worldwide, he champions mobility, public space, and green design as questions of equality. On stage, he challenges audiences to rethink what a city is actually for.
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Enrique Peñalosa biography
Enrique Peñalosa is one of the world’s most influential thinkers on cities, and living proof that a mayor can fundamentally change how a metropolis works. As two-time Mayor of Bogotá, he acted on a radical, simple conviction, that a city should be built for people rather than cars, and that quality public space and mobility are not luxuries but questions of equality and democracy. The transformation he led in one of Latin America’s largest capitals has since inspired mayors and planners on every continent.
The sustainability speaker Enrique Peñalosa served as Mayor of Bogotá across two terms (1998-2001 and 2016-2019), where he created the TransMilenio Bus Rapid Transit system, a model of affordable mass transit now copied by cities around the world, alongside hundreds of kilometers of protected bike paths, sidewalks, parks, libraries, and pedestrian greenways concentrated in the city’s poorest districts. He launched Bogotá’s celebrated Car-Free Day and pursued land and housing policies designed to give lower-income residents a genuine stake in the city. His work reframed urban design as a tool for social equity.
Cities for People: Mobility, Equality, and Happiness
A globally sought-after advisor, Peñalosa has counseled national and city governments across Asia, Africa, Australia, Latin America, and the United States, served for over a decade as President of the Board of New York’s Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, and is a Fellow of the University of Pennsylvania’s Institute for Urban Research. An economist by training (Duke University) and a celebrated TED speaker, he distilled his philosophy in the book Ciudad, Igualdad, Felicidad (City, Equality, Happiness), which argues that the coming decades of urban growth in the developing world are a once-in-history chance to build cities that make people genuinely happier. His ideas carry particular weight because he did not just theorize them, he implemented them, against fierce opposition, and proved they work.
As a speaker, Enrique Peñalosa is passionate, provocative, and deeply humane, challenging audiences to rethink what a city is actually for. He speaks on building cities for people rather than cars, sustainable mobility and world-class public transport, urban equality and quality of life, and the leadership required to turn a bold vision into reality. Audiences leave seeing their own cities, and the possibility of changing them, in an entirely new light.
Enrique Peñalosa Speaking Videos
Enrique Peñalosa: Why buses represent democracy in action
Enrique Peñalosa - Public Symposium 2015
Enrique Peñalosa Keynote Topics
Peñalosa's central idea is that the design of a city is a political and moral choice about who it serves. He makes the provocative, evidence-backed case that prioritizing pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport over private cars produces cities that are not only more sustainable but more equal, safer, and happier, drawing directly on the transformation he led as Mayor of Bogotá.
Peñalosa created one of the world's most influential Bus Rapid Transit systems, proving that a developing-world city could deliver high-quality mass transit without the cost or timeline of a subway. He shares how TransMilenio was conceived, fought for, and built, and what any city, at any budget, can learn about moving millions of people affordably and with dignity.
For Peñalosa, great public space is where a democracy shows whether it truly values all its citizens equally. He explores how parks, sidewalks, libraries, and mobility, especially in a city's poorest areas, become powerful tools for social inclusion, and why the quality of everyday urban life is one of the most important measures of a just and competitive society.
Billions of people will live in cities that have not yet been built, most of them in the developing world. Peñalosa argues this represents an extraordinary, time-limited opportunity to get urban design right from the start. He offers leaders, planners, and investors a clear framework for building the affordable, sustainable, human-centered cities of the coming century.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Enrique Peñalosa
Why Enrique Peñalosa?
Booking Enrique Peñalosa gives audiences a globally respected urban visionary who didn't just imagine better cities but actually built one. As two-time Mayor of Bogotá, he created the TransMilenio transit system, hundreds of kilometers of bikeways, and a network of parks and public spaces that turned his city into an international model, and he did it as a matter of equality and democracy, against significant opposition. A celebrated TED speaker and advisor to governments on five continents, he delivers a passionate, provocative message that reframes how audiences think about cities, mobility, and quality of life. He is ideal for events on sustainability, cities and mobility, real estate, and leadership. To bring Enrique Peñalosa to your next event, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
Who is Enrique Peñalosa?
Enrique Peñalosa is a Colombian politician, urbanist, economist, and author, best known for serving two terms as Mayor of Bogotá (1998-2001 and 2016-2019). During his time in office he led a major transformation of the city, creating the TransMilenio Bus Rapid Transit system, extensive bike paths, parks, libraries, and pedestrian spaces, and championing a model of urban design centered on equity and people rather than cars. He has advised governments across Asia, Africa, Australia, Latin America, and the US, served as President of the Board of New York's ITDP, and is the author of Ciudad, Igualdad, Felicidad (City, Equality, Happiness).
What is the TransMilenio system Enrique Peñalosa created?
TransMilenio is the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system that Enrique Peñalosa created as Mayor of Bogotá, launched in 2000. It uses dedicated bus-only lanes, high-capacity vehicles, and station-based boarding to move large numbers of passengers quickly and affordably, delivering many of the benefits of a subway at a fraction of the cost and construction time. TransMilenio became one of the world's most studied and imitated transit models, influencing BRT systems in cities across Latin America, Asia, Africa, and beyond, and is central to Peñalosa's argument that even budget-constrained cities can offer dignified, world-class public transport.
What topics does sustainability speaker Enrique Peñalosa cover?
Enrique Peñalosa speaks on building cities for people rather than cars, sustainable mobility and Bus Rapid Transit, urban equality and quality of life, and the opportunity to build the cities of the developing world. His keynotes suit events on sustainability, cities and urbanism, mobility and transport, real estate, and leadership. To book Enrique Peñalosa as a speaker, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
How to book Enrique Peñalosa as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Enrique Peñalosa as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Enrique Peñalosa's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Enrique Peñalosa or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Enrique Peñalosa speaking fee?
Enrique Peñalosa speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Enrique Peñalosa to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Enrique Peñalosa.
How can I contact Enrique Peñalosa?
We only work with Enrique Peñalosa on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Enrique Peñalosa and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Enrique Peñalosa speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Enrique Peñalosa for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Enrique Peñalosa for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Enrique Peñalosa is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Enrique Peñalosa for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
