About Max Lock International Associates
MLIA is committed to the principle of ‘Planning by People’. Drawing on the concepts of civic diagnosis, community participation and sustainable development, the Centre continues the tradition of multi-disciplinary grassroots planning, developed over the last 60 years by the Max Lock Group both in the UK and overseas. We help governments, international agencies, and communities build resilient, thriving and socially and gender inclusive futures in even the most complex and challenging environments. We assist in developing evidence-based and participatory policy options and on capacity development drawing on our collective worldwide experience over many decades.
We offer specialised boutique technical consultancy services tailored through our partnerships with large management consulting firms. With an extensive network of experts cultivated over years of industry experience, MLIA has the capacity to provide in-depth technical support across diverse fields. Our consultants bring expertise in areas such as engineering, data science, spatial planning, and environmental management, complementing the strategic initiatives of management consultancies. By partnering with MLIA, management consultants gain access to a robust pool of technical professionals, ensuring comprehensive solutions that enhance project outcomes and drive client success.
About us
Alongside our core team, MLIA collaborates with a trusted network of highly experienced associates, recognised as global experts in their fields, as well as in-country specialists. This extensive network enables us to provide a diverse range of skills and local insights, ensuring tailored solutions and high-quality results across all our projects.
Tony Lloyd-Jones
Partner
Tony is a spatial planner and urban designer focused on international sustainable and resilient development. He is experienced in a wide range of development-related policy areas, with projects in dozens of countries worldwide over three decades.
Federico Redin
Partner
An architect and urban development expert working at the intersection of international development and humanitarian fields, with expertise in urban analysis, planning, and sustainable development.
Mark Wadsworth
Partner
Mark is an experienced land use planner and designer with almost 35 years’ experience working within both the public and private sectors, in urban and rural areas in the UK and overseas.
Dr. Nandini Dasgupta
Associate, based in UK
Nandini is a socio-economist, working at the interface of institutional and socio-economic issues, focused on the informal economy and SMEs in developing economies, and their role in global supply chains.
Dr. Robin Bloch
Associate
Robin is an urban and regional planner with 35 years of international experience across 30+ countries. He specializes in spatial planning, economic development, and environmental sustainability, focusing on flood risk management and urban resilience.
Associate, based in UK
Stephanie is a socially focused Urban Designer and Architect specialising in masterplanning, regeneration, and co-design. She advocates for diversity and contributes to global urban regeneration, including work with UN Habitat.
Stephanie Edwards
Lígia de Aquino Barbosa Magalhães
Associate, based in Switzerland
Andrés is an expert in human mobility and forced displacement with over a decade of experience in international organisations. He specialises in developing data-driven solutions for internal displacement and has considerable experience in education and in rural development through his work with the Colombian government.
Omotola Bankole
Associate, based in Nigeria
Omotola is an Urban Planner and Environmental Specialist with over a decade of experience in geospatial data collection and analysis. He has led large-scale projects in Northern Nigeria, specialising in household surveys, GIS mapping, and spatial data analysis, supporting sustainable development initiatives nationwide.
Geoffrey Payne
Associate, based in UK
Geoff is a globally recognised expert, Geoff has five decades of international experience in urban development, housing policy, land management, land tenure/property rights and project design issues in rapidly urbanising countries.
Andres Lizcano Rodriguez
Associate, based in Mexico
Lígia is a human rights advocate specialising in forced displacement and protection, with over ten years of experience in the non-profit sector in Latin America. Her expertise combines field experience with research-based advocacy, technical assistance, and capacity building.
Joshua Ashimwe
Associate, based in Rwanda
Joshua is a seasoned professional with over 15 years’ experience in Urban Planning, Architecture, Urban Design, and Infrastructure Development. His expertise includes sustainable urbanism, informal housing redevelopment, blue and green infrastructure, institutional development, and design across East Africa.
Ian McAllister
Associate, based in the Philippines
Ian is a dedicated public transport professional with comprehensive expertise and qualifications in the sector, known for his strategic approach to achieving goals, identifying challenges, and building effective stakeholder relationships.
Mike Mutter
Associate, based in UK
Michael has over 50 years of experience as a global people-led architect-planner having taken over from Max Lock as his partner responsible for the principle of ‘civic diagnosis in city design’ by living and working in the field with the local teams in developing countries.
Nahid Majid OBE
Associate, based in Uruguay
Gastón is a seasoned economist with over seven years of experience applying economic theory and data analytics to drive impactful business and policy solutions. He specialises in policy development, MSME growth, and sustainable development.
Gastón Bernheim Portela
Associate, based in UK
Nahid is an Urban Planner and Designer with over 25 years of global experience across public and private sectors, leading major infrastructure projects with a focus on sustainable, impactful development, inclusive urban planning, and innovative financing in global cities.