Emilia Saiz is trained in European Studies and Law and specialises in international law and local governance in the information society. She has worked for United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) since 1997, leading various projects on institutional capacity building, social inclusion, women’s empowerment, the international movement of local and regional governments, and international cooperation.

She has been the Secretary-General of the UCLG and is Co-Chair of the Gender Programme of the Cities Alliance, a global alliance that fights against urban poverty and works on sustainable development in cities.