WASHINGTON, DC (May 1, 2023) — World Resources Institute (WRI) is pleased to announce that Cristina Albuquerque has been named as the new Global Electric Mobility Director at WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, where she will focus on managing and expanding WRI’s portfolio of work on electrifying public transportation globally.  

“We are at a crucial moment with electric mobility at the heart of cities’ climate policies,” said Rogier van den Berg, WRI Ross Center Global Director. “Cristina will lead our talented electric mobility teams operating in Latin America, Africa and Asia supporting cities in the green and just transition.”

Under the leadership of Urban Mobility Director Felipe Ramirez, Albuquerque will work to refine and manage WRI’s global strategy on e-mobility, seeking integration and collaboration within and outside the Cities team, including other WRI programs. This work includes the coordination of teams across multiple regions, including Asia, Africa and Latin America.

An expert in urban mobility issues and public transit systems, Albuquerque has been at WRI for about 13 years. Since 2018, she has been Senior Urban Mobility Manager in WRI Brasil, where she has worked to transform Brazil’s urban public transport system into a cleaner and more efficient model. As part of that work, she has led the support for nine Brazilian cities to develop and implement-e-bus projects in their fleets. She has supported similar projects in Colombia, Chile and Uruguay. She also spearheaded the growth of QualiÔnibus, a Fed Ex-funded program that guides Brazilian cities in using tools and forums to exchange experiences and share knowledge about how to improve public transit systems.

“Cristina has worked hand-in-hand with governments and different stakeholders to achieve a common goal: a better quality of life for everyone, said Ramirez. “She is a strong leader and a wonderful professional.”

Albuquerque has also worked as Urban Mobility Coordinator and Transport Engineer at WRI, where she began as an intern in 2010. In her various roles, she has provided advice and support to cities designing and implementing low-carbon, high-efficiency transport solutions and policies, including electrification of the transport sector, transport demand management, new sustainable mobility, among others.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) and a Master's degree in Transportation Systems from the same university. She also holds a Project Management Specialization at UFRGS.

She will start a two-month transition into the new role on May 2, and will be fully on board by July. She will be based in Porto Alegre, Brazil.


About World Resources Institute
World Resources Institute (WRI) is a global research organization with offices in Brazil, China, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Mexico and the United States, and regional offices for Africa and Europe. Our over 1,700 staff work with partners to develop practical solutions that improve people’s lives and ensure nature can thrive. Learn more: WRI.org and on Twitter @WorldResources.

About WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities
WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities is World Resources Institute’s program dedicated to shaping a future where cities work better for everyone. It enables more connected, compact and coordinated cities. The Center expands the transport and urban development expertise of the EMBARQ network to catalyze innovative solutions in other sectors, including air quality, water, buildings, land use and energy. It combines the research excellence of WRI with two decades of on-the-ground impact through a network of more than 370 experts working from Brazil, China, Colombia, Ethiopia, India, Mexico, Turkey and the United States to make cities around the world better places to live. More information at www.wrirosscities.org.