Suneela Ahmed | Urban Studies | Best Researcher Award

Associate Professor,Indus valley school of Art and Architecuture

Dr. Suneela Ahmed is an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Architecture at Indus Valley School (IVS), Karachi. She holds a PhD in Urban Design from Oxford Brookes University, a Master’s in Urban Management from the University of Canberra, and a Bachelor’s in Architecture from IVSAA, Karachi. With over two decades of academic and professional experience, she has served at NED University and as Principal Architect at MAK Architects. Her research focuses on urban resilience, informal settlements, and architectural pedagogy. She has authored books and peer-reviewed publications on Karachi’s urban landscape and sustainability. A sought-after speaker, she contributes to international conferences, research collaborations, and advisory roles in urban planning. She integrates critical regionalism and sustainability into her teaching and practice. Dr. Ahmed’s work bridges the gap between academia and practice, making her a significant voice in Pakistan’s architectural discourse.

profile

scholar

🎓 Education

PhD (Urban Design) (2016) – Oxford Brookes University, UK   Master’s in Urban Management (2004) – University of Canberra, Australia   Bachelor’s in Architecture (2000) – Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, Karachi

💼 Work Experience 

Head of Department / Associate Professor (2022-Present) – Indus Valley School (IVS), Karachi   Associate Professor / Post Graduate Coordinator (2021-2022) – NED University, Karachi  Assistant Professor (2010-2021) – NED University, Karachi   Adjunct Faculty (2019-2022) – Indus Valley School, Karachi   Adjunct Faculty / Research Assistant (2004-2010) – NED University, Karachi  Principal Architect (2005-Present) – MAK Architects  Assistant Architect (2001-2002) – ASA (Pvt.) Ltd., Karachi

🏆 Awards & Honors

Recognized expert in urban planning and architectural research  Published multiple books and peer-reviewed journal articles  Speaker at international conferences on urban design & resilience  Contributor to major urban research collaborations  Active reviewer for academic journals in architecture and planning  Awarded funding for research projects and urban development studies

🔬 Research Focus

Urban resilience – Studying adaptation in informal settlements  Sustainable urban design – Integrating sustainability into city planning  Architectural pedagogy – Innovations in architectural education Housing policies – Impact of rental laws on urban housing  Heritage preservation – Documenting Karachi’s architectural history  Public space transformation – Evaluating city design changes  Social resilience – Exploring informal networks in urban settings

🏅 Conclusion

Dr. Suneela Ahmed’s extensive research, academic leadership, and professional expertise make her a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award. Her contributions to urban design, sustainable architecture, and cultural heritage preservation have had a lasting impact in Pakistan and beyond. Strengthening international collaborations and increasing the global reach of her work could further solidify her standing as a leading researcher in the field.

publication

• How People Face Evictions – Y Cabannes, SG Yafi, C Johnson – 33 citations

 

• Planning for High Density in Low-Income Settlements: Four Case Studies from Karachi – A Hasan, A Sadiq, S Ahmed – 23 citations

 

• Examining Challenges Experienced by Street Vendors in the Global South: Case of Karachi – N Ahmed, S Ahmed, SU Ahmed – 8 citations

 

• Planning for High Density in Low-Income Areas: A Case Study from Karachi – A Hasan, A Sadiq, S Ahmed – 5 citations

 

• Predicaments and Possibilities Experienced by Homeless in Karachi – N Ahmed, S Ahmed, S Ahmed – 4 citations

 

• Loss of Intrinsic Qualities of Urban Form and Local Social Processes in the Face of Globalisation: Case of Karachi’s Old Town – S Ahmed – 3 citations

 

• Why Integrated Solid Waste Management is So Elusive – Learning from Africa and Asia – J Beall, M Ali, S Ahmed, S Ahmed, H Desta, E Gebremariam, NF da Cruz – 2 citations

 

• Impacts of Judicial Verdicts on Land Acquisition Practices for Real Estate in Pakistan – N Ahmed, S Ahmed, S Ahmed – 2 citations

 

• Examining the Usage of City Walls for Wall Chalking: Cases from Karachi, Pakistan – N Ahmed, S Ahmed – 2 citations

 

• Urban Morphologies, Design Qualities, and the Decision-Making Process in Relationship to Maqamiat: Case of Karachi, Pakistan – S Ahmed – 2 citations