This week on Womanity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Dr. Niké Wesch, Senior Lecturer in Urban and Regional Planning at North-West University. She shares her journey, research, and vision for building more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban environments. Her work sits at the intersection of climate science, urban planning, and social transformation, bringing a uniquely integrated perspective to the challenges facing modern cities.

A Career Path that Blends Creativity and Logic

Dr. Wesch initially considered a path in graphic design, however, she discovered planning through a suggestion that aligned with both her creative instincts and analytical strengths. Part of her appeal for the field is driven by the ability to combine creativity and logic, a duality that continues to inspire her work today.

A defining feature of Dr. Wesch’s work is the integration of multiple disciplines. Urban planning, as she describes it, draws from economics, sociology, geography, and environmental science, allowing for a holistic understanding of cities as complex, living systems. This interdisciplinary lens enables more effective and innovative solutions to urban challenges.

Research Focus: Climate Change, Air Quality, and Urban Resilience

As Chair of the Climate Change and Air Quality Impacts sub-programme, Dr. Wesch is deeply engaged in understanding how environmental factors affect urban life. Her research explores:

The impact of climate change on cities
Air quality and public health
Sustainable urban mobility
Data-driven urban analytics

Her work contributes to designing cities that are not only environmentally sustainable but also equitable and liveable. Transformative urbanism reimagines cities to improve quality of life for all residents. Dr Wesch emphasises the importance of evidence-based planning and the role of data in shaping policies that address inequality, mobility challenges, and environmental risks.

Inspiration and Advice for the Next Generation

Optimal urban planning takes context into account and addresses the needs of the community it is designed to serve. Dr Wesch remarks that transport is one of our biggest contributors to urban emissions, which affects air quality, and contributes to climate change. Women specifically are more likely to rely on public transport and non-motorized transport and to make complex trip chains as part of their care responsibilities and also experience safety concerns. So inclusive mobility planning is critical for both climate justice, but also for women in particular.

Dr. Wesch highlights the role of women in shaping urban futures and shares a range of upcoming opportunities for young women considering careers in urban planning or environmental science. The world is full of opportunties, and her closing message is “You should just go ahead and take up every opportunity that you can”

Tune in for more…