Ana Jones-Wilenius is a doctoral researcher and urban planner at the Finland Futures Research Centre (FFRC), University of Turku. Her focus is on interdisciplinary research initiatives that investigate the nature of change and its effect on the social environment of cities globally.  Ana’s research uses systems and complexity theory, trends, cycles, participatory method and processes that look into human-nature relationships in the context of urban social systems reflecting on critical perspectives and possible futures for cities. In addition, Ana’s expertise in communication and podcasting further enhances her ability to engage diverse stakeholders and disseminate knowledge in the field of international urban development, and the futures and foresight field.

Ana joined the FFRC in 2018 as a lead researcher in the project Green-In Turku: Towards a Greener Urban Future investigating transferable initiatives to potentially increase livability and cohesion in Turku's city center. She then went on to lead other urban research projects including the GreeningUrbanFutures Podcast funded by the Maj and Tor Nessling Foundation (2018-2019).  Her most recent collaboration was with the co-creation project–FoReCi, a cross-disciplinary effort between the Centre for East Asian Studies (CEAS), the Finland Futures Research Centre (FFRC) and the Deputy of Green and Digital Transformation Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN) aimed to use foresight methods and tools to explore the images of the  future held by local residents towards Indonesia's new capital city-Nusantara.

In my doctoral research I am working on a conceptual framework i have named Greensight which is based on systems concepts to study human-nature relationsships in integrated strategic planning processes. Applying systems theory and mixed-methods used in futures studies, my research carries a strong societal relevance and understanding of urban social change in diverse environments. 

My interest areas in teaching are on the future of international sustainable urban development.  As an international, I am interested in exploring with diverse groups, the unique characteristics, evolutionary journey, patterns and trends that cities evolve into and the elements that make societies unique, similar, different, and sustain over time. I wish to stimulate diversity and inclusion, and contribute to simplify our understanding of the world.