Laura Frances is a part-time Research Associate with the SDSN Global Commission for Urban SDG Finance. Alongside her role with PennIUR, she is a professional urban planner and development strategist. She works with cities and developers on site planning, product-market fit, and vision setting for urban projects, focusing on smart growth and climate resilience. Her approach integrates human-centered technology and nature-based design. Laura has worked with clients across North America and Europe, including Hines, Allied London, Six Peak Capital, Edge Technologies, Centri Tech Foundation, and Two Trees.

She holds a master’s degree in City Planning with a Smart Cities concentration from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science from Northeastern University. Laura began her career in innovation policy, interning for the Obama White House, the Massachusetts Statehouse, and the European Parliament. Her development work and democracy campaign, Work the Polls, have been featured in publications like The New York Times, Crain’s, Brut, and Paper Magazine.