TOPO
The Full Story
Who We Are
Topo Strategies was founded by practitioners who have spent their careers working at the frontlines of housing policy, urban planning, legal reform, and development economics.
Our team has served as senior advisors to UN Special Rapporteurs, developed national housing legislation, designed municipal strategies, conducted research in conflict-affected areas, and worked with governments across five continents. We've operated at every level, from grassroots community engagement to international policy forums, and understand how to navigate the political, technical, and financial complexities that shape housing outcomes.
We've seen what works and what doesn't. We've watched as well-intentioned policies fail to deliver, and we've studied the interventions that succeed. This experience informs everything we do.
What Sets Us Apart
Making a Difference
Multidisciplinary Expertise
Informing & Empowering
Our team includes economists, urban planners, architects, and legal experts who work together to deliver comprehensive analysis and practical solutions.
Cross-Jurisdictional Knowledge
Insight & Understanding
We bring insights from housing systems around the world, helping clients learn from what's working elsewhere while remaining grounded in local context.
Legal & Economic Rigor
Experience & Proficiency
We understand housing law, development economics, planning regulations, and how to make technical analysis accessible to decision-makers.
Practical Orientation
Understanding & Implementation
We've implemented policy, not just designed it. We understand political constraints, budget realities, and the importance of building coalitions.
Climate Integration
Strategic & Informed
We know how to integrate climate resilience and sustainability into housing strategies without compromising on feasibility.
Meet the Team
Adam Almeida
Adam is a data analyst, specialising in real estate and private capital markets.
Julieta Perucca
Julieta is a leading expert on human rights, leading international work on the intersection of housing and climate change.
Kirsten McRae
Kirsten is a communications professional with expertise in global affairs, government and development policy, and climate change mitigation.
Latonya Ludford
Latonya is an urban innovation specialist with project management expertise helping municipalities across Canada develop housing and homelessness strategies.
Leilani Farha
Leilani Farha is one of the world's leading experts on housing and human rights, having served as UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Housing and developed global human rights standards on homelessness, housing financialization, and rights-based housing strategies.
Sam Freeman
Sam is a human rights advocate and researcher who has a decade of experience working to develop understanding on the normative content of the right to adequate housing and its application in wide-ranging contexts, whilst also building the capacity of a broad range of stakeholders, including communities, governments, businesses, and civil society.