Dorina Pojani

Source: https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/11894 Parent: https://about.uq.edu.au/experts/44989

Dorina Pojani

Positions

Affiliate of Centre of Architecture, Theory, Culture, and History : Centre of Architecture, Theory, Culture and History : Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology

Associate Professor, Urban Planning : School of Architecture, Design and Planning : Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology

Overview

Background

I am an Associate Professor in the School of Architecture, Design and Planning. Since joining the University of Queensland in 2015, my research has focused on the built environment triad: urban design, transport, and housing - in both the Global North and South. I approach my work from a feminist perspective, considering the role of gender in the city.

My personal and academic journey has been international in nature. I am a native of Albania. Over the years I have held guest teaching and/or research positions in Austria (UWien), Canada (UBC), Chile (PUC), Italy (IUAV), the Netherlands (UvA), Oman (GUTech), and Vietnam (UTC), and I have provided consultancy services to various United Nations agencies including the UNDP, UNESCAP, and UN Habitat. I speak Italian, Spanish, and French in addition to English and Albanian.

My latest books are Trophy Cities: A Feminist Perspective on New Capitals (Edward Elgar, 2021), Alternative Planning History and Theory (Routledge, 2023), Planning as Political Theatre: Chronicle of Two Megaprojects Foretold (Routledge, 2025), and Early Planning Utopias: A Feminist Critique (Anthem Press, 2025). For five consecutive years (2021-2025), I have been included in the 'Stanford/Elsevier World’s Top 2% Researchers' list, and have ranked among the top-ten 'urban and regional planning' researchers in Australia. Alongside my academic research, I also publish broadly in non-academic outlets and regularly give interviews on national and international media. My articles in The Conversation have reached more than 600,000 readers. Prior to joining academia, I worked in urban design and planning in California. My research has been funded by domestic and international granting bodies, including the Australian Research Council. I have attracted more than $1 millon in grant funding.

My funded projects are listed below. For a full list of my publications, click the 'Works' tab, which displays results live from UQ eSpace, or visit my external profiles listed on the left panel.

Qualifications

Postdoctoral Residency, Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, Delft, the Netherlands. 2012-2014.
PhD in Urban Planning, Polytechnic University of Tirana, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tirana, Albania. 2007-2010.
Visiting PhD student, University of California at Los Angeles, Luskin School of Public Affairs, Los Angeles, Ca, USA. 2009.
Master in Urban Planning, University of Cincinnati, College of Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning, Cincinnati, Oh, USA. Full scholarship award. 2003-2005.
Visiting Master student, Catholic University of Leuven, Faculty of Architecture (St Lucas), Brussels, Belgium. Recipient of US government FIPSE grant. 2004.
Professional Degree in Architecture, Polytechnic University of Tirana, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tirana, Albania. 1998-2003.

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Availability

Dr Dorina Pojani is: : Available for supervision : Media expert

Fields of research

Built Environment and Design Urban and regional planning

Qualifications

Urban Transport in Developing Countries, Polytechnic University of Tirana
Master of Community Planning, University of Cincinnati

Research interests

Feminist planning

This is not a product but a lens through which I examine urban design, transport, and housing.

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Research impacts

Funded Projects*

2026-2027. Project: Study of e-mobility usage across Queensland. Transport Academic Partnership, Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, Australia. Grant co-writer ($100,000).

2026-2027. Project: Building a dynamic demand forecast tool for shared electric micromobility. UQ Knowledge Exchange and Translation (Kx&T) Fund, Australia. Grant co-writer ($55,500).

2025-2026. Project: Closing the loop on first/last mile transportation in Brisbane: Assessing the connection between micromobility and 50 cent public transport fares. iMove CRC, Brisbane City Council, Australia. Grant co-writer ($100,000).

Project: Diaspora 4Innovation: Integrating work practice in urban planning curricula in Albania. GERMIN Fellowship, Albania. Lead grant writer ($18,500).

2023-2025. Project: Evaluation of separated cycle tracks in new developments. Transport Academic Partnership, Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, Australia. Sole grant writer ($100,000).

Project: A gendered critique of early planned utopian cities. School of Architecture, Design and Planning Seed Funding, University of Queensland, Australia. Grant co-writer ($3,000).

2023-2025. Project: Study of factors associated with the choice of private electric transport vehicles in Vietnam. National Foundation for Science and Technology (NAFOSTED), Vietnam. Grant co-writer ($50,000).

2023-2024. Project: The woman-friendly city: Case studies of post-industrial areas in Tirana. READ Fellowship, Albanian-American Development Foundation, Albania. Lead grant writer ($17,000).

Project: Minimising corruption in urban planning and development: What can the Balkans learn from Scandinavia? UQ Promoting Women Fellowship (PWF), Australia. Sole grant writer ($12,500).
Project: We don’t know where to go or how to get there: Mapping out the mobility needs for tourists in urban destinations. UQ BEL Connect Grant, Australia. Grant co-writer ($18,500).

2021-2022. Project: The impact of Covid-19 on Brisbane / Southeast Queensland. UQ Faculty of Science COVID Research Recovery Fund, Australia. Lead grant writer ($50,000).

2021-2022. Project: Bikeability for transportation: Tools and data for research and practice. AURIN grant, Australia. Grant co-writer ($135,600).

2017-2020. Project: Reclaiming lost ground: Transitions of mobility and parking. Australian Research Council, Linkage grant, Australia. Grant co-writer ($358,000).

Project: Planning Tiger Cub city-regions: Role models and policy transfers in sustainable transport in Southeast Asia. Project based in Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand. UQ Early Career Researcher grant, Australia. Sole grant writer ($26,150).

2015-2017. Project: Urban planning issues in planned capital cities in seven countries: Burma, India, Korea, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Brazil, and Australia. UQ Startup grant, Australia. Sole grant writer ($15,000).

2014-2015. Project: Informal Housing in five Balkan countries: Serbia, Northern Macedonia, Bosnia, Albania, and Kosovo. Grant from: Van Eesteren-Fluck & Van Lohuizen Stichting (EFL) Foundation, The Netherlands. Sole grant writer ($15,000).

Editorial Boards

Sustainable Cities and Society
Journal of Transport Geography
Australian Planner
Urban Policy and Research
Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice
Journal of Planning Education and Research

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Works

Search Professor Dorina Pojani’s works on UQ eSpace

All (237) Book (9) Journal Article (149) Other Outputs (40) Edited Outputs (2) Conference Publication (8) Book Chapter (29)

2026

Journal Article

Standardising bicycling infrastructure terminology: A Delphi study of Australian experts

Lieske, Scott N., Kong, Weichang, Buning, Richard J., Pojani, Dorina and Leao, Simone Z. (2026). Standardising bicycling infrastructure terminology: A Delphi study of Australian experts. Case Studies on Transport Policy, 23 101682, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.cstp.2025.101682

Standardising bicycling infrastructure terminology: A Delphi study of Australian experts

2026

Book Chapter

Streetscapes without curbside parking

Pojani, Dorina (2026). Streetscapes without curbside parking. The Shoup doctrine: essays celebrating Donald Shoup and parking reforms. (pp. 100-106) edited by Daniel Baldwin Hess. New York, United States: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003465515-15

Streetscapes without curbside parking

2025

Journal Article

Sexual violence on public transport in Latin America: a REA literature review

Barreto, Cesar David and Pojani, Dorina (2025). Sexual violence on public transport in Latin America: a REA literature review. Journal of Sexual Aggression, ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print), 1-21. doi: 10.1080/13552600.2025.2595464

Sexual violence on public transport in Latin America: a REA literature review

2025

Book Chapter

Work From Home (WFH) as a novel commute mode: An account of costs and benefits

Pojani, Dorina, Lu, Ying and Sipe, Neil (2025). Work From Home (WFH) as a novel commute mode: An account of costs and benefits. Advances in Transport Policy and Planning. (pp. 1-29) Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/bs.atpp.2025.11.002

Work From Home (WFH) as a novel commute mode: An account of costs and benefits

2025

Journal Article

Women’s perceived safety in public transport: Insights from the Middle East

Soltani, Ali, Qadikolaei, Mohsen Roohani, Pojani, Dorina, Moeini, Marjaneh and Abdekhoda, Kamyar (2025). Women’s perceived safety in public transport: Insights from the Middle East. Journal of Transport Geography, 129 104413, 104413. doi: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2025.104413

Women’s perceived safety in public transport: Insights from the Middle East

2025

Journal Article

Clarifying bicycling accessibility

Lieske, Scott N., Zhang, Lihong, Leao, Simone Z., Pojani, Dorina and Buning, Richard J. (2025). Clarifying bicycling accessibility. Journal of Transport Geography, 129 104450, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2025.104450

Clarifying bicycling accessibility

2025

Journal Article

What is the best strategy to densify a sprawling city? Evidence from the Arabian Peninsula

de Siqueira, Gustavo, Pojani, Dorina and Adeel, Ahmad (2025). What is the best strategy to densify a sprawling city? Evidence from the Arabian Peninsula. Journal of Urbanism: International Research on Placemaking and Urban Sustainability, ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print), 1-20. doi: 10.1080/17549175.2025.2574073

What is the best strategy to densify a sprawling city? Evidence from the Arabian Peninsula

2025

Journal Article

The impact of China's Transit Metropolis Pilot program on carbon emissions

Ding, Pengxiang, Feng, Suwei and Pojani, Dorina (2025). The impact of China's Transit Metropolis Pilot program on carbon emissions. Research in Transportation Business and Management, 64 101544, 101544. doi: 10.1016/j.rtbm.2025.101544

The impact of China's Transit Metropolis Pilot program on carbon emissions

2025

Other Outputs

E-bikes could slash our reliance on cars – but overpowered illegal models on the roads make us all less safe

Buning, Richard and Pojani, Dorina (2025, 08 18). E-bikes could slash our reliance on cars – but overpowered illegal models on the roads make us all less safe The Conversation doi: 10.64628/AA.95cj3kftg

E-bikes could slash our reliance on cars – but overpowered illegal models on the roads make us all less safe

2025

Journal Article

Nationwide diffusion of China's Transit Metropolis Pilot Program

Ding, Pengxiang, Feng, Suwei and Pojani, Dorina (2025). Nationwide diffusion of China's Transit Metropolis Pilot Program. Utilities Policy, 95 101958, 101958. doi: 10.1016/j.jup.2025.101958

Nationwide diffusion of China's Transit Metropolis Pilot Program

2025

Book

Early planning utopias: a feminist critique

Pojani, Dorina, Keys, Cathy and Little, Rory (2025). Early planning utopias: a feminist critique. London, United Kingdom: Anthem Press. doi: 10.2307/jj.30522567

Early planning utopias: a feminist critique

2025

Journal Article

Ungating China: a discourse analysis of public resistance and policy re-evaluation

Liu, Xuanbo, Alidoust, Sara and Pojani, Dorina (2025). Ungating China: a discourse analysis of public resistance and policy re-evaluation. Urban Policy and Research, 43 (3), 228-244. doi: 10.1080/08111146.2025.2517556

Ungating China: a discourse analysis of public resistance and policy re-evaluation

2025

Journal Article

Review of Pink cars and pocketbooks: how American women bought their way into the driver’s seat

Pojani, Dorina (2025). Review of Pink cars and pocketbooks: how American women bought their way into the driver’s seat. Journal of the American Planning Association, 91 (4), 1-2. doi: 10.1080/01944363.2025.2501498

Review of Pink cars and pocketbooks: how American women bought their way into the driver’s seat

2025

Journal Article

Interactions between pedestrians and street vendors: experiences from the Global North and South

Patil, Ankita, Pojani, Dorina, Mateo-Babiano, Iderlina and Amani, Thirafi (2025). Interactions between pedestrians and street vendors: experiences from the Global North and South. Urban Planning, 10 8910, 1-23. doi: 10.17645/up.8910

Interactions between pedestrians and street vendors: experiences from the Global North and South

2025

Book

Planning as political theatre: chronicle of two megaprojects foretold

Pojani, Dorina and Hautamäki, Ranja (2025). Planning as political theatre: chronicle of two megaprojects foretold. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003620181

Planning as political theatre: chronicle of two megaprojects foretold

2025

Edited Outputs

FABER2024 book of abstracts

Koka, Joleza, de Siqueira, Gustavo and Pojani, Dorina eds. (2025). FABER2024 book of abstracts. FABER, Tirana, Albania, 10-11 October 2024. Tirana, Albania: Forum Faber.

FABER2024 book of abstracts

2025

Journal Article

Charting a research agenda for micromobility and tourism

Buning, Richard J., Hardy, Anne, Corcoran, Jonathan, Pojani, Dorina, Zou, Zhenpeng and Chen, Milly (2025). Charting a research agenda for micromobility and tourism. Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights, 6 (1) 100164, 1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.annale.2024.100164

Charting a research agenda for micromobility and tourism

2025

Journal Article

Internal migration responses to housing dynamics before and after COVID-19 in Australia

Siriban, Charles, Bernard, Aude, Pojani, Dorina and Wilson, Tom (2025). Internal migration responses to housing dynamics before and after COVID-19 in Australia. Applied Geography, 178 103548, 1-19. doi: 10.1016/j.apgeog.2025.103548

Internal migration responses to housing dynamics before and after COVID-19 in Australia

2025

Other Outputs

Politics aside, new research shows there are good financial reasons to back working from home

Pojani, Dorina, Sipe, Neil and Lu, Ying (2025, 04 08). Politics aside, new research shows there are good financial reasons to back working from home The Coversation

Politics aside, new research shows there are good financial reasons to back working from home

2025

Journal Article

The color of money: green business practices in a transition economy

Pojani, Elona, Grabova, Perseta, Zaimaj, Egis and Pojani, Dorina (2025). The color of money: green business practices in a transition economy. Journal of Risk Research, 28 (3-4), 347-365. doi: 10.1080/13669877.2025.2485035

The color of money: green business practices in a transition economy

Funding

Past funding

2023 - 2025

Evaluation of separated cycle tracks in new developments

Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads

Open grant - 2021 - 2023

Bikeability for transportation: tools and data for research and practice

Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network

Open grant - 2016 - 2021

Reclaiming lost ground: Transitions of mobility and parking

ARC Linkage Projects

Open grant - 2016

Planning Tiger Cub City-regions: role models and policy transfers in sustainable transport in Southeast Asia

UQ Early Career Researcher

Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Dr Dorina Pojani is: : Available for supervision

Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.

Available projects

Information for prospective students

Email inquiries are welcome. Prior to emailing me, please take a look at the HDR entry requirements on our planning program site: uq-urbanplanning.org/rhd-research. I am a feminist urban planner. For context: Feminist planning is not a product but a lens through which I examine urban design, transport, and housing. I encourage you to propose original topics in my areas of expertise. I am particularly interested in projects which are international and comparative in nature, and can help you refine your ideas. All topics can be adjusted to suit a PhD, Master, or Honours project.

Read more Read less - #### Past and current research (HDR) Supervision (PhD and MPhil)

Els Leclercq [completed, associate]
Roja Gholamhosseini [completed, principal]
Annie McCabe [completed, principal]
Renuka Bhoge [completed, principal]
Deti Kusmalawati [completed, associate]
Fahimeh Khalaj [completed, principal]
Tigor Panjaitan [completed, principal]
Melissa Hensley [completed, principal]
Tmnit Hailu [completed, associate]
Ksenia Nikolaeva [completed, associate]
Nirma Yossa [completed, principal]
Weichang Kong [completed, principal]
Paula Grant [principal]
Sufian Almubarak [principal]
Krismiyati Tasrin [principal]
Amjad Hossain Reyad [principal]
Nadia Zaini [principal]
Xuanbo Liu [associate]
‪Abolghasem Azhdari [associate]

Read more Read less - #### Esteem and recognition

2023: Nominated for UQ Research Culture Award, category 5: Supporting career development for researchers (EMCR)

2022: Shortlisted for UQ Award for Excellence in Higher Degree Research (HDR) Training

2020: SEES Most Impassioned Teacher Award

Read more Read less - #### Teaching experience

The University of Queensland

Planning Theory (PLAN4001 / PLAN7120) – Lecturer & Coordinator [Highly Commended course by AESOP]
Transport Planning (PLAN2100 / PLAN7116) – Lecturer & Coordinator [Dean’s Commendation for Excellent Teaching, 2020 and 2021]
History of the Built Environment (PLAN2005) – Lecturer & Coordinator
Citymaking: Theory and Practice (PLAN4001 / PLAN7120) – Lecturer

Internationally

Theory and Models of Spatial Development (Oman)
Sustainable urban transportation and mobility (Austria)
Regional development studio (The Netherlands)
Urban design studio (Albania)
Housing systems / Informal settlement processes (Albania)
Introduction to urban planning (Albania)
Urban anthropology (Albania)

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Supervision history

Current supervision

Doctor Philosophy

##### Active Citizenship in planning scheme implementation : A case study into how members of a community engage in the development assessment process in Queensland

Principal Advisor

Other advisors: Honorary Professor Neil Sipe - Doctor Philosophy

##### Active transport and gender issues: A comparison between Brisbane and Sylhet

Principal Advisor

Other advisors: Dr Sara Alidoust - Doctor Philosophy

##### Housing as a feminist issue: The case of Kuching, Sarawak

Principal Advisor

Other advisors: Dr Sara Alidoust - Doctor Philosophy

##### Reconstructing A Gender Perspective Approach for a Sustainable New Capital City

Principal Advisor

Other advisors: Dr Sara Alidoust - Doctor Philosophy

##### Co-Creating Urban Public Spaces in Southeast Asia: The Role of Civic Urbanisms and Participatory Practices in Crafting Socio-Ecological Sustainability

Associate Advisor

Other advisors: Associate Professor Silvia Micheli - Doctor Philosophy

##### Digital Deconcentration and the Changing Face of American Cities: Examining the Effects of Working from Home on Post-pandemic Urbanisation.

Associate Advisor

Other advisors: Dr Thomas Sigler - Doctor Philosophy

##### The Right to Housing: Evaluating the Process of De-Socialization of Housing in Urban Areas

Associate Advisor

Other advisors: Professor Ali Cheshmehzangi

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