Robert Muggah

Robert Muggah is a leading authority on urban security, development challenges, and the intersection of technology with geopolitics. As co-founder and research director of both SecDev Group and the Igarapé Institute, he has dedicated his career to understanding and addressing the complex risks facing rapidly expanding urban centers around the world. Through his research and speaking engagements, including notable TED talks in 2014 and 2017, Robert has explored the critical vulnerabilities that threaten fast-growing cities and the innovative solutions needed to prevent urban failure.

His work examines how population growth, inadequate infrastructure, governance challenges, and security threats converge to create systemic risks in urban environments. He focuses on practical, evidence-based approaches to building more resilient cities that can adapt to rapid change while maintaining stability and prosperity for their residents. Robert's expertise spans the evolving landscape of emerging technologies and their implications for global security and development.

His insights help policymakers, urban planners, and international organizations better understand the multifaceted challenges of 21st-century urbanization and develop comprehensive strategies for sustainable urban growth.