Alfonso Valero | Social Sciences | Best Researcher Award

UPM | Spain

Dr. Alfonso Valero, PhD, is a distinguished academic and professional with over two decades of expertise in architecture, urban planning, and global real estate management. He earned his PhD in Architecture and Urban Planning from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and holds an Executive MBA from IESE Business School – CEIBS. His career spans leadership roles in multinational corporations such as Microsoft, LVMH-Sephora, Porsche, and JLL, where he managed billion-dollar real estate portfolios and large-scale development projects across Europe and Asia. Dr. Valero is also an experienced educator, teaching at prestigious institutions including Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Universidad Europea, and ESCP Business School. His scholarly contributions cover urban regeneration, ESG strategies, and mixed-use developments, reflecting his commitment to bridging academia and industry. As a board member of RICS Spain and the Urban Land Institute, he continues to influence sustainable real estate development and smart city strategies globally.

Publication Profile

Orcid

Education

Dr. Alfonso Valero’s educational journey reflects a blend of technical expertise and business acumen. He completed his PhD in Architecture and Urban Planning at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid with a doctoral thesis titled “Shanghái. Creación de valor y regeneración urbana. Lecciones para megalopolis. he earned an Executive MBA from the joint program of IESE Business School and China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), equipping him with strategic management skills for multinational corporate environments. he achieved a dual degree in Architecture and Urban Planning from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and Università La Sapienza in Rome, which gave him a strong foundation in design, planning, and urban studies. Additionally, he pursued courses in Psychology at UNED, reflecting his multidisciplinary outlook. This diverse academic training underpins his capacity to integrate architecture, urban development, and business strategy into innovative real estate solutions.

Experience

Dr. Valero has built a global career at the intersection of real estate, architecture, and corporate leadership. At JLL Spain, he currently serves as Regional COO for EMEA & APAC Occupancy Planning, leading professionals managing  as Head of Corporate Real Estate at Microsoft China, he directed workplace strategy, retail rollout, and acampus consolidation project foremployees. At LVMH-Sephora China, he spearheaded business development and design, expanding a network of stores and delivering the world’s largest flagship Sephora. Earlier roles include driving Porsche’s dealership development in Greater China, leading shopping center projects at LAR Grosvenor Spain, and managing multimillion-dollar industrial, retail, and hotel projects with Coperfil. He began his career at Symonds Gabitat and Arnaiz International, shaping his expertise in architecture, planning, and construction. Alongside industry roles, he has contributed significantly as lecturer and mentor in leading universities.

Honors and Awards

Dr. Alfonso Valero’s career has been recognized through multiple professional and academic honors. He was distinguished as a Shaanxi Province Sanqin Talent (Outstanding Young Engineering Talent) and appointed to high-level talent programs supporting academic-industry collaboration. His PhD thesis, “Shanghái  Creación de valor y regeneración urbana. Lecciones para megalopolis”  received scholarly recognition for advancing urban regeneration research. In professional affiliations, he has been appointed Board Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Spain and served as part of its Climate Risk initiative.  he contributed as Board Member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Spain, reflecting his thought leadership in sustainable urban development. He is also a Mentor at NOVA Talent and has actively supported accreditation programs at IE University, University of Navarra, ESCP, and UPM-MDI. His achievements highlight his influence as both a practitioner and academic innovator in real estate.

Research Focus

Dr. Valero’s research focuses on the intersection of urban regeneration, ESG strategies, and real estate development in megacities. His doctoral work analyzed Shanghai’s urban transformation, identifying lessons for sustainable regeneration in global metropolitan contexts. He has developed expertise in applying multi-criteria decision-making models to evaluate mixed-use developments, Class A office buildings, and indirect real estate diversification. His research further explores ESG certifications, sustainability metrics, and the impact of anchor tenants on urban investment strategies. Beyond real estate valuation, his interdisciplinary contributions span urban planning, housing economics, international investment flows, and environmental performance in cities. He has published extensively in high-impact journals such as Sustainable Cities and Society, Heliyon, Building and Environment, and SN Business & Economics. As a reviewer and editorial board member, he actively advances scholarship on urban development, sustainability, and smart cities, bridging academia with industry practices to address global urban challenges.

Publications

• The impact of ESG certifications on Class A office buildings in Madrid: A Multi-Criteria Decision analysis

• Appraisal of mixed-use developments through multiple criteria decision making: Insights from Shanghai’s megacity context

• Transforming Megacities: Value and Impacts of Mixed-Use Developments with Multi-Criteria Decision-Making

• Diversification strategies for indirect real estate: Intersection of business, economics, and society in Shanghai mixed-use developments

• The Impact of ESG Certifications on Class A Office Buildings in Madrid: A Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (preprint)

• Reimagining Residential Planning: A New Paradigm Using Grasshopper Combined with Improved Diffusion Models

Conclusion

Dr. Alfonso Valero stands out as a professional who seamlessly bridges corporate leadership, academic scholarship, and urban innovation. His international career trajectory, spanning Europe and Asia, demonstrates his capacity to manage billion-dollar portfolios while shaping landmark projects for Microsoft, LVMH-Sephora, Porsche, and JLL. Simultaneously, his academic work advances understanding of sustainable urban regeneration, mixed-use development strategies, and ESG investment frameworks. Through his teaching roles at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Universidad Europea, and ESCP Business School, he has inspired a new generation of real estate professionals while supervising impactful research on urban development and investment. Recognized by professional institutions such as RICS and ULI, he continues to influence policy and practice in real estate and sustainability. His publications in top-tier journals reflect his commitment to evidence-based, interdisciplinary research. Overall, Dr. Valero’s contributions highlight him as a thought leader advancing sustainable, innovative, and globally informed approaches to real estate and urban development.