Sofia Castelo is a climate adaptation practitioner, researcher, and landscape architect with over 20 years of experience designing and managing landscape, urban design, and environmental projects in Europe, China, the USA, Australia, and Malaysia. She holds a graduate degree in Landscape Architecture and postgraduate degrees in Project Management and Climate Change and Sustainable Development Policies. Sofia is currently focused on using nature-based solutions for urban adaptation. The 'Nature-based Climate Adaptation Program for the Urban Areas of Penang Island', a project she led and is currently in execution, won the Climathon Global Cities Award 2020 and the KSAAEM Award 2022. In 2023, she co-founded the El Collective, an integrated arts and research project documenting the impact of climate change on women and girls in the Global South.