Prof.Wu is the professor of Architecture and Urban Planning and the vice president of Tongji University. Prof. Wu is one of the most influential scholars and practitioners in the field of urban planning in China. He was the chief planner for the Shanghai 2010 World Expo. His recent work is focused on sustainability in urban design and urban development. Wu is a good speaker and presents well in English.

Founder in Residence, PolicyLink.  Closing keynote at 2018 APA Conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB_cgZcAzyg.

Eugenie Birch, FAICP, Nussdorf Professor of Urban Research and co-Director, Penn Institute for Urban Research, has served as president of the Habitat III General Assembly of Partners.

The author of great, innovative pieces on technology and the future of cities.   

Shannon Mattern. 2017. A City Is Not a Computer. Places. February. [link]

Shannon Mattern. 2013. Methodolatry and the Art of Measure. The new wave of urban data science. Places. November. [link]

Jason Coburn does fascinating work around collaborative, community-led, equity health planning in CA and internationally. Much of his work also focuses on climate adaptation, environmental justice and "health in all policies". He directs the Institute of Urban & Regional Development and co-directs the Joint Master of City Planning and Master of Public Health degree program. He's also a fantastic speaker - I saw him speak at the Buffalo ACSP.

Mr Gladney is the CEO of Smart Growth America. Lots of experience with equitable and sustainable real estate development in many cities nationwide including Detroit and Grand Rapids. I saw him speak recently at the Center for Community Progress national conference and he's quite engaging. 

Bio here: https://smartgrowthamerica.org/about-us/our-staff/calvin-gladney/

Luís M. A. Bettencourt is the Pritzker Director of the Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation at the University of Chicago. He is also a Professor of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Chicago and External Professor of Complex Systems at the Santa Fe Institute.

Bio at Columbia: http://ilas.columbia.edu/team/janice-perlman/

Bio at the Mega-Cities Project: https://megacitiesproject.org/our-founder/

SPUR editorial director and frequent writer for the NY Times.  recent stories:  

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/10/04/opinion/self-driving-cars-safety.html

see also:

https://www.nytimes.com/column/allison-arieff

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/03/01/opinion/dream-home-condo-cloverdale.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/03/opinion/lets-reconnect-with-our-streets.html