Olafiyin Taiwo FRTPI FHEA is a scholar–practitioner in spatial planning and governance.
With expertise across academic research, teaching, professional planning practice, and international advisory work, she focuses on building inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities and human settlements.
Insight
Who Really Delivers Quality of Life? Rethinking Governance Across Scales
In Rethinking Quality of Life, I argued that quality of life is produced through the interaction of spatial and governance systems, rather than achieved through isolated policy interventions. In Beyond Metrics, I extended this by showing that measurement frameworks, while valuable, do not explain how these outcomes are generated in practice. Taken together, these highlight a critical gap between how quality of life is framed and how it is delivered. The question that follows is therefore unavoidable: who is actually responsible for delivering quality of life?This question is not straightforward. Quality of life is not produced by a single institution,...
Read MoreBeyond Metrics: Why Measuring Quality of Life Is Not Enough
Quality of life is now firmly established as a central objective in global and national policy frameworks. In Rethinking Quality of Life, I argued that the core challenge lies in how quality of life is conceptualised, not as outcome to be measured, but as a condition to be produced through spatial and governance systems. However, even where this distinction is recognised, a second and equally significant issue persists. Quality of life is still predominantly approached through measurement.Across cities, regions, and countries, quality of life is increasingly measured, benchmarked, and compared. From global frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to...
Read MoreRethinking Quality of Life: Why Spatial Planning Is the Missing Link in Global Policy
Quality of life has become one of the most widely referenced objectives in contemporary policy discourse. It underpins global frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals, informs national strategies, and shapes local development agendas. Yet despite its prominence, it remains inconsistently defined, unevenly measured, and, most critically, insufficiently delivered.At the heart of this challenge lies a fundamental misalignment. Quality of life is frequently treated as an outcome to be measured, rather than a condition to be deliberately produced through systems of governance and spatial decision-making. This distinction determines whether policy frameworks remain aspirational or become operational.It remains aspirational when it...
Read MoreA portfolio of initiatives founded or actively supported, advancing spatial planning, professional leadership, civic accountability, and quality of life across local, national, and international contexts.
Founder and CEOLife Brooks International is a charitable organisation committed to improving quality of life outcomes for children and young people in urban communities. The initiative focuses on education, life skills development, and community-based support, working to expand opportunity, resilience, and long-term social outcomes through targeted programmes and partnerships.
TrusteeParadigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI) is a non-profit organisation focused on strengthening accountability, good governance, and inclusive development through citizen engagement, public finance transparency, and policy research. As a Trustee of PLSI, Olafiyin Taiwo contributes to organisational governance, strategic oversight, and mission stewardship, supporting the organisation’s work in advancing civic participation and institutional accountability.
FounderThe Planning Nation is a media and storytelling platform dedicated to amplifying narratives on spatial planning, governance, and place-based leadership. Through curated content, interviews, and public dialogue, the platform bridges professional insight and public understanding, highlighting how planning and governance shape everyday life and long-term societal outcomes.
Co-FounderThe BAME Planners Network is a professional network advancing representation, leadership, and equity within the planning profession. The network supports mentoring, professional development, policy engagement, and sector-wide dialogue, contributing to institutional change and more inclusive planning practice nationally and internationally.
Olafiyin engages regularly with universities, public and private institutions, and international organisations through advisory work, public speaking, and collaboration.
AboutQuick Contact
