Daniela Chacón Arias
Daniela Chacón Arias is cofounder and executive director of TANDEM, an Ecuadorian nonprofit that builds bridges of dialogue and collective action among citizens, civil society, the private sector, and local governments to create more responsive and inclusive cities.
Under her leadership, TANDEM has grown into a nationally recognized organization that has implemented over a dozen civic innovation programs across the country. A lawyer and urban policy expert, Daniela served as vice mayor and city councilor of Quito (2014–2019), where she championed initiatives to promote walking and cycling, recover public spaces, and advance gender equity in public transportation. She designed and launched Quito’s first system for reporting sexual harassment in public transit and cofounded the Women in Motion Initiative, a Latin American network promoting women’s leadership in sustainable mobility. She is also a member of the global Placemaking Leadership Council.
Daniela holds a law degree from Universidad San Francisco de Quito and a master of public administration from the George Washington University, where she studied as a Fulbright Scholar. When she’s not working on transforming cities, you’ll find her climbing a mountain trail, experimenting in the kitchen, or building worlds out with her son out of just about anything they can find.