Juan Capeáns is the Director of the Sustainable Transition Hub at IE University, where they lead initiatives focused on sustainability, climate change, and environmental resilience. Their academic and professional expertise spans areas such as climate finance, public policies, sustainable urban development, urban resilience, and sustainable supply chain management, among others. At IE University, Juan oversees research and training strategies, equipping students and professionals with the knowledge and tools to address the economic and social challenges of climate adaptation and mitigation. Their leadership fosters a multi-disciplinary approach to sustainable development, emphasizing the intersection of finance, economic policy, climate action and urban resilience.
In addition to their academic leadership, Juan serves as a Lead Expert for the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), providing strategic advice to the city of Zaragoza to support its green and digital transition. He has also held the role of Climate Neutral Cities Spanish Platform Orchestrator for EIT Climate-KIC, where he mentored municipal teams in seven Spanish cities, developing decarbonization strategies (Climate City Contracts) and sustainable finance programs. With extensive experience working on European and international projects, Juan specializes in unlocking public and private funding for climate action and developing public-private partnerships to accelerate ecological transitions.
Outside of their professional commitments, Juan has a deep interest in urban and regional economic development, having contributed notoriously to research projects with the Covenant of Mayors Europe, ZABALA Innovation Consulting, UN-Habitat or the Inter-American Development Bank. He is passionate about fostering innovation through strategic alliances and capacity building, with a focus on sustainable urban planning, climate mitigation strategies and climate resilience. In their personal time, Juan enjoys reading Paul Auster’s bibliography, listening to shoegaze music and supporting their hometown Football club: Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña.
Corporate Experience
• Academic Director, IE Sustainability BOOTCAMP – IE University, Spain, 2024 - Present)
• Director, Sustainable Transition Hub – IE University, Spain, 2024 - Present
• Lead Expert, European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) – European Commission, Spain, 2023 - Present
• Climate Neutral Cities Spanish Platform Orchestrator, EIT Climate-KIC – European Commission, Spain, 2022 - 2024
• Policy Support Facility Expert, Covenant of Mayors Europe – European Commission, Europe, 2022 - 2023
• Senior Urban and Regional Economist – NAIDER Analysis, Action and Engagement, Spain, 2021 - 2022
• Senior Research and Development Consultant – ZABALA Innovation Consulting – Spain, 2019 - 2021
• Social Engagement Coordinator – CREA Madrid Nuevo Norte, Spain, 2017 - 2019
• Senior Consultant – ECOSISTEMA URBANO, Spain, 2017 - 2017
• Consultant – UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme), Spain, 2016 - 2016
• Research Analyst for El Salvador and Panama, Department of Central America, Haiti, Mexico, Panama and Dominican Republic Countries – IDB Inter-American Development Bank, Panama, 2013 - 2015
• Economic-Financial Analyst – REPSOL S.A., Spain, 2010 - 2013
Academic Experience
• Professor of Circular Economy in a Global and European Context – IES Abroad Madrid, Spain, 2023 - Present
• Professor of Spain’s Economic Development and the European Union – IES Abroad Madrid, Spain, 2023 - Present
• Professor of Project Management – National Institute of Public Administration, Spanish Ministry for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service, Spain, 2022 - 2022
Academic Background
• Masters in Urban Planning and Regional Studies, ETSAM, Polytechnic University of Madrid, 2015
• IMBA in Multilateral Project Management, Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade (ICEX-CECO), 2013
• Bachelor in Economics, Universidade da Coruña, Spain, 2009
