Ricky Burdett is Professor of Urban Studies and Director of LSE Cities and the Urban Age Programme. He curated the Conflicts of an Urban Age exhibition at the 2016 International Architecture Biennale in Venice. In 2014, he was a Visiting Professor in Urban Planning and Design at the Graduate School of Design, Harvard University and Global Distinguished Professor at New York University from 2010 to 2014.

He was Chief Adviser on Architecture and Urbanism for the London 2012 Olympics, architectural adviser to the Mayor of London from 2001 to 2006, and is involved in regeneration projects across Europe and the USA. He was Director of the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2006 and curator of the Global Cities exhibition at Tate Modern in 2007. He was also a member of the Urban Task Force which produced a major report for the UK government on the future of English cities.