Dr Karolina Anielska
The CONNECT Research Ireland Centre is pleased to announce that Dr Karolina Anielska has been appointed to the role of Smart Docklands Programme Research Manager – a key leadership position within the Smart Docklands initiative, a collaboration between CONNECT and Dublin City Council.
Karolina brings a unique combination of academic insight, international experience, and hands-on engagement expertise to the role. Since joining Smart Docklands in 2022 as Project and Engagement Manager, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the initiative’s strategic direction and public-facing programmes. Her work has included developing a comprehensive community engagement strategy, launching an online platform for citizen input, and coordinating standout events such as Smart Cities Urban Quest: Adventure in the Docklands, which brought smart city concepts to life for participants during Science Week.
She has also delivered a range of practical innovation experiences—workshops and tours on topics such as edge cloud computing, cybersecurity, digital rights, and AI—helping bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and everyday life. In 2023, she played a key role in securing funding from what is now known as Research Ireland (formerly SFI) to deliver Smart Cities Urban Quest and contributed to the successful relaunch of the Docklands 3D model, now being used as part of the Interreg T4R Pilot Action.
Jamie Cudden, Smart City Program Manager at Dublin City Council commented,
“Smart Docklands is a flagship smart city collaboration for Dublin City Council, and we’re delighted to be working with Karolina as we continue to attract and showcase impactful smart city innovations across the district.”
Before joining Smart Docklands, Karolina worked internationally across academic, public, and private sectors. She served as a researcher at Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, at King’s College London and later at the Institute for Urban and Regional Development in Poland, where she was a co-investigator in a study on innovation districts and urban transformation. She has also worked in the UK with Soundings, a London-based urban engagement consultancy, coordinating large-scale consultation and stakeholder engagement projects for major developments.
Karolina holds a PhD in Socio-Economic Geography and Spatial Management from Jagiellonian University in Kraków, where she focused on the relationship between innovation and gentrification in urban space. Her academic background is complemented by a double BSc in Urban Management and Real Estate, and an MSc in Spatial Management. Her teaching experience spans university-level courses and outreach with younger audiences.
In her new role, Karolina will lead the Smart Docklands programme, aligning academic insight with real-world urban innovation. She will work closely with city stakeholders, researchers, and community partners to ensure that Smart Docklands remains a leading example of inclusive, data-driven, and impactful smart city development.
Professor Dan Kilper, Director of the CONNECT Centre, said:
“Karolina’s appointment is a recognition of her outstanding leadership and dedication to meaningful public engagement. She has brought energy, creativity, and strategic insight to the Smart Docklands programme, and her work exemplifies how research can connect directly with communities to shape the cities of the future. We’re delighted to see her take on this role.”
We warmly congratulate Karolina on this well-earned appointment and look forward to the continued growth and success of Smart Docklands under her leadership.
Learn more about the Smart Docklands programme at smartdocklands.ie.