Asha Bazil

Director

Asha collaborates with public and private stakeholders to develop equitable, innovative, and future-ready infrastructure.

Asha leads the development of digital equity and broadband infrastructure strategies for a range of clients, from cities and states, to philanthropies, to mission-driven internet service providers. Together with Methodist Health Care Ministries, Asha designed and launched an innovative digital equity grant program that will directly impact over 100,000 residents in South Texas. Asha also partners with Results for America to design and facilitate training programs that support cities in advancing their community engagement strategies related to open data and artificial intelligence.

Asha also creates energy infrastructure strategies that both enable the transition to clean energy, as well as support economic development goals. She is currently supporting Maine in implementing a State-wide program to help communities leverage underutilized energy infrastructure to unlock inclusive economic activity and create family-sustaining jobs connected to clean energy uses. Asha previously co-authored the first study on the impact of electric vehicle charging infrastructure on for-hire-vehicle drivers in NYC, demonstrating the ways in which public and private actors can collaborate to reduce emissions from for-hire-vehicle fleets.

Prior to HR&A, Asha supported the Philadelphia Navy Yard in the development of a new master plan, as well as their first Smart Cities plan. She has been involved in planning for creative and cultural industries and led the spatial analysis for a GIZ-sponsored pandemic recovery plan supporting creative industries across seven cities in Africa and the Middle East. As a part of the Housing Initiative at Penn, she researched the efficacy of COVID-specific rental relief programs in US cities. Before planning, Asha worked in advertising technology helping companies optimize their data governance strategies.

Asha has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and International Affairs from the George Washington University and a Master of City and Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania, where she received the Smart Cities Award from the School of Design.