Josh Sirefman

Josh Sirefman is the chief executive officer of Michigan Central, where he leads the transformation of a historic 30-acre district in Detroit into a global hub for mobility innovation and urban technology. Under his leadership, Michigan Central is recognized as a significant economic development project in the United States, fostering collaboration among technologists, entrepreneurs, artists, and major industry partners such as Ford and Google to address challenges in transportation and urban living.

Sirefman's career spans both public and private sectors, with roles at the intersection of urban planning, technology, and real estate development. Prior to Michigan Central, he co-founded and served as president of Sidewalk Labs, Alphabet's urban innovation unit, where he led projects including the Sidewalk Toronto initiative. He also founded a development services firm that managed large-scale projects for clients such as Cornell University, including the creation of its Roosevelt Island tech campus. Earlier, Sirefman contributed to New York City's economic development under Mayor Michael Bloomberg, leading initiatives such as the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site and serving as interim president of the New York City Economic Development Corporation.

Sirefman is a public speaker and frequently shares expertise on urban futures, innovation ecosystems, and public-private collaboration at conferences and in media interviews. He serves on several boards, including the New York Restoration Project and the University of Michigan Taubman College Urban Tech Program Advisory Board. Sirefman holds a master's degree in urban planning from the University of Michigan and a bachelor's degree from Wesleyan University.