More than 20,000 of the world's leading innovators, planners and directors are once again gathering in Barcelona for the highly-anticipated Smart City Expo World Congress 2018 (SCEWC). From Nov. 13 to 15, conference sessions and keynotes will highlight city governance, mobility, safety, economy and sustainability — all from Catalonia's cosmopolitan capital.

It will be no easy feat to follow every conversation or debate that is sparked at the show — especially since this is SCEWC's largest event yet — therefore social media will be a key resource to stay up-to-the-minute on chatter and trends. There will be over 400 speakers at this year's event, and while that's too many leaders to compile into a list, Smart Cities Dive picked out eight key figures that we plan to track on Twitter this week.

Natalia Olson-Urtecho — @olsonurtecho

As the chief innovation officer for The Disruptive Factory in Washington, DC, Olson-Urtecho specializes in tools and topics that empower clients to "create a more sustainable world." Formerly appointed as the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator under President Obama, Olson-Urtecho​ has experience in small business and financial assistance, especially as it relates to energy, transportation and the environment. Catch her inspirational talk, "The Power to Change the Future of Cities Depends on Smart Region Strategies," at the show on Wednesday.

Stephen Goldsmith — @GoldsmithOnGov

Goldsmith, described by SCEWC as "a preeminent expert in public-private partnerships and data smart solutions," has made a significant footprint on the smart city industry as the director of the Innovations Program at Harvard, as well as a published author. Goldsmith will participate in a number of sessions this week, including a conversation on strategies to govern data, and a session that takes a look at Melbourne, Australia's open data program.

Ashima Sukhdev — @ashsukhdev

At the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Sukhdev leads the Government and Cities Program, which engages city governments around the globe in the efforts toward a circular economy. Sukhdev, who will speak during "The Circular Economy: Shaping Tomorrow's Business" session on Thursday, shares tweets on climate goals, materials use and sustainability strategies to keep cities active in properly utilizing resources. 

Christopher Swope — @cswope

Swope is the deputy editor of Bloomberg Cities, an arm of Bloomberg Philanthropies' Government Innovation network that tells stories of leading smart city solutions. Swope's Twitter highlights conference coverage, trends pieces and announcements from around the industry, and he'll participate in a number of sessions this week including a conversation on the breadth of open innovation.

Alice Charles — @alicecharles

With more than 16 years of experience in city development and public policy, Charles is the lead of Cities and Urban Development work at the World Economic Forum (WEF). Through her work, Charles helps lead the WEF's Future of Urban Development and Services Initiative and the Global Future Council on Cities and Urbanization, and she'll be sharing her insights during the "Innovative Forms of Collaboration" conference session on Wednesday.

Sari Ladin-Sienne — @sariladin

Ladin-Sienne, a first-generation American and former Harvard Ash Center fellow, is now the chief data officer of Los Angeles, leading the city's efforts for a more data-driven city under Mayor Eric Garcetti's administration. The city touts Ladin-Sienne's "policy knowledge and technical skillset" as her leadership strengths, which she is sure to highlight during her Thursday session, "How to Manage, Govern and Strategize on Urban Data?"

Eric Woods — @bordersthinking

Woods, a research director for smart cities at Navigant Research, is an expert on the intersection of energy, buildings and government. As the author of a number of smart cities reports, Woods keeps a close eye on the industry and shares his insights across his Twitter. Catch him on Tuesday at the urban environment session, "Transitioning to a Sustainable Use of Energy."

Miriam Roure —@MiriamRoure

Roure, the program director of URBAN-X, describes herself as "passionate about creating more empathetic cities through design and technology." Roure will participate as one of eight speakers on an open congress session dubbed, "Solution Talks: Right to the City, Education & Entrepreneurship," where she is anticipated to share insights on the solutions that are making cities more accessible and inclusive.