The annual Festival of Urbanism is a series of conversations where researchers, practitioners, community advocates and industry leaders come together to debate the threats and opportunities facing our cities.

About

With ongoing processes of dispossession, marginalisation, gentrification and exclusion threatening urban and regional communities, what forms of insurgent and resurgent urbanism are emerging and how might urban policy makers and planners support these efforts?

Speakers

Warren Roberts, Redfern Waterloo Aboriginal Affordable Housing Campaign
Lena Nahlous, Executive Director, Diversity Arts Australia
Prof Jioji Ravulo, University of Sydney
Shannon Burt, Director Sustainable Environment and Economy, Shire Council
Prof Nicole Gurran (chair), Director Henry Halloran Trust, University of Sydney

Warren Roberts is a proud Thunghutti and Bundjalung man and coordinator of the Redfern Waterloo Aboriginal Affordable Housing Campaign, which brings together organisations across the housing, health, legal aid and youth services sectors. The campaign, was launched in October 2020, is designed to let the NSW Government know that housing is a basic right which needs to be affordable for Aboriginal people.

Shannon Burt is the Director Sustainable Environment and Economy at Byron Shire Council. Her portfolio takes in the complex and contentious planning area, land-use and development assessment and local housing availability and affordability. With more than 30 years in state and local government, she gained valuable insights into planning to support the creation of insurgent public spaces.

Lena Nahlous became the Executive Director of Diversity Arts Australia in 2016. She has over 20 years’ experience in arts, cultural and media organisations, and has managed screen and digital media–based initiatives that have engaged thousands of people, particularly women, refugees, migrants and young people. Other roles include the Executive Director of Information Cultural Exchange in Western Sydney and co-founder of the Arab Film Festival.

Prof Jioji Ravulo is the Professor & Chair of Social Work and Policy Studies in the Sydney School of Education and Social Work at The University of Sydney. His research and areas of interest include mental health and well being, alcohol and other drugs, youth development, marginality and decoloniality.

Professor Nicole Gurran, University of Sydney

Nicole Gurran is an urban planner and policy analyst whose research focuses on comparative urban planning systems and approaches to housing and ecological sustainability. She has led and collaborated on a series of research projects on aspects of urban policy, housing, sustainability and planning. Nicole was appointed Director of the Henry Halloran Trust in 2021.

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