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 existential threats from global health to climate disaster through to ‘super-gentrification’ and exclusion, is urbanism – the diversity, creativity, and progress associated with urban life, and social connectivity in cities – still viable? Eminent speakers discuss the challenges and whether urbanism as we know it is ‘over.’

Speakers

Chair: Fenella Kernebone, Sydney Ideas

Panel:

Elizabeth Farrelly, Journalist and Author

Dai Le, Councillor, Fairfield Council

Gabriel Metcalf, CEO, Committee for Sydney

Dr Paul Maginn, Assoc Prof Urban Planning/Geography, University of Western Australia

Dr Elizabeth Farrelly is a Sydney-based columnist and author and a regular commentator, broadcaster, blogger and critic on architecture and public issues. Elizabeth trained in architecture and philosophy, and holds a PhD in urbanism from the University of Sydney, where she is also a former Adjunct Associate Professor. As an independent Sydney City Councillor, she initiated Sydney’s first heritage and laneway protection policies.

Dai Le is a passionate community advocate who champions for diversity and inclusive leadership. Born in Vietnam, Dai was resettled in Australia as a refugee. She currently serves as an Advisory Board Member to Multicultural NSW, is an Ambassador for Fairfield Relay for Life and NSW Cancer Council Greater Western Sydney. Dai is also an Independent councillor on Fairfield City Council, one of the most culturally diverse Councils in Australia.

Gabriel Metcalf is the CEO of the Committee for Sydney, a research and advocacy organisation that works with Sydney leaders to solve the most important problems facing the city. Formerly CEO of SPUR, an urban policy group in San Francisco, Gabriel has led initiatives on housing, transport, economic development, and climate adaptation, among other topics. Gabriel has a Master’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley College of Environmental Design.

Dr Paul J. Maginn is an urban planner and geographer with research interests in the “3 S’s” – strategic metropolitan planning; (sub)urbanisms; and, the sex industry. He is co-editor/contributor of several books and Editor-in-Chief of the scholarly journal Urban Policy and Research and was Co-convenor of the Australasian Cities Research Network from 2018-2021.

Fenella Kernebone: At the start of June 2021, Fenella was appointed as the Head of Programming for Sydney Ideas at the University of Sydney. She is also the Director of Frankly Group and is Head of Curation for TEDxSydney where she is responsible for leading the programming for one of the largest TEDx events in the world.

How to join the conversation

This virtual event is free and open to all. Register to get the details for how you can tune in on the day via Zoom webinar.

Have a question for the panel?

There will be an option at registration to submit your question.

Join us at other Sydney events

Visit our website to register for other Sydney events.

Follow us

Twitter @FestUrbanism #FestUrbanism

Instagram @usyd_arch