Community trust in public decision making has been eroded by ongoing examples of corruption in urban planning and development processes, and wider concern about integrity across all levels of government. With a new Integrity Commission pending at the national level, and state level investigations continuing to expose corrupt behaviours in planning and development processes; this session asks how to improve decision making cultures and systems across the built environment professions. More broadly, how might urban governance processes adopt wider notions of environmental ethics and social justice in confronting decisions about the future city?

This event will commence at 12.30pm with a traditional smoking ceremony performed by Tribal Warriors, and a Welcome to Country delivered by Councillor Yvonne Weldon.

This free, live event is taking place at the Chau Chak Wing Museum at the University of Sydney, although tickets are limited. The event will also be live streamed on the Henry Halloran Trust Youtube channel. Please register for remote attendance.

Panel

Councillor Yvonne Weldon, City of Sydney and Deputy Chair of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council

Alex O’Mara, Sustainable Solutions Advisory

Peter Mares, Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership

Prof Susan Park, University of Sydney

Varsha Yajman, student activist, University of Sydney

Chaired by: Claire Connelly, Journalist and Sydney Policy Lab Fellow

Yvonne Weldon is a proud Wiradjuri woman and the Deputy Chairperson of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council. She also serves as an independent councillor for the City of Sydney and is the first Aboriginal councillor in the City's 180-year history. A life-long activist, Yvonne has 30 years' experience driving positive reform in health, education and child protection. She recently published a novel, Sixty-Seven Days.

Alex O'Mara runs Sustainable Solutions Advisory, providing strategic advice in relation to the built environment, infrastructure and energy sectors on creating long-term sustainable value; and works with organisations to develop ESG strategy. She was previously Group Deputy Secretary of the Place, Design and Public Spaces Group within the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment and led reforms to drive stronger place, public space and sustainability outcomes, implement climate risk solutions and improved engagement and governance outcomes. Alex completed the Prince of Wales's Business and Sustainability Programme through the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.

Peter Mares is program director at the not-for-profit Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership at Monash University, and a writer on public policy issues, including housing. Peter’s most recent book, No Place Like Home: Repairing Australia’s Housing Crisis , was described by Australian Book Review as compassionate and clear-eyed, “a superb dissection of Australia’s housing crisis.” Prior to joining Cranlana, Peter spent 25 years as a broadcaster with the ABC, presenting national radio programs and working as a foreign correspondent based in Southeast Asia.

Susan Park is Professor of Global Governance in the Department of Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney. She focuses on how international organisations and global governance can become greener and more accountable, particularly in the transition to renewable energy. Her most recent books are: The Good Hegemon (2022, OUP) and Environmental Recourse at the Multilateral Development Banks (2020, CUP). She is co-Editor of the journal Global Environmental Politics. She is a Senior Hans Fischer Fellow at the Technical University of Munich (2019-2022) and a Research Lead of the Earth Systems Governance project.

Varsha Yajman is an Indian-Australian climate justice and mental health advocate and has been an organiser for School Strike for Climate and the Australian Youth Climate Coalition. Varsha is currently studying law and politics at the University of Sydney. She is a coordinator at Sapna South Asian Climate Solidarity and paralegal at Equity Generation Lawyers, which conducts climate change ligation.

Claire Connelly is a researcher, freelance journalist, and Policy Fellow at the Sydney Policy Lab at the University of Sydney. She is currently pursuing research investigating the future of democracy, economic inequality and an agenda for post-pandemic rebuilding in Australia.

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The annual Festival of Urbanism is an initiative of the University of Sydney's Henry Halloran Trust and is hosted in partnership with Monash University.

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