Healthy by design: advancing children's health through the built environment

About the free international webinar

What if the health, wellbeing, and development of children were considered in every planning decision?  

Join leading international experts in public health, urban planning and child-friendly cities for a free webinar exploring how neighbourhoods, communities, and cities shape children's health, play and development. 

This webinar will provide practical, evidence-informed actions that policymakers, planners, health professionals, and researchers can use to create urban environments where children can move, play, and thrive.  

Why attend?

You'll hear from international leaders working at the intersection of child health, urban design, and policy. 

Learn:

• New evidence about the built environment factors that influence children's health and development 

• What neighbourhood features support active, healthy childhoods 

• How global child-friendly city indicators can be used to guide policy and planning 

• Practical actions for governments, planners, public health professionals and communities via the launch of a Policy and Practice Brief 

• Lessons from leading international initiatives creating healthier cities for children 

Speakers

Tim Gill

Keynote speaker and panellist Tim Gill (Rethinking Childhood) is an independent researcher, writer and consultant based in London who has spent over three decades advocating for children's play, mobility and spatial freedoms. His work spans public policy, urban planning, education and childcare, and has shaped child-friendly planning guidance for cities worldwide. 

Professor Hayley Christian AM

Host, presenter and panellist Professor Hayley Christian is Head of Child Physical Activity, Health and Development Team at the Kids Research Institute Australia. Her research focuses on improving children’s physical activity, health and wellbeing through multi-level interventions targeting the child, the family, and social and built environments. Her team identifies and implements programs and policies to help children establish healthy behaviours early.

Dr Melanie Lowe

Presenter and panellist Dr Melanie Lowe is Co-Director of Global Observatory for Healthy Sustainable Cities Melanie is a Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow in the Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University. She investigates how to plan healthier, more resilient cities and develops evidence-informed indicators that monitor and inform policy globally. Her work has directly shaped government policy nationally and internationally. 

Global Observatory for Healthy Sustainable Cities

Skye Duncan

Panellist Skye Duncan is Executive Director of the Global Designing Cities Initiative.  Skye leads global efforts to redesign city streets around people, with a focus on health, safety and equity. She led the development of the award-winning Global Street Design Guide and Designing Streets for Kids, now endorsed by 130+ cities and organisations worldwide.

Dr Mads Rosenkilde

Panellist Dr Mads Rosenkilde is the Global Project Lead for Novo Nordisk, Cities for Better Health.  Mads drives global partnerships for healthier, more active cities and is driving the Active Play Challenge 2026, supporting innovative solutions that make active play more accessible for children worldwide.