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

Leading urbanists – from North America to Australia, discuss the lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic for future city planning and urban life.

Hear from Sam Assefa, former Seattle Planning Director and at the frontline of that city’s COVID-19 experience; Irene Figueroa Ortiz, New York City urban designer and transport planner; and Glenn Grimshaw urban planner, researcher and adviser based in the Australian Embassy, Washington DC. Professor Ann Forsyth, planner, architect and expert on healthy cities at the Harvard Graduate School of Design will lead the international discussion, followed by an address by Hon Dr Rob Stokes, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces introduced Mark Scott AO, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney.

Session time

AEST - Friday 24 Sep / 9.30 - 11.00 am

ET - Thursday 23 Sep / 7.30 - 9.00 pm

PT - Thursday 23 Sep / 4.30 - 6.00 pm

Speakers

Sam Assefa, Former Seattle Planning Director

Irene Figueroa Ortiz, NYC Dept of Transportation

Glenn Grimshaw, Senior Research Officer, Australian Embassy, Washington DC

The Hon Dr Rob Stokes, NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces

Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Mark Scott AO, University of Sydney

Professor Ann Forsyth, Harvard Graduate School of Design (Panel chair)

Professor Nicole Gurran, Director Henry Halloran Trust, University of Sydney (Session chair)

Dr Ann Forsyth is a professor of urban planning at the Harvard Graduate School of Design and the Editor of the Journal of the American Planning Association. Focusing on the social aspects of physical planning and urban development, the big issue behind her research and practice is how to make more sustainable and healthy cities. Ann is an academic advisor to the Henry Halloran Trust.

Irene Figueroa Ortiz is Senior Project Manager for the Public Space Unit of the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT). She oversees the design and implementation of pedestrian-priority projects and the evaluation of public space projects. During the COVID-19 crisis, Irene produced outreach material and design guidelines for the pandemic recovery programs, NYC Open Streets, and NYC Open Restaurants.

Glenn Grimshaw is currently Senior Research Officer with the Australian Embassy in Washington DC where he is co-lead research, analysis and reporting on climate change, energy and infrastructure. Glenn recently graduated with a Master in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School, and also has degrees in economics and urban planning.

Sam Assefa is the former Director of Seattle’s Executive Office of Planning & Community Development (OPCD), to support Seattle's current and future growth as envisioned in the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Sam has also served as the Senior Urban Designer for the City of Boulder, Colorado and managed planning and economic development policies and programs with the City of Chicago.

SPECIAL SESSION - 10.30am (AEST)

The Hon Dr Rob Stokes Minister for Planning and Public Spaces

Rob is the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, where he is focussed on promoting development throughout NSW that improves people's lives into the future, as well as protecting, restoring and building our State’s public spaces and parklands. Rob is an environmental lawyer and has read sustainable urban development at Oxford and completed a PhD in planning law under a Commonwealth Scholarship.

Professor Mark Scott, Vice Chancellor the University of Sydney

Mark Scott was appointed as the University’s 27th Vice-Chancellor in 2021. He is a highly respected and successful senior leader of large and complex institutions, across public service, education and the media. He is also a proud alumnus of the University and holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Diploma of Education, a Master of Arts and an Honorary Doctorate, as well as a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University.

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.

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.

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