Shaping the Nation’s Capital through ‘Regenerative Urbanism’: Aspirational Goal or Realistic Target?

Shaping the Nation’s Capital through ‘Regenerative Urbanism’: Aspirational Goal or Realistic Target?

Date: Tuesday, 30th September 2025

Time: 10:00am - 2:15pm (Lunch included)

Location: Shine Dome, ANU Campus

Canberra, the Nation’s Bush Capital, was planned by Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin, just over 100 years ago as a city in in its landscape. This landscape planning approach provided the context for protecting its environment. However, urbanism pressures have and continue to adversely affect our environment. In an attempt to find ways to address this, we will consider which initiatives help or hinder regenerative capacity the Bush Capital, considering community health and wellbeing; landscape qualities; AI, human rights, ecosystems and the natural environment; and recent major planning changes.

Speakers

Mary Mudford, ACT Government and Ngunnawal Woman

Dr Penelope (Pene) Mathew, ACT President and Human Rights Commissioner

Adina Leu, Executive Branch Manager, Data, AI and Digital Records Branch ACT Government

Karen Hutchinson, CEO Australian WaterTrust 

Dr Michael Mulvaney, Ecologist

Andy Lowes, Community member, ACT & Region Catchment Management Coordination Group, Chair UMCN

Catherine Keirnan, Fellow Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, ACT Rural Land holder, community volunteer and consultant

Ben Green, Executive Group Manager, City and Environment Directorate, ACT