Sustainable Transport in Sustainable Cities (STSC) Forum

The Sustainable Transport in Sustainable Cities (STSC) Forum is being delivered in partnership with Beam Mobility.

The STSC Forum is intended to serve as a platform for accelerating the transition toward greener, more equitable, and more resilient urban transport systems.

As cities face increasing challenges from rapid urbanisation, climate change, and inequality, we believe there is a critical need to reimagine our approach to urban mobility.

The STSC Forum will bring together leaders from industry, academia, and the community to share insights, showcase best practices, and explore opportunities for meaningful change.

The STSC Forum will encourage us to move beyond discussion by identifying actionable strategies, building capacity, and forming partnerships that can accelerate the deployment and scaling of sustainable transport initiatives.

Six keynote speakers will each deliver a 10-minute presentation, followed by a panel discussion and audience Q&A. The afternoon will conclude with a networking session with light refreshments.

The Speakers:

Dr Dean Economou - Curtin University

Dean is one of the Curtin University team that brought a new form of electric road-based mass transit, the trackless tram, to Australia as part of the Net Zero Corridors project with the Sustainable Built Environment Research Centre which links electric mobility to improving urban place, all with zero emissions. Dean is also leading projects on how we build net zero precincts and integrate EVs into the grid as part of the Reliable Affordable Clean Energy 2030 CRC. As Chief Transport Strategist he ensured Telstra was part of the Smart Shuttle AV consortium. Dean also co-founded shared mobility provider Liftango and he is the Innovation and Sustainability lead at Mobility Futures, a specialised transport consultancy.

Dr Brad Pettitt - Member for South Metropolitan

Dr Brad Pettitt is the Leader of the Greens in the WA Parliament, where he was first elected to the Legislative Council in 2021 and then again in 2025.
Until taking up this role in the Upper House of the State Parliament, Brad was the Mayor of the City of Fremantle.
Prior to this Brad was the Dean of the School of Sustainability at Murdoch University.
When not working he likes riding his bike, drinking coffee, and playing with his 7-year-old daughter.

Dr Courtney Babb - Curtin University

Dr. Courtney Babb is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Design and the Built Environment at Curtin University. Courtney teaches and researches topics relating to urban and regional planning and transport planning, including planning for walking, bicycling and micromobility, urban governance, digital urbanism, climate-resilient housing, and decarbonising transport.

Sarah Court - Department of Transport

Sarah is a transport planner with more than 20 years’ experience across consultancy, local and state government. She currently leads the Active Transport Built Environment team at the Department of Transport in WA, with a focus on delivering initiatives that help more people to walk, wheel and ride as part of their everyday journeys and experiences. Sarah is a keen bike packer and loves exploring new places – or making everyday trips more fun - with her two kids on the back of her long-tail cargo bike.

Dr Peter Newman - Curtin University

Peter Newman is the Professor of Sustainability at Curtin University in Perth, Australia.
He has written 24 books and over 420 papers on sustainable cities with a global reputation and has worked to deliver his ideas in the three levels of government in Australia, including the Board of Infrastructure Australia (2010-14) and the NSW Sustainability Commissioner (2004-5).
His latest book is Net Zero Cities with Sustainability: A Practitioners Approach. Peter was the Co-ordinating Lead Author for the UN’s IPCC on Transport in the 2022 Mitigation Report and was a Lead Author in the Cities chapter.
In 2014 he was awarded an Order of Australia for his contributions to urban design and sustainable transport particularly for his work in saving and rebuilding Perth’s rail system. In 2018 he was WA Scientist of the Year.

Mia Onorato - Beam Mobility

Mia is the Engagement Manager at Beam Mobility.

MC for the Event

Dr Georgia Scott - WestCycle

Georgia is the Active Transport Manager at WestCycle. An Urban Geographer, Geospatial Analyst and Active Transport Advocate, Georgia is passionate about finding ways to improve the resilience, health, and prosperity of communities.