THE PROGRAM Introduction to program by Wendy Lasica 10.00am Andrew Holden 10.10am Bio Abstract Andrew Holden has been the Editor- As Melbourne grows from a city of four in-Chief of The Age for the past three million to one of eight million, what is years. He has more than 30 years' the place of the individual? experience in journalism, from daily newspapers to community titles and Can one person change the city for magazines in three countries. Prior to better or worse, and how will they his appointment at The Age (July express their anger or their 2012), Andrew was the editor of The inspiration? Stories from the pointy end Press in Christchurch, New Zealand, of changing cities. for four and a half years. Whilst with The Press, Andrew was also one of two media industry representatives on the Canterbury Region’s influenza pandemic planning committee. Annette Gillespie 10.40am Bio Abstract Annette Gillespie is the CEO of safe How does the space we live in make us steps Family Violence Response more vulnerable, and what role does Centre. planning play? With over 20 years’ experience This presentation will explore how Annette has designed and led family women’s experience of public space violence response models in both differs to that of men, how Australia and internationally, and is an consideration and design of urban unrelenting advocate for social change settings can reinforce or help to to end violence against women and interrupt gender roles and the dynamics children. She is a specialist family that lead to or drive family violence as violence clinician and has worked well as how space can enhance risk or directly with thousands of women, safety. particularly children who have been affected by violence. It will also explore the effect of urban planning on family violence, usually thought of as being a private matter conducted away from public spaces. James Brearley 11.10am Bio Abstract James Brearley is an urban This presentation will explore issues of designer and architect with offices high density urban design through the in Shanghai and Melbourne. He is recent work of B.A.U. in China. In the founding director of B.A.U. particular it will critique the Chinese Brearley Architects + Urbanists default planning model and present and is adjunct professor at RMIT. strategies that subvert its failings and In 2001, after ten years of private preserve the rich potential that practice in Melbourne, James and successful cities need. partner Fang Qun opened a branch studio in Shanghai where The presentation will use B.A.U.’s they lived for most of a decade. Networks Cities thinking to frame the The practice is currently made up discussion. of more than 80 staff working in architecture, urban planning, interior design and landscape architecture. Leanne Hodyl 11.40am Bio Abstract Leanne is an urban designer and Where does the debate around density strategist, with fifteen years’ intersect with liveability in the central experience in delivering urban city? policy and public realm projects. She currently leads the Urban To what extent can very high densities Strategy branch at the City of be mitigated by good design? Melbourne which is responsible for projects that shape the future Our city is rapidly changing and the role development of central of urban design in shaping the strategic Melbourne. She was recently planning of our city will be critical. awarded a Churchill Fellowship to investigate planning policies that What have we learnt and what comes shape high-rise apartment living next? in New York, Vancouver, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Seoul. Panel session facilitated by Wendy Lasica 12.10pm Lunch 12.35pm Introduction to afternoon session by Wendy Lasica 1.30pm Michelle Howard 1.40pm Bio Abstract With a background in community Community engagement has come a and cultural development, long way since the urban protest Michelle has over twenty years’ movements of the 1970’s and early experience as a strategic urban 80’s demanded to play a role in planner, with specialist expertise decision making about changes in the in stakeholder and community urban and natural environment. engagement. So what is the potential ‘value-add’ in She has worked across all levels of community processes? government, and with the private sector, addressing issues such as What do we mean by ‘the community infrastructure community’? provision, housing diversity, community safety, health and social impacts. Caroline Stalker 2.05pm Bio Abstract Caroline is an architect, urban As we enter the most urbanized age in designer and a highly skilled the entire history of humanity, city- designer, communicator and leader making has assumed deeply crucial of teams for complex architectural significance; our capacity to design, and master planning projects. invent and reinvent how we live in cities is fundamental to our civilization Her career spans 27 years and a in the 21st century, and arguably, to range of project types, including our survival. The need for creativity in new communities, city and town city making has never been greater. centres, universities, public spaces, public buildings, mixed use and multi-residential buildings. Rob McGauran 2.30pm Bio Abstract As an Urban Designer and Architect Australia is faced with an and Founding Director of award affordable living crisis and an urban winning design studio MGS productivity crisis arising from poor Architects Rob has led alignment over many years between comprehensive urban, infrastructure decisions about where and how we and campus rejuvenation and house people, how we shape our expansion projects for State cities, how we design and deliver our Governments and their agencies, infrastructure. leading Australian Universities and the private sector and chaired My talk will identify some of the design review panels for some of challenges, the pressing reasons for Australia’s most important precincts urgent action and the benefits that as well as a diverse range of housing, can arise from a new research mixed-use and institutional projects. lead, integrated and progressive design approach to the design of settlements and the housing therein to meet the needs of existing and future communities using a number of case studies. Afternoon Tea 3.00pm Donnell Davis 3.30pm Bio Abstract Donnell Davis brings together Urban design decisions encompass several careers with professional doing the right things, doing things education to design and enable right and doing these things for the more ethical futures. right reasons. Ethics is more important now than ever, as we invest Her doctorate concentrated on in long term projects that impact interdisciplinary techniques for many people today and for future retrofitting cities for climate change generations, amid increasing threats tested by international action from climate change and finite research, building on the audit of 40 resources. cities. But does “doing ethics” have to be that difficult if we ask the right questions and embed principles in our policy and practices and partnerships? Panel session facilitated by Wendy Lasica 4.00pm Stephen Mayne 4.30pm Bio Stephen Mayne is a Walkley award Stephen will provide coal-face insights winning business journalist by profession about finance, governance, who spent 10 years on daily newspapers communication and politics as it relates before founding Australia’s best known to urban design and planning. independent ezine, Crikey.com, in 2000. He will be positive and provocative at the He was a press secretary in the early end of an insightful day of presentations years of the Kennett Government before and debate, posing question such as: going rogue publishing the anti-Kennett website www.jeffed.com during the How can urban design be 1999 state election, thereby commencing reflected in the economic value a continuing journey as a genuinely chain? independent commentator, shareholder activist and advocate for good Do we need more or less politics governance. in planning? Stephen has conducted more than 1000 Can City of Melbourne do even radio and television appearances over better on the planning front? the past 15 years, including three slots on ABC TV’s Q&A program. As Australia’s Are there enough urban best known shareholder activist, designers working in Stephen has asked questions at more government? than 400 public company AGMs and stood for 48 public company boards. From 2011 until 2014 his advocacy was conducted through the Australian Shareholders’ Association as a director and then as Policy and Engagement Coordinator. He served more than three years on Manningham City Council before his election to the City of Melbourne in October 2012, where he chairs the Finance and Governance Committee, is deputy chair of the Planning Committee and has driven council’s goal to become Australia’s most open and transparent council. Wrap up & final comments 5.00pm Drinks & Networking 5.15pm Wendy Lasica 6.10pm MC Bio Wendy holds a Masters’ degree in urban planning and established a niche practice working at the intersection of cities and culture. She is an award-winning theatre producer with a new work opening in November, has been a director and board member of Next Wave Festival, chaired funding panels for Arts Victoria, been general manager for Stonnington Symphony, was commissioned by the Australia Council to research a how-to book for emerging artists and managed a playwrights’ award at the State Library. Wendy has also worked extensively in New York. Recently she was “in conversation” with UK cultural planner, Andrew Dixon for Open House and PIA, and spoke at Arts House’s The Supper Club on politics and the city 2015 AUSTRALIA AWARD FOR URBAN DESIGN Introduction to AAUD 6.00pm Tim Horton 6.10pm Bio Abstract Tim Horton is nationally Do any of us really care if our buildings recognised as an architect, adviser and spaces are well designed? How and agitator for policy that enables would we know, and how would we good design.