Resilient Dubai 1

Focuses on reimagining the future of cities to become more inclusive, resilient and 
dynamic.

Joy Chadika (L) and Nadimeh Mehra, Vice President, District 2020 Transition Unit (R) speaks at the World Cities Day event m7594

Nadimeh Mehra, Vice President, District 2020 Transition Unit speaks at the World Cities Day event m7591

Urbanist Ahmed Bin Shabib speaks at the World Cities Day event m7590

Image Gallery

World Cities Day at Expo 2020 Dubai will focus on reimagining the future of cities to become more inclusive, resilient and dynamic. With a focus on climate solutions, the Day will be brought to life through a series of discussions, dialogues, and showcases of best practices to explore how to collectively adopt a green recovery for more sustainable, smart, resilient and livable urban environments.

A Place for Everyone

World Cities Day

Access to safe and affordable living conditions is a fundamental right. More than 70 per cent of the world’s population is forecasted to live in cities by 2050 and over one billion are already living in informal communities. As the demand for both cities and communities escalate, Expo will bring together experts, citizens, and governments to re-think the way in which habitats are designed and managed. From innovative transport, sustainable housing and green public spaces to renewable energy and circular economies, living spaces of the future will be imagined as resilient, sustainable and inclusive.  

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 How do we live and grow in harmony with our planet?

Learnings and insights from the World Majlis conversations on Urban and Rural Development

Insight Report from Urban and Rural Development Week

Learnings and insights from the World Majlis conversations on Urban and Rural Development


Insight Report from Urban & Rural Development Week

Siemens-Virtual-Expo Partner-image-2

Creating a blueprint for future smart cities

Siemens Website

Siemens is a global technology powerhouse that unites the digital and 
physical worlds to benefit society through its focus on smart infrastructure, digital industries, and intelligent mobility solutions. As Expo 2020 Dubai’s Premier Partner for Infrastructure Digitalisation, Siemens is reshaping the future of urban living by creating a blueprint for the smart cities of the future. By integrating its technology, the company is helping to create history’s most digitalised, sustainable and secure Expo. Siemens is also an anchor tenant at District 2020, the future city that will live on as a legacy of Expo 2020 Dubai.

Creating a blueprint for smarter cities

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Siemens 

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UN Habitat

AKDN Logo

Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN)

Urban & Rural Development Week

Based in Dubai, Ahmed and Rashid bin Shabib are urbanists and researchers of cities across the Middle East and North Africa. They are the founders of Brownbook, a magazine that focuses on cities across the region. They have also curated several exhibitions and collaborations including the Domaine De Boisbuchet: (2022), National Pavilion at the Venice Biennale (2021), AA Gallery (2018) Vitra Design Museum (2017), Serpentine Gallery (2016), Archizoom EPFL (2015), Lars Müller Publishing (2019). They both hold degrees in Urbanism from the University of Oxford, Recipients of the 2021 Golden Lion (Architecture) for National Pavilion, UAE, and have been nominated for the Aga Khan Award for Architecture (2010, 2019).

Bin Shabibs

Ahmed & Rashid Bin Shabib

Nadimeh Mehra joined Expo 2020 Dubai in early 2016 and is responsible for the commercial development of the post-Expo site – District 2020 - supporting its transition into a mixed-use community and innovation-focused ecosystem. In this role, she oversees Business Development, Sales and Partnership Management. This includes driving commercial strategy, business and financial planning, ecosystem development and global business engagement, with the aim of supporting the creation of a sustainable legacy and long-term economic opportunities. Prior to joining Expo 2020, Ms. Mehra headed the Development Capital division of UAE-based Daman Investments for 10 years.

Nadimeh

Vice President, Transition Unit, Expo 2020 Dubai

Nadimeh Mehra

Belen is an architect and urban designer with experience working in South America. She currently teaches and researches at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú and is doing her PhD at Durham University (UK). Belen is the coordinator of CASA (Ciudades Auto-Sostenibles Amazónicas) (Self-Sustainable Cities in the Amazon), an action-research project exploring settlement relocation in the Amazon Rainforest and the Latin America and the Caribbean Monitoring & Evaluation Coordinator of GRRIPP (Gender Responsive Resilience and Intersectionality in Policy and Practice), a research project focusing on resilience with an emphasis on gender responsive infrastructure; seeking to understand and enhance people’s resilience to shocks, and support the development of more sustainable infrastructure, in all its diverse forms.

Belen Desmaison

Architect and Urban Designer; Coordinator, CASA

Belén Desmaison

Bjorn Low is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Edible Garden City, an urban farming social enterprise based in Singapore. Bjorn is a leader in the grow-your-own food movement, which is transforming the Singaporean mindset around farming. He leads a sizeable “farm-lab” in the city that incubates other start-ups and encourages more urban farming entrepreneurs in the urban food and waste solutions space.

He holds a Bachelors of Commerce from Curtin University and is currently a PhD candidate at RMIT University’s School of Architecture and Urban Design. 

Bjorn Low

Executive Director and Co-founder, Edible Garden City

Dr. Elizabeth C English has experience in education, practice, teaching and research in both the fields of Architecture and Civil Engineering.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture and Urban Planning from Princeton University, a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a PhD in Architectural Theory from the University of Pennsylvania. Elizabeth is a pioneer in the emerging field of amphibious architecture. Her current research focuses on developing amphibious foundation systems as a flood risk reduction and climate change adaptation strategy that supports the preservation of traditional housing forms and respect for local cultural practices, with projects addressing the needs of Indigenous and low-income populations in Vietnam, Canada, Nicaragua, Jamaica etc. 

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Prof. Elizabeth English

Tatiana Antonelli Abella is the Founder and Managing Director of Goumbook, a Social Enterprise dedicated to Sustainability and Sustainable Development. Founded in 2009, Goumbook is one of the oldest Social Enterprises in the UAE and today it manages many projects working with different partners from various sectors. Tatiana sits on the Engage Committee, under Dubai Chamber of Commerce’s umbrella and has been nominated Environmental Ambassador for the Middle East Youth Expo. She also acts as an advisor to events such as Art Dubai or the Emirates Literature Festival to help them be more sustainable. Since 2012 she has been proud to be a judge of the Gulf Capital SME Awards for the ‘Most Sustainable Business of the Year’. 

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Tatiana Antonelli Abella

Greg Clark, CBE, is an urbanist, author, global advisor, chairman and non-executive director. Clark has advised more than 200 cities, 50 national governments and a wide array of bodies including the OECD, Brookings Institution, the World Bank and the Urban Land Institute (ULI) on strategies for city development and investment. He also advises global investors and corporate service companies on how to align with city leaders.”

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Group Advisor on Future Cities and New Industries, HSBC

Greg Clark

Dave Hopping joined Siemens in 1989, and is the CEO of Siemens Smart Infrastructure Solutions & Services. He is responsible for the smart building and smart grid portfolios including building IoT, automation, fire safety, security, energy, low and medium voltage, digital grid, and control components. All but four of his more than 30 years of industry experience have been with Siemens. During this time, Hopping has held leadership positions in Sales, Operations, and Management across the USA.


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CEO, Smart Infrastructure Solutions, Siemens

David Hopping

Gábor is a certified electrical engineer with 10 years of experience in fintech, and product development. After graduating, he was working on different online projects, such as the development and launch of the first online stock exchange in Hungary. He was the CEO of one of Hungary's most successful loan-comparison portals. 3 years ago he founded AquaShield Control. The company's main goal is to develop and manufacture the most advanced smart monitoring and controlling device and operating system for greenhouses and indoor farms. He and his team launched a Kickstarter campaign in 2019 and an Indiegogo campaign in 2020. Both campaigns were successful and now Gábor and his team is actively looking for outside investors to scale up the AquaShield Control.


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Gábor Sulcz

Amira Osman is a Sudanese/South African architect, researcher, academic, activist, public speaker, and author. She is a Professor of Architecture at the Tshwane University of Technology and holds the position of SARChI: DST/NRF/SACN Research Chair in Spatial Transformation (Positive Change in the Built Environment). Amira is currently a joint coordinator for the international CIB W104 Open Building Implementation network and the Vice-President of the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA) and will be hosting the conference: A City is [Not] a Tree: the Urban Ecologies of Divided Cities in 2022. She is the director of the organisation  PLATFORM100 which is a thinktank and a collaborative vehicle for promoting change in conversations and practice around architecture, space and cities. 

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Professor of Architecture, Tshwane University of Technology

Prof. Amira Osman

Mokena Makeka is a Principal in Dalberg Advisors. He is a an accomplished architect, artist, creative, curator, global leader, scholar, speaker, urbanist. He is currently the Azrieli Visiting Critic of 2020, Carleton University School of architecture and urbanism- Canada, Adjunct Professor Cooper Union- New York, and is a Board member of the South African Green Building Council and is a board member of the Cape Town Central City Improvement district. He is at the forefront of thinking on contemporary inclusive African Cities, and is focused on ecological and socio-economic justice. Mokena Makeka is one the 40 cultural leaders of WEF17, Davos/Klosters alongside such luminaries as Shakira and Forest Whitaker, recognised for speaking truth to power and seeking to change the world for better. 

Architect and Principal, Dalberg (Moderator)

Mokena Makeka

Tan Szue Hann is an award-winning Architect, strategist and thought leader in sustainability and sustainable development. Hann is the Chairman of Sustainability, Singapore Institute of Architects, the professional body for Architects in Singapore, and leads sustainable development at a leading global hospitality chain. Hann is also an appointed World Cities Summit Young Leader, and BCA Built Environment Young Leader. In 2021, he co-founded IxSA (Innovation x Sustainability Alliance), a global non-profit think tank, with a group of sustainability leaders. His portfolio includes the award-winning ParkRoyal on Pickering with WOHA. He has spoken in numerous conferences including SWITCH, the UN Asia Pacific Urban Forum, and COP25 in Madrid.



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Chairman of Sustainability, Singapore Institute of Architects

Mr. Tan Szue Hann

As humanity becomes more of an urban species, more nature-centric urban planning approaches will be needed to help mitigate the impact of growing cities on our planet.  

Growing urban centres have become the ultimate and most visible example of the impact we have on the planet - places made by and for humans alone: Anthropocities.  

Rampant urbanisation is taking its toll on ecosystems, biodiversity and human health. Estimates suggest that cities are responsible for 75 percent of global CO2 emissions, with transport and buildings being among the largest contributors. At the same time, cities are facing new threats from climate change, ranging from heat islands to flooding.  

We cannot tackle these challenges without transforming the way we build and manage our cities, which is why urban planners are now increasingly approaching the city as a living ecosystem, in which the natural and the urban can coexist, become complementary and less mutually exclusive. Let’s explore this paradigm shift in the “natural” cities of tomorrow.

Keeping the Urban Jungle Alive

WM Natural Cities

How can we create cities that work in harmony with nature?

Session Programme - Natural Cities 

Natural Cities - Documents

World Majlis | Natural Cities: Preserving a Slice of Nature in Our Urban Spaces

World Expos have always been meeting places for people across cultures and geographies; an opportunity to come together and celebrate human ingenuity and forge meaningful human connections. As the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, and with the participation of more than 192 countries, Expo 2020 Dubai looks to take this legacy even further. The Build Bridges track of Expo 2020 Dubai’s Programme for People and Planet features a tapestry of event series and experiences that celebrate our common humanity and the vital connections that can help us prosper together as a worldwide community.

Knowing One Another Better

Build Bridges image

Build Bridges 

Build Bridges Icon

Explore a series of exciting conversations inspired by the theme of Expo 2020 Dubai. The World Majlis is a vibrant forum where diverse points of views are shared on important topics of our time. Each conversation brings together globally recognised thought-leaders who are invited for their exceptional contributions to the theme and their unique perspective on the topic. In each Majlis, students and members of the public are also welcome to contribute and engage.

World Majlis

Conversations on complex issues that bring together thought leaders, visionaries and changemakers.

The true value of smart cities is evolving. While they are important in stimulating economic activity and sustainability, increasingly, the new measure of a smart city’s success will be the holistic wellbeing of its citizens. In the past smart city technologies were thought of primarily as tools for improved efficiency behind the scenes. The need for this is clear - as growing populations and stretched infrastructure systems put unprecedented pressures on cities, smart cities provide a valuable tool, to use data and technology to improve quality of life. However, beyond this, as smartphones and connectivity transform the way we interact with our surroundings, putting instant information about traffic, health services, and community news into millions of hands, cities are recognising that effective smart city strategies start with people and not technology. In a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for cities to be resilient in the face of radical changes, will the true measure of success for smart cities be in their ability to improve the holistic wellbeing of its residents?

What Does a Human-Centric Future for Smart Cities Look Like? 

Smart Cities

A discussion between thought leaders, visionaries and changemakers on what a human-centric future for smart cities looks like.


Session programme - Smarter than Smart Cities

Smarter than Smart Cities - Documents 

Wesam Lootah is the Chief Executive Ofﬁcer (CEO) of the Smart Dubai Government Establishment, the technology arm of Digital Dubai (previously known as Smart Dubai). Digital Dubai is the government entity entrusted with Dubai’s city-wide digital transformation envisioned by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Wesam has more than 20 years of strategic leadership experience during which he has leveraged Information Technology to create innovative new channels and a world-class Smart Government infrastructure to improve the quality of public services for citizens, residents, visitors and businesses alike, in Dubai.

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CEO, Smart Dubai Government Establishment, Digital Dubai, UAE

H.E. Wesam Lootah

Eithne Treanor is a professional conference moderator and international communications consultant. Having worked as a business TV reporter, her knowledge covers energy, technology, security, infrastructure, and leadership. She is the managing director and founder of E Treanor Media based in Dubai, UAE. In recent months, she has moved her reporting and moderating skills online to facilitate a number of major global conferences. As a former international broadcast journalist, her TV reporting experience spans major television networks including ABC News, Sky News, BBC World, Bloomberg and CNBC International. 

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Eithne Treanor (Moderator)

Dr. Altwaijry is the CEO of Data and AI for Smart Cities in SDAIA, he is also the Assistant Director for iDART in NIC at SDAIA. Prior to that, he co-founded Estishraf (Insights) platform in NIC. 
Dr. Hotham was the Deputy Supervisor for the joint centers of excellence program in King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST).

CEO of Data and AI for Smart Cities in SDAIA and, Assistant Director for iDART in NIC at SDAIA, KSA

Dr Hotham Altwaijry

Alberto Araque is VP of Internet of Things and Artiﬁcial Intelligence at Etisalat. He joined Etisalat in 2015 and since then, he is leading the IOT practice in Etisalat Digital and more recently the addition of the new 
AI unit and Industry Solutions. He accumulates a global and extensive experience of more than 20 years in ICT, Digital and Internet of Things services, participating and leading transformational telco projects. 
Formerly, he was Head of M2M & Financial Services at Telefonica in Spain and previously he was responsible at Telefonica in different areas such as strategy, marketing, business development, and service design in Spain and Latin America region. 
He received his Master Degree in Telecommunication Engineering at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid in 1994 and he has an MBA from IE Business School.

Vice President, Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence, Etisalat Digital, UAE 

Alberto Araque

As Senior Vice President of the Transition Unit, Sanjive’s role is to oversee the transition and evolution of the Expo 2020 site into District 2020, the future smart and human-centric community and innovation ecosystem. His role includes strategy development and planning for the re-purposing and commercialization of assets inherited from the World Expo, into a global destination focused on supporting industry growth, and Dubai’s innovation-driven economy. Sanjive was formerly Chief Commercial Ofﬁcer at Expo 2020 Dubai, responsible for driving ticket sales, managing commercial sponsorships, developing on-site and off-site retail operations, establishing licensed merchandise and rolling out Expo’s F&B offering.

Senior Vice President, Transition Unit - District 2020, UAE 

Sanjive Khosla

After two decades at Siemens, with stints in the U.A.E., Libya, Germany and Pakistan, von Struve became the Chief Executive Officer of Siemens in the Middle East and the United Arab Emirates in May 2020. Prior to his current role, von Struve was the Managing Director of Siemens in Pakistan, a position he held since 2015. As an engineer and business executive, he has been an advocate of implementing technologies in infrastructure and industries that improve our lives and protect our planet. These days his focus is on melding technologies – such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, additive manufacturing, 5G and the future of automation – into a cohesive bundle that will create immense value for customers.



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Helmut von Struve 

Born in Madrid in 1968, PhD in Public State Law, by Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Graduate in Law by Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Master in Territorial and Urban Planning Politics by Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, specialised in Urban Planning and Master in Public Law by Universidad 
Carlos III de Madrid. 
Elected Madrid’s Senator in the twelfth parliamentary term and Mayor of Mostoles. President from the Spanish Delegation in the Local and regional Congress of the European Council and president of the International Affairs Committee of the Spanish Federation of Towns and Provinces. 
Member of the European Towns and Regions Directive Committee, the Executive Bureau of the United Cities and Local Governments and the 
OCDE Inter-Parliamentary Network. 

General Secretary of Urban and Housing Agenda, Spain 


Francisco David Lucas Parrón

World Majlis | Smarter than Smart Cities

As cities around the world grow and expand, mobility and connectivity have become critical factors for a balanced and prosperous urban life. Not long ago, flying cars and floating pods called “hyperloops” seemed like objects out of a science fiction novel. Now they are right on our doorstep.  

A city’s connectivity relies on the infrastructure that flows between neighbourhoods and urban centres carrying people and goods. With close to 70 percent of the world’s population expected to live in cities by 2050, transportation will be crucial to quality of life and wellbeing in some of the most densely populated urban centres on Earth.  

Mobility and connectivity have become major factors in economic growth, prosperity, and higher living standards. Let’s explore how innovative mobility solutions can improve urban life and how they could benefit communities equally and safely.

Mobilising a Brighter Urban Future

Busy City

In collaboration with India, this discussion explores how transport and connectivity positively impact quality of life, access to opportunities and urban sustainability.

Session Programme - Cities on the Move

Cities on the Move - Documents 

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stamp Opportunity-India

India Image gallery


With its enormous population and diversity of ancient traditions, India is a place of incredible richness and complexity. The India Pavilion offers a new take on the country that goes beyond its famed culture and stunning landscapes to show a rising economic power that is very much open for business. The pavilion focuses on “New India”, an emerging global hub for innovation, inspiration and investment. Its wide variety of exhibits feature not just the food, tea and Bollywood entertainment that so many know and love, but also the country’s modern-day advancements in technology, aerospace, manufacturing and more.


India flag

The India pavilion is a four-level rectangular structure, covered on its upper three floors with rotating tiles in hues of red, orange, and white. 

This kinetic exterior surface also serves as a screen for projected images, such as the face of Mahatma Gandhi. The bottom level features a plate-glass façade. 

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India

New 

India Pavilion

Dr OP Agarwal has been CEO of the World Resources Institute India since 2017. He was previously a member of the Indian Administrative Service, the premier civil service in India, from 1979 to 2007 and has held positions with the national and state government of Assam, including Joint Secretary (Urban Transport) in the national Ministry of Urban Development and Secretary for Transport. He was the principal author of the National Urban Transport Policy for the country, adopted in 2006. He also worked in the World Bank for 6 years as its global Urban Transport Adviser.

Dr OP Agarwal

In his 18 years of experience, Eng Reyad Al-Kharabsheh has supervised Planning, Construction, and operations for Public Transport Network in Amman. He has also worked as Project Manager to Amman Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project; the ﬁrst mass transit project in Amman. 

Executive Manager, Public Transport Infrastructure Projects Directorate, Jordan 


Eng Reyad Al-Kharabsheh

Josh Giegel is the CEO and Co-Founder of Virgin Hyperloop where he is leading a team of engineers making hyperloop a reality. Josh founded the company in 2014, when hyperloop was an idea drawn on a whiteboard in a garage. A little over two years later, VH built a full-scale prototype capturing the attention of governments worldwide. Today, Josh is leading the development of paradigm shifting electromagnetic, high power, autonomous technology, bridging the engineering work with unparalleled passenger experience, and working at the highest levels of government to develop a regulatory framework for hyperloop technology. In November 2020, Josh made history becoming one of the first passengers in the world to ride on a hyperloop. 

Josh Giegel Photo 2

Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Virgin Hyperloop

Josh Giegel 

Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs since June 2017, Durga Shanker Mishra is a 1984 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from Uttar Pradesh cadre. He has held various senior assignments in Union and State Governments covering Revenue Administration, Internal Security, Vigilance, Civil Aviation, Tourism, Sports, Agriculture and Research, Taxation, Medical and Health, Mining, and Urban Development. He has served as Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh for over two years.


Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

Durga Shanker Mishra

Vipul Roongta has spent 24 years in the real estate sector, 16 of which have been with HDFC Group, where he currently manages one of the largest residential ﬁnancing platforms in India, focusing on development and technology businesses across the affordable and mid-income housing ecosystem. Vipul is a member of the Alternative Investment Policy Advisory Committee of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), having served on various boards and industry associations including the National Committee on Housing and Real Estate at Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), South Asia Board of Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). He is also Co-Chair Real Estate of the Indian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (IVCA).

Managing Director & CEO of HDFC Capital Advisors Ltd (HCAL), India 


Vipul Roongta

As Managing Director for Mace Consult in Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Mark A Taylor brings more than 25 years of global experience in construction, property and engineering. 
Since joining Mace in 2013, he has grown the company's portfolio of project and programme management and cost consultancy services in MENA by 48% and led the expansion into new markets, such as Saudi Arabia, Maldives and Egypt. Under his leadership, Mace has delivered some of the most iconic projects and programmes in the Middle East, including Ain Dubai and Expo 2020 Dubai.

Managing Director, Consultancy, MENA, Mace Group, UAE

Mark A Taylor

As the Chairperson for the newly formed region of Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania (AMIEO), Guillaume leads Nissan's largest region, covering over 140 markets across four continents with a population of around 3.8 billion people, representing more than 30% of global vehicle sales. With over 25 years serving at Nissan and Mitsubishi across multiple roles covering global and regional operations, Guillaume brings a wealth of experience and a keen focus on business transformation.

Chairperson, Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania (AMIEO), Nissan Motor Corporation

Guillaume Cartier

Peter Newman is the Professor of Sustainability at Curtin University. He has written 22 books and over 360 papers on sustainable cities and worked to deliver his ideas at all levels of government having been an elected councilor, seconded to advise three Premiers, and a member of the Board of Infrastructure Australia 2008-14. He is the Co-ordinating Lead Author for the UN’s IPCC on Transport. In 2014 he was awarded an Order of Australia for his contributions to urban design and sustainable transport. In 2018-19 he was the WA Scientist of the Year. 

Professor of Sustainability at Curtin University, Australia 


World Cities Day

Speaker of the day

Speaker

Ahmed & Rashid Bin Shabib

Speaker

Nadimeh Mehra

Speaker

Belén Desmaison

Speaker

Bjorn Low

Speaker

Prof. Elizabeth English

Speaker

Tatiana Antonelli Abella

Speaker

Ahmed & Rashid Bin Shabib

Speaker

Nadimeh Mehra

Speaker

Belén Desmaison

Speaker

Bjorn Low

Image Gallery

Urban & Rural Development Week.

This event is part of the
World Cities Day.

Speaker of the day

Image Gallery

Urban & Rural Development Week.

This event is part of theWorld Cities Day.

This event is part of the
World Cities Day.