Rethinking an Urban Era: Melbourne Centre for Cities Annual Symposium

Urban spaces offer unparalleled opportunities for leading the transformation toward a connected, sustainable and equitable urban era.

The Melbourne Centre for Cities' annual symposium, themed “Rethinking an Urban Era,” explores the optimistic narrative surrounding our complex urban spaces. We are shifting away from the belief that growth is inherently negative and are adopting a mindset focused on climate resilience. This approach centres on multilayered, holistic governance; and sustainability for humans, non humans and the environment they both rely. While pursuing these positive changes, we must also address the pressing need to tackle inequality in decision-making and outcomes within our cities.

At the symposium, the Centre's researchers and key partners from industry and government will present their perspectives on the theme and provide real-world examples - demonstrating how we can rethink and transition from a development focused era.

Our discussions will explore collaborative strategies that emphasise the core themes of the Melbourne Centre for Cities: urban sustainability, connectivity, leadership, and equity.

We are also pleased to announce our keynote lecture " She had this big, wide city all to herself: Taylor Swift and non-economic legacies in a time of music sector crisis in Melbourne "— with Olivia Hally, Dr Anna Kosovac and Dr Philippa Chandler – as a timely way to bring together all elements of the symposium’s theme, of rethinking an urban era.

The Melbournce Centre for Cities Annual Symposium is committed to being a sustainable event we actively strive to minimise our environmental impact and inspire positive change in alignment with the University of Melbourne’s Sustainability Plan 2030, by embracing waste reduction, sustainable venue and catering options, paperless practices, eco-friendly transportation promotion, carbon offsetting, and providing educational resources.

Join us in embracing sustainability and making a meaningful difference at the Symposium.

We actively chose vegetarian meals to reduce carbon footprint and ask that attendees BYO water bottles and cups.

9:00 – 9:50 am Networking Breakfast and Registration

9:50 – 10:30 am Welcome to Country | First Nations Rethinking an Urban Era

10:30 – 11:00 am Opening Panel Session – Rethinking an Urban Era

11:15 – 11:45 am Morning Tea

11:45 - 12:00 pm Pecha Kucha

12:00 – 12:30 pm Second Session – Leading Era

12:30 – 1:10 pm Third Session – Sustainable Era

1:20 – 2:10 pm Lunch

2:10 – 2:40 pm Keynote – She had this big, wide city all to herself: Taylor Swift and non-economic urban legacies in a time of music sector crisis in Melbourne

2:40 – 3:10 pm Fourth Session – Equitable Era

3:20– 3:50 pm Fifth Session – Connected Era

4:00 pm Thank you

To find out more about the symposium, including speaker and program information, please visit theAnnual Symposium 2024

For any questions regarding this event, please contact: [email protected]

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Old Quadrangle, Old Quadrangle, Parkville, Australia