UrbanTalk Podcast

Sydney YIMBY is a group advocating for more development in response to Australia’s housing crisis. In this episode of the UrbanTalk Podcast, we’re joined by Sydney YIMBY Deputy Chair, Melissa Neighbour. She talks about the YIMBY or “yes in my back yard” movement, what the group is trying to achieve and why it’s important. Visit Sydney YIMBY - https://www.sydney.yimby.au/ Visit the UrbanTalk website - https://www.urbantalk.com.au/

Along with the need to increase housing density, our cities need to also keep up with adequate green infrastructure. It will be more important than even to ensure there is enough green space and access to active transportation for the happiness and health of the broader community. In this episode we’re joined by Jua Cilliers – Professor of Planning and Associate Dean Research, Faculty of Design and Society at UTS Sydney. Jua discusses how a more wholistic approach to planning that includes adequate green infrastructure will improve the liveability, sustainability, health and safety of our communities. Visit the UrbanTalk website: https://www.urbantalk.com.au/

What are design competitions, how do they work and how do they ensure a good design outcome? Paulo Macchia, the Director Design Governance at the Government Architect NSW joins the UrbanTalk Podcast to discuss design competitions and continues our discussion on design excellence from episode 13.

The Planning Institute of Australia has once again partnered with UrbanTalk to create a series of podcast in the lead up to the Planning Congress 2025 in Darwin. We speak with Ika Trijsburg, who leads the Disinformation in the City project across five Australian universities, and in 2024 was the lead author of the world first Disinformation in the City Response Playbook. Planning is not an area commonly associated with disinformation, but recent narratives and campaigns have caused the issue to burst onto the planning scene. Ika talks about just how much of a threat disinformation poses to planning, some of the knock-on effects and strategies to respond to disinformation. Disinformation in the City Playbook: https://www.gmfus.org/news/disinformation-city-response-playbook Planning Congress Website: https://eventfrog.eventsair.com/planning-congress-2025/ PIA Website: https://www.planning.org.au/ UrbanTalk Website: https://www.urbantalk.com.au/

The Planning Institute of Australia has once again partnered with UrbanTalk to create a series of podcast in the lead up to the Planning Congress 2025 in Darwin. CSIRO Principal Research Scientist, Dr Tim Muster discusses some of the work the Organisation has been undertaking in collaboration with private business and government to help make our cities more resilient and sustainable. He also talks about how the Urban Living Labs in Sydney and Darwin are helping to accomplish this. Sydney Science Park CSIRO Urban Living Lab: https://research.csiro.au/ssplivinglab/ CSIRO Darwin Urban Living Lab: https://research.csiro.au/darwinlivinglab/ Planning Congress Website: https://eventfrog.eventsair.com/planning-congress-2025/ PIA Website: https://www.planning.org.au/ UrbanTalk Website: https://www.urbantalk.com.au/

The Planning Institute of Australia has once again partnered with UrbanTalk to create a series of podcast in the lead up to the Planning Congress 2025 in Darwin. Recognised in 2017 and 2023 by Planetizen as one of the 100 most influential urbanists, Ellen Dunham-Jones joins us to discuss retrofitting suburbia and give an introduction into her keynote at the Planning Congress. Along with co-author June Williamson, Ellen literally wrote the book on the topic and maintains a unique database of over 2,500 suburban retrofits. Ellen gives a fantastic introduction to suburban retrofitting, the benefits they can bring to suburbs, some existing case studies from her extensive database and some lessons for Australia. Planning Congress Website: https://eventfrog.eventsair.com/planning-congress-2025/ PIA Website: https://www.planning.org.au/ UrbanTalk Website: https://www.urbantalk.com.au/

Former Minister for Planning, Dr Rob Stokes is a passionate urbanist with a unique perspective. He shares some of his philosophy on planning, initiatives that could improve Australia’s planning system and the challenges facing State Governments. Get in touch: https://www.urbantalk.com.au/contact

Architect and urban designer, Jon Johannsen joined us on the UrbanTalk Podcast to discuss the design excellence process and design review panels. In addition to his five decades of professional experience, Jon has also sat on numerous design excellence panels all across Sydney, including Burwood, Cumberland, Parramatta, Hornsby, Waverley and Inner West local government areas. This podcast was originally recorded at the end of 2023 and in the intervening period our guest, Jon Johannsen, has closed his architectural practice AJA. He continues to contribute to design excellence as an urban design consultant on several local government panels.

UrbanTalk has teamed up with the Planning Institute of Australia to bring you a special series of podcasts centred around the 2024 PIA Congress being held in Melbourne on the 22nd - 24th of May. We’re joined by Elle Davidson, Director of Zion Engagement and Planning and Rechelle Brookes, Policy & Project Officer at the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action. We will discuss Planning with Country, PIA’s Knowledge Circle and what delegates can expect at some of the plenary sessions at the Planning Congress 2024.

UrbanTalk has teamed up with the Planning Institute of Australia to bring you a special series of podcasts centred around the 2024 PIA Congress being held in Melbourne on the 22nd - 24th of May. As Chief Foresight and Knowledge Officer, our guest Petra Hurtardo and her Foresight team keeps abreast of the changing trends and forces that can assist planners in remaining ahead of the curve and plan for the future.

UrbanTalk has teamed up with the Planning Institute of Australia to bring you a special series of podcasts centred around the 2024 PIA Congress being held in Melbourne on the 22nd - 24th of May. This second episode is split into two parts and focuses on the National Planning Awards. In this second part we speak with the 2023 National Young Planner of the Year, Bunfu Yu. Bunfu speaks about her passion for planning, the importance of mentors and she reveals her strategy for winning the 2023 National Young Planner of the Year.

UrbanTalk has teamed up with the Planning Institute of Australia to bring you a special series of podcasts centred around the 2024 PIA Congress being held in Melbourne on the 22nd - 24th of May. In this first episode we speak with the CEO of PIA, Matt Collins to hear about his vision for the Institute and what people can expect from the 2024 Planning Congress.