Episode description

Cities shape us and we shape our cities. We are living in uncertain times. Can cities hold significant answers to addressing some of the challenges facing us today?

We all have heard about nature-based solutions, low-carbon futures, liveable, socially just, smart and climate resilient cities. What do they mean?

Join RMIT lecturers and researchers to discuss how we can shape the future of our cities to find out how their teaching and research has real life impact - creating urban spaces that protects the environment adapts to climate change and are equitable.

Panel members
Dr Susie Maloney (Climate change adaptation policy)

Dr Susie Moloney is an Associate Professor in Sustainability and Urban Planning in the School of Global Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University. She is also a member of the Centre for Urban Research (CUR), RMIT. Her research focuses on land-use planning, urban sustainability and climate change and the implications for policy and governance arrangements particularly at the local and regional scale. She has worked for both the public and private sectors in the urban planning and sustainability policy domains. Over recent years she has worked on a range of applied climate change research projects with local and state government and community sector organisations. She is one of the co-founders of The Climate Change Exchange which is a not-for-profit organisation that is committed to the goals of equity and ecological sustainability in working towards a climate resilience future. Hosted by CUR, RMIT during its pilot first year, the Climate Change Exchange aims to build the capabilities of organisations to make evidence-informed decisions and take actions that target the root drivers of risks and vulnerabilities.

Candace Jordan

Candace is a Climate change adaptation and sustainability officer at City of Melbourne. She has been working as a climate change adaptation practitioner for over eight years across state and local levels of government. Candace has been involved in the development and implementation of City of Melbourne’s Climate Change Adaptation Strategy Refresh 2017 with a particular focus on mitigating urban heat and monitoring and evaluating the cities adaptation strategy. She has a collaborative approach to adaptation planning and policy, building relationships across organisations and disciplines to achieve positive adaptation outcomes. During her time at the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Candace led the delivery of the Inter-jurisdictional Adaptation Working Group and contributed to the development of Victoria’s second statewide Climate Change Adaptation Plan. Candace is passionate about building Melbourne’s and its community’s resilience to the impacts of climate change to ensure Melbourne remains a great city to live in and enjoy.

Dr Anthony Kent (sustainable transport policy)

Anthony Kent is lecturer and researcher with the Centre for Urban Research at RMIT. He is currently researching the place of second-tier cities in broader settlement patterns with a focus on environmental and economic outcomes and potential.

Dr Georgia Garrad