A selection of invited talks
Putting Healthy Urbanism into Practice
In this talk for the School of Community and Regional Planning (SCARP) Speaker Series at University of British Columbia, I describe three key messages of healthy urbanism with examples of how they can be applied in practice. I also discuss the barriers and enablers to practicing healthy urbanism such as framing health for built environment audiences and development economics.
Vancouver, Canada, October 4, 2023.
Podcast on Healthy Urbanism
In this podcast, I am interviewed by Ross O’Ceallaigh of the Green Urbanist. This conversation covers personal reflections about urban living and the basics of healthy urbanism. We spend a lot of time talking about how healthy urbanism relates to planetary and ecosystem health. We also get into details on the ‘business case’, new models of development and a mutual love of community-led housing.
Listen to the podcast and read more on the Green Urbanist substack for Episode 62 (February 2023) using the link below.
Launch event of Healthy Urbanism
A hybrid (online and in-person) launch event called ‘Urban Health Inside Out’ was held at University College London in July 2022 to launch my book on Healthy Urbanism. A panel of speakers discussed their experiences of working to support health through the fields of urban design and planning, public health and property development.
The event was chaired by Prof Yolande Barnes, Chair Bartlett Real Estate Institute, UCL with speakers: Prof Julian Agyeman, Professor of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning, Tufts University; Kieron Boyle, Chief Executive, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation; Dr Helen Pineo, Associate Professor in Healthy and Sustainable Cities, University College London; and Julia Thrift , Director, Healthier Place-making, TCPA (Town & Country Planning Association).
What role for the built environment in healthy cities?
The Global Centre for Healthcare and Urbanisation at Kellogg College, University of Oxford held a public seminar on healthy cities. I spoke about reframing our understanding of healthy urban environments, focusing on the need to improve the design quality of new development in England.
Other speakers included Iona O’Carroll and Rosie Rowe. The event was chaired by Lord Richard Best. April 2022.
Kindness and healthy urbanism
Being Kind: How Much Does Social Sustainability Matter?, Simon Fraser University, invited talk about THRIVES Framework, Vancouver, Canada (online), October 21, 2020.
Part of Pandemonium: Urban Studies and Recovering from COVID-19, a lecture series presented by SFU Urban Studies in collaboration with SFU Public Square and financially supported by the Initiative in Sustainable Urban Development. More information.
THRIVES Framework
Design for Health and Wellbeing Roundtable, Design Council, invited talk about the THRIVES Framework, England (online), July 2, 2020. Other speakers were Mayaan Ashkenazi, Jacqueline Bleicher, Deborah Szebeko, and Aditya Kasliwal.
Leveraging the urban planning system to shape healthy cities
Dean’s Symposium: Urban Health, State of the Science, Boston University, invited talk on ‘Urban planning: leveraging the urban planning system to shape healthy cities’, Boston, MA, USA, December 6, 2018. My talk appears at 36 mins.
Stories that push boundaries
BRE Women’s Network and Institute of Civil Engineers, speaker and chair of ‘#BEinspired: Stories that push boundaries’, London, UK, September 20, 2016.
Research and innovation in sustainable construction
Construction Climate Challenge, Volvo Construction Equipment, invited talk on ‘Research and innovation in sustainable construction’, Gothenburg, Sweden, June 24, 2015.