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Auckland Conversations 

Auckland Conversations 
 

Auckland Conversations is a speaker event that presents both national and international keynote speakers. All speakers are leaders in their areas of expertise and can inspire, influence and inform both the public and council officers.

Each speaker will present on topics that relate to the vision and issues facing Auckland to become the world’s most liveable city, and endorse the planning, economic, environmental and policy strategies as set out in the Auckland Plan, City Centre Master Plan and Economic Development Strategy.

This programme is an initiative of the Chief Planning Office, Auckland Council. 

Event topic scope:

  • Design - urban design, architecture, place making and city/town/waterfront planning.
  • Economic development drivers and influencers - innovation, transport, tourism, socio-economic issues.
  • Heritage - natural, cultural and built heritage.
  • Environment - eco-city sustainability initiatives and issues.

Upcoming events

Lord Mayor of Brisbane Graham Quirk on Economic and Environmental Sustainability
Thursday 27 June, 5.30pm-7pm
Aotea Centre, Upper NZI Conference Room

Following his appointment as Lord Mayor of Brisbane in April 2011, Graham Quirk was elected as Lord Mayor in the 2012 Brisbane City Council election.

Graham has a long record of service to Brisbane and the local community, being first elected to council in 1985. As a member of Civic Cabinet for over a decade, he has overseen key portfolios of infrastructure and finance, as well as serving as Deputy Mayor alongside Campbell Newman from 2008.

As Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Graham Quirk is committed to delivering for the residents of Brisbane and making the city a better place to live, work and invest in.

Over the course of his career and as part of the Council Administration, Graham has been responsible for delivering many positive outcomes and ongoing projects for Brisbane, including:

  • Easing traffic congestion with major infrastructure projects across the city,  including the TransApex network of cross city tunnels and bridges, along with the Road Action Program, which has fast-tracked 15 years of urgent road works into just four years.
  • Improving public transport with 500 new buses, and an extra 11 new CityCats. This year he introduced the CityGlider bus service, Maroon Glider Bus Service for sporting events and free CityHopper ferries.
  • A green city with the planting of two million new trees, purchasing 500 hectares of bushland for preservation and using 100 per cent renewable energy within council.
  • Enhancing Brisbane’s capacity for long-term economic growth and supporting measures that will attract more events, visitors and investment to the city.

Check here to register online. 

Leading Urban Economist: Harvard Professor Edward Glaeser
Monday 1 July, 2pm-4pm
Aotea Centre, Upper NZI Conference Room
 
Mayor Len Brown and Chief Economist Geoff Cooper invite you to attend a presentation with leading Harvard economist and 2013 Sir Douglas Myers Visiting Professor Edward Glaeser.

Professor Glaeser is an internationally renowned speaker and frequent commentator on the economics of cities. In 2011, he authored the book Triumph of the City: How our Greatest Invention Makes Us Richer, Smarter, Greener, Healthier and Happier.

Professor Glaeser will talk about urban policy, giving a global perspective on issues such as:

  • What is best - up or out?
  • Housing markets, housing affordability and the planning environment.
  • Road pricing and how to beat congestion.
  • Education and the modern day competitive city.
  • Cities and the environmental challenge. 

Following his talk, Professor Glaeser will be joined in a panel discussion with Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse and Motu Senior Fellow, Chair of the Reserve Bank Arthur Grimes. If you would like to pre-register a question for this panel session, please email aucklandconversations@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.

Check here to register online. 

For more information and to join the Auckland Conversations mailing list, see our Auckland Conversations page.

To view webinars of past presentations and biographies of speakers, visit the Auckland Conversations website.