Auckland Conversations is a free 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.
Resilient Infrastructure Cities - Distinguished Professor of Sustainability - Peter Newman
Tuesday 1 April, doors open 5pm, welcome 5.30 pm
Aotea Centre, Lower NZI Conference Room, central Auckland
Peter Newman is the Distinguished Professor of Sustainability at Curtin University and Director of the Curtin University Sustainability Policy (CUSP) Institute which has 60 PhD students working on all aspects of the green economy.
Peter is on the Board of Infrastructure Australia that is funding infrastructure for the long term sustainability of Australian cities, and is a Lead Author for Transport on the IPCC.
He has three recent books: ‘Technologies for Climate Change Mitigation: Transport’ for the UN Environment Program, ‘Resilient Cities: Responding to Peak Oil and Climate Change’ and ‘Green Urbanism Down Under’ for Island Press.
In 2001-2003 Peter directed the production of WA’s Sustainability Strategy in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, the first state sustainability strategy in the world. In 2004-5 he was a Sustainability Commissioner in Sydney advising the government on planning issues.
In 2006 and 2007 he was a Fulbright Senior Scholar at the University of Virginia Charlottesville. In Perth, Peter is best known for his work in saving, reviving and extending the city’s rail system.
Peter invented the term ‘automobile dependence’ to describe how we have created cities where we have to drive everywhere. For 30 years since he attended Stanford University during the first oil crisis he has been warning cities about preparing for peak oil.
Peter’s book with Jeff Kenworthy 'Sustainability and Cities: Overcoming Automobile Dependence' was launched in the White House in 1999. He was a Councillor in the City of Fremantle from 1976-1980 where he still lives.
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