Featuring panel discussions, talks, walking tours, and podcasts involving researchers, policy makers, industry experts and community leaders, the Festival of Urbanism program brings new and diverse voices together out of shared concern for the future planning and design of Australian cities and regions.

The line-up comprises University of Sydney’s professor Nicole Gurran, Dr Luke Hespanhol, Dr Sophia Maalsen, professor Rosemary Lyster, and Dr Robert Stokes, former minister for Planning, Public Spaces, and Cities, Tegan Mitchell, Manager Major Transport Projects, City of Sydney, and author, journalist and Henry Halloran Research Trust Writer in Residence, Dr Elizabeth Farrelly.

Speakers will be addressing issues related to urban planning and design. Some subjects to be presented include whether housing, environmental or infrastructure reforms confront challenges of affordability, socio-economic exclusion, cultural heritage or biodiversity protection, whether Australia’s Indigenous and settler histories are included in cultural heritage conservation and urban planning practice, and whether increasing housing supply is the solution to housing shortages.

Presented by the Henry Halloran Research Trust, University of Sydney, the festival will be held in multiple cities between September 12 and October 4.