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Episodes
Monday Jun 27, 2022
Monday Jun 27, 2022
Patrick Gorr is a Arup's Global Hydrogen Leader. His specializes in energy and hydrogen, and the transition to net zero energy production. Patrick is a chartered accountant by profession, Patrick holds a Bachelor of Business, Economics, Accounting and International Trade from Swinburne University of Technology, and has held senior strategic roles, in Australia and Europe, with the Victorian Government, International Development Law Organisation and EDF Energy.
The Energy crisis has been all over the news recently, as the East Coast of Australia is at risk of black out, due to peak demand expected to exceed supply. Patrick explains what's been happening in the energy markets, and what the solution is.
We chat about:
The energy crisis
What the solution is for more reliable and sustainable energy production and supply
Why Hydrogen is seen to be part of the solution to our energy crisis
What is preventing Hydrogen from being mass produced and replacing our unrenewable sources
What projects Arup leading globally to help unlock more opportunities for hydrogen to be produced, exported and used by consumers
Here is a quick fact sheet shared by Patrick to help explain the Lack of Reserve in the energy market
https://aemo.com.au/-/media/files/learn/fact-sheets/lor-fact-sheet.pdf?la=en#:~:text=A%20forecast%20LOR%20occurs%20when,LOR%20becomes%20an%20operational%20reality.
Hope you enjoy this chat :)
Monday Jun 20, 2022
Monday Jun 20, 2022
Dr Margaret Cook has been a freelance historian for many years, working in the heritage, museum, government and private sectors. She holds a PhD in history from the University of Queensland and her current research interests include natural disasters, rivers, water politics, and environmental history. Margaret is a history lecturer at the University of Sunshine Coast, a Research Fellow at Griffith University and holds Honorary Research Fellow positions at La Trobe University and University of Queensland.
Margaret’s recent publications are:
A River with a City Problem: A History of Brisbane Floods,
an edited collection with Scott McKinnon, Disasters in Australia and New Zealand: Historical Approaches to Understanding Catastrophe, and
a co-authored book Cities in a Sunburnt Country: Water and the Making of Urban Australia.
In 2020, Margaret was awarded the John and Ruth Kerr Medal of Distinction for excellence in historiography, historical research and writing.
This conversation builds on an earlier chat with Martin Roushani-Zarmehri in April where he referenced Margaret's research and publications, specifically that many of our urban settlements are on flood plains based on historical reasons.
In this chat, we take a deep dive into Margaret's publications and passion, and find out what lessons we can take from history to shape more resilient communities.
We chat about:
Margaret's publications
What inspired Margaret to research so deeply into water issues
Why it is important that we understand and learn from history
What the key learnings are about human behaviour, especially during natural disasters
Buy back schemes and how we use them to become more resilient
Behavioural change can happen
I hope you enjoy this chat.
Monday Jun 06, 2022
Monday Jun 06, 2022
Prof. Barbara Norman is the Foundation Chair of Urban and Regional Planning and Director of Canberra Urban and Regional Futures at the University of Canberra. She has a substantial professional background having worked at all levels of government and her own private practice. Her current research and teaching interests include sustainable cities and regions, coastal planning, climate change adaptation and urban governance.
Professor Norman is a highly esteemed professional, including:
immediate past Chair of the ACT Climate Change Council
Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University
Life Fellow and past national president of the Planning Institute of Australia
Life Honorary Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (UK)
qualifications include a Bachelor of Town & Regional Planning, Masters of Environmental Law and a PhD on sustainable coastal planning
contributing author to IPCC 5 WG 2 report on Impacts 2013
awarded an Australian Centenary Medal for her contribution to the community through urban and regional planning.
In this episode we chat about:
Barbara's career highlights
What motivates her
The importance of planning
Tackling climate change
Her new book to be launched at COP27 later this year
Some of the key takeaways from this discussion:
the value of planning is being restored and going through a renaissance
planners are driven by common good / community good
we can achieve much more when we cooperate and collaborate - would be great to see all Australian Planning Ministers coming together
its time to embed climate change in planning law across Australia
we need to map existing climate risks across Australia to identify areas of vulnerability, and then prepare place-specific plans for most vulnerable communities.
must not add to the legacy of vulnerability
need to upskill planners and built environment professionals to gain confidence in planning for climate change
we are past the point of climate guidelines - its time for regulations. Industry want certainty
Insurance industry are looking to planning profession to be proactive
Carbon neutral developments are lacking evaluation and monitoring
90% of built environment will still be here in 2050 - focus on re-use and improving existing urban fabric to create resilient and sustainable outcomes
possible legacy for Brisbane 2032 would be to embed climate change process in everything we do
References referred to by Barbara:
IPCC report on Adaptation - link
Glasgow Climate Pact - outcome of COP26 - link
Hope you enjoy this chat :)
Monday May 23, 2022
Monday May 23, 2022
I spent the week in Hobart last week, attending and presenting at the Planning Institute of Australia National Congress. The theme was Opportunities in times of crisis, and this was the first time in 3 years that PIA has held a national planning conferences in person.
In this episode, I summarize the top 10 lessons that I have acquired from the amazing sessions attended.
From the housing crisis, to human centered planning to designing with country and so many more!
Looking forward to hearing what you think about my top 10!
(You might hear my kids & husband in the background, as I recorded this at home on the weekend)
More info about Congress can be found here - Planning Institute of Australia
Friday May 20, 2022
Friday May 20, 2022
Matt Gross is a well-known property economist, urban geographer, and sociologist based in Brisbane.
Matt heads up one of Australia's most respected property research houses that has grown on the back of honesty, integrity and innovation, National Property Research Co. Matthew is highly regarded as being able to provide both strategic direction and tactical strategies to ensure that the project values, both social and economic are maximised. He has been involved in providing insight into some of the country’s biggest property transactions and largest residential developments.
The housing unaffordability crisis is growing! So I wanted to speak with Matt about his research and experience to help understand:
his views on the current housing unaffordability. What will lead SEQ out of this current state?
impact of federal election on housing
impact of COVID on housing
longer term SEQ housing market predications
Key economic barriers and opportunities for 2032 Olympics
Hope you enjoy this chat.
Friday May 13, 2022
Friday May 13, 2022
Jason Byrne is a Professor of Human Geography and Planning at University of Tasmania. He researches urban political ecologies of green-space, climate change adaptation, and environmental justice. He has over 100 scholarly publications, including a multi-award-winning co-edited book - Australian Environmental Planning: Challenges and Future Prospects (Routledge).
Jason has been awarded the Planning Institute Australia’s national award for cutting edge research and teaching, and has twice been awarded the PIA Queensland award in that category – as well as their overall award for planning excellence.
I chat to Jason ahead of PIA National Congress in May 2022. We chat about:
top tips for Australian planners ready to converge on Hobart for PIA National Congress
his career highlights and motivations
key barriers for Australia in adapting to climate change
nature based solutions & innovative solutions to adapting to climate change
Here are the links mentioned in our conversation:
https://climateadaptationaustralia.com.au/
https://theconversation.com/ordinary-people-extraordinary-change-addressing-the-climate-emergency-through-quiet-activism-160548
Hope you enjoy this chat!
To follow Jason on twitter - @CityByrne
Tuesday Apr 19, 2022
Tuesday Apr 19, 2022
PechaKucha is a global forum where ideas are pitched in a few minutes.
Two of our great local architects, Katherine Rickard and Dave Hanson, have launched PechaKucha Gold Coast! With their first event in March a huge success, future PechaKucha nights will be held quarterly across the City.
PechaKucha means "chit chat" in Japanese. This creative outlet began as night time get togethers in Tokyo in 2003 by two renowned architects. Since then, 3 million people have attended PechaKucha events worldwide.
Tune into this episode to hear all about PechaKucha Gold Coast!
To stay up to date with future event - follow PK GC here
PechaKucha Gold Coast (@pechakuchagoldcoast) • Instagram photos and videos
Find our more about PK globally, check out the website below.
Pecha Kucha 20x20: Discover Pecha Kucha presentations, stories, ideas, examples, and videos that will inspire
Friday Apr 08, 2022
Friday Apr 08, 2022
Martin is an RPEQ, with a dual degree in civil engineering and business management. He is a stormwater and flooding engineer, with a vast range of experience focused mainly within the development and construction space.
Martin has managed teams of flood engineers both in Australia and Vietnam, delivering projects to both government and private sector.
Martin’s interest in Floodplain Management and flood awareness has grown increasingly after seeing those affected in 2011 and the more recent 2022 floods in Brisbane, as well as frequent flooding during his time living in Vietnam. He has seen all sides of the flood discussion, and hopes that by the end of his career, he has been able to make a positive change towards better flood risk management.
In this ep, we chat about:
Improving community's awareness of flooding
why so many of our urban settlements are susceptible to flood
issues with reliance on dams and levees.
what does 1 in 100 year flood actually mean?
different types of flooding
solutions to reducing the risk of future floods
political issues with flooding
I hope you learn something from this discussion. I covered only about half of my pre-prepared questions, so will bring you a follow up episode if you're interested in more.
Monday Mar 28, 2022
Monday Mar 28, 2022
Brittany Lauga MP is the State member for Keppel and Assistant Minister for Education. Elected in 2015, Brittany is an award-winning Urban and Regional Planner prior to politics. Brittany has a strong professional background in infrastructure, urban planning and design, approvals and community development. She is passionate about her community. Brittany is an energetic and experienced Member working hard to deliver for the Central Queensland community.
In this episode, we chat about:
Brittany's experience transitioning from a town planner to a politician
the transferrable skills between planning and politics
her perspectives that have changes since joining politics
how to create positive interactions between politicians, planners and allied professionals
Brittany is such a busy person, so I was thrilled that she gave me her time to record this episode! I hope you enjoy it.
Monday Mar 21, 2022
Monday Mar 21, 2022
Noel Grummitt is a town planner and civil engineer. Noel has 50 years planning and development experience primarily in South East Queensland. Prior to founding Grummitt Planning Noel also gained valuable experience overseas, culminating in 1997, spending the remaining 7 years as town planning manager for Weathered Howe Gold Coast, preparing concept development plans for tourist projects in Australia, Malaysia and Taiwan. Noel is a Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia and Vice President of Southport Chamber of Commerce.
I chat to Noel about:
his journey as a planner, from studying town planning in the 1970's, after working as a qualified civil engineer;
the charitable work that Grummitt Planning has specialised in; and
the new passion project he is leading, to capture and communicate the history of the Gold Coast.
the essence of the Gold Coast - what makes us unique
I hope you enjoy this episode.
About Us - Grummitt Planning
About the host
Nicole is a wife, mother of 3 young children and passionate urban planner. She is an emerging leader and collaborator in city building and urban thinking, passionate about raising the profile of important issues facing our future.
She has 15 years experience as a strategic and statutory urban and regional planner in both public sector and private sectors.
Nicole is currently State Manager for Queensland and Northern Territory at Planning Institute of Australia.
Nicole has worked for Arup, a global multi-disciplinary sustainable development firm. She has held a leadership role within strategic urban and regional planning at City of Gold Coast as Coordinator of Neighbourhood Planning where she led local planning.
Another notable achievement, she was the property developer of award winning development ENVI micro urban village in Southport, in partnership with DegenhartSHEDD. A first of its kind exemplary small lot housing project that delivered exceptional design and high-density outcomes.