How do we meaningfully engage with Pacific peoples and issues across the region? We invite you to this Talanoa (shared conversation) with host Professor Jioji Ravulo and experts in geopolitics, climate and economic security.


Much attention is on the Pacific region as leading world powers seek to have influence and possible control on the access and development of Pacific Islands Counties and its Territories (PICT). The way in which this is occurring is shaped competing priorities and outcomes, underpinned by economic and financial incentives. 

Despite good will and intention, a key question remains: what are we doing to genuinely and sustainably support Pacific people across the region? This should be the central idea that shapes the way in which regional development occurs across the Pacific region. Our host and panel will critically reflect on this overarching question, with examples drawn from the past, present and possible futures.

The panel will also explore key questions including: Who benefits from having influence and control across the region and why? How are the key players held accountable for their varying impacts across the region?  What is the role and influence of Pacific people in shaping this dialogue?

Pacific influence

In recent years a new movement known as ‘YIMBY’ (‘Yes In My Backyard’) has emerged. ‘YIMBIES’ argue that planning and regulatory barriers serving local ‘NIMBY’ (‘Not In My Backyard’ property owners) block new and higher density housing, causing affordability pressures across the market. By contrast, many so called ‘NIMBIES’ reject the proposition that ‘supply’ is the only solution to high cost housing.  In this session, housing advocates and experts debate the proposition that supply side barriers are to blame for Australia’s housing crisis and recommend strategies to fix the housing system.

SPEAKERS
Eamon Waterford, CEO, Committee for Sydney   

Max Holleran, Lecturer in Social Policy, the University of Melbourne  

Melissa Neighbour, Principal Planner, Sky Planning

Michael Koziol, Sydney editor, The Sydney Morning Herald

CHAIRED BY
Professor Nicole Gurran, Director Henry Halloran Research Trust, the University of Sydney

106. Contested Housing

How are Australia’s Indigenous and settler histories recognised and confronted in cultural heritage conservation and urban planning practice, alongside wider struggles for native title, land rights, and spatial justice? Join this conversation with a panel of experts across Indigenous history, archaeology, heritage conservation, urban planning and design. 

SPEAKERS
Professor Bronwyn Carlson, Head of Department of Indigenous Studies, Macquarie University

Stephen Gapps, Senior Associate Historian, Artefact Heritage Services

Seth Dias, PHD Candidate at the USYD school of Architecture, Design and Planning

Innez Haua

Jess Herder, Senior Associate, Thirriwirri

CHAIRED BY
Professor Michael Mossman, Associate Dean Indigenous Strategy and Services, the University of Sydney

107. Contested Country

We know we must end sprawl and densify our cities, but are tall towers the answer? Can the skyscraper solve our affordable housing problem? Does high density necessarily mean high-rise, and do such developments stack up environmentally – or do they exacerbate issues such as urban heat? What are the wider benefits or disbenefits of hyper-density in terms of urban design, street making, community cohesion or accessibility? Join Saving Sydney author Dr Elizabeth Farrelly and a panel of experts for a robust discussion on whether Sydney should ‘go up or go out’, and whether this is even the right question.

PANEL
Dr Fiona Foo, Cardiologist 

Professor Cathy Sherry, Law School and Smart Green Cities, Macquarie University

Tim Sneesby, Manager Strategic Planning,  Waverley Council  

Professor Michael Chapman, Chair of Architecture and Design, University of Western Sydney  

CHAIRED BY
Dr Elizabeth Farrelly, author, journalist and Henry Halloran Research Trust Writer in Residence

108. Saving Sydney

Water security is one of the most contested issues facing urban and regional communities across Australia. For growing inland cities like Canberra, conventional assumptions and approaches to water supply, catchment management, and urban planning must be reimagined in the context of climate change. This special event hosted in partnership with the Planning Institute of Australia examines the increasingly complex debates surrounding water security and asks whether and how inland cities can ever achieve true urban resilience.  

This event is co-hosted with the Planning Institute of Australia.

SPEAKERS
Professor Barbara Norman, Foundation Chair of Urban and Regional Planning and Director of Canberra Urban and Regional Futures (CURF), the University of Canberra

Danielle Francis, Manager Policy and Strategy, Water Services Australia

Dr Jason Alexandra, Research Fellow, Transformational Climate Adaptation and Water, ANU Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions, ANU Institute for Water Futures.

Dr Danswell Starrs, Water Science, Monitoring and Modelling Manager at ACT Government

CHAIRED BY
Dr Maxine Cooper FPIA, FEIANZ, Adjunct Prof UC, Chair ACT & Region Catchment Management Coordination Group, Chair Landcare ACT, and Deputy Chair National Landcare Network.

109. Contested Climate

The evidence shows that increasing new housing production alone won’t solve the affordability crisis. At this special event, the NSW Minister for Housing and Homelessness, the Hon. Rose Jackson MLC and a panel of experts from industry, academia, and community sectors, will outline strategies for unlocking affordable supply, from social housing to the ‘missing middle’. 

KEYNOTE ADDRESS
The Hon. Rose Jackson MLC, Minister for Housing, Homelessness, Mental Health, Youth, the North Coast, and Water

PANEL
Katie Stevenson, Executive Director Property Council of Australia NSW

Mark Degotardi, Chief Executive Officer, Community Housing Industry Association NSW

Dr Catherine Gilbert, the University of Sydney

Emma Greenhalgh, CEO National Shelter 

CHAIRED BY
Professor Nicole Gurran, Director, Henry Halloran Research Trust

110. From Social Housing to the Missing Middle

How do we move the needle on mental health outcomes? Alastair Campbell and leading experts discuss what can be done to influence the appropriate social and political responses.
Known for his role as communications director for former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair, Alastair Campbell has emerged as a prominent advocate for mental health action around the world.

In this Sydney Ideas public talk, Alastair shares brief reflections and then joined on stage by NSW Minister for Mental Health and Youth, The Hon. Minister Rose Jackson MLC; business leader Sam Mostyn AO (Chair of Beyond Blue); and youth mental health leaders Tanya Dearle and Zsofi de Haan. 

Our esteemed panel explore ways of moving forward and creating action to enhance mental health services and outcomes for all. 

Professor Ian Hickie AO, Co-director of Health and Policy at Brain and Mind Centre, hosts this event.

This event was held on Monday 4 March 2024 at the University of Sydney and was presented with Brain and Mind Centre and Matilda Centre.

Alastair Campbell: Setting The Mental Health Agenda

Infrastructure planning is intrinsically political – but are there significant differences between how we expect infrastructure planning to occur and the reality of how it plays out? Are our current approaches to the relationship between planning and power working?

In this fifth episode, we build on learnings from Victoria and consider the politics behind infrastructure decisions with Dr James Murphy, drawing on the latest book, ‘The Making and Unmaking of East-West Link’. We consider the roles of electoral strategy, the making of political rationale, and community resistance to ask how we might better unpack the way we think about infrastructure politics.

Informed by: Murphy, J. C. (2022). The making and unmaking of East-West Link. Melbourne Univ. Publishing.

Host: Dallas Rogers (University of Sydney)

Guest: James Murphy, Crystal Legacy (University of Melbourne)

This podcast series is sponsored by the Infrastructure Governance Incubator, a three-year (2020-2023) collaborative research platform—funded by the Henry Halloran Research Trust—across three universities (The University of Sydney, The University of Melbourne, and Monash University), and in partnership with Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) NSW & Victoria.

Audio recording and editing by Mikayla McGuirk-Scolaro and Dallas Rogers.

111. The Politics of Infrastructure Governance

This final episode of the Infrastructure Governance Incubator series focuses on a plenary discussion centred around the findings of the ‘Infrastructure Governance Incubator’ - a multidisciplinary collaborative research project across three universities – which took place at the State of Australasian Cities conference in December 2023.

This discussion sought to contribute to a renewed research agenda for Australasian infrastructure governance, considering the current state of governance challenges and potential future directions. It draws on findings from the Incubator’s case study of the Western Sydney Parkland City in New South Wales, Australia, across multiple critical issues discussed across this podcast series: planning on unceded First Nations land, accountability and social legitimacy, collaborative governance and integration, and power and politics.

Panel members:
A/Prof. Tooran Alizadeh, Dr. Rebecca Clements, A/Prof. Glen Searle, A/prof Dallas Rogers, Elle Davidson (University of Sydney), Crystal Legacy (University of Melbourne), Liton Kamruzzaman (Monash University).

Discussant: Jago Dodson (RMIT)

This podcast series is sponsored by the Infrastructure Governance Incubator, a three-year (2020-2023) collaborative research platform—funded by the Henry Halloran Research Trust—across three universities (The University of Sydney, The University of Melbourne and Monash University) and in partnership with Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) NSW & Victoria.

Audio recording and editing by Mikayla McGuirk-Scolaro.

112. The State of Australasian Cities Conference

Explore how the arts are transforming health and education to improve care and wellbeing with acclaimed playwright Wesley Enoch, poet Selina Tusitala Marsh, nursing professor Brendan McCormack and host Claire Hooker (CREATE Centre).

This podcast is a recording of a live public event held on 21 March 2024. For more links and resources, including the transcript, visit Sydney Ideas website: https://bit.ly/4a5GeLf

Art of good health and wellbeing

Delve into the history, science, and beauty of the natural world with Australian author James Bradley, Professor of Marine Biology Maria Byrne, ocean and climate advocate Tishiko King and host Helen Sullivan (Guardian Australia).

This event was held live at the University of Sydney on 8 March 2024. For more details and resources, visit the Sydney Ideas page: https://bit.ly/49wNNtl

Oceanic narratives: Interweaving past, present and future

Sydney Ideas is the University of Sydney's premier public lecture series program, bringing the world's leading thinkers and the latest research to the wider Sydney community.

Pacific influence

Sydney Ideas

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