The Century of Cities
This podcast explores the future of urban evolution, imagining a world where 10 billion people live in over 10,000 cities by 2100. Through interviews and storytelling, it examines the forces shaping cities and how they can become sustainable, inclusive, and resilient. Hosted by Prof. Greg Clark CBE and Jennifer Dolynchuk, the series aims to inspire curiosity about humanity's most profound transformation.
Episodes
Sumbul Siddiqui: Can a Successful City Stay Inclusive?
The Century of Cities welcomes Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui of Cambridge, Massachusetts, as part of our special series recorded in Singapore in association with the World Cities Summit Mayors Forum and the Centre for Liveable Cities. A city once shaped by manufacturing and industrial decline, Cambridge has reinvented itself as a global centre for research and innovation. But that success has brought a ne
Raisa Treñas: How Do You Build a City for Everyone?
The Century of Cities welcomes Mayor Raisa Treñas of Iloilo City as part of our special series recorded in Singapore in association with the World Cities Summit Mayors Forum and the Centre for Liveable Cities. Once a major sugar-exporting centre, Iloilo experienced economic decline and underinvestment before embarking on a remarkable revival rooted in good governance, environmental restoration, he
Hillary Schieve: How Do You Reinvent a City's Identity?
The Century of Cities welcomes Mayor Hillary Schieve of Reno as part of our special series recorded in Singapore in association with the World Cities Summit Mayors Forum and the Centre for Liveable Cities. Convening mayors and urban leaders from more than 100 cities, the Summit focused on one central challenge: how to turn ambitious urban ideas into meaningful action. For Mayor Schieve, transforma
Ciprian Ciucu: What Does It Take to Lead a Modern Capital?
The Century of Cities welcomes Mayor Ciprian Ciucu of Bucharest as part of our special series recorded in Singapore during the World Cities Summit 2026, in association with the World Cities Summit Mayors Forum and the Centre for Liveable Cities. Bringing together mayors from more than 100 cities under the theme Liveable and Sustainable Cities: ACT Now!, the Summit provided a global platform for ci
Sanjay Shukla: Is Housing Really a Finance Problem?
The Century of Cities welcomes Sanjay Shukla, Managing Director of the National Housing Bank of India, as part of our special miniseries in collaboration with UN-Habitat. Sanjay explores a critical question: if the need for housing is clear, why does finance remain out of reach for millions? As cities grow, he suggests that solving the housing crisis depends as much on transforming financial syste
Edgar Pieterse: Can Africa Redefine the Future of Urbanization?
The Century of Cities welcomes back Edgar Pieterse, Founding Director of the African Centre for Cities and Co-Chair of the African Mayoral Leadership Initiative, as part of our special miniseries in collaboration with UN-Habitat. As Africa becomes the world's fastest urbanizing region, Edgar examines one of the defining questions of this century: can the continent transform unprecedented urban gro
Jonathan Reckford: What Would It Take to House the World?
Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International, joins The Century of Cities as part of our special miniseries in collaboration with UN-Habitat. Building on conversations emerging from World Urban Forum 13 in Baku, Jonathan reflects on a world where rapid urbanization, climate pressures, migration, and rising construction costs have combined to create a housing crisis affecting cities
Anaclaudia Rossbach: Why Housing Is the Defining Urban Challenge
Anaclaudia Rossbach, Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) at the Under-Secretary-General level and the very first guest on The Century of Cities, returns to explore why housing has become one of the defining tests of urban leadership in the 21st century. Drawing on insights from World Urban Forum 13 in Baku and the newly launched World Cities Report 202
Meric Gertler: Why Cities and Universities Need Each Other
Meric Gertler, former President of the University of Toronto and Distinguished Scholar in Residence at the School of Cities, joins The Century of Cities to reflect on the remarkable evolution of cities and the institutions that help shape them. He recalls a time when cities were widely viewed as unmanageable, financially strained, and in decline, before emerging as globally recognized engines of i
Ruchita Bansal: Building Cities That Work for Everyone
Ruchita Bansal, urban planner, founder of SheCity India, and host of The Human Cities Podcast, joins The Century of Cities to explore how cities are often designed around a narrow idea of who urban life is meant to serve. Reflecting on India's rapid urban transformation, she argues that much of urban planning still defaults to the able-bodied male commuter, leaving women, caregivers, migrants, and
Marc Canal: How Cities Powered a Century of Plenty
Marc Canal, Senior Fellow at the McKinsey Global Institute and co-author of A Century of Plenty, joins The Century of Cities to explore why cities have been among the greatest engines of human progress. From divided and economically uncertain cities to today's global hubs of talent, innovation, and culture, Marc explains how density, connectivity, and urbanization accelerated prosperity, productiv
Marta Foresti: Why Creativity Is Essential to the Future of Cities
Marta Foresti, Founder and CEO of LAGO Collective and Chair of the Global Creative Economy Council, joins The Century of Cities to explore the evolving relationship between cities, creativity, migration, and growth. Reflecting on her upbringing in Milan and her work across Europe and Africa, Marta traces the shift from car-dominated, exclusionary cities toward more open and creative urban environm
András Szörényi: How Cities Are Reshaping Global Governance
The Century of Cities welcomes András Szörényi, Senior Policy Advisor at Global Cities Hub, to explore how cities are becoming increasingly influential actors in global cooperation. Drawing on his diplomatic career, András reflects on the shift from traditional city-to-city partnerships to today's networks of multi-level and multi-stakeholder collaboration. From climate adaptation and migration to
Cristina Bueti: AI, Accountability, and the Next Urban Era
Cristina Bueti, Counsellor on Smart Sustainable Cities, AI-enabled Citiverse & Virtual worlds at International Telecommunication Union, joins The Century of Cities to explore a new phase of urban intelligence. She traces the shift from cities that once operated without real-time awareness to systems that can now sense, learn, and adapt. Yet even as cities solve major challenges, they remain expose
Marie Lam - Frendo: Why Infrastructure Must Become a Force for Good
The Century of Cities welcomes Marie Lam - Frendo, Partner and Chief Strategy Officer at Meridiam, to explore how infrastructure has shifted from simply enabling growth to shaping resilience, inclusion, and long-term prosperity. She reflects on the move from car-led, output-driven cities to a new urban era where people, technology, energy, mobility, and nature must operate as one connected system.
J. Byron Brazier: The Power of Community-Led Development
J. Byron Brazier, lead developer of Woodlawn Central, joins The Century of Cities to share a powerful model for building cities with communities, not around them. Rooted in Chicago's South Side and shaped by a legacy of civil rights leadership, Byron reflects on how cities have moved from an era defined by human connection and hard-won social progress to one shaped by technology, design, and globa
Ami Kotecha: Migration and the Next Urban Shift
Ami Kotecha, Co-Founder and Group President at Amro Partners, joins The Century of Cities to trace the evolution of cities through the lens of migration, capital, and lived experience. Reflecting on her upbringing in Mumbai and her work across European markets, she describes the shift from cities shaped by scarcity and informality to today's global urban economies, where growth has been powered by
Lisette van Doorn: Rethinking Real Estate for Better Cities
Lisette van Doorn, Former Chief Executive at Urban Land Institute Europe, joins The Century of Cities to explore how real estate has shifted from a local, owner-led activity to a global, highly financialized industry, and what that means for cities. Drawing on more than two decades of experience, she reflects on how global capital and new investment models have reshaped the built environment, unlo
Sowmya Parthasarathy: Planning Cities for the Long Term
The Century of Cities welcomes Sowmya Parthasarathy, an Architect and Urban Designer leading Arup's Masterplanning and Urban Design team in London, who examines how city planning has shifted from centralized, top-down systems toward more people-centred and regenerative approaches. Drawing on her experience in 1980s New Delhi and her work across the UK, US, Middle East, and India, she reflects on h
Chris Fair: Beyond the Global City
The Century of Cities welcomes Chris Fair, futurist and President & CEO of Resonance, who explores how cities are moving beyond a single model of the "global city" toward more divergent forms of urban development. Drawing on decades of research and the evaluation of hundreds of cities worldwide, he reflects on how places once shaped by globalization are now differentiating through culture, governa
Rohit T. Aggarwala: New York's Climate Future
In this episode of The Century of Cities, Rohit T. Aggarwala, Commissioner of NYC Environmental Protection and former Chief Climate Officer, reflects on a century of urban change through the lens of New York's environmental, infrastructural, and governance evolution. He traces the city's trajectory from the fiscal and environmental crises of the late twentieth century to its present condition, mar
Mairi Spowage: Scotland's Cities, Housing, and the New Urban Economy
Mairi Spowage, Director at Fraser of Allander Institute, joins The Century of Cities to reflect on how Scotland's cities have evolved through industrial decline, sectoral booms, and structural economic change. She traces the divergent trajectories of places like Glasgow and Aberdeen, explaining how shifts toward service and knowledge-based economies have brought new opportunities alongside persist
Tim Williams: Why the Housing Crisis Isn't a Supply Problem
The Century of Cities welcomes Tim Williams, Cities Lead at Grimshaw and a leading voice in global urban strategy, to explore how cities move through cycles of growth, decline, and reinvention. Drawing on his upbringing in the South Wales Valleys and years advising governments in the UK and Australia, Tim reflects on the shift from industrial cities built on extraction to contemporary urban econom
Alice Charles: From Irish Cities to Global Urban Futures
Alice Charles, Director, Cities, Planning & Design at Arup, joins The Century of Cities from Dublin to reflect on how Irish cities, and cities globally, have evolved. Grounded in a career spanning regeneration, infrastructure, and global urban systems, Alice traces Ireland's shift from economic stagnation and brain drain to foreign direct investment, car-led growth, and today's housing and governa
Andrew Carter: Devolution, Inequality, and the Future of British Cities
The Century of Cities welcomes Andrew Carter, Chief Executive of Centre for Cities, who reflects on how UK cities have evolved, and why uneven progress still defines the urban landscape. He traces the shift from industrial decline and urban decay to a renewed belief in cities as drivers of economic growth, powered by the knowledge economy and higher education. Andrew emphasizes that this revival w
Carlos Moreno: Rethinking Cities Through the 15-Minute Lens
Carlos Moreno, a scientist, urban planner, and professor internationally recognized for developing the concept of the 15-minute city, joins The Century of Cities to reflect on how urban life is being reshaped by climate urgency, digital transformation, and changing patterns of daily living. He explains why proximity-based urbanism is not about a fixed number of minutes, but about identifying essen
Michael Storper: Why Cities Need Better Institutions, Not Easy Answers (Part 2)
Season 2 of The Century of Cities continues with part two of our in-depth conversation with Michael Storper, one of the world's leading economic geographers. In this episode, Michael turns his focus to governance, institutions, and the hard trade-offs shaping urban futures in the United States and Europe. Drawing on comparative insights from California, the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and major Europea
Michael Storper: The Vanishing Urban Frontier (Part 1)
Season 2 of The Century of Cities begins with part one of a two-part conversation with Michael Storper, one of the world's leading economic geographers. Holding appointments at UCLA and the London School of Economics, Michael brings a long-term perspective to how cities evolve across distinct economic eras. He reflects on why many of today's most prosperous cities once faced deep decline, and why
Lord Norman Foster: Density, Design, and the Future of Urban Life
The Century of Cities celebrates our 100th guest as we welcome Lord Norman Foster, one of the world's most influential architects and Founder and Executive Chairman of Foster + Partners. Drawing on six decades of practice, he traces the shift from gritty, industrial cities to cleaner, safer, and more mobile urban environments, shaped by digital technology, new forms of mobility, and changing patte
Edward L. Glaeser: The Triumph, Trials, and Future of Urban Life
Edward L. Glaeser, one of the world's leading urban economists and the Fred and Eleanor Glimp Professor of Economics at Harvard University, joins The Century of Cities to reflect on decades of research and his landmark work, Triumph of the City. He traces the arc from urban decline and deindustrialization to the resurgence of cities as centers of knowledge, creativity, and economic opportunity. Ed
Andrés Rodríguez-Pose: Why Place Still Matters in an Unequal World
The Century of Cities welcomes Andrés Rodríguez-Pose, Professor of Economic Geography and Regional Planning, to examine deep spatial inequalities shaping politics, prosperity, and trust in institutions across the world. Drawing on decades of research, Andrés explains how economic growth has become increasingly concentrated in a small number of cities and regions, while many places have been system
Maria Camila Uribe: Lessons from Latin America's Urban Transformation
Maria Camila Uribe, Principal Technical Lead for Housing and Urban Development and Coordinator of the IDB Cities Network at the Inter-American Development Bank, joins us on The Century of Cities. She explains how rapid urbanization, democratization, and decentralization shaped the lives of hundreds of millions, leaving legacies of both ingenuity and inequality. From informal settlements to bold pl
Ming Zhang: Financing the Future of Cities
In this episode of The Century of the Cities, Ming Zhang, Global Director for Urban, Resilience, and Land at the World Bank, brings a sweeping global perspective on how cities have transformed since 1980. From witnessing Shanghai's shift from a stagnant industrial city to a world-class metropolis, to tracking urbanization across South Korea, Brazil, India, and Africa, Ming explains how innovation,
Claudia López: How Bogotá Turned Care into a Global Innovation
The Century of Cities welcomes Claudia López, former Mayor of Bogotá and the city's first female leader, who shares how her administration redefined inclusion, productivity, and progress through one bold idea, the care blocks. From her childhood in a working-class neighbourhood in southern Bogotá to leading one of Latin America's largest capitals, Claudia traces a journey of transformation rooted
Anna König Jerlmyr: How Cities Became the Engines of Global Change
Anna König Jerlmyr, former Mayor of Stockholm, joins The Century of Cities to explore how cities have evolved from regulation-heavy, risk-averse places to global engines of climate action, innovation, and design. She reflects on Stockholm's shift from a tightly controlled urban environment to a vibrant, outward-looking city shaped by global culture, cleaner energy systems, and a stronger public re
Susan Aitken: Glasgow's Reinvention and the Future of City Leadership
In this episode of The Century of Cities, we are joined by Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council. Susan reflects on the dramatic shift in how cities are perceived. Once viewed as distressed places marked by deindustrialization, population loss, and narratives of decline, cities are now recognized as hubs of innovation, diversity, and economic resilience, and as the places best positioned to
Felipe Correa: Density, Design, and the Cities of the Future
The Century of Cities welcomes Felipe Correa, architect, author, and founder of Somatic Collaborative. Felipe reflects on why 1980 marked a pivotal shift in urbanization, as the explosive post-war expansion of cities gave way to slower growth, new planning logics, and a more diverse design toolkit. From Latin America to Asia, he illustrates how procedural planning, emerging urban scales, and a ren
Carlo Ratti: Rethinking Urban Life Through Nature, Technology, and AI
In this episode of The Century of the Cities, Carlo Ratti, Architect, Engineer, MIT professor, and Director of the Senseable City Lab, joins us to explore how data, design, and emerging technologies are reshaping urban life. Carlo reflects on the rise of the "big boom cities" and discusses how urbanization has evolved, from the moment global population tipped into majority-urban to today's era of
Sally Capp: Leadership, Livability, and the Future of Melbourne
Sally Capp, former Lord Mayor of Melbourne and management consultant, joins us on the Century of Cities to reflect on leadership, livability, and the transformation of cities through vision and action. As the first woman directly elected as Lord Mayor, Sally led Melbourne through one of its most defining chapters, the pandemic, while championing inclusion, innovation, and community connection. She
Enrique Peñalosa: Building Cities for Equality and Happiness
The Century of Cities welcomes Enrique Peñalosa, globally recognized urban visionary and two-time mayor of Bogotá. Known for transforming Colombia's capital through public transit, parks, libraries, and bike infrastructure, Enrique shares his belief that cities are among our most powerful tools for equality and happiness. He reflects on how thoughtful design can bridge social divides, not only thr
Helle Søholt: Rethinking Architecture as a Catalyst for Change
In this episode of The Century of Cities, we welcome Helle Søholt, founding partner and CEO of Gehl. Helle explores how cities can evolve from designed objects into living systems that foster connection, equity, and resilience. She shares how her people-first approach champions urban environments shaped by culture, community, and care. Reflecting on the architect's evolving role as a facilitator o
Maria Vassilakou: Leading the Livable City Revolution
Maria Vassilakou, internationally recognized urban transformation expert and former Vice Mayor of Vienna, joins The Century of Cities. Drawing on her decade of leadership in Vienna, Maria explores how cities can balance livability, affordability, and sustainability while safeguarding democracy itself. From reimagining housing as a human right to redefining livability through a child's eyes, Maria
Francesca Froy: Rebuilding Urban Complexity
Francesca Froy, Lecturer in Sustainable Urban Development at the University of Oxford and Fellow of Kellogg College, joins us on The Century of Cities. Francesca explores how cities evolve as living, complex systems, shaped by design, policy, and the countless small, interconnected decisions made every day. She argues that to build sustainable cities of the future, we must learn from the past: val
Henrietta Moore & Arthur Kay: The True Cost of Cars
The Century of Cities welcomes Henrietta Moore, Founder and Director of the Institute for Global Prosperity, and Arthur Kay, Senior Advisor at Innovo Group and board member at Transport for London. Together, they unpack their new book Roadkill: Unveiling the True Cost of Our Toxic Relationship with Cars, a powerful exploration of how our dependence on cars shapes our health, cities, and future. Fr
Vera Bukachi: Designing Dignity in Nairobi's Urban Future
In the episode of The Century of Cities, we are joined by Vera Bukachi, Executive Director and Managing Principal of the Kounkuey Design Initiative in Nairobi. Vera has spent two decades at the intersection of climate adaptation, urban resilience, and community-led design, championing dignity, equity, and collaboration in the built environment. Tracing Nairobi's transformation from its post-coloni
Patrick Cobbinah: Decolonizing Urban Planning in Africa's Next Century
Patrick Cobbinah, Associate Professor of Urban Planning at the University of Melbourne, joins The Century of Cities to reimagine the future of African urbanism through a decolonized lens. Drawing on his work across Ghana and the Global South, Patrick shares how colonial planning systems still shape land use, governance, and inequality today, and why genuine progress depends on embracing bottom-up,
Kecia Rust: From Informality to Inclusion in Africa's Housing Revolution
In this episode of The Century of Cities, we are joined by Kecia Rust, Executive Director at Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa. As the leader of a network spanning 70 organizations across 23 countries, Kecia has spent decades studying how affordability, finance, and policy intersect to determine who gets to call the city home. She traces the evolution of African housing from the cons
Jennifer Hart: Rethinking Expertise in the Making of Modern Accra
Jennifer Hart, Professor, historian, author, and chair of history at Virginia Tech, joins The Century of Cities to share two decades of insight into Ghana's urban evolution. Through her work on Accra and her book Making an African City, Hart reveals how colonial legacies, economic shifts, and social resilience have shaped African cities from 1980 to today. She invites us to rethink expertise, argu
Shuaib Lwasa: Hybrid Cities and the Next Urban Resurgence
The Century of Cities welcomes Shuaib Lwasa, a Professor at the International Institute of Social Studies and an urban geographer. Drawing on his lived experience in Kampala and decades of research across East Africa, Shuaib reflects on how privatization, elite capture, and market-driven development have reshaped the very idea of the public. He offers both a cautionary and hopeful perspective, env
Christian Benimana: Designing Purpose, Not Just Skylines
Christian Benimana, Co-Executive Director and Sr. Principal at MASS Design Group, joins us on The Century of Cities to reflect on how African cities have evolved from post-colonial identities to centers of economic gravity, yet often without a clear sense of purpose. He explores why many urban centers across the continent are now caught between growth and confusion, and why re-imagining identity i
Geci Karuri-Sebina: Frugal Futures and the Power of Local Innovation
In this episode of The Century of Cities, we're joined by Geci Karuri-Sebina, scholar-practitioner and Associate Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand School of Governance, who explores how cities across Africa are redefining progress on their own terms. From Nairobi's post-colonial euphoria of the 1980s to today's era of innovation and shifting power, Geci traces the evolving story of
Edgar Pieterse: From Apartheid to Agency; Africa's Urban Future
The Century of Cities welcomes Edgar Pieterse, Founding Director of the African Centre for Cities at the University of Cape Town, who takes us on a sweeping journey through apartheid-era Cape Town to a hopeful, youth-driven African future. Reflecting on how cities have evolved since 1980, Pieterse reveals the deep scars of inequality, the challenges of economic exclusion, and the extraordinary cre
Weiping Wu: How China's Cities Shape the World's Urban Future
Weiping Wu, Columbia's Vice Provost for Academic Programs and Professor and Director of the M.S. in Urban Planning program, joins us on The Century of Cities. With her unique vantage point spanning Chinese cities, American metropolises, and global contexts, Weiping reflects on Shanghai's meteoric rise, the challenges of density and sprawl, and how lessons from one era echo in the choices facing ci
Louis-Vincent Gave: From Brain Drain to Bridge City
In this episode of The Century of Cities, we are joined by Louis-Vincent Gave. Louis is an author and the CEO and co-founder of Gavekal. He shares his insights on macroeconomics, the Greater Bay Area, the Hong Kong dollar's unique role, and how Chinese cities are carving out distinct identities in tech, industry, and finance. From Hong Kong's resilience through decades of reinvention to its emergi
Sylvia He: Lessons from Hong Kong for the Future of Chinese Cities
The Century of Cities welcomes Sylvia He, Director of the Urban Studies Programme, and the MSc Programme in Sustainable Urban Planning, and Professor in the Department of Geography and Resource Management at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Sylvia explains how transport has defined the city's evolution, from the pioneering MTR model to the rise of EVs, cautious steps on micro-mobility, and new
Mee Kam Ng: Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and the Next Century of Cities
Mee Kam Ng, Emeritus Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, joins us on the latest episode of The Century of Cities. Mee Kam challenges us to move from "talk" to "walk," using technology not just for efficiency, but to improve lives and restore ecosystems. She envisions two futures: one where technology helps build a circular economy and more equal societies, and another where automatio
Shenjing He: From Rural Roots to Megacity Regions
In this episode of The Century of Cities, we are joined by Shenjing He, Professor and Head of the Department of Urban Planning & Design at the University of Hong Kong. Drawing on decades of transformation, she reflects on China's journey from a predominantly rural society to a nation defined by megacity regions, high-speed mobility, and ambitious net-zero commitments. Shenjing highlights the endur
Patrick McVeigh - Bonus Listener Episode
The Century of Cities welcomes Patrick McVeigh, Technical Director - Economic Development Advisory at Beca. In this special listener series, Patrick reflects on the episodes that resonated most, the guests who offered new insights, and the cities that have shaped how he thinks about growth and innovation.
Opportune Simon - Bonus Listener Episode
In this special listener series of The Century of Cities, we're joined by Opportune Simone, Strategic Operations - Asset Management at Places for London. Opportune highlights her favourite moments from the podcast, the guests who sparked fresh ideas, and the cities that challenge her to think differently about the future.
Vasant Chari - Bonus Listener Episode
The Century of Cities welcomes Vasant Chari, Director of Regional & Local Growth at Connected Places Catapult. In this special listener series, Visant shares the episodes he enjoyed, the guests who inspired him, and the cities that challenge him to think differently about growth and innovation.
Anna Look - Bonus Listener Episode
In this special listener series of The Century of Cities, we're joined by Anna Look, Founder of Look Ahead Consulting and Co-Owner of Rabbit Hill Snow Resort. Anna reflects on her favourite episodes, standout guests, and the cities that have captured her imagination.
Jorick Beijer - Bonus Listener Episode
The Century of Cities welcomes Jorick Beijer, Urbanist and Co-Founder of Blossity, a global strategy consultancy driving innovation districts and corporate urbanism. In this special listener series, Jorick shares the episodes he loved most, the guests who sparked new ideas, and the cities that left a lasting impression.
Bhakti More - Bonus Listener Episode
In this special listener series of The Century of Cities, we're joined by Bhakti More, Chairperson & Professor at the School of Design & Architecture and Head of the Centre for ESG at Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Dubai Campus. Bhakti shares her favourite episodes, standout guests, and the cities that have captured her imagination.
Eugenie Birch: Financing, Planning, and Trust in the Cities of Tomorrow
In this episode of The Century of Cities, we are joined by Eugenie Birch, scholar, city planner, and Lawrence C. Nussdorf Chair of Urban Research at the University of Pennsylvania. With an eye on both history and horizon, Genie discusses the divergent trajectories of northern and southern cities, and why policy gaps, financing bottlenecks, and the role of planners will define the next century. She
Clare Wildfire: Cities as Systems, Not Silos
Clare Wildfire, Global Cities Lead at Mott MacDonald and a champion of systems thinking, joins The Century of Cities to explore how infrastructure has evolved since 1980, why today's cities are hitting critical limits, and how reimagining interconnectivity can unlock more resilient, inclusive futures. Drawing on her journey from engineering megaprojects to convening cross-sector conversations, Cla
Marvin Rees: Leadership, Legacy, and the Long Arc of City Change
The Century of Cities welcomes Lord Marvin (Baron Rees of Easton) Rees OBE, Former Mayor of Bristol and Member of the House of Lords. Marvin reflects on growing up in a racially divided, economically constrained Bristol of the 1980s, and contrasts it with today's booming but still deeply unequal urban landscape. He shares what it means to lead with lived experience and why inclusion isn't optional
Michelle Cramer: Designing Cities That Work for Future Generations
In this episode of The Century of Cities, we are joined by Michelle Cramer, Principal and Practice Lead Sustainable Communities at Frazer-Nash Consultancy and former Future Communities Leader at GHD. Michelle takes us back to 1980s Canberra, her hometown and one of the world's few planned capitals, where she grew up surrounded by fresh suburbs and bold infrastructure. That experience shaped her co
Samer Bagaeen: The Future is Local, Resilient, and Human
Samer Bagaeen, professor, urban planner, academic, and city councillor, joins us on The Century of Cities. Samer walks us through a personal and professional timeline of urban transformation, reflecting on his childhood city of Amman in 1980, today's challenges in urban resilience and capacity-building, and what cities might face by 2080. Samer explains the tension between civic needs and public o
Debra Lam: The Future of Innovation Is Low-Tech, Local, and Community-Led
The Century of Cities welcomes Debra Lam, Founding Executive Director of the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation, a regional public-private partnership driving innovation, workforce development, and economic opportunity. Debra challenges the long-held belief that innovation must be high-tech, making the case for low and no-tech approaches that prioritize people, process, and place. Debra offers a
Victor Santiago Pineda: Rewiring Cities for Radical Inclusion
In this episode of The Century of the Cities, we are grateful to be joined by Victor Santiago Pineda, a global human rights expert, serial founder, UC Berkeley lecturer, and lifelong advocate for inclusive urban futures. Born into a city that wasn't built for him, Victor shares a deeply personal story of growing up in Caracas in the 1980s, where architectural barriers and social neglect nearly rob
Eleanor Sharpe: Redesigning Cities for Equity and Imagination
Eleanor Sharpe, founder of Sharpe Solutions and former interim Deputy Mayor and Director of Planning and Development for the City of Philadelphia, joins us on The Century of Cities. In this bold and deeply personal conversation, Eleanor reflects on Philadelphia's transformation from the post-industrial 1980s to a city defined by "eds and meds," creative resurgence, and continued racial inequities.
Angelica Nunez: Financing, Flexibility, and the Fight for Inclusive Cities
The Century of Cities welcomes Angelica Nunez, Practice Manager of the Global Programs Unit in the Urban, Resilience, and Land Global Department of the World Bank. With decades of experience in affordable housing and urban finance, Angelica shares a hopeful yet grounded vision for the future, where connectivity, better planning, and smarter housing policies can help cities live up to their promise
Hiroo Ichikawa: What Tokyo and the World's Top Cities Reveal About 2080
Hiroo Ichikawa, Dean at the Professional Graduate School of Governance Studies, Meiji University, and the visionary behind the Global Power City Index, joins us on The Century of Cities. He reflects on Tokyo's extraordinary arc, from the high-growth optimism of the 1980s through economic stagnation and revitalization to its current role as a quiet powerhouse of global urbanism. As Tokyo prepares f
Gautam Bhan: Why Indian Cities Are Building a New Urban Logic
The Century of Cities welcomes Gautam Bhan, Senior Consultant at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements. Gautam traces India's urban journey from what he calls a "lost decade" to a moment of emergence, while refusing to look away from the deep structural inequalities that persist. He reframes urbanization not as a race for economic growth, but as a shared responsibility to build dignified, equ
Cristina Garrido: Rethinking Smart Cities from Buzzword to Better Living
In this episode of The Century of Cities, we're joined by Cristina Garrido, CEO of Anteverti, Deputy Curator of the Smart City Expo World Congress, and Founding Director of CitiesToBe.com, to unpack what truly makes a city "smart." From her childhood memories of 1980s Barcelona to leading global conversations on urban innovation, Cristina explains why technology alone isn't enough, and why people,
Nadia Verjee: How Dubai's Legacy Project Became a Living City
Nadia Verjee, Executive Director at Expo City Dubai and former Chief of Staff of Expo 2020 Dubai, whose career has spanned mega-events, global collaboration, and civic storytelling, joins us on The Century of Cities to reflect on the extraordinary task of coordinating 192 nations during a global pandemic. She shares how Expo 2020 became a moment of connection, trust, and shared imagination, sparki
Matthew Glasser: The Architecture of City Finance
The Century of Cities welcomes Matthew Glasser, an Urban Law and Policy Analyst and Director for Urban Law and Municipal Finance at the Center for Urban Law and Finance in Africa. With over four decades of experience advising governments across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, Matthew offers a rare look inside the financial architecture that shapes our cities and why national governments so often
Chris Luebkeman: Designing for an Unknowable Future
Chris Luebkeman, a renowned strategic advisor and Head of Strategic Foresight Hub at ETH Zürich, joins is on The Century of Cities. Chris takes us on a journey from ancient Roman infrastructure to emerging urban futures, to reveal how the spaces we shape, in turn, shape us. With a distinctive blend of warmth, depth, and curiosity, he explores the urgency of embracing complexity, cultivating interg
Sarah Sabry: Building Cities Where Children Can Thrive
In this episode of The Century of the Cities, we welcome Sarah Sabry, Global Lead - Urban, at Save the Children International. Sarah explores how cities impact the lives of children and how reimagining urban spaces through their eyes can create better cities for everyone. Sarah highlights the rise in urban inequality, the challenges of slum growth, the effects of climate change, and the digital di
George Johnston: From the Age of Data to the Age of Wisdom
George Johnston, Founder and CEO of Tech City Ventures, joins us on The Century of Cities to unpack how exponential technologies are rewriting the urban playbook. From the early days of personal computing to the fast-approaching era of AI, quantum, and sovereign data ecosystems, George says we're shifting from an age of information to an age of wisdom. He introduces the concept of "exponential cit
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