Episode 2: Inclusive Cities – rebalancing opportunity

A graphic showing a stylised cityscape and people.

Episode summary

Greater Cities is a podcast series about the future of cities. Each episode will challenge listeners to look at the big issues facing our cities, with insights from leading thinkers from Australia and around the world.

For a city to be truly great, everyone needs to feel they belong. In this episode, leaders from diverse communities share their insights into how we can rebalance social and economic opportunity and improve access and inclusion and housing affordability to develop fairer cities that benefit everyone. 

Episode details

This episode was produced by the Greater Cities Commission, in partnership with The Business of Cities.

Podcast timeline

[0:00] Welcome and introduction.

[01:50] The effects of inequality on our cities and societies.  

[12:40] Undoing housing segregation to create more diverse communities.  

[18:29] How city connectivity can address inequality.  

[22:44] Creating equal access to jobs.

[25:08] Economic justice for First Nations Peoples and communities.

[29:21] The importance of social cohesion and belonging to city life.

[38:11] Conclusion and preview of future episodes.

Guests in order of appearance
  • Nikia Clarke, Executive Director, WTC within the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (USA)
  • Natalie Walker, Social Commissioner of the Greater Cities Commission (Australia)
  • Dr Tim Soutphommasane, Professor of Practice at the University of Sydney and former Race Discrimination Commissioner at the Australia Human Rights Commission (Australia)
  • Dr Tim Moonen, Managing Director of The Business of Cities (England)  
  • Sean Gordon, Managing Director of Gidgee Group (Australia)  
  • Ricardo Valente, Head of Economic Development at City of Porto (Portugal)  
  • Tom Wright, CEO of the New York Regional Plan Association (USA)
  • Carolyn Grossman Meagher, Director of Economic Development and Regional Planning at the New York City Department of City Planning (USA)
  • Mateu Hernández, CEO of Barcelona Global (Spain)
  • Celine Gipoulon, Director of Strategy at Métropole du Grand Paris (France)
  • Mike Mrdak AO, current chair of NEC, former Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government (Australia)
  • Øyvind Såtvedt, Managing Director of the Oslo Region Alliance (Norway)
  • Vincent Gollain, Head of Economy at Institut de Paris Region (France)
  • Matt Haggman, Executive Vice President, Opportunity Miami at The Beacon Council (USA)
  • Emilie De Rosenroll, Head of the South Island Prosperity Partnership (Canada)
  • Eleanor Sharpe, Executive Director at the Philadelphia City Planning Commission (USA)
  • Emma Frost, Director of Innovation, Sustainability, and Community in the London Legacy Development Corporation (England)
  • Matilda Harry, Co-Chair of the Greater Cities Commission Youth Panel (Australia)
  • Maha Abdo, Chief Executive Officer of Muslim Women Australia (Australia).
About the Greater Cities Commission

The Greater Cities Commission is driving Australia’s first global city region – the Six Cities Region in New South Wales.  Our role is to coordinate and align the planning that will shape the future of our region, accelerate the delivery of key innovation districts and lead discussion on major city-shaping issues.

About The Business of Cities

The Business of Cities is an urban intelligence firm that provides insights, strategy and benchmarking to over 100 global cities, companies and institutions, including more than 10 Australian cities and state governments. Over the last 15 years it has partnered and produced collaborative thought leadership on the future of cities and metropolises for organisations including the OECD, UN Habitat, UCLG, JLL, World Bank, ULI and Brookings Institution.

References and resources 
Download the episode 2 transcript (PDF, 134.03 KB)