In PX115 our guest is Liz Mackevicius. Liz is an urban planner who has taken a new role as an organisational coach for those in the built environment industry. She will be leading the  Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) program ‘Pathway to Lead’. Information about the program, and the link to register for the session is:

https://www.planning.org.au/eventsandcpdnew/additional-programs.

It’s for consultants across Australia.

An accredited organisational coach, Liz has built a reputation of strong but supportive coaching. She values accountability, acknowledging this is what helps us translate aspirations into real breakthroughs. She has worked with a range of clients, building their confidence, resolve and satisfaction.

Liz is also a trainer and facilitator with a passion and commitment to helping those who create our liveable cities be more effective and have rewarding work. She believes that the challenge and problem solving we experience at work should be part of a fulfilling life – but that we often need to do the work to create that for ourselves.

Liz is also a public policy expert with nearly 20 years’ experience in urban planning, government advisory, strategy and policy development across a range of consulting and State and Local government roles. She understands the challenges of consulting, including balancing client demands with deep and creative thinking, leading people with different working and communication preferences, working with clients on tricky problems and developing strategies and policy in a constantly changing context.

In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner  Liz recommends The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner

https://ericweinerbooks.com/books/the-geography-of-bliss/

Jess recommends Oppenheimer the movie (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oppenheimer_(film))

Pete recommends: Dragon Sakura TV series Netflix https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81488898 and ‘Modern Talking’ hear their song ‘Who will save the world’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDIT-R8LYkg&list=RDiDIT-R8LYkg&start_radio=1 or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD_UHyaN3dc

Audio produced by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 9 April 2024.

In PX114, our interview guest is Anna Lowder, a co-founder and director of Hampstead, a New Urbanist community in Montgomery, Alabama, inspired by her experiences while living in London before returning to Montgomery. Established in 2008, the 416-acre master-planned residential and mixed-use development features homes, townhomes, condos, apartments, restaurants, shops, workspaces and a school, farm, and a lake. Anna helped Hampstead and Montgomery become the first neighborhood and largest city to adopt the SmartCode, an innovative zoning code that encourages diverse, mixed-use community for all ages and stages of life. She is a member of the National Town Builders Association and the Congress for the New Urbanism. 

Interview topics include, New Urbanism, Multigenerational Design, Designing for Sustainable Communities, SmartCode Adoption and Breaking Barriers with New Urbanism.

In podcast extra / culture corner, Anna recommends ‘The Bear’ TV series https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bear_(TV_series)

Jess recommends: ‘Wholesome by Sarah’, recipes and a new cookbook coming https://www.wholesomebysarah.com.au

and Pete recommends local history books including ‘The Enigma of Snake Island’ by Rob Ganly https://images.app.goo.gl/HnmAvU3VcHZPgFEGA

Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 21 March 2024.

Episode PX113 is all about Advanced Aerial Mobility (AAM) aircraft, these are typically electric or hybrid powered, air taxis and the like. They have appeared in various science fiction films such as Blade Runner 2019 and Blade Runner 2049 (nicknamed ‘spinners’). They will soon be appearing above our cities and towns. Clem Newton-Brown our guest is CEO and founder of Skyportz (https://skyportz.com), the only Australian business developing a network of landing sites for a future air taxi network. Clem’s background as a former Deputy Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Member of Victorian Parliament and barrister specialising in planning and property development has put him at the forefront of this emerging industry. More details on Clem are found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clem_Newton-Brown.

Clem serves on several Federal, State, industry and international committees advancing the development of the rules and regulations around establishing a whole new era in clean, green electric aviation. The success of the industry depends on these changes along with a network of Skyportz sites from which air taxis will operate. These are known as ‘vertiports’.

We note some AAM's aircraft might have alternative power sources or run as hybrids.

Skyportz has over 600 property partner sites in Australia and New Zealand which are ready to activate when regulations permit.

A terrific interview subject with a great passion for new business concepts, cities and aviation.

In podcast extra / culture corner, Clem recommends the great outdoors and getting away form technology (for a little bit). Jess recommends: Duolingo ‘Learning Italian’: https://www.duolingo.comthe 

Pete recommends: ‘A Rebel from the start - Setting the record straight’ by Avi Yemini https://www.amazon.com.au/Rebel-Start-Setting-Record-Straight/dp/B0C91KG18N

Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 1 March 2024. 

In PX112, our interview guest is Jessica Lee, a principal architect at Fender Katsalidis Architects (https://fkaustralia.com).

Jessica discusses the ‘Alba’ project, the conversion of a 1970’s former office building into 150 rooms of age appropriate housing (retirement accommodation and aged care). The site is located within South Melbourne, an inner city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria Australia. The cost of the conversion was $125m (AU). Whilst not being significantly cheaper than a rebuild there were environmental savings according to Jessica.

In the interview Jessica discusses the project from start to finish. There was the initial ‘whats the building like’, ‘’whats under the surfaces’, to scoping the logistics of conversions (very different from a vacant site), finding a suitable builder (not all high rise builders have the equipment or skill set to do this type of work), services upgrades and the intricate details of providing contemporary residential accommodation (along with the end user needs). 

Jessica indicates that a review of the Melbourne CBD found only 6% of sites are candidates for such conversions. Frequent killers of such projects are the depth of a site and the position of lift cores, the reasons being apartments need natural light unlike office buildings. Also the ‘bones’ of a structure building in terms of structure and floor to floor heights may not be suitable. Applying contemporary safety and environmental standards are also difficult to satisfy.

The interview explores the design concept as well as the ’nuts and bolts’ and up close descriptions of the building project. At times it is like being on site mid project with hard hat, boots and vest.

The conversion of office buildings to residential has been touted in many planning publications and strategies as a solution to various housing crisis. The interview reveals that such conversions are possible but not many sites are suitable and there are specialist requirements in undertaking the challenge. Jessica provides a clear eyed view of a not well understood issue.

One insight from the interview is that blanket planning policies or government subsidies promoting such conversions at the expense of complete rebuilds may not be cost effective, environmentally benefical or practical.

A terrific interview subject with a great passion for buildings, cities and life.

In podcast extra / culture corner, Jessica recommends 

Rob Adams - Urban Choreography Central Melbourne 1985 - MUP https://www.mup.com.au/authors/rob-adams

Jess N recommends: Duolingo ‘Learning Italian’: https://www.duolingo.comthe 

Pete recommends: Break Point on Netflix (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Break_Point_(2023_TV_series) and celebrates his sporting triumphs over 2023

Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 2 January 2024. Happy New Year to all our listeners.

In PX111, our interview guest is Jesse Suskin, Head of Government Relations & Public Policy at Wing Aviation (https://wing.com). 

We talk all things drone delivery particularly the experience learnt in Logan in Queensland, Australia where there has been extensive delivery operations over a lengthy time period. 

Wing Aviation is an offshoot of Google’s parent company Alphabet Inc. 

Jesse Suskin is the head of government relations and public policy in Australia for Wing, a company that sees a future where drone delivery is the safest, fastest and most environmentally friendly way to transport small items. Before joining Wing in 2018, Jesse spent over six years with Google, working in government relations, public affairs, and public policy in Washington, DC and Sydney, Australia.  Earlier in his career, Jesse worked in politics and public service including at the White House as Associate Director of Communications for President George W. Bush, and as Director of Media Services for Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. Jesse also worked for the Government of Australia at its Embassy in Washington, DC, advising Ambassador Kim Beazley.

Jesse serves on a number of advisory committees including the Australian Department of Infrastructure’s New and Emerging Aviation Technology Consultative Committee, the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s Regulatory Roadmap Technical Working Group, and the University of New South Wales School of Aviation’s Industry Advisory Committee.

In the interview we talk about how drone delivery works, the testing that has gone into the systems, how drone delivery offers alternatives to car based delivery methods and lessons learnt in the various trials around the world. Jesse also discusses working with local authorities including the sharing of data. 

In podcast extra / culture corner, Jesse recommends the ‘The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York’, a 1974 biography of Robert Moses by Robert Caro. Details at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Power_Broker

Jess recommends ‘The Days’ a Netflix production on the Fukushima nuclear plant that experienced a Tsunami and earthquake in 2011. Details at https://en.wikipedia.org/wikiThe_Days_(Japanese_TV_series). Technical details of the incident can be found at https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/safety-and-security/safety-of-plants/fukushima-daiichi-accident.aspx

Pete recommends ‘Fauda’ a Netflix series on the Middle East conflict. Details at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fauda

Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 5 December 2023.

In PX110, our interview guest is Professor Tim Parkin, we talk all things Roman particularly their city life.

Tim Parkin joined the Classics and Archaeology department at the University of Melbourne in 2018 as the inaugural Elizabeth and James Tatoulis Chair in Classics. Before this he had spent over 11 years as Professor of Ancient History at the University of Manchester (UK).

Tim is a New Zealander by birth who was awarded a D.Phil. at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar and who, since 1989, has worked in universities in New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom, as well as spending over a year in Germany as an Alexander von Humboldt research fellow. His teaching covers both Greek and Roman history and classical languages. His main research is in ancient history, particularly Roman social, cultural, and demographic history. Among his publications are Demography and Roman Society (1992), Old Age in the Roman World: A Social and Cultural History (2003), Roman Social History: A Sourcebook (2007), and The Oxford Handbook of Childhood and Education in the Classical World (2014). Tim is currently working primarily on ancient sexual health, in particular sexually transmitted diseases, as well as co-editing a cultural history of old age from antiquity to the current day and a BICS supplement on domestic violence in the Roman world, and working on papers on elders in the early Christian church and the demographic realities of the ancient countryside. He is currently supervising research students in a wide range of topics including feminist readings of Ovid's Metamorphoses, the geographical writings of Solinus, concepts of revenge in the Roman world, and the uses of food, magic and drugs in the works of Apuleius. In 2023 he continues in his role as Deputy Head of the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies and he takes on a new role as Deputy Associate Dean (Partnerships) in the Faculty of Arts. He is also Honorary President of the Classical Association of Victoria.

In podcast extra / culture corner Tim recommends the NZ actor Sam Neil’s Memoir ‘Did I Ever Tell You This?’  https://www.textpublishing.com.au/books/did-i-ever-tell-you-this. Tim also recommends ‘Kellis: A Roman - Period Village in Egypt’s Dakhleh Oasis’ https://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/2749916/Kellis-A-Roman-Period-Village-in-Egypts-Dakhleh-Oasis.pdf.

Jess recommends ‘Dead Tide’ by Fiona Mcintosh https://www.penguin.com.au/books/dead-tide-9781761344633

Pete recommends ‘My father and me’ by Nick Broomfield. https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/my-father-me-nick-maurice-broomfield-working-class-photographer-life  Also the work of Maurice Broomfield recognised by the V & A in the book ‘Maurice Broomfield Industrial Sublime’ https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/maurice-broomfield-industrial-sublime (available in many libraries). See also https://mauricebroomfield.photography

Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 30 October 2023.

In PX109, our interview guest is Professor Douglas (Doug) Tallamy, the author of many nature books and co - founder along with Michelle Alfandari of Homegrown National Park (https://homegrownnationalpark.org). Homegrown National Parks is a grassroots call - to - action to regenerate biodiversity and ecosystem function by planting native plants and creating new ecological networks. The group encourages homeowners and landowners to substitute native species for traditional garden approaches to encourage biodiversity. There are many resources to help people with the transition on their website.

Doug is an American entomologist, ecologist and conservationist. He is a professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware. Doug advocates for home gardens and landscaping that bridge the gaps between parks and preserves in providing habitat for native species. He has spoken on the connections between plants and insects and how those relations are important to birds. He has called for smaller lawns.

He has written a number of books on nature including: ‘Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that starts in your yard.’ (Feb 2020), ‘Bringing Nature Home: How you can sustain wildlife with native plants.’ (April 2009), ‘The Nature of Oaks: The rich ecology of our most essential native trees’. (March 2021), with Rick Drake - ‘The Living Landscape: designing for beauty and biodiversity in the home garden’. (July 2014) and for children along with Sarah Thomson ‘Nature’s Best Hope (Young Readers Edition): How you can save the world in your own yard’. (April 2023)

Doug has authored 97 research publications and has taught insect-related courses for 40 years. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities. His research has been ground breaking showing links between insects, plants and wildlife that had never before been envisaged. His book Bringing Nature Home, published by Timber Press in 2007, was awarded the 2008 Silver Medal by the Garden Writers’ Association. Among his awards are the Garden Club of America Margaret Douglas Medal for Conservation and the Tom Dodd, Jr. Award of Excellence, the 2018 AHS B. Y. Morrison Communication Award, and the 2019 Cynthia Westcott Scientific Writing Award.

There is an interview with Doug in the Smithsonian magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/meet-ecologist-who-wants-unleash-wild-backyard-180974372/

He appears on a number of YouTube talks and interviews.

In podcast extra / culture corner Doug talks about David Attenborough’s latest show, ‘Wild Isles’ about nature in Great Britain and Ireland. Jess recommends ‘Mirror Man’ by author Fiona Mcintosh (https://www.penguin.com.au/books/mirror-man-9781760894337). Pete mentions his ambitious plan to grow grass trees (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanthorrhoea). Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 3 October 2023.

In PX108, our interview guest is Dr Stefan Gruenert, the CEO of Odyssey House Victoria. 

Odyssey House Victoria is a state-wide, specialist treatment organisation dedicated to improving the lives of individuals who experience significant or long-term problems from alcohol and other drug use.

Stefan describes the work of Odyssey House and the clients they serve. He talks of the various programs on offer. He describes how the OH facilities work and about the knowledge gained in providing effective treatment. Many drug and alcohol rehabilitation projects run the gauntlet of the development approval system. Stefan talks of his experiences with the development assessment process and makes observations about common misconceptions.

As a disclaimer, Pete has worked as a planning consultant for Odyssey House.

Podcast extra / culture corner Stefan talks about the joys of learning German listening to the podcast ‘Coffee Break German’ (https://coffeebreaklanguages.com/coffeebreakgerman/). Also he recommends the Netflix documentary series ‘Alone’ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alone_(TV_series)). Jess recommends a Netflix documentary ‘The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari’ https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81410405. Pete recommends a documentary on NHK (Japanese state broadcaster) ‘Return to an Abandoned Village: 50 Years in Tsubayama)’ https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/worldprime/20230429/3016152/

Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 5 September 2023.

In PX107, our interview guest is Kate Hardwick an exceptional planning professional originally from Australia who now works in South East Asia. 

Kate takes the listener on a fascinating journey describing her professional career. Along the way she offers tips to those starting out and also to those seeking a new direction after a number of years in the job. 

She talks of recognising and responding to cultural variations and social norms in many different countries. Also in gaining humility and the value, often overlooked, of actually listening and observing.

Kate looks back on her early career and identifies key change moments. She also talks of the challenges and rewards of working on large scale 'new world' urban development projects both oin the west and east. There is a particular segment of note on how Singapore does planning.

In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner, Kate recommends ‘War Transformed’ by Major General Mick Ryan https://mickryan.com.au/books-%26-writing. Jess recommends the pleasures of farmers markets while Pete reads a poem about his new dog.  

Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 27 July 2023.

In PX106, our interview guest is James Vincent who is the CTO at NCS NEXT Australia, a global digital, data and cloud services consultancy (https://www.ncs.co/en-au/next/). James is a senior people leader with 25 years’ commercial IT experience and an established authority in large-scale strategic transformation in enterprise environments and delivering business outcomes through technology.

In this episode James shares four smart city technology solutions government could adopt to improve citizen services amid a rapidly growing urban population. Smart meters, sensor technology and AI in buildings to reduce environmental footprint are some of the examples that James touches on.

With Australia’s population projected to reach 30 million between 2029 and 2033, adding pressure to the quality and delivery of services for the community, James describes how it’s becoming more important to leverage modern technology to improve experiences and the efficiency of infrastructure, public transport, travel and roads. 

He has previously stated: “Urban populations are growing at unprecedented rates, so we need to keep investing in smart city technology to create a brighter and more stable future. When further demand is added to systems such as public transport and traffic networks, some will struggle to cope – leading to overcrowding and poor-quality experiences.

“Modern technology is making safe, scalable, sustainable cities and performant governments a reality. In particular, smart city technology helps accommodate large and rapid urban population growth, facilitate resource conservation such as water and carbon, and improve the quality of services for the community across utilities, transport, healthcare, waste management, air quality, safety and wellbeing, and emergency response.

“We’re already starting to see various levels of Government engage in public-private partnerships and sponsored collaboration to modernise and advance services through technology. It’s a great step in improving access for citizens and the broader community and one we hope will continue in response to the changing population’s needs.”

The concept of ’Smart Cities’ has been touted before. In this episode we talk about how technologies and systems thinking has created previously unrealisable outcomes. James, in a very broad discussion talks about how these technologies are just as relevant in developing nations as they are in first world countries. We also talk about the potential downsides of such technologies in terms of civic life. In the interview we also discuss visions of the future portrayed through popular culture.

A wide ranging and testing interview on a topic that those responsibility ofor cities and towns will have to grapple with. We hope the episode makes a positive contribution to an understanding of the issues.

In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner, James recommends the Emperor series by British author Con Iggulden https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conn_Iggulden. The series follows the life of Julius Caesar. On another note he describes his efforts trying to build an acoustic guitar, quite a challenge! He revels in the hands on, craft aspect of the task.

Jess has a TV show recommendation, Fisk (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisk_(TV_series)).

Pete recommends Wuthering Heights (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuthering_Heights) and the PlanningxChange Spotify playlist! 

Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 3 July 2023.

In PX105, our interview guest is Torie Brown, Executive Director of the Student Accommodation Council. The Council was formed in 2022 by the Property Council to give a voice to the critically important purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) sector which provides homes for over 76,500 students per year, a figure that continues to grow.  https://www.propertycouncil.com.au/advocacy/our-divisions/student-accommodation-council

Providing vibrant and connected housing options for students underpins Australia’s largest service export – international education. Ensuring a strong pipeline of beds also reduces pressure on the broader residential rental market by providing a safe, student-only housing choice.

Torie talks about the vital importance of this type of housing stock and along the way dispels various misconceptions about the users of such housing and the housing type. She talks about the evolution of design practice and how this is linked to the constant feedback provided by occupants. She also identifies good locational PBSA criteria and makes various suggestions to policy makers on how to facilitate the growth of this sector. There are 200+ PBSA developments in Australia. It is the fourth largest student market in the world.

In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner, Torie recommends an article ‘Investors backing student beds in downturn’ (https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/investors-backing-student-beds-in-downturn) and ‘Poker Face’ on Stan (https://www.stan.com.au/watch/poker-face-2023).

Jess has no book ar film recommendations but does discuss the joy of setting aside an hour each week, early morning, in a cafe, for ‘life admin’.  

Pete recommends the film clip of AC/DC - It’s a Long Way to the Top (If you wanna rock ’n’ roll). The band plays the song on the back of a flatbed truck travelling slowly down the main street of Melbourne’s CBD, in 1976. A great audacious, larrikin performance (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQluGs2SFRs).

Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 5 June 2023.