Blueprints for Urban Resilience

With the effects of global challenges such as climate change, inequality, public health, technological disruption and other issues intersecting and manifesting most intensely in urban centres, cities are vital places for us to generate and implement scalable, just, evidence-based responses.

Universities play a crucial role in building this evidence base and connecting it with practice. But how can research most effectively inform action? And how can universities and sector partners together drive the collaborations needed to shape resilient futures?

The Melbourne Centre for Cities’ 2025 symposium, Blueprints for Urban Resilience, brings together researchers and partners to:

Set the scene: The symposium opens with Stefan Hajkowicz (CSIRO) presenting on megatrends and cities, framing the landscape of urban challenges and opportunities for resilience. This will be complemented by perspectives from the Kelly Grigsby, CEO of the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) and a Dr Sabina Andron, a research fellow from the Melbourne Centre for Cities, offering local government and academic insights that respond to and build on Stefan’s framing. Together, these presentations will set the stage for deeper discussion on how global forces are playing out in city contexts and what this means for shaping sustainable and equitable futures.

Showcase critical issues: A cross-disciplinary and cross-industry Critical Issues Showcase will highlight urgent urban challenges and opportunities across biodiversity, climate, equity, Indigenous perspectives, industry and youth. Featuring presentations from Melbourne Biodiversity Institute, Informal Urbanism Research Hub, Melbourne Social Equity Institute and Melbourne Climate Futures, with more to be announced soon!

Accelerate collaboration: Building on these discussions, Stefan Hajkowicz will facilitate an interactive workshop session, where participants will work together to generate cross-sectoral responses and collaborative research agendas. (in person only, this session is not available online)

Build the blueprints: The symposium will conclude with reporting back on the priorities and project ideas that will guide resilience work into 2026 and beyond. Moderated by Professor Alastair Sloan Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Collaboration), the University of Melbourne.

This symposium is part of the Centre’s commitment to working across disciplines, faculties and sectors to deliver the research and partnerships society needs. Participants will gain new insights into the crises connecting our cities and join colleagues in developing actionable plans that promote sustainability, equity, social cohesion and care for both human and natural systems.

Together, we will craft Blueprints for Urban Resilience, an evidence-based agenda for research, practice, and collaboration to shape the future work of the Melbourne Centre for Cities and its partners.

If you have any questions, please email ([email protected])

The Melbournce Centre for Cities Annual Symposium is committed to being a sustainable event we actively strive to minimise our environmental impact and inspire positive change in alignment with the University of Melbourne’s Sustainability Plan 2030, by embracing waste reduction, sustainable venue and catering options, paperless practices, eco-friendly transportation promotion, carbon offsetting, and providing educational resources.

Join us in embracing sustainability and making a meaningful difference at the Symposium.

We actively chose vegetarian meals to reduce carbon footprint and ask that attendees BYO water bottles or cups. We ask that if you can no longer attend the symposium you cancel your ticket to ensure we dont over cater.

Info: Moderated by Melbourne Centre for Cities Director Dr Cathy Oke OAM, this opening session sets the scene for a day dedicated to shaping a blueprint for resilient urban futures. It will provide a broad overview of the global pressures reshaping urban life—from climate change and inequality to public health and technological disruption—and highlight the role of cities in responding to these challenges.

The session moves from global to local to academic perspectives. Dr Stefan Hajkowicz (CSIRO Data61) will map the major global megatrends and crises impacting cities and regions worldwide. Kelly Grigsby (Municipal Association of Victoria) will reflect on the future of local government and how municipalities can respond to these pressures in practice. Finally, Dr Sabina Andron (Melbourne Centre for Cities) will highlight the Centre’s current perspectives on global trends and their local manifestations and outline emerging research priorities.

Info: Moderated by Dr Alexei Trundle (Director International, Melbourne Centre for Cities), this fast-paced showcase brings together leaders from research, advocacy, industry, and community to highlight the most urgent grand challenges facing cities today. Representatives from the Melbourne Biodiversity Institute, Melbourne Climate Futures, the Melbourne Social Equity Institute and Informal Urbanism Research Hub (+ more announced soon) will each deliver a five-minute ‘pitch’ identifying a critical issue in their field as it plays out in urban contexts.Speakers will outline why the challenge matters, what progress has been made, and where knowledge gaps, innovations, and collaborations
Speakers will outline why the challenge matters, what progress has been made, and where knowledge gaps, innovations, and collaborations are most needed. Together, these snapshots will spark cross-sectoral connections and set priorities for research and action toward more resilient and equitable urban futures.

Info: In this closing panel, cluster leaders will share the Blueprints for Urban Resilience developed during the afternoon workshop. These Blueprints represent collaborative project ideas and research agendas addressing the most pressing urban challenges. Moderated by Alastair Sloan, the session will explore how these intersecting priorities can guide resilience work, shape the urban research agenda, and highlight critical areas for action in the years to come

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