Urban Future Young Leaders

The next generation of urban change-makers plays an essential role in creating the sustainable cities that people want to live in now and the communities that will thrive long into the future. It is important to nurture this potential. That’s why the Urban Future conference includes the Young Leaders Programme, a special track for passionate urban change-makers up to the age of 30 that want to – and do – change our cities for the better. We’ve interviewed many of these Young Leaders to find out what led them to urbanism, how they’ve aided city transitions, and what inspires them to carry on. Here we bring you their personal stories, covering topics as diverse as greening, architecture and planning, cycling, feminist cities, politics, and using art, social media, and events as tools for change and communication. You can also learn more about the Young Leaders programme with this short video from where it all began – Oslo 2019.

Young Leader Hamza Amin: Shaping Equitable Communications for a Better Pakistan

The effects of climate change are not equal everywhere. Pakistan is one of the world’s lowest greenhouse gas emitters, but it is dealing with some of the harshest consequences. With projections that it will...

Young Leader Khate Torres: Using Environmental Psychology to Create Healthy Urban Spaces

Achieving climate and sustainability goals requires a willingness to change. Without this, the urban transformation would lack substance. We already have so much of the knowledge we need to make a significant impact, but,...

Young Leader Fruzsina Nagy: How To Create Change Like A Sustainability Consultant

A new breed of professionals is using their hotly sought after skills to bring about social and environmental impact. Impact-oriented values are fast becoming the deciding factor in career choices, over more traditional drivers...

Young Leader Eva de Bruijn: How Eindhoven’s ‘Idealists’ Are Saving City Politics

Politics is one realm that can open a lot of doors to sustainability in our cities. But whether it’s because they are disillusioned, disinterested, or feel excluded, many people do not use their voices...

Young Leader Omar Zahran: Architecture as a Tool for People-Centred Cities

How does so much historic architecture endure the ravages of time? It’s because the architects of yore knew how to build cities to suit their environment, and they did so to meet the needs...

Young Leader Kelly Delaney: Regulation’s Role in Effective Energy Efficiency Financing

For all the benefits it offers, retrofitting is still the poor cousin of actions that cut emissions. There seems to be just too little of the interest and energy efficiency financing needed to meet...

Young Leaders Academy: Applying Transformational Knowledge as a Catalyst for Change

Sharing knowledge is integral to scaling and speeding up the sustainability transformation. But are we doing it effectively? There’s a new generation of change-makers on the scene intent on improving the way knowhow is...

Young Leader Jamie Wylie: How to Build Prosperous Cities Through Creative Mobility Solutions

Sustainable urban mobility is about so much more than halting climate change. Cities are rife with societal and economic challenges; finding better ways to move offers chances to level the playing field. We spoke...

CityChanger Matt Stewart: Reviving River Recreation

Matt Stewart enjoys nothing more than taking a plunge. A native Aussie, he’s the outdoors type and in 2015 began a campaign to make Melbourne’s Yarra River swimmable again. We caught up with this...

Aleksandr Vlasov: Improving Soviet Cities with Comfort, Heritage & Design

Does history affect our relationship with cities? According to Young Leader Aleksandr Vlasov, the Soviet era has left a modernist mark on social attitudes and the physical makeup of Russia’s urban spaces. Thankfully, up-and-coming...

Africa’s Unconventional Architect: Rajae Haissouss

Architects become famous for their inventive structures and controversial designs. But for Rajae Haissouss, satisfaction comes from adding value to the community. Aspiring to use her talents for good, this Young Leader is raising...

Ever Curious: David Adam Braun

The qualities that make a good Young Leader are eagerness to learn, openness to change, and commitment to improve the environment for everyone – with these words, an image of David Adam Braun is...