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.

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...

Improving Cities Through Technology: Aude Vuilliomenet

When it comes to transforming cities, most think of implementing green spaces, retrofitting buildings, pedestrianising streets. It makes sense, when the bigger, tangible improvements are easily perceived by the eye. But what about microcontrollers?...

“Listen Before You Speak” – The Secret to Impactful Policymaking: Miquel Vidal-Bover

What makes someone choose policymaking as a career path? In the case of polyglot Miquel Vidal-Bover, it comes from seeing a city’s pressing issues first-hand and knowing where his skills can be best applied. Young...

A Natural Walker and Nature Enthusiast: Tamar Guberman

Tamar Guberman is a young Urban and Environmental Planner from Israel. Having grown up in Tel Aviv, Tamar quickly realised “there is no other city like her in my country”. It is a safe...

Unplanned Urbanism and the Feminist City: Sharee Hochman

What makes a CityChanger? Young Leader Sharee Hochman proves that it’s not an academic background or a position in city administration, but personal qualities like compassion coupled with good ideas and a desire to...

Driving Change on a Local Level: Mathis Dippon

Young Leader Mathis Dippon is convinced that change is best driven on a local level. This conviction motivates him to design, plan, and constantly re-imagine events that help communities tackle current and future challenges....

Water & Data – the Modern Gold: Narjis Zehra

Narjis Zehra is a go-getter, a visionary, a people person, and definitely a Young Leader to keep an eye on. Despite being only 23 years old, coming from a place where people are fighting...

Communicator and Collaborator: Andrew Amos

Great communication, determination, vision, curiosity, and eagerness to learn are all qualities that make up a good urban planner and a CityChanger. Qualities that this Young Leader possesses without a doubt. As an Urban Designer...

Chatting Your Way to Change: Jaffer Muljiani

Sustainability enthusiasts, city champions and urban development nuts, look no further. We’ve found a true zealot of all things urban: Jaffer Muljiani. From growing up in Muscat, Oman to becoming a ‘real’ Londoner, working...