Associate Professor for the Abedian School of Architecture, Dr Daniela Ottman was invited to be the Keynote Speaker at the 2022 National Planning Congress (NPC) in Malaysia. The NPC is an annual event held in conjunction with World Town Planning Day and is organised by the Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP). This year also included the Malaysian Government Planning Department (PLANMalaysia) and the cities of Petaling Jaya and Subang Jaya as strategic partners. The event attracted an audience of approximately 400 participants, bringing together policy makers, practitioners, academia and consultants in city management and social development to share their insights on challenges faced, potential urban solutions and directions in urban planning, management, and national development into the future.
“The world’s future is undeniably urban. By 2050, 68% of the global population will live in cities, up from 55% today.”
The congress aims to promote sustainability and good town planning practices that centre on aspects of liveability, resiliency, and environmental sustainability. This year’s theme was Liveable Malaysia – Transforming Our Cities For A Better Urban Future.
Daniela’s keynote was titled, Future Human Habitats: Liveable Cities Beyond Index “Leaving No One Behind”. The presentation considered where and how urbanisation is taking place, what is involved in the quest to create sustainable liveable cities, and what the future holds for urban centres around the world, including crises, megatrends, and how we can ensure that no one is left behind as our cities continue to evolve.
