Fast Forward 2030: Making Cities

In the inaugural event for Fast Forward 2030, hear a panel of experts on sustainable architecture and urban planning discuss the ways in which forward thinking entrepreneurs can pioneer the transformation of cities from being powerhouses of consumption to vibrant hubs of sustainable, circular economic activity.

The 21st century poses the completely unprecedented twin challenges of a population explosion to 10 billion people by 2050, and the need for economies to decarbonise in order to avoid climate crisis. In this context, what does a 21st century business look like?

The dual challenge of a resource strain and the threat of climate crisis means an unprecedented need to redefine our relationship to the natural world, and the way we use resources. Increasingly, entrepreneurs, and citizens understand that a new approach to business is necessary.

Whether that’s turning coffee waste into energy, converting disused underground space into a source of fresh food, or creating smart food packages to cut food waste, small businesses are pioneering the shift.

This event asks ‘How Can We Make Our Future Cities Sustainable?’ and we'll be hearing from sage – Peter Buchanan – and disruptors – Liane Hartley (Mend), Alastair Parvin (WikiHouse) and Finn Williams (Public Practice).

Peter Buchanan is an architect, urbanist and writer who campaigns on how the design of urban environments can help the planet achieve true sustainability by redefining what the good life is for the 21st century and what it means to be human.

Alastair Parvin is co-founder of WikiHouse Foundation, an open-source project to develop the best, simplest, most sustainable, high-performance building technologies, which anyone can use and improve.

Finn Williams is the Founder of Public Practice, a new social enterprise that brokers placements for outstanding planning and place-shaping practitioners within local authorities in order to build the public sector’s capacity to deliver homes and growth, shape better places, and share skills and knowledge across authorities.

Liane Hartley is co-founder of Mend, which specialises in social sustainability, responsible procurement, planning and place-making.

Fast Forward 2030 is a network and collaborative platform aiming to galvanise ethical, innovative and agile small businesses whose collective actions can align planet and profit to effect positive global change.