Driving Urban transformation: Professor Melanie Davern’s insights on liveability and citizen engagement​

Driving Urban transformation: Professor Melanie Davern’s insights on liveability and citizen engagement​

In November, 2024 RMIT APAC Smart and Sustainable Cities Hub (SSC Hub) was honored to welcome Professor Melanie Davern, Director of the Australian Urban Observatory (AUO).

She traveled to Ho Chi Minh City to participate in the Smart and Sustainable Cities Forum 2024 as both a keynote speaker and panelist.

Professor Melanie Davern are sharing on the stage

Her visit was supported by the mobility fund of SSC Hub, which promotes global collaboration and knowledge exchange to address urban challenges.​

During her presentation on the topic "Engaged Citizens: The Cornerstone of Smart and Sustainable City Development," Professor Davern introduced the impactful work of the Australian Urban Observatory and highlighted the importance of liveability as a foundation for creating smarter, more sustainable cities. She defined liveability as a framework that supports health, well-being, and quality of life and presented liveability indicators that measure urban success across areas such as housing, transport, environmental quality, and social infrastructure. Her presentation demonstrated how data-driven approaches like those used by the AUO can inform urban planning, guide decision-making, and engage citizens in shaping the future of their cities.

Professor Melanie Davern is sitting on the chair

Professor Davern emphasized the critical role of engaged citizens as active participants in sustainable urban transformation and the importance of a conceptual understanding such as liveability behind the development of smart cities. It reinforced the use of smart city technology as a tool to achieve an outcome for an equitable and liveable city . Through her session and the panel discussion that followed, she collaborated with local and international experts to explore how liveability-focused strategies and citizen engagement can shape impactful policies and initiatives tailored to Vietnam’s development goals.​

Her participation in the forum, supported by the SSC Hub’s mobility fund, underscores the Hub’s dedication to fostering connections between global thought leaders and local stakeholders. The visit provided an invaluable opportunity to exchange insights, strengthen partnerships, and advance smart and sustainable city initiatives that prioritize the well-being of citizens while addressing long-term urban challenges.

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