On Thursday, June 20, 2024, Citieslab took on the role of event manager for IAP Talks: New Cities in Asia Pacific, a virtual forum that brought together urban planning leaders to examine the dynamics, opportunities, and challenges of city transformation across the region. The event aimed to map the trajectory of new cities in ASEAN and explore strategies for sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban growth.

The talks opened with welcoming remarks from Frank D'hondt (Secretary General of ISOCARP) and Haydee Malubay (Local Organising Committee of the 1st International Conference for New Cities, NCC), followed by insightful presentations from three distinguished speakers: Emil Dardak, Prof. B. Setiawan, and Soelaeman Soemawinata. Together, they offered five complementary perspectives spanning policy, academic planning, and the real estate industry.

Key topics discussed in this event included unprecedented urbanization in ASEAN with a projected 70% urban population by 2050, lessons learned from Greater Jakarta as the world's second-largest metropolitan area with 30.2 million residents, polycentric and mixed-use city planning principles, the role of cultural heritage in city building, the need for reflective planners in the VUCA era, and the strategic role of the real estate industry in driving sustainable urban growth.

Stay tuned for more upcoming events managed by Citieslab, featuring innovative discussions and collaborations in urban planning across Asia Pacific.