SPEAKERS

Keep an eye out for more speaker announcments coming soon.

Tim Ross

Comedian and Advocate for Architecture and Design

Tim Ross is a celebrated comedian and a passionate advocate for architecture and design promoting its value in multiple forums.

He is the recipient ofthe National Trust Heritage Award for Advocacy regarding Australia’s legacy of modernist architecture; of anAustralian Institute of Architects National President’s Prize for activism and outstanding contribution to the profession; was a National Architecture Awards jury member and was awarded as anhonorary Institute member.

Tim has performed his live Man About the Houses how insignificant buildings throughout the world, at the Venice Biennale and London Festival of Architecture. His ABC TV series Streets of Your Town, and Designing A Legacy; exhibitions including Design Nation, and Motel; prolific publications; guest speaker engagements and as a provocative design commentator have made design accessible to awide, diverse and appreciative audience.

Chieko Yamaguchi

Deputy Mayor of Obu City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan

Chieko Yamaguchi is Deputy Mayor of Obu City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, a position she has held since April 2024. She earned a Bachelor of Laws from Kyoto University and began her career with the Aichi Prefectural Government in 1987. Over nearly four decades, she has held senior leadership roles across cultural affairs, gender equality, and child welfare, including Director of Cultural Affairs, Director of Childcare Support, and Director General of the Citizens’ Affairs Department. She has also led initiatives promoting women’s empowerment. Drawing on her extensive administrative experience, she contributes to advancing inclusive, healthy, and sustainable community development in Obu City.

Tony Capon

Adjunct Professor of Planetary Health at the University of Sydney

Tony Capon is a man of Ngāi Tahu and Pākehā descent, and the world’s first Professor of Planetary Health at the University of Sydney.  A former Director of the International Institute for Global Health at United Nations University (UNU-IIGH), his research focuses on urbanism, sustainability, and human health. The inaugural Director of Public Health and Medical Officer of Health in Western Sydney, he has been active in the Healthy Cities movement for more than 30 years.

Tony was a Commissioner with the Rockefeller Foundation-Lancet Commission on Planetary Health and now chairs the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Climate Change, the Environment and Health in the Western Pacific Region, co-chairs the Future Earth Health Knowledge-Action Network, and is a member of the international advisory board for The Lancet Planetary Health. He has served in numerous honorary leadership roles with not-for-profit organisations around the world.

The Hon. John Graham

NSW Special Minister of State, Minister for Transport, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy, and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council

The Hon. John Graham MLC was elected in 2016 to serve the people of NSW. As NSW Special Minister of State, Minister for Transport, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy, and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, John Graham is committed to building and upgrading a transport network that connects people to jobs, housing, and each other through vibrant communities.

Sarah Ndiaye

Mayor, Byron Shire Council

Sarah Ndiaye has served on Byron Shire Council since 2016, holding roles as Councillor, Deputy Mayor and now Mayor.

Throughout her time on Council, she has been a strong advocate for affordable housing, sustainable development, and finding the right balance between local growth and the protection and restoration of Byron Shire’s natural environment. Sarah was an active supporter of the policy that saw Byron Shire become the first council in Australia to implement a 60-day cap on short-term rental accommodation, helping to protect long term housing for residents.

A former local journalist and high school teacher, Sarah is committed to addressing housing stress, supporting essential workers, strengthening climate resilience, and ensuring development is guided by long-term community, environmental, creative and social outcomes.

The Hon. Paul Scully, MP

NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces

Paul Scully is the NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces.  

He previously served as Shadow Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Shadow Minister for Police and Counter Terrorism and Shadow Minister for Natural Resources.  

Paul was first elected to Parliament as the Member for Wollongong at a by-election in November 2016.  

His background in politics, economics and innovation allows him to understand the many challenges of planning and urban development in NSW.  

His focus is on working with all levels of government, the community and industry to solve housing, jobs and infrastructure challenges in NSW.

Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala

WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific

Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala is the WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific
and the first Pacific islander to take up this role. He was nominated for this
position by the Regional Committee for the Western Pacific in October 2023,
appointed by the WHO Executive Board in January 2024 and took office on
1 February 2024.

Prior to his election as WHO Regional Director, Dr Piukala was a Member of
Parliament and Minister of Health of the Kingdom of Tonga. He also served
as Vice-Chair of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific
(October 2022 to October 2023), and chaired the Pacific Health Ministers
meeting hosted by Tonga in September 2023. From 2019 to 2022, he served
as a member of the WHO Executive Board, and was a Commissioner for
WHO’s Independent High-Level Commission on NCDs from 2018 to 2020.
Previously, Dr Piukala was Medical Superintendent of the main referral
hospital in Tonga, and worked as a Senior Medical Officer and General
Surgeon in Tonga and other Pacific islands including Fiji, Nauru, Niue and
Tuvalu.

Dr Piukala holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (1995), Postgraduate
Diploma in Surgery (2005) and Master of Medicine in Surgery (2009) from Fiji
School of Medicine / University of the South Pacific.