Keynote Speakers

Biography

Owen Cafe is a proud Whadjuk–Pindjarup person and Principal Landscape Architect at Blaklash. His work is grounded in a commitment to social, ecological, and cultural justice, using design as a tool for connection, healing, and change. At the heart of Owen’s practice is a deep engagement with the intersection of culture, identity, and ecology, informing spaces that foster meaningful connections to Country. Beyond practice, teaching across several Australian universities, Owen works to embed Indigenous perspectives into design education, curriculum, and development. He also contributes to national reform through his roles on the QLD AILA Executive Board and Connection to Country committees.

First Nations Panel Member

Biography

Robert Freestone is Professor of Planning in the School of Built Environment at the University of New South Wales. His recent books include Planning a Continent of Cities (with Julian Bolleter, UWAP, 2025), Community Green (with David Nichols, Routledge, 2024), and Australian Urban Policy: Prospects and Pathways (edited with Bill Randolph and Wendy Steele, ANU Press, 2024). He is a Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia, Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, and the Australian Academy of the Humanities.

A planning ultramarathon: Legacy placemaking at Sydney Olympic Park

With the Brisbane 2032 Olympics now attracting headlines, it seems worthwhile revisiting the experience of the Sydney Olympics staged a quarter century ago. The 2000 Games were an archetypal urban mega-event channelling and refracting global considerations played out in a specific local setting. This presentation picks up on the legacy theme of the conference to explore how the afterlife of a fortnight-long event continues to reverberate on planning and development. The focus is on the major games precinct of Sydney Olympic Park in the middle western suburbs. It provides a case study of how innovation and sustainability have had to be continually renegotiated through land use planning, infrastructure development and urban design to secure shifting public interest and political aspirations. Set against a backdrop of Olympic legacy discourse, a longitudinal approach highlights a succession of planning initiatives beginning pre-Games seeking to balance event planning with a built environment afterlife. The central paradox is a history of arguably one of Australasia’s most planned set-piece precincts regularly rethinking the quest for a convincing and lasting strategy. Such is the nature of planning as an ongoing mission. But this story also highlights the vexed legacy of staging the Olympics, a dynamic balance sheet of benefits and costs, the endless curation of urban form and structure, and the quixotic notion of determining a finite legacy in reconciling local needs with global imperatives, a far from unique challenge. 

Biography

Dr Nayomi Kankanamge is a lecturer in Urban Design and Town Planning at the University of the Sunshine Coast. She is an urban planner and researcher dedicated to integrating advanced technologies into urban planning to create smarter and more resilient cities. Her recent publications focus on the innovative use of urban big data, including social media analytics, gamification, and crowdsourced data, to enhance urban design, disaster preparedness, and community engagement.

Transforming urban planning: The impact of digital technology on sustainable and inclusive cities

The role of digital technology in urban planning has become a game-changer, fundamentally reshaping how we design and manage our cities and communities. More than ever, data and technology are advancing to support both  the general public and professionals, enabling us to make better decisions by understanding urban patterns and behaviours. Technologies such as Generative AI, 3D modelling, digital twins, virtual reality, and augmented reality have revolutionized our ability to visualize and communicate future development scenarios. These innovations make the planning process more transparent, collaborative, and accessible. Furthermore, these technology-enabled platforms promote public participation, empowering communities and fostering a sense of ownership and inclusion. Smart technologies, including AI, IoT, and real-time environmental monitoring, are laying the foundation for cities that are sustainable, adaptive, and resilient. They optimize vital systems such as transportation and energy, while also addressing critical challenges like climate change and disaster management. Ultimately, digital technology is not only transforming the field of urban planning but is also shaping a more sustainable, efficient, and citizen-centric future for all of us.