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UNSW leaders in cities thinking wow regional leaders

UNSW leaders showcased their leadership in healthy cities across the Asia-Pacific region during the 10th Annual Global Conference of the Alliance for Healthy Cities in Seoul last week.

Published on the 09 October 2024
UNSW Cities Institute Director Peter Poulet hosting a session of international speakers at the Global Health Leaders’ Forum
UNSW Cities Institute Director Peter Poulet hosting a session of international speakers at the Global Health Leaders’ Forum.

UNSW leaders showcased their leadership in healthy cities across the Asia-Pacific region during the 10th Annual Global Conference of the Alliance for Healthy Cities in Seoul last week.

A team from UNSW led key aspects of the conference, which brought together civic and government leaders, academics and experts from across the region to explore the theme, ‘Smarter and Healthier Cities for a Better Future’.

UNSW Cities Institute Scientia Fellow Dr Jinhee Kim, who was a key driver of the conference, hosted the Global Health Leaders Forum at the event with UNSW’s Peter Poulet (Cities Institute), Negin Nazarian (Built Environment), A/Prof Fiona Haigh (International Centre for Future Health Systems). The ‘Mayors Forum’, engaged mayors, deputy mayors, and ministers from countries as diverse as Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Israel, Tonga, and Pakistan.
International Centre for Future Health Systems A/Prof Fiona Haigh (standing) and Peter Poulet at the Expert Workshop on conducting urban health equity research.

“The Alliance for Healthy Cities is an increasingly important network of cities where researchers, practitioners and policymakers tackling issues and proposing solutions for better living,” said Dr Kim. “The Global Conference was a tremendous success engaging leaders and providing the tools to find solutions while also showcasing UNSW’s leadership in promoting healthy cities across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.”

The UNSW Cities Institute also led an expert workshop on bridging research, practice and policy for urban health equity with Dr. Kim, A/Prof Haigh, Peter McCue (PhD Candidate, Population Health), and An Tran (PhD Candidate, Population Health). The Conference included delegations of government, research and policy leaders from Cambodia, China, Japan, Mongolia, Israel, South Korea, the Philippines and Vietnam, among others.

Dr Kim concluded the conference by reading the Seoul Declaration, which called for commitment of cities for intergenerational equity, addressing climate change, complex problem-solving, citizen participation and digital transformation.
UNSW Cities Institute Scientia Fellow Dr Jinhee Kim reading the Seoul Declaration at the conclusion of the Global Conference of the Alliance for Healthy Cities.