If you were forwarded this email (Hi, welcome!), you can sign up to receive the newsletter here. |
|
|
Kaya,
This month's header feature is not a mural, but a historic map of Western Australia called The Spirits Within (2020), captured by Leon Pericles AM |
|
|
|
— a vast, five-metre mixed-media work of acrylic, construction and chosen objects celebrating the stories, cultures and creativity that have shaped this place. Subtle markings represent the spirits of the Aboriginal people who have cared for this place — the hidden foundation of the work and of our shared story.
Commissioned for the Parmelia House on St Georges Terrace, the home of the Committee for Perth, it is publicly accessible on the ground floor. |
|
|
It’s a work of quirkiness, education and skill — one that reveals a new detail every time you pass by — and a reminder that every city carries the echoes of its past while shaping the possibilities of its future.
This edition explores those living layers within our cities — the forces that connect, challenge and sustain them. We look at how global frameworks like the Brazilian Belém Health Action Plan are mobilising the health sector to adapt to climate change, and how new data from the 2025 Australian Liveability Census reveals that well-planned density can strengthen inclusion and wellbeing. We spotlight a Trans-Tasman partnership between ECU and Massey University driving sustainability research, and revisit Amsterdam’s cycling transformation to ask what it might take for Perth to reimagine its streets. And last but not least, we caught up with Diya Makwana for On The Ground Intel, who was a Youth Voices speaker at our 2050 Summit.
Together, these stories remind us that the true spirit of a city lies not just in its buildings or plans, but in the creativity, collaboration and care that give it life and identity — the spirits within that keep it moving forward. Happy reading,
Committee for Perth Team |
PRESCRIPTION FOR A WARMING WORLD: BRAZIL PUTS HEALTH AT THE HEART OF CLIMATE ACTION |
|
|
At the upcoming COP30 in Brazil, the host nation has launched the Belém Health Action Plan (BHAP) — a major international framework designed to help countries adapt their health systems to climate change. The plan recognises that resilience in the health sector is essential to protecting lives and livelihoods in a warming world.
Structured around two guiding principles — health equity and climate justice, and inclusive governance — the BHAP sets out three key lines of action: -
Surveillance and monitoring: integrating climate data into health systems for early warning and rapid response.
- Evidence-based policy and capacity-building: embedding climate adaptation into national and local health planning.
-
Innovation and digital health: investing in sustainable production, technology, and climate-smart healthcare infrastructure.
Importantly, the Plan emphasises participation from Indigenous, local and vulnerable communities, ensuring adaptation measures are inclusive and grounded in lived experience.
Endorsements for the Belém Plan are now open to UNFCCC Parties, organisations, and non-state actors — marking a rare opportunity for global collaboration between the climate and health sectors.
Because safeguarding human health, the Plan reminds us, is inseparable from safeguarding the planet itself — thoughts for Perth to consider in its climate planning. READ MORE |
|
|
DENSIFYING FOR CONNECTION |
DENSIFYING FOR CONNECTION |
New data from the 2025 Australian Liveability Census suggests density done well and denser neighbourhoods can actually enhance liveability — something Committee for Perth has been advocating for again at the 2050 Summit as well as with working groups and the 2050 Report.
Conducted by Place Score and presented in an Online Seminar with Committee for Perth on 4 November, the survey captured feedback from more than 27,000 Australians across 15,000 neighbourhoods, making it the largest place-based social research project in the nation. The findings show that high-density areas outperformed low-density ones by 5%, with residents reporting stronger connection, inclusion and belonging.
“Communities are telling us that inclusion, connection and a sense of belonging are just as critical to liveability as housing or transport,” says Place Score CEO Kylie Legge.
The results align with new guidance from the Heart Foundation, which argues that well-planned medium- and high-density housing — close to shops, parks and public transport — can improve both physical and mental wellbeing. In 2025, Australians say their ideal neighbourhood is green, safe and welcoming with easy access to walking and cycling networks. The message is clear: density isn’t the enemy — bad design is.
Huge results for WA, Committee for Perth members City of Vincent (Inner City Group) and City of Joondalup delivered outstanding results, both ranking in Australia’s top 12 most liveable LGAs. |
|
|
INTERNATIONAL INSPIRATION |
THE ROAD TO A BIKE-FRIENDLY FUTURE |
|
|
Amsterdam is well known as a bicycle city — but not everyone realises that it wasn’t always that way. In the 1950s and 60s, cars dominated Dutch cities and cycling’s share of trips plunged dramatically. It took a combination of activism, rising child-traffic deaths and bold urban policy shifts for the city to reverse course.
At the recent 2050 Summit, Ludo Campbell‑Reid presented how Amsterdam made that transition — from car-first streets to a cycling culture built on safety, infrastructure and social mobilisation.
How could our streets be re-oriented so that cycling isn’t just a nice option, but a default? How can Perth embed built-environment changes, political will and community momentum so the bike becomes more than a trendy choice, but the backbone of everyday mobility?
Amsterdam’s journey shows: It takes deliberate choices, resistance to car-centrism, and infrastructure designed for all ages. If we want a bike-friendly future, let's build it — not wait for it. READ MORE |
|
|
LONDON'S SUPERLOOP CIRCLES THE CITY WITH SPEED AND PURPOSE |
London’s new Superloop is rethinking how big cities move. The bold ring of express bus routes connects outer suburbs directly, bypassing the traditional city-centre hub. Early results are promising — ridership on several routes is up 20%, with faster travel times thanks to fewer stops, clearer branding and targeted bus-lane infrastructure.
It’s a reminder that smart connections don’t always mean new rail lines. With Perth being the longest city in the world and continuing to expand outward, a rapid-bus network could link growth areas, relieve pressure on central corridors and give outer-metro residents better, faster access across the region — creating more connection without adding congestion. READ MORE
|
|
|
NEW YORK CITY BRINGS LIFE BACK TO MIDTOWN |
|
|
|
In New York City’s Midtown, a wave of office-to-residential conversions is reshaping the skyline and the city’s rhythms. Driven by high vacancies post-pandemic, favourable zoning changes and tax incentives, hundreds of thousands of square feet of aging office space are being refashioned into apartments with at least 25% affordable housing.
|
|
|
What’s interesting for Perth: this isn’t just about housing supply, it’s also about utilising existing infrastructure and adapting urban form. We’ve long built office towers and single-use commercial zones. Could our under-used buildings and precincts be repurposed to support the transition from “work only” to “live, work, play” and help unlock vitality in precincts that currently sit quiet out of hours? Infrastructure isn’t static, adaptive reuse can be a key part of resilience and urban renewal. READ MORE
|
BUILDING BETTER FUTURES: ECU AND MASSEY JOIN FORCES ON SUSTAINABILITY |
How can we build better businesses and stronger communities in a changing world?
In October, sustainability researchers from Edith Cowan University’s School of Business and Law and Massey University’s Business School came together for a joint symposium exploring global challenges in corporate governance, climate responsibility and ethical business.
“Collaboration across borders helps us lead not only in our regions but internationally,” said Professor Gabriel Eweje, Director of ECU’s Centre for Sustainability and Governance Research (CSGR).
Presentations ranged from renewable innovation and Industry 4.0 technologies to modern slavery and corporate care models — each highlighting the need for practical, research-driven solutions.
Closing the event, Professor Nitha Palakshappa, Director of Massey’s Sustainability Hub, reinforced the power of partnerships that turn ideas into action.
Together, ECU and Massey are showing what real collaboration looks like — research that crosses borders, sparks innovation and builds a more sustainable future for all. READ MORE ABOUT THIS PARTNERSHIP |
|
|
|
For this month’s On the Ground Intel, we caught up with Diya Makwana, who is deeply engaged in how Perth grows, innovates and thrives.
A speaker at our 2050 Summit, Diya shares insights into WAMUN, the Western Australian Model United Nations, what her perfect weekend looks like, and her passion for judo and hard rock.
|
|
|
As a speaker at the 2050 Summit you challenged everyone to support one remarkable young person. Who has done that for you? So many people have. My family, the people I work with on different projects, the first person who believed in WAMUN, and the people who make sure I’m fed and focused every day. It’s never just one person. I owe a lot to the network around me.
You founded the Western Australian Model United Nations (WAMUN), a youth-led initiative empowering young people to engage with global issues. What impact are you most proud of so far?
WAMUN is running a two-day conference this December on the 15th and 16th in Perth. Young people from across WA are coming together to represent countries, debate issues like misinformation in armed conflict and refugee protection, and draft real resolutions. I’m proud that we’re building geopolitical awareness and showing how global systems work in practice. What would a truly youth-empowered Perth look like by 2050? A youth-empowered Perth would let young people lead without needing adult validation to be taken seriously.
If you were to describe Perth to someone who’s never been, what would this sound like and what would you tell them to do or experience first?
Go to the beach. Then find a local café, whether it’s a small family-run spot or a fancy place. Perth’s food scene is underrated. But more than anything, it’s the people. Ask for help and you’ll find it. It’s not the quiet, isolated city people make it out to be. It’s welcoming and generous in a way that’s hard to explain until you experience it.
What’s a perfect weekend to you?
Getting up early, finishing half my to-do list in the morning, and then heading to Judo training for the rest of the day. On Sunday, I’d knock out the rest of the work and train again. If I can eat with my family at some point, even better. That’s my version of a good weekend.
Which city in the world would you like to travel to someday and why?
Kyoto. I want to train Judo there. Some of the best in the world are based there, and I’d love to put everything else on pause and train for a couple of months. That’s the dream reset.
On your LinkedIn profile you mention a passion for drumming. What kind of music are you playing? Any bands?
We’re playing rock and heavy metal. A lot of System of a Down and AC/DC. Right now my favourite in the set is Lonely Day by System of a Down.
Is there a book, podcast, or creative outlet that’s really inspiring you right now?
I follow a few self-development creators online, and I listen to music that actually says something. Books and songs feel like conversations with people who’ve lived through stuff and want you to take something from it. That’s the kind of content I learn from. If you could send one message to every young person in Perth about getting involved in shaping the city’s future, what would it be?
Back yourself. And back your people. If no one supports your idea, build it anyway. We’ll get there together. But we’ve got to start by trusting our own ability to lead and drive change without needing permission. |
|
|
|
WATCH: For this edition of We’re stepping into Tokyo: a city so vast it seems to stretch forever, and so efficient it routinely defies expectations. With more than 40 million residents, it’s the world’s largest metropolitan area — and one of the best-functioning. YouTube |
|
|
This newsletter is a complimentary benefit to Committee for Perth member organisations and all their employees. Please feel free to share it with your colleagues, and to ensure it arrives in your inbox, subscribe here. |
|
|
{YOURCOMPANY.NAME}
{YOURCOMPANY.ADDRESS} |
| |
|
Committee for Perth conducts its work on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. We recognise their peoples' ongoing connection to land, culture and community and in doing so, pay our respects to Elders past and present. |
|
|
|