Queen Victoria Gardens

A panel discussion that hits the pavement and tests our urban fabric, 15 minutes at a time

The 15-minute city is an urban design concept that’s gained traction in recent years. It suggests we’d be happier and healthier if we could meet our daily needs within a 15-minute walk, bike ride or public transport trip from our homes—no matter where we live in the city. Now this MPavilion panel is taking this search for a more local way of life to the streets.

The discussion will be led by Su Lim, Managing Director of FreeState. She’s asking a diverse panel including Rose Chong (Rose Chongs Costume Shop) and award-winning creative Matt Lawson (ATime&Place Agency) to do 15-minute walks from their homes and talk about what they discovered about their neighbourhood—how it meets their daily work, shopping, and leisure needs—and what they think could be improved. And what might it take to get city planning, design and policymaking to align, so we can all stroll through 15-minute cities happily getting it done each day.

This program is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies

COLLABORATORS

Bonnie Shaw
Bonnie is a leader in public sector innovation, adaptive leadership, and data-informed design. She has shaped a diverse multidisciplinary career across public, private and social impact sectors and startups. She is currently working as the Chief Entrepreneur in Residence at the Municipal Association of Victoria, where she is leading the development of MAVlab.

MAVLab
MAVlab supports and champions local government to successfully navigate the increasingly complex landscape of rapidly evolving technologies, social changes, shifting economies and environmental pressures that our sector and communities are facing. MAVlab is building an innovation practice and collaborative ways of working at scale to support our network of 79 Victorian local governments in their responses to critical and increasingly complex social, environmental, economic, technological and leadership challenges.

PANELLISTS

Moderator: Su Lim
Panellists: Rose Chong, Matt Lawson

Su Lim
Su is FreeState’s Managing Director. With over 25 years of experience at some of the leading corporate, government, healthcare and learning environments across the world, Su is passionate about helping people imagine new possibilities.

Rose Chong
Owner of the iconic Rose Chong Costume Shop on Gertrude Street Fitzroy. She has run her business from and lived on Gertrude St since 1979.

Matt Lawson
One of the region’s most innovative and consistently awarded creatives. Matt is Creative Director and Co-Founder of ATime&Place Advertising Agency and Co-President of Melbourne, Advertising, Design and Creativity (MADC).