The Future Embraced: Make It While Making a Difference

SFU Continuing Studies

Join us for a free talk with New Zealand urban designer and architect Kobus Mentz.

Presented by <a href="https://www.sfu.ca/continuing-studies/about/city-program.html" title="https://www.sfu.ca/continuing-studies/about/city-program.html" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">SFU City Program</a>, <a href="https://www.sfu.ca/urban.html" title="https://www.sfu.ca/urban.html" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">SFU Urban Studies</a> and <a href="https://spacing.ca/vancouver/" title="https://spacing.ca/vancouver/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Spacing Vancouver</a>Despite widespread concerns over the future, there is cause for optimism for those who adopt a future-relevant approach. Based on four imperatives, Kobus Mentz presents a framework of thinking and doing drawn from his urban design work with over 80 towns, cities and settlements in Australia and New Zealand with professional and academic forays into the United Kingdom, India, China, United Arab Emirates, Canada and Africa. These projects include delivering Melbourne’s pioneering growth strategy, University Hill (Australia’s Best Master Planned Community), and New Zealand’s National Urban Design Guide. His framework examines how urban professionals can make local initiatives drive change from within their own discipline, exert influence by mastering other disciplines, choreograph complex outcomes, and develop thought leadership that delivers impactful change.Reserve your spot to receive details on how to access the free online talk.

About the presenter:Kobus Mentz, B.Arch, PGDip Urban Design, UDIA, Assoc NZPIKobus is director of Urbanismplus. In 1977, he qualified as an architect and in 1987, he acquired a post-graduate degree in urban design at the Joint Centre for Urban Design in Oxford. He has practised in Africa and the U.K., and since 1994 in New Zealand. He has had additional professional and academic forays into Australia, India, China, UAE, the U.S. and Canada.In 2004, he founded Urbanismplus, a boutique urban design practice specializing in complex urban issues in New Zealand, Australia and beyond. They have worked in over 80 towns, cities and settlements. Their work has attracted numerous national awards, including Best Master Planned Community in Australia. The RIBA book: 20/20 Visions lists their Dunedin Warehouse Precinct as one of the 20 best worldwide-practice exemplars of collaborative planning and placemaking. This project leveraged $52m private investment off only $1.1m private sector spending. Their Melbourne 2030 Growth Strategy saved the Victorian economy $25–$43m as well as 23% reductions in travel time resulting in significant reductions in carbon dioxide emissions.Kobus has published widely and recently authored The Future Embraced: career insights for urban professionals who care about the people and the planet. This book has been enthusiastically received internationally. He is currently delivering Develop Your Own Framework of Thinking and Doing workshops in several countries.Check out Kobus's Spacing interview <a href="https://spacing.ca/vancouver/2024/08/19/embracing-the-future-an-interview-with-kobus-mentz/" title="https://spacing.ca/vancouver/2024/08/19/embracing-the-future-an-interview-with-kobus-mentz/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

The Future Embraced: Make It While Making a Difference

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The Future Embraced: Make It While Making a Difference

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