This webinar will discuss the immediate and long term effects of coronavirus upon our cities and city-regions with a focus on the potential of data, the meaning of smart cities post-Covid and approaches to smart city region economic recovery in the key engines of our economy.
How are pre-coronavirus challenges such as digital, net zero, growth, infrastructure development, and placemaking reframed by the advent of coronavirus? Does recent experience demand new thinking on how our cities function economically, as living spaces and in relation to their wider city-region? Has coronavirus not just reshaped previous challenges but also revealed new demands and challenges to traditional ways of living, working, moving and developing?
As in every other context of life, cities and city-regions have seen profound changes as a result of the impact of coronavirus. Transport systems disrupted, workplaces mothballed, economic activity suspended, retail diminished and the pulse of everyday life limited by lockdown, social distancing and newly acquired behavioural habits. Will these changes have lasting impact for the shape and rhythm of cities and city-regions or will ‘new normal’ just be a different version of business as usual? How should our cities and city-regions be thinking and planning for the immediate and long-term consequences?
Dr Simon Joss will discuss cities and city-regions in the post-coronavirus age. Alex Tosetti will reflect upon where smart cities and city-regions are heading in ‘new normal’. Jonathan Guthrie will examine how cities and city-regions can respond innovatively to the economic challenge.
Key Points
Director Public Sector Partnerships, Scotland
Robertson
Professor of Urban Futures (Urban Studies)
School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow
Director
ICE - Scotland, Institute of Civil Engineers
Chief Commercial Officer
VU.CITY
Jonathan Guthrie
Director Public Sector Partnerships, Scotland
Robertson
In his role as Director for Public Sector Partnerships, Scotland, Jonathan Jonathan focuses on developing project options, solutions and delivery strategies for Robertson's public sector customers across Scotland. He manages the contact point for Robertson Group with key public partners and helps develop strategies that deliver their objectives. Over the last 11 years he has assisted numerous public bodies to develop and deliver major projects across the UK.
Jonathan has over 20 years’ experience in the Technology, Design, Property and Construction sector, as well as in Finance and Investment in Strategic Development working with both the private and public sectors.
Jonathan has overseen the development of projects, particularly for two funding mechanisms: REIF (Renewable Energy Investment Fund) and UK GIB (Green Investment Bank). This has involved the development and coordination of the Scottish Green Investment Portfolio (SGIP) assisting the accessibility for finance for Low Carbon and Green Sector projects, development and planning of new funds and delivery structures for Energy, Waste and Community Renewable projects.
A large part of Jonathan’s Scottish Government role was in liaising between the public and private sectors for project inception and development. He advised on the development of teams to progress projects and investment structures and sourcing Public and Private finance and delivery interest for major projects.
Jonathan also carried out a similar role for the City of Edinburgh Council, for strategic property and investment development. He created Project Edinburgh and the String of Pearls projects for the City of Edinburgh whilst on secondment from Standard Life from 2004 to 2008.
Having created a number of development frameworks, projects and investment opportunities with the Project Edinburgh Design Team, Jonathan and the team then secured major investment interest in the city from global investors and developers. These include the St James Quarter (Henderson Global), SOCO.
Simon Joss (Professor)
Professor of Urban Futures (Urban Studies)
School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow
I joined the University of Glasgow in 2018 as Professor of Urban Futures, based in the Urban Studies section of the School of Social and Political Sciences.
My first degree, in biology, was from the University of Bern (CH). This was followed by doctoral research on technology policy at Imperial College, University of London, under the supervision of John Durant (1993-1998). I subsequently spent over 20 years at the University of Westminster including as director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy and founding director of the doctoral Graduate School. As Professor of Science & Technology Studies, I co-founded the International Eco-Cities Initiative in partnership with Dr Arthur Molella (Smithsonian Institution, USA) and Professor Robert Kargon (Johns Hopkins University, USA).
Professional appointments have included membership of funding committees (e.g. Wellcome Trust), advisory committees (e.g. chair of Vitae Researcher Development Advisory Group), technical committees (e.g. BSI Smart and Sustainable Cities and Communities SDS/2), examination boards (e.g. University of Oxford), and editorial boards (e.g. Journal of Spatial Research & Planning).
Hannah Smith
Director
ICE - Scotland, Institute of Civil Engineers
Hannah leads the work of the Institution of Civil Engineers in Scotland.
The ICE is the independent voice on infrastructure and the leading source of expertise in infrastructure and engineering policy. ICE Scotland represents around 9,000 members drawn from across the public, private and academic centres, who design, build and maintain Scotland’s critical transport, water, flooding, energy and waste infrastructure.
Hannah’s background is in public policy, holding a degree in International Relations from The University of St Andrews, and a Masters’ from The University of British Columbia, in Vancouver.
Her early career was in International Development, working with various Think Tanks and the UN. Prior to joining ICE, she worked in the renewable energy industry.
Hannah is a non-executive Director of the Economic Development Association Scotland.
Email: Hannah.smith@ice.org.uk
Alex Tosetti
Chief Commercial Officer
VU.CITY
Founder and CEO of ‘Cities Reloaded’ a new smart cities consultancy platform to enable the best of urban regeneration to be designed and delivered in the ‘new normal’ utilising best in class partners, collaboration and emerging technologies.
Formerly a Senior Director of Operations and Business Development at Aecom/URS with a strong portfolio and delivery record of environmental and engineering multi-disciplinary projects in London and UK cities. Advising many blue chip private sector clients and public sector entities in tall buildings, urban regeneration, transport, power and energy infrastructure, defence sector, at both strategic national policy level and site specific level.
