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City Ideas

SPEAKERS

Turn creativity into solutions, challenges into opportunities, and ideas into reality.

Our Speakers

The speakers at City Ideas hold an indispensable role in our mission to shape the future of cities. These accomplished individuals are the architects of innovation, the catalysts of change, and the bearers of diverse perspectives that guide our discussions and ignite transformative ideas.

Catalysts of
Innovation

Pioneers in their fields, driving innovation and pushing the boundaries of what's possible.

Guiding Lights of
Experience

Real-world success stories provide actionable knowledge, turning challenges into opportunities and inspiring actionable solutions.

Architects of
Change

Empower to turn inspiration into tangible change, making our platform a driving force behind urban prosperity and global collaboration.

People

/

The seeds for a more vibrant and interconnected global community.

City of London / Deputy Mayor

Justine Simons

City Ideas / Chair

John Howkins

SXSW / Chief Project Officer

Hugh Forrest

Creative England / Chair

John Newbigin

BOP Consulting / Director

Paul Owens

Organization of World Heritage Cities / Secretary General

Denis Richard

Director of Sichuan Writers Association / Poet and Novelist

A Lai

Laureate of HOMER 2016 / Poet

JIDI Majia

Palace Museum / Curator

SHAN Jixiang

Great London Authority / Senior Advisor

Laia Gasch

City of Paris / Vice Mayor of Culture

Carlin Roland

City of Amsterdam / Deputy Mayor

Touria Meliani

Ministry of Culture / Vice Minister

ZHAO Shaohua

Shanghai Film Group / Chairman

WANG Jian'er

China Cultural Industry Association / President

ZHANG Bin

City of Warsaw / Deputy Mayor

Aldona Machnowska-Góra

World Center of Excellence for Destination / Director

Francois Bedard

The International Place Branding Association / Chair

Robert Govers

ReNew / Director

William Knight

City of Liverpool / Cultural Director

Claire McColgan

International and Civic, City of Melbourne / Acting Director

Sophie Travers

City of Montréal / Cultural and Creative Industries Officer

Emmanuelle Hébert

Global City / Director

David Adams

Museum Rotterdam / Curator

Nicole Van Dijk

Indonesian Creative Economy Bureau / Vice President

Ricky Pesik

Tate Contemporary Art Museum / Director of International Partnership

Donald Hyslop

Institute for Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship, Goldsmiths, University of London / Visiting Fellow

Martin Smith

Austin Department of Economic Development / Head of Culture and Arts Department

Meghan Wells

Royal BC Museum / CEO

Jack Lohman

Arts Melbourne / Creative Infrastructure Lead

Adriano Nunes

Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture / Director

Haebo Kim

Vibelab / CEO

Lutz Leichsenring

CAVA, Liverpool / Director

Richard Koeck

Digital Committee, Culture Montréal / Director

Daniel Bissonnette

British Fashion Council / Commercial Director

Gemma Juviler

Republic of Tatarstan / Aide to the President

Natalia Fishman