Turnbull Advocates A More Compact Liveable Canberra

Presenting the 2012 Walter Burley Griffin Memorial Lecture at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra last night, Ms Lucy Turnbull, called for more densely populated Australian cities. Turnbull is familiar with planning issues, having been the Deputy Chair of the COAG Capital city strategic planning expert advisory panel, Lord Mayor of Sydney and is currently an independent member of the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority. She praised the work of Canberra's planners is providing a coherent view of the city, which follows on from Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony's design for the city.

Turnbull singled out the Affordable Housing work of CIC Australia for praise. She noted that Australia's ageing population will require a new mix of housing stock and more single person houses will be needed. The role of the urban environment to support the innovation sector of the economy was also mentioned.

After the talk I asked Ms Turnbull and Professor Alastair Swayn (ACT Government Architect) if sufficient account was being taken of the effect of high speed broadband on city design. Also I pointed to the innovation precinct forming between the ANU and Civic in Canberra. They mentioned the effect which teleworking is having on cities.

Walter Burley Griffin Memorial Lecture 2012

Ms Lucy Turnbull OA LLB MBA, an independent member of the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority, will present the Australian Institute of Architects 2012 Walter Burley Griffin Memorial Lecture in Canberra, 10 October 2012.

Australian cities before and after Walter Burley Griffin

DATE: Wednesday 10 October
TIME: 5.45 arrival for a 6pm Start
COST: FREE PUBLIC LECTURE 

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The annual WBGML has been delivered in Canberra since 1961. Over that time it has been given by a number of distinguished individuals from many fields of expertise, including Gough Whitlam, Professor Manning Clarke and Romaldo Giurgola. This year it is our pleasure to host Lucy Turnbull and Alastair Swayn to present the 2012 Walter Burley Griffin Memorial Lecture.

Lucy Turnbull's title for the paper will be 'Australian cities before and after Walter Burley Griffin'. 

Lucy is a former Australian politician and former Lord Mayor of Sydney, is a prominent Australian business leader and company director. Turnbull was the first female Lord Mayor of Sydney, between 2003 and 2004 and was Deputy Lord Mayor, between 1999 and 2003. She was the first woman to hold both offices. As Lord Mayor, in 2003 Turnbull awarded laurete Aung San Suu Kyi the keys to the city of Sydney. 

With a background in commercial law and investment banking, Turnbull is a Director of Turnbull & Partners Pty. Ltd, a private investment company. Lucy has a longstanding interest in cities and their planning, governance and management. as well as the importance of technological innovation to the national economy. She is an independent member of the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority which is charged First Government Architect for the Australian Capital Territory with the urban renewal and revitaltisation of several precincts in Sydney, including Redfern-Waterloo. 

On 26 January 2011, Turnbull was appointed an Officer in the Order of Australia for her distinguished service to the community, particularly through philanthropic contributions to, and fundraising support for, a range of medical, social welfare, educational, youth and cultural organisations, to local government, and to busines. 

DATE: Wednesday 31 October 
TIME: 5.45 arrival for a 6pm Start ... 
COST: Free Public Lecture
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