How do we design cities that are both sustainable and deeply liveable? Christian Bason, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor at the University of Technology Sydney and one of Europe’s leading voices in public sector innovation, brings a unique perspective to this question.

Drawing on his research in design for societal challenges and his leadership roles in government and civic innovation, Bason explores how design can be a driver of systemic urban change.

From Europe’s New European Bauhaus movement, which is embedding sustainability and aesthetics into the heart of policy, to the radical redesign of Copenhagen - now ranked among the world’s most liveable cities - Bason describes how design thinking can accelerate the shift toward more resilient urban systems. He also shares insights from Thoravej 29, his base of work and Denmark’s most sustainable building renovation to date, which serves as a hub for social innovation and collaboration. Together, these case studies illustrate a roadmap for global cities seeking to navigate the transition toward thriving, sustainable urban futures.

Bason's work has consistently bridged the worlds of academia, policymaking, and practice, demonstrating that sustainable transformation requires more than technology or policy alone, but also a deep cultural and design-led reimagining of how we live together in cities.

Other speakers in this episode include:

• Her Excellency Ingrid Dahl-Madsen, Danish Ambassador to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji
• Eamon Waterford, CEO, Committee for Sydney
• Dr Leanne Sobel, Adjunct Fellow at UTS Business School and Director Strategic Design at Snowmelt
• Jua Cilliers, Professor of Urban Planning and Associate Dean at UTS Faculty of Design and Society
• Prof Martin Tomitsch, Professor & Head of the UTS Transdisciplinary School | Strategic Design | Researcher in Future Technologies, Human-Computer Interaction and Responsible Innovation

This event and episode were brought to you by The Committee for Sydney and UTS.

Impact Talks at UTS is an Impact Studios podcast.

What does it mean to be “alive” in an age of automation, synthetic biology, and artificial environments?

How do artistic practices challenge dominant narratives about life, nature, and control?

And if compost, tissue culture, and data can form a new cycle of life, what might that say about our future?

In this thought-provoking episode, artist and researcher Ionat Zurr delivers a keynote that traverses three decades of collaborative bio-art practice. From growing semi-living worry dolls to lab-grown meat and leather, Zurr interrogates the ethics, aesthetics, and implications of creating life in controlled environments. Her ecofeminist lens critiques patriarchal and capitalist ideologies that reduce life to code and commodify biological processes.

Stella Rosa McDonald, curator of UTS Gallery, introduces the All That Is Alive exhibition and symposium, highlighting its regenerative themes and the museum as a living system shaped by care and memory.

Aunty Rhonda Dixon Grovenor, Gadigal elder, opens the event with a powerful Welcome to Country and two evocative poems celebrating the gifts of nature—water, sun, wind, and earth—and the importance of gratitude and connection.

All That is Alive is an iterative touring exhibition co-commissioned by UTS Gallery & Art Collection and La Trobe Art Institute. It brings together 12 Australian artists and collectives working with living systems. You can visit the exhibition at the UTS Gallery until 12 December 2025.

What happens when we break the silence around colonial history? How does acknowledging the past help us heal and connect across communities? And who carries the responsibility for truth-telling—First Nations peoples or non-Indigenous Australians?

Through deeply personal reflections and bold insights, Lorena Allam, Kate Grenville, Lindon Coombes, Mariko Smith, and moderator Robynne Quiggin unpack the emotional, political, and cultural dimensions of truth-telling. If you’ve ever wondered “Where do we begin?” or “Why does truth-telling matter now more than ever?”—this conversation is essential listening.

In this special panel hosted at UTS, moderator Robynne Quiggin is joined by:

Lorena Allam

A multiple Walkley Award–winning journalist descended from the Yuwaalaraay and Gamilaraay peoples of northwest NSW. Lorena has had a distinguished career at the ABC and The Guardian, where she was the first Indigenous Affairs Editor. She is now a Professor at the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research at UTS. Her work has focused on truth-telling in media, Indigenous rights, and the legacy of colonialism in Australia 

Kate Grenville

One of Australia’s most acclaimed authors, Kate Grenville AO is best known for her historical novels including The Secret River, which explores the colonial frontier and its impact on First Nations peoples. Her work has won numerous awards including the Orange Prize and the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. She has also written extensively on the writing process and Australia's colonial legacy 

Professor Lindon Coombes

A descendant of the Yuwaalaraay people, Lindon is the Director of the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research at UTS. He has over 20 years of experience in Aboriginal affairs, including leadership roles in government and community organisations. His work focuses on Indigenous policy, justice, and self-determination

Dr Mariko Smith

A Yuin woman with Japanese heritage, Dr Smith is the Strategic Lead, First Nations at the Australian Museum. She is a curator, academic, and interdisciplinary researcher whose work centres on Indigenous cultural resurgence, museology, and incorporating Indigenous ways of knowing into creative and academic practice. She holds a PhD from the University of Sydney

Together, they share insights into how truth-telling can foster deeper understanding, connection, and a more just future for all Australians.

Recorded during National Reconciliation Week at UTS 4th June, 2025

Keywords: Reconciliation, Truth-telling, Aboriginal History, Indigenous Voices, Australia, UTS, Colonialism, First Nations, National Reconciliation Week