CityTalks

Global issues, ideas and conversations.

A group of women and a man standing together, one of whom is former Prime Minster Julia Gillard AC.

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Receive updates about upcoming talks and presentations on our urban environment and the city's future.

We aim to inspire, inform, educate and engage the community in an international dialogue to realise Sustainable Sydney 2030-2050 Continuing the Vision.

Our CityTalks are free events that feature high profile international or national keynote speakers and a discussion panel of local and international experts.

Register now for CityTalks: the climate and nature crisis – what Australia does matters!

Wednesday 2 April, Sydney Town Hall

This vital CityTalk will discuss why strong and decisive climate action is needed now more than ever.

Hear from Christiana Figueres, founding partner, Global Optimism, who works tirelessly on global action and advocacy. As the former Executive Secretary, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (2010-2016), Christiana oversaw the Paris Climate Agreement.

Christiana will be pre-recorded in conversation with Jennifer Robinson, human rights barrister, Doughty Street Chambers London. In 2024, Jennifer acted in the International Court advisory opinion proceedings on climate change and human rights, representing Vanuatu and the Marshall Islands.

You’ll also hear from inspiring speakers and panllelists as they discuss the new frontlines for climate action and unpack the levers of change for tackling the climate crisis in the challenging years ahead.

See the full list of speakers on What’s On. Book your free tickets through Ticketmaster.

Book now

World-renowned speakers

Audiences at our CityTalks have heard from:

Sadiq Khan, Mayor, City of London
Jane Fonda, Academy Award-winning actor, producer, activist and author
Julia Gillard AC, former Prime Minister of Australia, Chair of Beyond Blue
Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Mary Robinson, President of the Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice, and former President of Ireland
Gloria Steinem, feminist icon, journalist, social and political activist
Cate Blanchett AC, Academy Award-winning actor, producer and artistic director
Connie Hedegaard, former European Commissioner for Climate Action
Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the world wide web
David Suzuki, award winning scientist, environmentalist and broadcaster
Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel Prize-winning economist

The entrance to Sydney Town Hall lit up at night.

A large hall at night with blue and green lights.

Watch again

- Making space for culture: the future of Sydney’s creative economy
  Hear from a panel of experts and cultural leaders as they discuss innovative and proactive approaches to supporting the creative sector in Sydney.
  12 June 2024
- I choose Sydney – what is driving Sydney’s future prosperity?
  Find out how the City of Sydney’s new economic strategy 2025-2035 will create the right conditions for innovation-led growth and lead to a more equitable and sustainable city.
  1 August 2024
- Why the Voice to Parliament is essential for all Australians
  Hear from community leaders, Voice experts, and constitutional specialists on what the Voice to Parliament will mean for our nation’s future.
  19 July 2023
- Making Australia a renewable energy superpower
  Government, business and community leaders discuss our renewable energy future and why the time is right to accelerate our actions and become a renewable superpower.
  2 November 2022
- Sustainable Sydney 2030-2050 Continuing the Vision
  Hear our big ideas and how we plan to make them happen. Global city leaders Lord Mayor Clover Moore and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan will give keynote presentations followed by a live discussion about turning these future focused ideas into reality.
  5 April 2022

Past topics

We welcome local and international thought leaders and industry experts to speak on ways to challenge our thinking and present ideas from prominent global cities.
- A green led recovery
  We heard from renowned climate activist and author Jane Fonda and discussed how bold action is needed to mitigate the global climate emergency.
  30 March 2021
- We all have a role in supporting mental health and wellbeing
  The Hon Julia Gillard AC led a discussion around the complex issues of mental health and wellbeing, with a panel made up of mental health experts and people with lived experience.
  29 October 2019
- Making art public: 50 years of Kaldor art projects
  A panel of collaborators and experts joined Lord Mayor Clover Moore to reflect on John Kaldor’s 50 years of contribution to Australian art and the value public art brings to our cities.
  10 September 2019
- Big ideas transforming global cities
  Global and national speakers joined Lord Mayor Clover Moore to examine the importance of bold ideas and outstanding practices in urban projects transforming Seoul, New York, Adelaide and Sydney.
  23 May 2019
- Cities taking the lead: how local action is fast-tracking global change
  International guests Christiana Figueres, a world authority on climate change and Gregor Robertson, Mayor of Vancouver, joined Lord Mayor Clover Moore and national thought leader John Hewson on 12 September 2017 to talk about climate change, housing, inclusion and inequality.
  12 September 2017
- Is Sydney ready? Working together for a resilient city
  We hosted a meeting between mayors and general managers from across Sydney’s metropolitan councils to discuss resilience with Michael Berkowitz, President of 100 Resilient Cities and the Resilient Sydney team, led by Beck Dawson.
  8 November 2016
- People First: Working together for a strong, just and inclusive society
  A forceful human rights advocate, Mrs Mary Robinson, President of the Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice, and former President of Ireland, will discuss how governments, business and people can work together and the importance of social policy with the wellbeing citizen at its core.
  17 March 2016
- The politics of climate change: Towards the Paris climate conference 2015
  Connie Hedegaard, former European Commissioner for Climate Action, reignited a national conversation between Australia’s political leaders on key climate change targets, and Australia’s role in addressing them.
  25 August 2015
- Joseph Stiglitz - The Price of Inequality
  Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph E. Stiglitz and a panel of experts discuss the price of inequality and what happens to communities when the issue is ignored.
  8 July 2014
The big issues affecting our city

CityTalks Sydney explores the major issues affecting our residents and society. It intends to enhance dialogue and debate, as well as provide accessible, relevant information about our initiatives.
- Our Future with Artificial Intelligence and its Rise in China
  International experts joined Lord Mayor Clover Moore on 9 April 2019 to discuss the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) and examine how it is transforming business and society.
  9 April 2019
- Democratising technology – Jim McKelvey on the Square revolution
  Hear Square co-founder Jim McKelvey and a panel of business leaders examine the local and global effects of democratising technology.
  22 May 2018
- Gloria Steinem in conversation with Leigh Sales
  Gloria Steinem discusses how we can work together to keep gender inequality and diversity on the agenda.
  19 May 2016
- Solving Sydney’s Housing Affordability Crisis
  Sydney homes are among the priciest in the world.
  12 March 2015
- A Tale of Three Cities: A journey of transformation
  Great global cities are constantly changing, and Sydney is about to experience its latest transformation. Active transport options and light rail connections will help elevate Sydney’s international standing as a desired destination to live, work and visit.
  22 October 2014
- Gigabytes and Giving back - Using technology for social good
  Is technology changing the way we help one another and enabling us to work towards a world where creating social change is part of everyday life?
  13 October 2014
- Sydney's Cultural Future: building a creative city for everyone
  Culture and creativity are integral parts of every global city. Hear a discussion about how we will take Creative City, Sydney’s first-ever cultural policy, and make it a reality.
  19 May 2014
Celebrating innovative and creative design

This event series showcased leading international and local experts discussing design, built form and urban planning in Sydney.

The topics brought to this forum aim to inspire bold thinking and vision, covering local and international legacy projects, and the challenges facing design excellence in Sydney.
- Data Driven Design: How open data is changing the way we understand, design and live in cities
  On 21 March 2017, CityTalks Design discussed how government, business and residents can benefit from open data systems to understand and plan for the future.
  21 March 2017
- Greening Global Cities: Planning parks with the wellbeing of people first
  Mitchell J Silver, New York City Parks Commissioner discussed the challenges and opportunities faced by global cities around parks, open and recreational space from increasing density and population growth.
  18 May 2016
- Liveable cities - Australia's light rail future
  To discuss light rail as an integral part of the nation’s future, hear from the Minister for Cities and the Built Environment, the Hon. Jamie Briggs, NSW Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, the Hon. Andrew Constance, Partner and CEO Richez Associés, Paris, Thomas Richez, Communications and Stakeholder Director GoldlinQ, Jason Ward, Independent Director Sydney Light Rail Advisory Board, Penny Graham and CEO Parramatta City Council, Greg Dyer.
  5 November 2015
- Learning from Global Cities: Light rail as a catalyst for city transformation
  To ensure the best possible urban design outcome for the transformation of George Street, the City of Sydney hosted world-renowned Parisian architect, Thomas Richez, to draw on this vast experience designing light rail in Europe and around the world.
  29 July 2015
- Design Excellence: Cultural Precinct Planning - connecting Sydney's cultural jigsaw
  Cultural precincts are central to a city’s reputation, driving creativity, innovation and economic growth.
  2 September 2014
- Density + Design: Creating value for global cities
  Hear about bringing innovation and creativity to planning from Lord Mayor Clover Moore, Graham Jahn, Director City Planning, Development and Transport and Brent Toderian, internationally renowned planner and founder of Toderian Urbanworks. Brent will discuss how good design benefits the community, and how other cities are tackling the same issues the City of Sydney is facing. A panel discussion with planning experts and community representatives will follow, focussing on living and working in increasingly dense urban environments.
  25 March 2014
- Amanda Burden, Director New York City Department of City Planning
  Amanda Burden is New York City’s Planning Commissioner. She reflects on turning urban spaces into public places. Hear how she transformed post-September-11 Lower Manhattan, a gutted Coney Island and the High Line – a once despised abandoned bridge and train track in West Chelsea.
  22 March 2011