Marvin Rees: Leadership, Legacy, and the Long Arc of City Change

The Century of Cities welcomes Lord Marvin (Baron Rees of Easton) Rees OBE, Former Mayor of Bristol and Member of the House of Lords. Marvin reflects on growing up in a racially divided, economically constrained Bristol of the 1980s, and contrasts it with today's booming but still deeply unequal urban landscape. He shares what it means to lead with lived experience and why inclusion isn't optional, it's foundational. Spanning past, present, and future, Marvin makes the case for cities that plan boldly, act intentionally, and build trust across generations. He unpacks the real cost of climate action (spoiler: it's not just political will), explains why diversity is a competitive edge, not a quota, and explores how cities can lead where nations stall. We also hear his hopes for using his seat in the House of Lords to amplify urban voices and elevate global city leadership.