Cities of Tomorrow

In this last edition of InfraVision’s podcast series on the future of cities and their infrastructure, host Laurie Mahon (Former Vice Chair at CIBC Capital Markets), explore ‘New Models for Urban Governance,’ with two guests who bring policy insight and academic depth to this conversation: Reuven Carlyle (Former Washington State Senator) and Cecilia Wong (Professor of Spatial Planning at the University of Manchester).As the world’s cities are facing mounting pressures, some of which we discussed in other episodes of the podcast: aging infrastructure, the demands of digitalization, escalating climate risks, and an urgent need to build systems that are not only sustainable, but also inclusive and resilient. These pressures demand not just more infrastructure, but smarter governance.

In this second episode of the 'Cities of Tomorrow' podcast, host Laurie Mahon (Former Vice Chair at CIBC Capital Markets), explores a key requirement for the city: agility across both the digital and physical aspects of its operating model, with distinguished guests Fernando Lozano Ruiz (CEO at Metro de Malaga), Charles-Antoine Blanc (Group Chief Financial Officer at Paprec) and Timothy Dixon (Emeritus Professor at the University of Reading and Visiting Fellow/Research Associate at Kellogg College/Global Centre on Healthcare and Urbanisation, University of Oxford).The discussions explore how technological advancements, policy shifts, and innovative solutions can redefine urban living and infrastructure planning, paving the way for more ‘adaptative cities’ as the next step of smart cities. What are the underlying dynamics behind this complex topic from an academic point of view, and the scenarios on the future of urban transportation and waste management.

In this first episode of the 'Cities of Tomorrow' podcast, host Laurie Mahon (Former Vice Chair at CIBC Capital Markets), explores the essential elements of urban infrastructure with distinguished guests Antoine Tréboz (Chief Executive Officer at ALiS & Chief Executive Officer ALBEA), Bergþóra Halldórsdóttir (Chief of Staff at Borealis Data Center & Board Member at The Federation of Icelandic Industries) and Adam Abdin (Assistant Professor at the Laboratory of Industrial Engineering, Centrale Supélec, Scholar at the Future Cities Lab). The discussion delves into the interdependence of infrastructure, exploring the intricate and interconnected systems that underpin our urban environments, with a focus on the future of highways and data centers, addressing both challenges and the innovations that lie ahead.Highlights00:29 Meet the Experts01:19 Urban Infrastructure and Sustainability02:23 Mobility and Urban Development03:42 Data Centres and Energy Challenges07:32 Future of Urban Mobility12:09 Environmental Impact and Highways28:41 AI in Infrastructure Planning40:06 Lessons from the Paris Olympics43:17 Conclusion and Future Outlook