In PX115 our guest is Liz Mackevicius. Liz is an urban planner who has taken a new role as an organisational coach for those in the built environment industry. She will be leading the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) program ‘Pathway to Lead’. Information about the program, and the link to register for the session is:
https://www.planning.org.au/eventsandcpdnew/additional-programs.
It’s for consultants across Australia.
An accredited organisational coach, Liz has built a reputation of strong but supportive coaching. She values accountability, acknowledging this is what helps us translate aspirations into real breakthroughs. She has worked with a range of clients, building their confidence, resolve and satisfaction.
Liz is also a trainer and facilitator with a passion and commitment to helping those who create our liveable cities be more effective and have rewarding work. She believes that the challenge and problem solving we experience at work should be part of a fulfilling life – but that we often need to do the work to create that for ourselves.
Liz is also a public policy expert with nearly 20 years’ experience in urban planning, government advisory, strategy and policy development across a range of consulting and State and Local government roles. She understands the challenges of consulting, including balancing client demands with deep and creative thinking, leading people with different working and communication preferences, working with clients on tricky problems and developing strategies and policy in a constantly changing context.
In Podcast Extra / Culture Corner Liz recommends The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner
https://ericweinerbooks.com/books/the-geography-of-bliss/
Jess recommends Oppenheimer the movie (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oppenheimer_(film))
Pete recommends: Dragon Sakura TV series Netflix https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81488898 and ‘Modern Talking’ hear their song ‘Who will save the world’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDIT-R8LYkg&list=RDiDIT-R8LYkg&start_radio=1 or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD_UHyaN3dc
Audio produced by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 9 April 2024.
In PX114, our interview guest is Anna Lowder, a co-founder and director of Hampstead, a New Urbanist community in Montgomery, Alabama, inspired by her experiences while living in London before returning to Montgomery. Established in 2008, the 416-acre master-planned residential and mixed-use development features homes, townhomes, condos, apartments, restaurants, shops, workspaces and a school, farm, and a lake. Anna helped Hampstead and Montgomery become the first neighborhood and largest city to adopt the SmartCode, an innovative zoning code that encourages diverse, mixed-use community for all ages and stages of life. She is a member of the National Town Builders Association and the Congress for the New Urbanism.
Interview topics include, New Urbanism, Multigenerational Design, Designing for Sustainable Communities, SmartCode Adoption and Breaking Barriers with New Urbanism.
In podcast extra / culture corner, Anna recommends ‘The Bear’ TV series https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bear_(TV_series)
Jess recommends: ‘Wholesome by Sarah’, recipes and a new cookbook coming https://www.wholesomebysarah.com.au
and Pete recommends local history books including ‘The Enigma of Snake Island’ by Rob Ganly https://images.app.goo.gl/HnmAvU3VcHZPgFEGA
Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 21 March 2024.
Episode PX113 is all about Advanced Aerial Mobility (AAM) aircraft, these are typically electric or hybrid powered, air taxis and the like. They have appeared in various science fiction films such as Blade Runner 2019 and Blade Runner 2049 (nicknamed ‘spinners’). They will soon be appearing above our cities and towns. Clem Newton-Brown our guest is CEO and founder of Skyportz (https://skyportz.com), the only Australian business developing a network of landing sites for a future air taxi network. Clem’s background as a former Deputy Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Member of Victorian Parliament and barrister specialising in planning and property development has put him at the forefront of this emerging industry. More details on Clem are found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clem_Newton-Brown.
Clem serves on several Federal, State, industry and international committees advancing the development of the rules and regulations around establishing a whole new era in clean, green electric aviation. The success of the industry depends on these changes along with a network of Skyportz sites from which air taxis will operate. These are known as ‘vertiports’.
We note some AAM's aircraft might have alternative power sources or run as hybrids.
Skyportz has over 600 property partner sites in Australia and New Zealand which are ready to activate when regulations permit.
A terrific interview subject with a great passion for new business concepts, cities and aviation.
In podcast extra / culture corner, Clem recommends the great outdoors and getting away form technology (for a little bit). Jess recommends: Duolingo ‘Learning Italian’: https://www.duolingo.comthe
Pete recommends: ‘A Rebel from the start - Setting the record straight’ by Avi Yemini https://www.amazon.com.au/Rebel-Start-Setting-Record-Straight/dp/B0C91KG18N
Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 1 March 2024.
In PX112, our interview guest is Jessica Lee, a principal architect at Fender Katsalidis Architects (https://fkaustralia.com).
Jessica discusses the ‘Alba’ project, the conversion of a 1970’s former office building into 150 rooms of age appropriate housing (retirement accommodation and aged care). The site is located within South Melbourne, an inner city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria Australia. The cost of the conversion was $125m (AU). Whilst not being significantly cheaper than a rebuild there were environmental savings according to Jessica.
In the interview Jessica discusses the project from start to finish. There was the initial ‘whats the building like’, ‘’whats under the surfaces’, to scoping the logistics of conversions (very different from a vacant site), finding a suitable builder (not all high rise builders have the equipment or skill set to do this type of work), services upgrades and the intricate details of providing contemporary residential accommodation (along with the end user needs).
Jessica indicates that a review of the Melbourne CBD found only 6% of sites are candidates for such conversions. Frequent killers of such projects are the depth of a site and the position of lift cores, the reasons being apartments need natural light unlike office buildings. Also the ‘bones’ of a structure building in terms of structure and floor to floor heights may not be suitable. Applying contemporary safety and environmental standards are also difficult to satisfy.
The interview explores the design concept as well as the ’nuts and bolts’ and up close descriptions of the building project. At times it is like being on site mid project with hard hat, boots and vest.
The conversion of office buildings to residential has been touted in many planning publications and strategies as a solution to various housing crisis. The interview reveals that such conversions are possible but not many sites are suitable and there are specialist requirements in undertaking the challenge. Jessica provides a clear eyed view of a not well understood issue.
One insight from the interview is that blanket planning policies or government subsidies promoting such conversions at the expense of complete rebuilds may not be cost effective, environmentally benefical or practical.
A terrific interview subject with a great passion for buildings, cities and life.
In podcast extra / culture corner, Jessica recommends
Rob Adams - Urban Choreography Central Melbourne 1985 - MUP https://www.mup.com.au/authors/rob-adams
Jess N recommends: Duolingo ‘Learning Italian’: https://www.duolingo.comthe
Pete recommends: Break Point on Netflix (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Break_Point_(2023_TV_series) and celebrates his sporting triumphs over 2023
Audio production by Jack Bavage. Podcast released 2 January 2024. Happy New Year to all our listeners.