WEBINAR | 27 MAY 2026 | 11:00 AM AEST
Cities of Tomorrow: Systems Thinking for Australian Urban Resilience
This webinar is delivered by Meso Space Pty Ltd in partnership with Worsley Consulting Engineers.
Australian cities are facing compounding pressures from climate change, ageing infrastructure, growing social inequality, and fragmented urban governance. The decisions councils make today will determine the resilience, liveability, and sustainability of our cities for decades to come. This session explores how systems thinking can transform the way local government approaches urban design, engineering, and planning, moving from siloed project delivery to holistic, integrated outcomes.
This webinar is presented by two complementary practices, one in urban design and one in civil engineering. Together, they show what it looks like when designers and engineers work side by side on complex urban projects, and why that kind of collaboration produces better results for councils and the communities they serve.
This webinar covers three key focus areas, supported by case studies and practical insights:
Section 1: Systems Thinking and Urban Vulnerability: The Case of metropolitan Adelaide
Presented by Meso Space
Many councils are responding to climate and growth pressures one issue at a time, adding trees here, upgrading drainage there, without a shared picture of how these systems connect. This section explores what systems thinking actually means for local government, using real examples to show how compounding pressures such as heat, flooding, ageing assets, and social vulnerability interact across a municipality. Participants will see how shifting from reactive, single-issue responses to a whole-of-system approach changes the outcomes councils can achieve, and the costs they can avoid.
Section 2: Regenerative Engineering and How Designers and Engineers Work Together
Presented by Worsley Consulting
Engineering and urban design have traditionally operated in separate lanes, with designers setting a vision that engineers then have to make work within budget and technical constraints. This section challenges that model. Drawing on real project experience, David shows how civil engineering can be approached through a regenerative and climate-sensitive lens from the outset, and how working closely with urban designers changes what is possible. The section includes a walkthrough of practical tools and workflows, including WC3 software, demonstrating the kinds of cost savings and long-term performance gains that integrated working makes possible for councils.
Section 3: Integrated Urban Ecosystems and Social Infrastructure: The Case of metropolitan Melbourne
Presented by Meso Space
Urban ecosystems, social cohesion, and placemaking are often treated as separate policy concerns, disconnected from the hard infrastructure decisions councils make every day. This section draws on policy work, generative design projects, and urban forest strategies to show how ecological and social thinking can be embedded into project delivery from the earliest stages. The examples demonstrate how councils that take this approach tend to get better outcomes, stronger community support, and better long-term value from their investments.
Who Should Attend
This webinar is designed for professionals working in or with local government, including:
- Council design and delivery coordinators and urban planning managers,
- Designers and Planners
- Government Agencies, City engineers and infrastructure leads
- Sustainability and open space officers
- Consultants and contractors working with councils on urban projects
- Anyone interested in a more integrated approach to Australian city-making
How the Webinar Will Be Delivered
On registration, your enrolment will be confirmed by our team. You will receive a Zoom webinar access link at your nominated email address prior to the session. For any enquiries, please contact info@mesospace.com.au.
The session runs for 60 minutes with two 25-minute presentations followed by a 10-minute Q&A. Upon completion, participants will gain access to session recordings, presentation slides, and additional resources.
Places are limited. Register early to secure your spot.
About the Presenters
Meso Space Pty Ltd is a design and planning consultancy specialising in evidence-based design, systems thinking, sustainable urban ecosystems, and policy-led design. Meso Space works with councils to move beyond conventional project delivery towards integrated, resilience-focused outcomes.
Worsley Consulting Engineers is a civil engineering consultancy focused on regenerative design and climate-sensitive infrastructure. Worsley brings technical depth in engineering workflows, practical design tools, and project delivery experience across Australian urban environments.