World Urbanism Day 2025

Leeds High Street

Wednesday 5th November  | 12 noon 16:00 pm GMT

To mark World Urbanism Day 2025, the Institute of Place Management is hosting a global conversation exploring one of the most urgent and interconnected challenges of our time: housing.

Although World Urbanism Day officially falls on Saturday 8 November, this event will take place in advance on Wednesday 5 November, to enable broad participation across time zones and professional commitments.

This international session will feature contributions from Australia, Ireland, Slovenia, and the UK, examining how different countries are tackling housing supply, affordability, design quality, and climate resilience through place-based responses. From adaptive reuse and intergenerational living, to community-led infill and planning code reform, the event will showcase practical innovations and shared learning across borders

Confirmed speakers include:

  • Dr Nikos Ntounis, Manchester Metropolitan University who will explore the global rise of short-term rentals (STRs) through platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, and Expedia. Drawing on recent research in Slovenia, Nikos will examine how the growth of STRs affects housing supply, neighbourhood dynamics, and urban governance. Read more on this research.

  • Dr Patrick Collins, University of Galway who will present original from rural Ireland exploring how power, participation, and planning intersect. His work reveals what happens when communities are genuinely empowered to shape their own housing futures and the transformative potential of local agency in housing policy. Read more on this research.

  • Associate Professor Damian Madigan, University of South Australia: Working at the intersection of NIMBYism and YIMBYism, Damian's work demonstrates that infill housing is possible in older suburbs whilst retaining and enhancing neighbourhood character. This research matters to a broad audience: to those wanting greater housing choice in the suburbs, and to those wishing to maintain the status quo. You can read more on Damian's research here.

More speakers will be added here.

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