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The World is at a tipping point. While Global leaders gather to wrestle with the challenges of the Climate Emergency, citizens are taking to the streets to demand more radical and rapid change.

How we shape our world has a massive impact on carbon emissions. It can also provide ways to halt and mitigate against climate catastrophe.

This event hosted by Design West and chaired by Green Party co-leader Councillor Carla Denyer, three leading professionals within the design and development sector give their view on what can and should be done: from the performance of our homes to the connectivity of our cities how do we step up to meet the challenge of the century?

About the speakers:

Councillor Carla Denyer
Carla is an award-winning councillor who led Bristol in declaring the first Climate Emergency in Europe, committing the city to go carbon neutral by 2030. She became Co-leader of the Green Party in 2021. In recognition of her work on the Climate Emergency, Carla has been named politician of the year by The Big Green Politics Podcast, given the Outstanding Achievement Award by the LGA Independent Group, been named one of the Top 50 Women in Engineering, and was also nominated in the LGiU councillor achievement awards and the Bristol Diversity Awards.

Austen Bates, Ramboll
Austen Bates is head of Building Performance at Ramboll UK. With 19 years’ experience he has led and delivered built environment projects that range from strategic region-wide consultancy to award-winning low energy buildings; Austen is passionate about sustainability and how the built environment plays a pivotal role in our low carbon future. His work balances technical dexterity with human needs to deliver great experiences with high functioning building performance. Austen has worked with many of the UK’s prominent developers and cultural institutions to support them in their transformation towards a more sustainable and resilient future.

Natasha Jones BA(Hons) BLA CMLI
Director of Landscape Architecture, Stantec UK Limited
Natasha is a Chartered Landscape Architect with over 25 years’ experience. She is a specialist in landscape planning, pre- and green infrastructure-led masterplanning, and landscape and visual impact assessments. Natasha has worked on landmark regeneration schemes, nationally significant infrastructure and renewable energy projects, and presented evidence for inquiries.

Natasha’s approach seeks to reconnect communities to their environments and create sustainable landscapes with a strong sense of place. Key interests include embedding equity and inclusion in placemaking, addressing future effects of climate change and providing wellbeing benefits through urban green infrastructure.

Natasha has been a judge for the Landscape Institute Awards and presented on the ‘NPPF’s fast-track for beauty’ at the 2021 LI Conference.

Andy Macintosh, FCB Studios
Andy is an expert in residential and urban mixed-use projects and is currently working on Brabazon and Kirkstall Forge, major new residential communities on the edges of Bristol and Leeds. He has also worked on education and cultural schemes including Drapers Academy, Southbank Centre, and the University of Southampton Transport Interchange.

Andy has a Masters in Environmental Design and has led environmental research projects both within the practice and with the UK Green Building Council. He played a key role in the One Brighton ‘One Planet Living’ community and Peabody’s Retrofit for the Future projects, which have set new standards in environmental design.

Jon Usher, Sustrans
Jon Usher is Head of Partnerships at Sustrans, the Bristol based charity that makes it easier for people to walk and cycle. With over 15 years’ experience of sustainable transport development in the West of England, Jon is an expert in transport policy in the area. Jon is a member of the Bristol One City Transport Board, and non-exec Director of Bristol Green Capital Partnership. He has led national programmes for the Department for Transport and delivered £multi-million projects that make it easier for people to walk and cycle.