NEWS

News on opportunities, that helped to deliver a meaningful contribution and drive positive change towards a more sustainable and healthy urban future for all people:

2020

coming soon

2019

"Man is free at the moment he wishes to be." Voltaire May the new year bring peace, love and happiness
Urban Synergies Group is partnering up once more with James Cook University to shed light on contemporary urban issues impacting
Urban Synergies Group in collaboration with the University of Canberra and Technical University of Berlin offers a platform to engage
Every year UN-Habitat celebrates with its partners Urban October and World Cities Day under the umbrella of Better City, Better
Power to the people- last Friday our team from Urban Synergies Group actively participated among many around the globe at
Urban Synergies Group will be part of the upcoming ISOCARP world congress „Beyond the Metropolis“ in Jakarta, Indonesia. Our team
The online Magazine The Fifth Estate recent interviews established voices for sustainable urban development in Canberra and our Founder and
On the 6th of June 2019, Urban Synergies Group’s Founder and Director Gregor Mews will take part in the second
Curious about effective policy and provision of physical activity for Australian school children with special consideration of safe active travel
Our Founder Gregor Mews in an interview on the question „Why sustainable development requires major philosophical shifts?“ Read the full

2018

In January 2019 we are kicking off our project in Sierra Leone where we are developing in partnership with the
Urban Synergies Group in collaboration with Dreamtown and CISU is holding a workshop in Copenhagen, Denmark, on the 13th December
Urban Synergies Group has been awarded with a commendation from the Planning Institute of Australia  in the category „Public Engagement
Now available on our website the „Making Canberra a human-centred city“ Charter.  This document is a commitment to drive positive
You are invited to participate in an international forum to discuss key urban policy issues affecting cities, both in Australia
Our team represented through Ms Bryony Cooper will take part in the international symposium "Past Present and Future of Public
Smart, sustainable and healthy- our common urban future-  We are bringing together experts from the Nordic countries (Denmark, Sweden, Norway,
Recently our Founder and Director Gregor Mews presented at the University of Canberra - CURF seminar series on the implementation
You are invited to participate in an engaging event with Dr. Luisa Bravo, Dr. Mirko Guaralda and local experts to
Urban Synergies Group is partnering up with the Young Planners (Planning Institute of Australia) in Canberra to host a lunch

2017

Our Founder and Director Gregor Mews will present on the 14 December 2017 at the Technical University of Berlin in the Urban Management Program on „Health and Well-being and the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda“ in Berlin, Germany

Making cities playful spaces- Tune in the ABC Radio interview with our Associate Dr. Paul Tranter

Passionate about children and young people and the Sustainable Development Goal 11- sustainable cities and communities? Be part of the twitter chat with the World Urban Campaign and Gregor Mews on the 14th November 2-3 pm (GMT +3).

USG is committed to create synergies between grass-roots activities and international issues.
Read our submission to "better suburbs" program to enable better health and well-being outcomes for Australia's capital Canberra.
Click here to access the submission.

We are planning a Side networking event for the World Urban Forum between 7th-13 February 2018 - watch this space for the interdisciplinary line up of world experts in relation to children's health and wellbeing in urban systems advocating for better outcomes, based on our findings from „Shaping Spaces for Gen Z“. More information can be accessed soon under wuf9.org

Urban Synergies Group will present at the Urban Thinkers Academy 6th February 2018 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Missed the opportunity to hear Charles Wolfe on „Seeing the better city“? Don’t worry we recoded the event live on our Facebook site. Simply visit Facebook.com/urbansynergiesgroup, like us and watch the presentation.

Our Associate Dr. Milica Muminovic facilitated the „Making Space" round table on „Housing" at the Legislative Assembly on the 4th October 2017 in Canberra, Australia.

Gregor Mews will present and share the latest research findings on "play for all and the urban environment" at the 20th Triennial International Play Association World Conference in Canada on 17th September 2017. If you are interested in attending please make sure to meet up with us. http://canada2017.ipaworld.org/

Seeing the city we need-  with urbanist writer Charles R. (Chuck) Wolfe on the 9th October 2017 6pm at Legislative Assembly in Canberra, Australia. As a long time urban writer, photographer, affiliate associate professor and land-use attorney based in Seattle, Chuck will share insights and expertise as a dynamic speaker who leads explorations of urban spaces impacted by rapid change and growth. Join us to hear valuable insights from Chuck about his latest book Seeing the Better City followed by a panel discussion with local and international experts and thought leaders. Let’s discuss pathways to accelerated actions for a better urban future through looking at our cities and becoming better observers of urban issues.

See our Urban Talks Event Poster

Register for the event here!

 

 

2016

Fact finding mission in Cambodia and Thailand 2015-16.

Briefing Meeting with the President of the International Society of Cities and Regional Planners (ISOCARP) Mr Ric Stephens on the “Right to the City”, 18 August 2016, Sydney, Australia.

USG operation start from in our new office, 8 February, 2016, Canberra, Australia.

USG committed more than 100.000 Dollars to implement “Shaping Spaces for Gen Z” over the next five years across the Asia Pacific region as part of the Habitat III Implementation Plan.

USG introduced its new electric cargo bicycle as the workplace bike for all staff members, 10 March 2016.

Urban Synergies Group welcomes a new member in the role of a Devotee Dr. Philip Hutchinson, 22 August 2016.

Devotee presentation and workshop hosted by the Centre for Research and Action in Public Health, University of Canberra, Australia on 10 March 2016.

Gregor Mews spoke at the Habitat 3 “Children and Youth Assembly” about the Right to the city concept and adequate infrastructure provision that foster better outcomes for health and well-being. 15 October 2016, 14.00- 3 pm in Room R11, Casa de la Cultura, Quito, Ecuador.

Local awareness raising campaign “Make the smart mobility choice”, Canberra, Australia, commenced 12 March 2016.

Gregor Mews is now a member of the Health Research Institute at the University of Canberra, Australia.

2015

Seminar “Reclaiming play spaces” at the International Fair for Public Space, Sport and Bath Design (FSB) in Cologne on behalf of SIK-Holz, Germany, 29 October 2015.

Seminar series in Berlin “The Play space” SIK-Holz in collaboration with the German Kinderhilfswerk and ABA- Fachverband

Presentation “Reclaiming play spaces” at the International Fair for Public Space, Sport and Bath Design (FSB) in Cologne, Germany, 30 October 2015

Facilitation of the meeting of the International Play Association German Delegation on the 15 January 2015 in Berlin

Greg Mews is lecturer for the “healthy and child friendly cities” course at the University of Kassel, Germany (commenced 1 November 2014).

Knowledge exchange and field work with Health Bridge, Think Playgrounds Group (TPG) for Muong ethnic children in Hoa Binh province, Vietnam, 28 – 29 November 2015.

Keynote presentation at Zukunft Stadt@Grünbau – Forum für Stadtentwicklungon behalf of SIK-Holz, 16 April 2015

Guest lecture at University of Construction in Hanoi, 30 November, Vietnam, 2015.

Interactive seminar “Play and their spaces – for better understanding and design” on behalf of SIK-Holz for the ABA- Fachverband in Dortmund, Germany, 25 June 2015

2014

Presentation for SIK-Holz on the “Need for Urban Synergies” in Stuttgart, on 24 March 2014

Greg Mews has been elected as Council Member of the “Bündnis Recht auf Spiel” of the Deutsche Kinderhilfswerk  (German Children Aid Foundation), 22 March 2014

Greg Mews in interview with Armchair Geographer

Urban Synergies Group takes participates in the Sustainability Competition “Natürlich. Nachhaltig. Wir in Brandenburg.” of the State of Brandenburg, Germany, 10 May 2014

2013