Dr. Gregor H Mews is an internationally recognised urban planner and designer. He has dedicated his career to understand and to create mechanisms how we can create healthier environments around the world.
In order to enable meaningful change, he founded in 2013 the international „Think and Do” Tank Urban Synergies Group. Greg utilises skills in integrated urban design and sustainable transport to facilitate and integrate healthier and climate resilient environments that promote interaction and well‐being. In the role of the Executive Director, Greg provides strategic policy advice in international context and advocates for better design outcomes in urban systems for example as a Steering Committee member of UN-Habitats World Urban Campaign.
Greg holds a tenure- track position at the Queensland University of Technology and a honorary adjunct position at the University of Canberra. He is a member of the General Assembly of Partners to UN-Habitat, member of UN-Habitat’s World Urban Campaign, Board member of City Space Architecture, Full member of Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) and the International Association of Urban and Regional Planners (ISOCARP).
Over the course of his career, Greg has received several research scholarships and received multiple work-related awards- one for the Active Living Impact Checklist for developments in the Canberra. He is also a published author in Germany and Australia.
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- Greg @TEDxCanberra
Core interests
- sustainable development
- sustainable green infrastructure
- active mobility (public transport systems, e-cars, personal mobility devices, bicycling and walking)
- open cities
- play spaces
- intelligent communities in relation to the smart city approach
- healthy planning and design
- integrated urban design
- child and age friendly cities
- policy advice
- governance
- international knowledge exchange
Honors
- Urban Thinker of the World Urban Campaign, UN Habitat
- Auditor of the General Assembly of Partners 2.0 advising UN-Habitat on the implementation of the New Urban Agenda.
- Member of the University of Canberra -Health Research Institute
- PhD scholarship in Environmental Design at the University of Canberra
To learn more about Gregor Mews research endeavor on children and the urban environment access the blog here.
- German co- representative of International Play Association (IPA)
- Advisor on “Right to Play” for the Deutsche Kinderhilfswerk (German Child Aid Foundation)
- TEDx talk in Canberra on 8 September 2012
- National Capital Open Space System (NCOSS) Review Committee member for the National Capital Authority in Canberra
- AILA ACT 2012 Awards Jury Member
- Advisory committee member to the curator for Australian Institute of Landscape Architects BLOOM -Healthy Spaces Exhibition
- Immediate past Vice President of Planning Institute of Australia- ACT Division and Advocacy Co-ordinator
- Adjunct Professional Associate, CeRAPH, University of Canberra
Awards & recognition
- Interview with ABC Radio on play spaces and healthy child development, 17th March 2017
- Public talk at the Festival of Ambitious Ideas on “The city of the future starts with you” 2nd March 2017
- Greg Mews in Interview with Armchair Geographer
- Minister Shane Rattenbury speech at the Legislative Assembly of the Australian Capital Territory
“His personal contribution has been outstanding. He has been tireless and enthusiastic in his advocacy for better outcomes (…) I think he has been a key player in sharing ideas and broadening the perspectives of many other in those working groups as to what both was appropriate and what was possible as we sought to think about the future of Canberra. He brought European planning ideas to Canberra in a credible and plausible way. I think before Greg came along, many people used to laugh about comparing Canberra to anywhere in Europe. But Greg took this challenge on with relish and sought to bring some of those urban planning principles and experiences into an environment that is different and apply them in a way that was relevant and useful to Canberra.
I think he has played a key role in shaping debate on urban planning issues, bringing health, happiness and well-being into the story. I think—I would also like to congratulate Greg on his creativity. I think he is the only person I know that could frame the urban policy wars as a Star Wars like-epic struggle, and he went so far to try and get this point across by dressing up as a Jedi for a photo shoot with a Canberra City News to try and get his point across in what was a humorous and creative way. And I think, again, that small anecdote underlines his boundless enthusiasm for making this city a better place.”, dated on 30 October 2013 - Heart Foundation Board recognition “Mr Greg Mews’ involvement has been significant and as Board members would like to express our gratitude for the achievements and contributions.’ dated on 14 October 2013
- Planning Institute of Australia (ACT Division) President’s post in September 2013 ‘Greg has been inspirational to many people in developing new policy and guiding a new direction for community planning in Australia and through the Heart Foundation.‘
- Awarded Stanford Who’s who certification 2013 ‘as a result of his work in the field of urban design. As Active Living Coordinator at The National Heart Foundation, as well as throughout his entire career, Greg has consistently demonstrated the dedication, vision, and skills required to be considered among the best in his field’
- Best Planning Idea Award Commendation for the Active Living Impact Checklist by the Planning Institute of Australia ACT, 2012
- ‘Black Hand’ Award for the best advocacy for the Active Living Project by the National Heart Foundation in 2011 and 2012
- Improving Planning Processes and Practice Award Commendation for the Active Living Project: Time for Action by the Planning Institute of Australia ACT, 2011
- Staff Member of the year, Heart Foundation ACT, 2011
- Kevin Rudd Award for Best International Presentation, Australian and New Zealand Association of Planning Schools, 2008 in Sydney
Selected publication from Gregor H Mews
- Mews G. (2016) Right to the City- an exploration in pictures. Canberra.
- Nakanishi H., Mews G. (2013) Making cities fit for life – key urban design features for a healthy living environment. Peer reviewed conference paper State of Australian Cities Conference (SOAC), Sydney
- Lead Author for National Heart Foundation of Australia (2012) Active Living impact checklist – A tool for developments in the Australian Capital Territory. National Heart Foundation of Australia, Canberra, 2012
- Mews G. for Heart Foundation (2010) Active Living Forum – Our Health, our City! Outcome report, National Heart Foundation. Canberra.
- Mews G (2010) ‘Urban sprawl + politics + cars = Canberra vs. Compact city + innovative politics + active forms of transport = healthy Canberra’, REAL CORP, conference Proceeding reviewed paper, Vienna, ISBN 978-39502139-9-7
- Mews G. for National Heart Foundation of Australia (2010) Active Living in the school. Lanyon High workshop outcome; Canberra
- Bellis, N., Mews, G., Mogg, D., Goffman, J. (2010) ACT Active Living Project. Scoping Study – Key Findings. National Heart Foundation of Australia. Canberra, ISBN 978-921748-40-0
- Mews G. (2009) Planning with less: ‘Peak Oil’ – forgotten challenge for Regional New South Wales. In: New Planner PIA – Planning Magazine Australia, September issue
- Amati M., Mews G. (2008) Establishing a ‘working relationship’ between practitioners and academics, Australia and New Zealand Association of Planning Schools (ANZAPS), conference proceedings, ISBN 978-0-646-50221-2
- Mews G (2006) Perspektiven fuer eine nachhaltige Stadtentwicklung in Zentralasien (engl. title Perspectives for sustainable urban development in Central Asia) order book on Amazon
- Mews G (2005) Research in Kazakhstan. Article for the Journal Vitamin DE, Issue Nr. 27 winter 2005/06, Almaty
last update: 20. February 2017
