Professor Lars Coenen has been announced as the City of Melbourne Chair in Resilient Cities, an initiative between the City of Melbourne and University of Melbourne aimed at improving the city’s resilience to sustainability challenges.
Professor Coenen is an internationally recognised professor in innovation studies currently based at Lund University in Sweden, whose focus in on sustainability transitions.
He will take up the position in the new year and will be based at the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, and will work closely with the Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute and the city’s chief resilience officer.
“Professor Coenen has a global reputation in the field of innovation studies. His particular expertise is the sustainability innovations needed to futureproof cities and contribute to their safety and liveability in the face of environmental changes and the many economic and social challenges these raise,” MSSI director Professor Brendan Gleeson said.
“He has a sterling track record of leading collaborations between government, industry, communities and researchers in quest of solutions to urban resilience problems. As his research has shown, these challenges can be turned into opportunities, including new economic prospects, when innovation becomes the focus of city policy. We are delighted to welcome Professor Coenen to Melbourne where resilience and innovation are the new watchwords of policy and practice.”
Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle also welcomed the appointment.
“We look forward to Professor Coenen’s insights into global perspectives that can impact on resilience building and policy making,” Mr Doyle said.
“A first for the City of Melbourne and the University of Melbourne, this new position will complement our work with the Rockefeller Foundation on the 100 Resilient Cities initiative and ensure we continue to be a world leader in the areas of liveability and resilience.”