During Gold Coast Open House, we will explore two key topics, in a series of insightful panel discussions.
Changing Community Spaces
12.30-1.30PM, Sunday 13 October
How can community spaces evolve to better serve modern needs? Join us for an inspiring panel discussion as we explore how spaces across the Gold Coast are transforming in exciting, innovative ways. With a special spotlight on HOTA and its journey to becoming a dynamic cultural hub, we’ll also take a broader look at other key venues like the Tugun Community Centre and a range of music venues.
Moderator Joe Snell: Joe Snell’s experience as a Registered Architect has crossed the fields of architecture, interior design, large scale urban event installation and lighting design. His passion is the cross-pollination of ideas through different typologies and the pursuit of each project as a work of creativity. This approach is reflected in the recognition Joe has received in national design awards in retail, commercial, event and retail projects.
Helen Glengarry: Helen leads the City of Gold Coast’s Music Program, with over 20 years of experience in the music industry, predominately in venue management and programming within the performing arts, commercial music & theatre, exhibition, and sporting environments nationally and globally. Helen has worked across all levels of city infrastructure from theatre, concert halls, arenas, and stadia. Her current role focuses on investing in, connecting, and creating commercial pathways between musicians, the music industry, audiences, and government. Helen is a judge on the international 2024 Music Cities Awards.
Dr Ben Green: Ben is a Griffith University Postdoctoral Fellow in the Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research where he is studying crisis and reinvention in Australia’s live music sector (project website: https://roaringtwenties.live). Ben is a cultural sociologist with interests in popular music and youth studies. His work includes research for industry peak bodies and local governments on cultural infrastructure, planning and policy, especially live music development. He has written about Australian popular music history including music festivals, community and national broadcast media, record stores, and specifically Brisbane’s music scenes, as well as the role of cultural policy. Ben’s is the author of Peak Music Experiences: A New Perspective on Popular Music, Identity and Scenes (Routledge 2021) and a co-editor of Popular Music Scenes: A Regional and Rural Perspective (Palgrave Macmillan 2023). He is co-author of a book about Screamfeeder’s Kitten Licks for Bloomsbury’s 33 1/3 series (2024).
Arron Poupard, ARM Architecture: Arron has always been captivated by how buildings are brought to life, with a deep passion for the intricate process of building design and execution. For Arron, architecture represents the perfect blend of creativity and problem-solving and at ARM Architecture, he thrives in an environment that constantly challenges the norm, where designs are never off-the-shelf, and every project pushes the boundaries of traditional construction techniques. Each day presents new challenges, and with a strong team culture, every challenge becomes an opportunity to innovate and learn.
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Future Proofing Our City
2.00-3.00PM, Sunday 13 October
As one of Australia’s fastest-growing cities, the Gold Coast faces the challenge of balancing rapid population growth with the risks posed by climate change, including rising sea levels, flooding, bushfires, and transport accessibility. How can we ensure the city’s development remains resilient and sustainable for the future?
This engaging panel discussion delves into the future of the Gold Coast. As our city continues to expand, this conversation will explore new approaches to managing growth in a way that considers the environment, community, and infrastructure. Our expert panellists will discuss how we can better understand, plan for, and manage the challenges that come with growth in a coastal city with five river catchments and 70km of beachfront.
This discussion is an essential event for those passionate about urban planning, sustainability, and the future of the Gold Coast and key to understanding how cities like the Gold Coast can thrive while managing environmental risks.
Panellists:
Moderator: James Davidson – Founder and Principal of JDA Co, James is a leading flood-resilience architect with extensive experience in climate-adaptive architecture. His work includes the Flood Resilient Building Guidance for Queensland Homes and the Flood Resilient Homes Program for Brisbane City Council, Australia’s largest built environment flood resilience project. James has a strong focus on design advocacy, and his projects span Significant Heritage Restoration and work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Professor Joerg Baumeister – Founding Director of the SeaCities Lab at Griffith University, Joerg is an architect and engineer focused on designing sustainable and secure ways of living with the sea. His research explores solutions to coastal inundation and increased flood risks.
Maree Domelow – Supervising Natural Hazards Planner at the City of Gold Coast, Maree brings two decades of experience in land use planning across large cities and remote areas. She has played a key role in developing the City’s risk-based flood management strategies.
