The Century of Cities

The Century of Cities welcomes Professor Sir Paul Collier, Professor of Economics and Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, and Academic Director of the International Growth Centre. Drawing on his work on economic development, regional renewal, and places left behind, he explores how cities and regions can break cycles of decline, and why the hardest part may be bringing people together around a shared sense of purpose.
From the rapid urbanization of lower-income countries and the enormous infrastructure challenges facing their cities, to the struggles of former industrial centres, Sir Paul Collier argues for a different approach: modesty, experimentation, and a willingness to see local assets as opportunities rather than liabilities. He shares lessons from places including Poland, Sheffield, and the Basque Country, and explains why agency, civic cooperation, and credible hope can be powerful forces for urban renewal. This is Part One of a two-part conversation about what it takes for cities to take ownership of their future and turn possibility into action

The Century of Cities welcomes Shiro Muchiri, London-based interior architect and founder of SoShiro, whose work explores the intersection of culture, craft, and the built environment. She examines how culture has shaped urban regeneration, and why cities must now move beyond creating destinations to cultivating a deeper sense of identity and belonging.
As cities continue to evolve, Shiro challenges the rise of polished, interchangeable spaces and makes the case for embedding local culture, creative voices, and human connection into urban development from the outset. She argues that cultural infrastructure is essential to city life, and that the real measure of a city is whether people feel seen, connected, and truly at home.

The Century of Cities welcomes Joan Clos, elected twice as Mayor of Barcelona, former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Executive Director of UN-Habitat, for a conversation about the forces that shape cities and the leadership required to transform them. Reflecting on Barcelona's transition from dictatorship to democracy, he explores how political consensus, public participation, and international ambition helped drive a remarkable period of urban renewal, including the transformation surrounding the 1992 Olympic Games.
Drawing on his global experience with UN-Habitat and the 2016 New Urban Agenda, Dr. Clos examines the challenges facing cities today, from housing affordability and inequality to the need for renewed urban planning and regulatory systems. As cities look toward 2080, Dr. Clos brings the focus back to the foundations of urban transformation: the institutions, regulatory frameworks, and collective political will that turn ambition into lasting change.

The Century of Cities welcomes Yu-Ning Hwang, Singapore's first Chief, Urban Innovation & Excellence at the Ministry of National Development and Executive Director of the Centre for Liveable Cities, as our special series continues in association with the World Cities Summit Mayors Forum and the Centre for Liveable Cities.
A key figure in Singapore's urban development, Yu-Ning reflects on the decisions that transformed Singapore from the 1980s into one of the world's most liveable high-density cities, and what it will take to keep that progress going. She explores the evolution from a "City in a Garden" to a city where nature is integrated throughout the urban system, and why liveability must be continually renewed rather than treated as a finished achievement. She introduces a more regenerative approach to city-making: moving beyond simply reducing the impact of development to asking whether our decisions can leave cities better than before. She also shares the thinking behind the Mayors Forum and why the most valuable urban lessons may come not from copying another city, but from understanding its successes, setbacks, and principles, and adapting them to your own.

This episode of The Century of Cities brings together the moderators of the 2026 World Cities Summit Mayors Forum. Greg sits down with his fellow moderators, Winston Chow and Tamara Singh, to reflect on the priorities for action they heard from 120 mayors as they confronted some of the biggest challenges facing cities today. Recorded in association with the World Cities Summit Mayors Forum and the Centre for Liveable Cities, the conversation explores the ideas and solutions that stood out most, from affordable housing and water resilience to energy transitions and more responsive municipal services.
They discuss nature-based solutions, innovative financing, digital twins, new energy systems, and the growing role of technology in urban life. But perhaps the strongest message is the appetite among city leaders to share knowledge, learn from one another, and turn ideas into action. Because while technology is changing how cities operate, the ultimate goal remains deeply human: creating cities that are more resilient, responsive, and liveable for everyone.