An invitation to What Is Coming For Canada Bay?
Join us for this important community conversation as we explore the rapid changes shaping Canada Bay.
Rebel Urbanist: Elizabeth Farrelly In Conversation With Tim Williams
Elizabeth Farrelly joins Tim Williams for a spirited discussion on the future of cities on the Grimshaw Podcast.
Recapping the Second Half of 2025
A selection of keynotes and interviews delivered by our founder and CEO, Elizabeth Farrelly.
ABC Radio National’s Big Ideas: Can citizen juries put the people back in democracy?
ABC Radio National’s Big Ideas recorded a session at the recent Policy Without Politics conference, hosted by Citizen Assemblies for South Australia. Have a listen!
Jay Weatherill on the Common-Sense Judgment of Ordinary Citizens
Listen to Jay Weatherill share his thoughts on deliberative democracy in the lead-up to next week’s national conference, “Citizens’ Assemblies – Policy Without Politics,” hosted by Citizens’ Assemblies for South Australia.
An invitation to a landmark event on deliberative democracy, hosted by the Citizen Assemblies for South Australia
An invitation to a landmark event on deliberative democracy
How our recent public forum has the Northern Beaches talking
"After our Mona Vale forum, The Tawny Frogmouth published an op-ed on citizens' assemblies, prompting a response from Seaforth resident Marion Haas. Have a read.
Media Coverage
A recap of media coverage we’ve received from our recent public forums in Waverley and the Northern Beaches.
A recap of the Northern Beaches LGA public forum
Last night, approximately one hundred Northern Beaches residents, urban planners, experts and community leaders came together for a public forum at Mona Vale Memorial Hall, to explore local housing and development challenges and opportunities.
Footage from CURATING KU-RING-GAI
Watch the video of our CURATING KU-RING-GAI event, held last year.
A snapshot of the Waverley LGA public forum
Last night, over 140 Waverley residents, urban planners, experts and community leaders came together for a public forum at the Bondi Pavillion, hosted by The Better Cities Initiative.
An invitation to What’s Next For The Northern Beaches
How to balance density and affordability with ecology and nature? Should citizens have more say in planning and rate rises? Join us for a public forum on the planning future of the Northern Beaches.
An invitation to What’s Next For Waverley
How to balance density and affordability against ecology and nature? Join us for a public forum on the planning of Waverley LGA.
Better Cities, Big Ideas
Read an article about The Better Cities Initiative, featured in the Kanebridge Quarterly.
THE THREE CRISES
Three crises face our cities, each of them urgent and already destructive.
A Q&A WITH BETTER CITIES’ FOUNDER ELIZABETH FARRELLY
In this interview, Elizabeth discusses her passion for connecting the world of ideas with our physical environment, how she defines a healthy democracy, and the inspiration behind founding The Better Cities Initiative.
AN INTRODUCTION TO CITIZENS’ ASSEMBLIES
In facing the dual crises of climate change and housing affordability, Australia’s planning system is crying out for radical change. In particular, it needs the public voice front and centre. A Citizens’ Assembly can achieve that.
RADICAL LISTENING
The Better Cities Initiative Founder and CEO Dr Elizabeth Farrelly shares a recap of our CURATING KU-RING-GAI event. It was an exercise in what we’re calling “radical listening.”