2WALKandCYCLE: Reflections on the Conference

Landscape architect Megan Walker, urban designer Miriam Moore and engagement specialist Anne Cunningham share perspectives on the theme of ‘People power: the path to low-carbon transport’.

Why did you want to attend the conference – what part of your work ties into what was presented there?

Megan Walker: Sustainable transport design is a part of most projects I work on. I find value in hearing from others’ experiences, understanding current thinking around best practice, projects that have been successful, challenges that people have faced and how they were overcome.

Reconnecting with people who I worked with on various projects over the years, particularly WCC/LGWM. Face-to-face time with people I might see in person every couple of years as they live in different cities or have only ever met on Teams.

Anne Cunningham: Transport is a key area of Boffa Miskell’s work where there is a need to develop greater social license in order that we can do our best work. Engagement is super useful in developing social license – and so many of our recent engagement clients were there. Including having the WCC Transitional Team present on some of the work we’ve been doing with them.

Miriam Moore: Improving options for low carbon transport is my favourite element of urban design and a part of many of my projects and I’m always keen to learn from others’ experiences when it comes to process and implementation. I’m well-connected in the cycling advocacy community, so I wanted to use this opportunity to be more present as a professional.

Also, as a massive street design nerd, meeting my hero Janette Sadik-Khan and getting her to sign my book Streetfight! was the absolute high point of the event.

With the perspective of a few weeks – what were your biggest take-aways, or what things that you heard or saw at the Conference are you still thinking about?

Megan: Amidst challenging political times, the call to remain positive and support each other to deliver quality outcomes. The sense of collective support amongst peers and passion from the speakers to advocate for what we know is best.

Miriam: Since the previous conference in 2021, there has been a significant number of wins in the walking and cycling space. This conference shared a lot of delivery success stories. Its timing couldn’t have been better to come together to talk positively about the benefits of low carbon transport, amidst the Government’s draft National Policy Statement which seeks to put a sudden halt to the momentum we have made.

Anne: For me, having an interdisciplinary, diverse team at the event made a huge difference – we were able to show that Boffa Miskell has the skills and diverse lived experiences to solve our clients' hardest problems. Our stand was great and became a bit of a social hub during breaks.

Why would you encourage others to attend the next 2Walk+Cycle?

Megan: Walking and cycling is at the heart of all healthy, loveable cities. The conference was inspiring for seeing positive benefits of enabling people to walk and cycle around their communities. Thought provoking talks that show what can be achieved with vision and courage.

Anne: It was fun, backed with practical presentations – and showcased how to work in an interdisciplinary way.

Miriam: The Conference had such a positive energy. The mix of professionals, politicians and advocates generated a broad series of presentations that have left me feeling inspired about what I can be doing both as a design professional and day-to-day in my community to carry on the important work needed to secure a low-carbon future.