Cities, Settlements and Infrastructure - Resiliency and Risks
Tracks
Cities, Settlements and Infrastructure
Monday, October 13, 2025 |
1:30 PM - 3:30 PM |
Speaker
Dr Estefania Arteaga Valdivia
World Adaptation Science Programme
Adaptation is more than just building sea walls. The Role of Local Governments in Identifying and Responding to Climate-related Transition Risks
1:30 PM - 2:15 PMBiography
Estefania Arteaga is a climate resilience specialist with expertise in climate risk management and adaptation. She has worked across Latin America and Australia, bridging research and practice to develop effective adaptation strategies. Her experience spans local governments, global policy, vulnerability assessments, and risk management to enhance resilience at multiple scales.
Mr Donovan Burton
Director
Informed.city
Adaptation is more than just building sea walls. The Role of Local Governments in Identifying and Responding to Climate-related Transition Risks
1:30 PM - 2:15 PMBiography
Donovan is a highly experienced climate change practitioner, with a diverse portfolio of experience. Donovan specialises in integrating climate change needs into strategic planning and policy advice. Over the past 20 years he has worked on hundreds of climate change projects.
Mr James Hughes
Technical Director - Climate And Resilience
Tonkin + Taylor
Adaptation is more than just building sea walls. The Role of Local Governments in Identifying and Responding to Climate-related Transition Risks
1:30 PM - 2:15 PMBiography
James has a 20-year career in the infrastructure and environmental sectors. He has been involved in a wide range of important projects over recent years, including the first National Climate Risk Assessment, MfE’s Climate Adaptation Technical Working Group, the development of the Health Sector Climate Scenarios, and a variety of climate risk and adaptation projects across NZ.
Dr Johanna Nalau
Associate Professor, Climate Adaptation
Griffith University
Adaptation is more than just building sea walls. The Role of Local Governments in Identifying and Responding to Climate-related Transition Risks
1:30 PM - 2:15 PMBiography
Dr Estefania Arteaga Valdivia
World Adaptation Science Programme
Adaptation is more than just building sea walls. The Role of Local Governments in Identifying and Responding to Climate-related Transition Risks
1:30 PM - 2:15 PMBiography
Estefania Arteaga is a climate resilience specialist with expertise in climate risk management and adaptation. She has worked across Latin America and Australia, bridging research and practice to develop effective adaptation strategies. Her experience spans local governments, global policy, vulnerability assessments, and risk management to enhance resilience at multiple scales.
Donovan is a highly experienced climate change practitioner, with a diverse portfolio of experience. Donovan specialises in integrating climate change needs into strategic planning and policy advice. Over the past 20 years he has worked on hundreds of climate change projects.
James has a 20-year career in the infrastructure and environmental sectors. He has been involved in a wide range of important projects over recent years, including the first National Climate Risk Assessment, MfE’s Climate Adaptation Technical Working Group, the development of the Health Sector Climate Scenarios, and a variety of climate risk and adaptation projects across NZ.
Ms Shivani Agrawal
Urban Designer
Abhikalp Private Limited
Synergizing development planning and adaptation for climate resilient development
2:15 PM - 2:30 PMBiography
Shivani Agrawal is an Urban Designer at Abhikalp, India. She is engaged in urban development and climate research, focusing on sustainable infrastructure, economic growth, and adaptation. She holds a Masters in Sustainable Cities from University of Leeds, United Kingdom and a Bachelors in Urban Design from CEPT University, India.
Ms Ashleigh Stokes
Research Assistant
RMIT University
A case for thinking conjuncturally about climate change adaptation policies: an Australian case
2:30 PM - 2:45 PMBiography
Ashleigh is a PhD graduate from RMIT University, where she focused on the conjunctural positioning of climate change adaptation policies within the Australian policy context. Her work emphasizes the importance of understanding the dynamic relationship between society and the environment, and applying transformative approaches to address complex challenges.
Ms Angela Halliday
Recently Graduated Student
Lincoln University
"We're in the middle of a crisis here, a few more firefighters would be good" adaptation research uptake for policymaking in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
2:45 PM - 3:00 PMBiography
Angela has recently completed her Masters extramurally through Lincoln University. She previously worked at a Partnerships Director for the Deep South National Science Challenge which was focused on climate adaptation research. She lives near Levin/Taitoko in Aotearoa/NZ with her partner and two young sons.
