2019 Proceedings Report

Summary of Discussion Sessions
Urbanism with Purpose
Moderator
Mrs Rosario Cordoba, President,
Private Competitiveness Council
Speakers
Mr Louis Kleyn, President,
National Infrastructure Association (ANI)
Mrs Ángela Garzón, Council Member,
and Lord's Mayor Candidate
Dr Julio Cesar Castellanos, Director,
St. Ignacio Hospital
Global Challenges
Australian and Colombian participants began this session by recognising that
Australia’s and Colombia’s major cities are facing global challenges that include,
among others, unemployment, lack of infrastructure and housing, and mobility. These
challenges have, in particular for Colombia, resulted in a closer examination of all its
competitiveness indexes. While Australia is placed in the top 20 positions when it
comes to key indicators like infrastructure and productivity in the world, Colombia’s
mid-table positions have sparked a rethinking process of how cities should be built.
Participants, however, expressed that neither country can afford to rest in
complacency. Migration, whether internal or external, and climate change, among
other factors, are increasing pressure in key city services like health, transport and
housing that need further policy development.
Mr Kate Bennett, Energy, Resource
and Sustainability Task Force B20
Mobility and Productivity
Mr Fernando Pardillo, General Director SK
Bergé, Colombia
Mr Carlos Eduardo Farfan, Director,
Asociacion de Empresas Seguras
Particularly, in Colombia where 75% of the population lives in urban areas, mobility was
identified as a major challenge with a direct impact on the country’s productivity
indicators. The use of new technologies and a long-term vision of future city
development plans were identified by participants as two main drivers for city councils
and the national government to consider for new urban developments.
The Australia-Colombia Dialogue | September 2019 41