Urban Exchange Episode 15 - Greater Manchester and Arup - Cities building digital resilience

11/28/23 • 27 min

Urban Exchange: Cities on the Frontlines

In this episode of the Urban Exchange, host Lauren Sorkin, Executive Director of Resilient Cities Network and Co-chair of the SmartCitiesWorld Advisory Board, is joined by Kathy Oldham, Chief Resilience Officer, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Will Cavendish, Global Digital Services Leader, Arup.

The latest episode is set in the context of the new publication entitled Digital Cities, Resilient Cities: Delivering urban resilience through digital solutions, developed by Resilient Cities Network and Arup. Lauren begins by asking Will what “digital resilience” means and why cities should care about it. He explains the importance of looking at it through the two lenses of a city’s abilities to use digital systems to build resilience but also ensuring the resilience of those systems and services themselves.

As the Chief Resilience Officer for Greater Manchester since 2018, Kathy explains that one of the main challenges is that cities are now looking at a complex “system of systems” with digital technologies having brought together so many different technologies and processes which can be difficult to risk assess. She talks about the “layering” approach to digital resilience that GMCA now builds in.

Viewing digital technology as a basic human right is a recurring theme. Manchester has a number of strategies in place to address digital exclusion with its aim to help people use digital technology to live their best life. Kathy also talks about the importance of covening with stakeholders from private, public sectors and academia. For example, the Manchester Digital Blueprint is co-owned by more than 300 organisations.

Will then discusses some of the principles city leaders can adopt to build in digital resilience such as flexibility of systems and redundancy. He brings in the subject of climate resilience and how data and technology can help us be more predictive. He emphasises the need for city leaders to recognise that the threat is real, highlighting the impact urban heat has had on cities around the world in recent years.

The discussion also covers the importance of knowledge sharing between cities and how networks can facilitate this. This also means cities can achieve resilience aims in potentially shorter timelines.

Previous Episode

Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 14 – Kate MacKenzie, New York City – Plant-powered city action

Urban food systems are coming under increasing strain due to urbanisation and climate-related issues. In the latest episode of the Urban Exchange, Kate MacKenzie, Executive Director of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Food Policy, joins the Resilient Cities Network’s Lauren Sorkin to discuss how food systems and plant powered food transitions are advancing urban resilience and climate adaptation in cities around the world.

In an in-depth conversation, Kate reflects on the exciting and innovative initiatives that NYC is implementing for its Plant Powered Program. Through pilot projects, campaigns, challenges and other methods, the city is inspiring its various stakeholders to commit to decarbonise its food system while simultaneously advocating for healthier food and lifestyle choices.

As part of this, Kate goes into detail on the programme’s target groups, including its school- and hospital-based initiatives, as well as the importance of community engagement to ensure citizen buy-in for success.

There’s also discussion of the kind of collaboration the city has needed to get the programme to this stage, the value its partners bring to the project, the key to ensuring longevity with such a programme, and – critically – what other cities can do to follow in New York’s footsteps.

Next Episode

Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 16 – Genesis Gavino, City of Dallas

Mike Lake, CEO of Leading Cities and a member of the Smart Cities World Advisory Board, hosts a special episode recorded live from the 2023 Smart City Expo in Barcelona, where he is joined by Genesis Gavino, Chief of Staff Resilience Officer for the City of Dalla.

Genesis provides a behind-the-scenes look at her role as Chief of Staff, detailing the essential elements that the role encompasses that don't necessarily fit elsewhere but are crucial for city operations. We hear how she manages diverse portfolios, overseeing strategic initiatives like the Resilient Dallas strategy, as well as smart city projects.

Key to Dallas' digital resilience work is digital equity, with Genesis shedding light on the city's efforts to bridge the digital divide. She shares experiences from the field, discussing digital literacy programmes and the importance of community engagement in shaping policies.

This conversation also takes a turn toward cybersecurity, touching on the ransomware attack on Dallas earlier in 2023, where Genesis emphasises the city's commitment to proactive measures, including the development of secure apps for residents.

As the episode unfolds, we delve into the broader challenges faced by cities and the need for holistic, multifunctional solutions. Genesis stresses the importance of understanding each city's unique context and challenges, urging technology providers to align their solutions with the specific needs of the communities they serve.

The episode concludes with a reflection on the continuous nature of urban challenges and the vital role of collaboration, innovation, and adaptability in building resilient cities. Join us for a thought-provoking conversation at the intersection of technology, governance, and community empowerment in this episode of "Cities on the Frontline."

About the speakers Genesis Gavino, Chief of Staff and Resilience Officer, City of Dallas

Genesis currently serves as the Deputy Resilience Officer where she works closely with the executive team across the organisation to implement the Resilient Dallas Strategy. She is also the Chief of Staff to the City Manager where she manages the Council Agenda Office, Local Government Management Fellows Program, departmental budgets and works with the executive team to advance the City’s strategic priorities. Genesis has served as lead in the organisation’s interdepartmental and collaborative projects, most recently the implementation of the Council Agenda Preparation System through Granicus – Legistar, and the development and implementation of a pilot program to activate City Hall Plaza.

Mike Lake, President and CEO, Leading Cities

As President and CEO, Michael develops and establishes relationships with municipal governments, businesses and universities internationally, creating a global network of partner cities dedicated to implementing Smart City solutions that improve the quality of life in cities. Leading Cities builds bridges between academia and action, between business and government, and between urban problems and solutions.Among its signature programs are AcceliCITY- among the largest, most prestigious smart and resilient city solutions focused competitions- and AcceliGOV—a competition of cities vying for globally sourced, expert-vetted, pre-paid pilot projects.