From Vision to Implementation: Pathways to Resilient and Inclusive Urban Futures

You are cordially invited to attend the research seminar by John Achari:

Date: 26 Sept 2025
Time: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Venue: SDE3 Level 4, LT422

From Vision to Implementation: Pathways to Resilient and Inclusive Urban Futures 

Abstract:
Over three decades of practice, I have led multidisciplinary teams delivering housing, mixed-use, industrial, and regeneration projects across the Middle East, Oceania, and Asia. These experiences shaped my perspective on urban planning and design as a translational practice, bridging vision with implementation, policy with community, and global systems with local identities, while responding to environmental and climate challenges.

This talk reflects on lessons from contrasting contexts: national housing strategies in Saudi Arabia, large-scale mixed-use waterfronts in the Arabian Gulf, and community renewal initiatives in Germany, New Zealand, and Australia. In New Zealand, grassroots actions such as murals and public art provided the foundation for participatory planning, while tactical urbanism and “early wins” built trust and delivered immediate benefits. Across these projects, I highlight how scenario planning, economic drivers, climate adaptation, and emerging technologies intersect with cultural heritage and identity, and how the process of planning—balancing dialogue, evidence, and incremental action with long-term goals—functions as both method and outcome.

I then discuss how these insights inform my work at NUS, where I have integrated studios and lectures, introduced urban science modules, strengthened government and industry partnerships, and advanced cross-disciplinary collaboration. Looking ahead, I propose a teaching and research agenda centred on typological innovation, adaptive land use, climate resilience, and people-centred sustainability—bridging practice and academic inquiry to shape urban futures that are visionary, inclusive, environmentally resilient, and regionally grounded yet globally relevant.

John Achari is an urban planner and designer with over 30 years of international experience across Central Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. He has held senior leadership roles in both public and private sectors, including Vice President at Parsons (UAE), where he led housing, mixed-use, industrial, and infrastructure strategies, Development Director at Emaar (Pakistan), and executive posts with Middle East government agencies. He also established his own consultancy in New Zealand. His portfolio spans national housing programmes in Saudi Arabia, major waterfront and mixed-use developments in the Gulf, and community renewal initiatives in Germany, New Zealand, regional Australia, and the Pacific.

At the National University of Singapore, John coordinates the Year 1 Master of Urban Planning studio and has also taught Year 2 studios and modules such as Urban Infrastructure and Smart Mobility. As former Deputy Programme Director, he helped reshape the curriculum to strengthen applied and interdisciplinary learning and developed the Planning Foundations and Software Workshop to familiarise first-year students with Singapore’s planning system and digital tools.

John’s career bridges practice, pedagogy, and research. His leadership across diverse contexts informs his teaching, where he emphasises process, inclusivity, and implementation alongside design outcomes. This integrated perspective continues to guide his contribution to advancing resilient, inclusive, and regionally grounded urban futures.