Ludo Campbell-Reid

Transforming, improving and resuscitating cities- making them smart, liveable, competitive and sustainable requires a carefully crafted individual response. No city is the same and there is no blue print approach. Some are healthy, vital, exciting and productive but many are not.

Understanding the levers to unlock a city or a precincts potential requires experience not only of how Council’s and Governments work but also how Communities think. It also requires a recognition that the public sector cannot solve every wicked city issue alone. Instead, that is where the innovation and creativity of Private/not for profit /community sectors can be harnessed and deployed in authentic partnerships. That is when the real magic of creating liveable cities happens.

I am an internationally renowned Urban Strategist, City Planner, Urban Designer and Keynote speaker with over 28 yrs public/private sector experience. I advise Communities, Mayors, Cities, Local Authorities & Governments around the world on how to improve their cities, streets, transport systems and public spaces. I am a global authority on cities and provide advice to clients on special assignments.

I am Exec GM Planning & Precincts at the Suburban Rail Loop Authority, Melbourne.

Previous roles:
– Director City Design &Liveability, City of Wyndham, Melbourne. – fastest growing municipality in Victoria and 2nd fastest growing Municipality in Australia.
– General Manager, Auckland Design Office, Auckland Council. Auckland Council is the largest Unitary Authority in Australasia with assets of + $60B and an operating budget of + $6B. I was charged with overall responsibility for spearheading Auckland’s design led renaissance. I was honoured to be described as the “lightning rod for the transformation of Downtown Auckland” (Property Council NZ, People Awards 2016). After 13 yrs at helm of Auckland’s Urban Design-led Renaissance Auckland finally became the world’s most liveable city in 2021 toppling Melbourne.
– Department Manager, 1st ever Centre of Environmental Excellence, Auckland Council
– Founding CEO, Urban Design London www.urbandesignlondon.com
– Senior Urban Designer, London Borough of Tower Hamlets
– Former special Urban Design Adviser to Mayor of London
– In the 90’s I worked in the private Sector in South Africa where I was involved in the ongoing Masterplanning of Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront
– Design Advisor to Cape Town 2004 Olympic BidCo