John Surico writes about our changing cities. He is a professor and programme coordinator at New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, where he teaches urban-focused reporting. He is the Scholar-in-Residence at the Central Park Conservancy's Institute for Urban Parks, where he provides research and analysis for urban spaces around the US. His work has been published in The New York Times, The Guardian, Bloomberg CityLab, and elsewhere. He is also a local community organizer working to create more equitable open space in Western Queens.

Dr. Luna Khirfan is an associate professor at the University of Waterloo’s School of Planning. In her research, she develops coupled human-natural systems models to inform planning, policies, and behaviour while accounting for justice and equity. Her work underscores the relationship between public engagement, place making, and place experience in the rehabilitation of historic cities and in adaptation to climate change.

At UWA, Thomas Bräunl directs the Robotics & Automation Lab as well as the Renewable Energy Vehicle Project (REV). He has done research on electric drive and charging systems and is developing AI solutions for autonomous driving. Professor Bräunl worked on Driver-Assistance Systems with Mercedes-Benz Stuttgart and on Electric Vehicle Charging Systems with BMW Munich and BMW Mountain View.

Anastasiia Fedorova is a senior insights editor at Canvas8. A writer, curator and cultural strategist, she specialises in art, fashion, design, technology and visual culture. Her personal work explores sexuality, identity and queer communities while interrogating our place in a world shaped by rapidly changing technologies. As an avid sci-fi fan since teenage years, she is always interested in thinking about multiple and diverse futures.

Rebecca Smith is the Head of Toolkit at Canvas8. With a background in psychology, she has worked with global clients such as Google, Nike, and Mars, exploring everything from what people want from a fake tan to Gen Z’s relationship with social media. Outside of work, you’ll find her binge-watching reality TV, listening to hyperpop, or with her nose buried in a fantasy novel.

Alex Strang is a senior insight editor at Canvas8 who used to be in a punk band that was signed, shaped, and spat out. He enjoys using his experience of being the product to help brands understand how to sell theirs. After studying philosophy and critical theory, he found his feet in the market research world and has been over-analysing consumer behaviour ever since, including his own. He can usually be found playing board games, watching Seinfeld, or trying too hard to make his daughter laugh.