More than 30 city leaders and 500 policymakers meet at Kensington
More than 30 leaders from international cities are convening at UNSW Sydney for a global conference on healthier urban centres. The 11th Global Conference for the Alliance of Healthy Cities runs from 1 to 3 September at the UNSW Kensington campus.
UNSW Cities Institute and Healthy Cities Australia are hosting the event. More than 500 policymakers, government ministers, city mayors and World Health Organisation representatives are due to take part.
Organisers will examine public health, urban planning, transport, housing, environment and policy. They aim to speed up action as cities face urbanisation and climate change.
As part of the World Health Organisation healthy cities movement, the conference links local policy with a global network. That movement focuses on people, places, planet, participation, peace and prosperity.
UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs said the event is designed to advance evidence-informed action for healthier urban environments. He linked AFHC 2026 to the university’s Progress for All Strategy.
Brungs said the theme, Healthy Cities for All, matches UNSW’s aim to improve lives through education, research and partnerships. He said the conference gives researchers, practitioners, policymakers and communities a chance to share ideas and turn knowledge into action.
Meanwhile, conference co-chair Dr Jinhee Kim said cities need to work together to build momentum for change. Kim is a Scientia Senior Lecturer at the UNSW Cities Institute.
She described urbanisation as one of the defining forces of the time. Kim said decisions about healthier cities affect both individual health and the health of the planet.
Potassium-enriched salt workshop and political roundtable
A highlighted workshop is set for Tuesday 1 September from 10am to 11:15am. Switch The Salt: How Cities Can Reduce Hypertension at Scale Through Potassium-Enriched Salt will look at how cities can cut high blood pressure through potassium-enriched salt.
According to organisers, switching salt at scale can avert 3 million deaths per year. It can also prevent 10 million non-fatal cases of heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.
Another featured session, Plenary 3: Politicians’ Roundtable – Governing for Wellbeing: Political Leadership for Healthy Cities, is scheduled for Wednesday 2 September from 4pm to 5:15pm. Healthy Cities Australia chief executive Kelly Andrews will convene the roundtable.
Participants include John Graham, Paul Scully and Byron Shire Mayor Sarah Ndiaye. UNSW said the wider program will also include recommendations from ministers, mayors and World Health Organisation representatives.
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