Think City, a pioneering homegrown brand in urban regeneration, celebrated a remarkable 15-year journey by marking its legacy in urban rejuvenation with the launch of the inaugural Think City Urban Futures Lectures. Held at the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) Auditorium, this landmark event, featuring a keynote by Dato’ Seri TPr. (Dr). Maimunah Binti Mohd Sharif, Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, brought together diplomats, policymakers, urban practitioners, changemakers and community leaders. The event was a clarion call to reimagine cities as thriving, resilient spaces built through collaborative, inclusive solutions.

In conjunction with World Cities Day, the inaugural Think City Urban Futures Lecture embraced the theme, “Clarion Call: Creative Solutions Today for a Liveable Tomorrow”, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable, community-driven urban solutions. As cities become increasingly central to global challenges and opportunities, Think City’s work highlights how transformative change can be rooted in local action and global innovation.

Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, Dato’ Seri TPr. (Dr) Maimunah Binti Mohd Sharif shared her insights on the importance of cities embracing innovative approaches: “Cities are not merely places to live, they are vibrant ecosystems where communities, culture, and the environment converge. It is our collective responsibility to ensure they are sustainable, inclusive, and resilient. Think City’s work commitment to collaborative, innovative approaches sets a blueprint for making liveable cities for generations to come.”

Since its founding in 2009, Think City has evolved from a homegrown grants delivery partner to a leader in urban regeneration, achieving recognition both locally and globally. Pioneering impactful projects, Think City’s work in George Town’s historic rejuvenation, designing Kuala Lumpur’s plans as a creative and cultural district, and implementing numerous nature-based climate adaptation initiatives, have cemented its role as a trusted leader in city-making. Think City’s journey has seen significant milestones, including recognition at the World Cities Summit, the Creative Bureaucracy Festival Award in 2021, and partnerships with global leaders like the UN Habitat, World Bank, UNESCO amongst others.

Dato’ Hamdan Abdul Majeed, Managing Director of Think City, reflected on the organisation’s 15-year milestone: “From our roots in Penang to our nationwide influence today, Think City has remained dedicated to reinventing urban spaces. With active participation from Khazanah Nasional and Yayasan Hasanah, our projects have not only transformed urban spaces but also served as a living lab for urban innovation. Today, Think City stands poised to bring a global perspective to Malaysia’s urban challenges and beyond, grounded in its roots as a pioneeringg homegrown brand and strengthened by partnerships with international leaders such as the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, Fundacion Metropoli, and the Getty Conservation Institute."

In celebration of this milestone, Think City is launching the Think City Urban Futures series, an initiative to inspire collective action and catalyse urban innovation. This platform aims to unite thought leaders, global experts, and local communities, showcasing Think City’s achievements while fostering solutions-oriented dialogue on today’s pressing urban issues. As Think City embarks on its next 15 years, its mission is clear: to continue pioneering urban solutions that empower communities, advance partnerships, and make Malaysian cities global benchmarks for sustainable and liveable environments.

The Urban Futures series, alongside initiatives like the Think City Fellowship and Leadership Programmes, will cultivate the next generation of city leaders. With an emphasis on continuous innovation and inclusivity, Think City’s vision for Malaysia’s cities is bold yet rooted in community empowerment and collaborative action.

As Think City looks to the future, it remains committed to setting new standards in urban transformation, driven by the belief that every city can thrive through the collective efforts of its people, partners, and policies.

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Think City, sebuah jenama tempatan yang menerajui pembaharuan bandar, meraikan perjalanan 15 tahun yang gemilang dengan pelancaran siri kuliah perdana, Think City Urban Futures. Berlangsung di Auditorium Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL), acara penting ini menampilkan ucaptama oleh Dato’ Seri TPr (Dr.) Maimunah binti Mohd Sharif, Datuk Bandar Kuala Lumpur dan menghimpunkan para diplomat, penggubal dasar, perancang bandar, penggerak perubahan, serta pemimpin komuniti. Acara ini menyeru untuk mengimaginasikan semula bandar-bandar kita sebagai ruang yang berkembang maju, berdaya tahan dan dibentuk melalui penyelesaian kolaboratif serta inklusif.

Bersempena sambutan Hari Bandar Sedunia, kuliah sulung bagi siri Think City Urban Futures ini mengangkat tema, “Clarion Call: Creative Solutions Today for a Liveable Tomorrow”, yang menekankan kepentingan penyelesaian bandar mampan dan diterajui komuniti. Dalam konteks bandar yang semakin menjadi pusat cabaran dan peluang global, usaha Think City menyerlahkan bagaimana perubahan transformatif boleh dicapai melalui tindakan setempat dan inovasi global.

Datuk Bandar Kuala Lumpur, Dato’ Seri TPr. (Dr.) Maimunah Binti Mohd Sharif, berkongsi pandangannya mengenai kepentingan bandar mengamalkan pendekatan inovatif: “Sesebuah bandar itu bukan hanya sekadar tempat bermastautin, tetapi merupakan ekosistem yang dinamik, di mana komuniti, budaya, dan alam sekitar bertemu. Tanggungjawab kita adalah memastikan bandar kekal mampan, inklusif, dan berdaya tahan. Iltizam Think City terhadap pendekatan kolaboratif dan inovatif menyediakan rangka untuk membentuk bandar yang berdaya huni bagi generasi akan datang.”

Sejak penubuhan pada tahun 2009, Think City telah berkembang daripada rakan penyampaian geran kepada peneraju pembaharuan bandar yang diiktiraf di peringkat tempatan dan antarabangsa. Projek berimpak tinggi, Think City berpeluang memainkan peranan penting dalam usaha memulihkan George Town bandar bersejarah, merangka sebuah pelan khusus bagi Kuala Lumpur sebagai daerah kreatif dan kebudayaan, serta menjayakan pelbagai inisiatif penyesuaian iklim berasaskan alam semula jadi yang mengukuhkan peranan Think City dalam pembentukan bandar. Pencapaian Think City termasuk pengiktirafan di Sidang Kemuncak Bandar Sedunia, Anugerah Festival Birokrasi Kreatif 2021, dan kerjasama dengan pemimpin global seperti Program Penempatan Manusia Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (UN-HABITAT), World Bank, UNESCO, dan lain-lain.

Dato’ Hamdan Abdul Majeed, Pengarah Urusan Think City, mengimbas perjalanan 15 tahun organisasi ini: “Daripada permulaan kami di Pulau Pinang hingga ke kesan pengaruh di seluruh negara, Think City kekal komited memperbaharui ruang bandar. Dengan sokongan Khazanah Nasional dan Yayasan Hasanah, projek kami bukan sahaja telah mengubah ruang bandar tetapi juga berfungsi sebagai makmal hidup untuk inovasi bandar. Kini, Think City bersedia membawa perspektif global kepada cabaran pembandaran di Malaysia dan seterusnya, berbekalkan kerjasama dengan pemimpin antarabangsa seperti Aga Khan Trust for Culture, Fundacion Metropoli, dan Getty Conservation Institute.”

Sempena ulang tahun ini, Think City melancarkan siri Think City Urban Futures, inisiatif yang menggalakkan tindakan kolektif dalam memacu inovasi pembandaran. Platform ini akan menghimpunkan pemimpin pemikiran, pakar global, dan komuniti tempatan, meraikan pencapaian Think City sambil memupuk dialog yang berorientasikan penyelesaian mengenai isu-isu bandar yang mendesak. Sepanjang 15 tahun akan datang, misi Think City jelas: menerajui penyelesaian pembandaran yang memperkasakan komuniti, menggalakkan kerjasama, serta menjadikan bandar Malaysia penanda aras global untuk persekitaran mampan dan berdaya huni.

Siri Urban Futures ini, seiring dengan inisiatif seperti Program Felo dan Program Kepimpinan yang bakal dilancarkan oleh Think City, dirangka dengan tujuan mendukung generasi pemimpin bandar yang seterusnya. Dengan penekanan pada inovasi berterusan dan terangkum, visi Think City untuk bandar Malaysia adalah besar berpaksikan pemberdayaan komuniti serta tindakan kolaboratif.

Maju ke masa depan, Think City kekal komited untuk mencetuskan piawaian baharu bagi transformasi bandar, dipacu dengan keyakinan bahawa setiap bandar boleh berkembang maju melalui usaha kolektif rakyat, rakan kongsi, dan dasar yang progresif.

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