URBANovation
A podcast and knowledge platform exploring innovative responses to Asian urban challenges.
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Joshua's Contribution
Young Urbanists of Southeast Asia (YUSEA) is a pan-Southeast Asian network of young people interested in Southeast Asian urbanism. We aim to bring together a diversity of identities, professional backgrounds and viewpoints to co-create a forum for dynamic discussions on key issues concerning Southeast Asian urbanism. Through panels, networking events, research publications and more, we hope to foster peer-to-peer learning and connections between youths and senior city-makers across the region through our capacity-building programmes.
Joshua co-founded YUSEA with Dang-Dao NGUYEN. With Dao coming from an international development background (UN HABITAT, Schwarzman Scholarship, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam), and Joshua from academic urban research, the co-founders realized that many ambitious young Southeast Asian leaders aim to work on the same issues, but do not always share vocabulary or have ways to meet others in different fields with the same interests.
Today, YUSEA has >100 members from 14 countries; is an active partner of ASEAN organisations in steering urban policy; maintains the URBANovation podcast and the popular Wrapped in a Banana Leaf Instagram explainer series; and has two autonomous chapters in Singapore and the Philippines rooted in local communities.
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