Urban List

Thinking about the future of food and design might conjure up ideas of lab-grown meat and 3D-printed, well, everything. But, according to some of the brightest innovators, what lies ahead is more grounded in human creativity and social change. Together with Lexus Australia, who's marking its 35th anniversary by looking forward, we sat down with Atlas Dining ’s Charlie Carrington, Bryce Heyworth of September Studio and Tarts Anon’s Gareth Whitton for a behind-the-scenes look at what is driving change in their respective fields. Articles linked in the comments. Thank you to our friends Madeleine Denham, Taleah Brown and Bianca Zumbo at Spark Foundry for making this partnership possible. Urban List project team: Jane Rusli, Angelique Robertson, Felicity Johnson, Emma Bishop, Hamish Taylor, Daniel Daperis, Kylie O'Connell, Maisie Gray, Jessica Best 👏

Today's Smelly Lunch Stories launch event in Sydney was powerful and moving. Urban List is so proud to partner with the SLS crew to help start conversations and shine a light on the deep inequity that exists in the media landscape. Why is this conversation so important? Only 29% of people in entry-level positions are from ethnic minority backgrounds, this drops to 12% in C-Suites. Every day, we champion a more diverse and inclusive industry and proudly lead by example. By partnering with Smelly Lunch Stories, this allows us to help amplify the voices that need a mic.

"Local businesses are the beating heart of our cities, embodying a sense of community and connection. This shared camaraderie fuels growth and nurtures a vibrant culture”. Leilani Vakaahi, Urban List Commercial Director Aussie retailers, workspaces and venues have perfected the secret sauce that makes them some of the best in class. That's why we've teamed up with the legends at Containers for Change (WARRRL) to highlight businesses that are going above and beyond for the environment and their communities by saving their 10¢ drink containers. Know a business making waves (or ripples) towards a more sustainable workplace? Let us know in the comments, and they could be featured front and centre on Urban List. Plus, you’ll have a chance to win an eco getaway. To enter: 👉🏼 Tag the locations in the comments 👉🏼 Share why they’re worth shouting out Hit the link in the comments for the T&Cs. Thanks to our partners Jessica Harmer and Taylor Duckworth at Containers for Change (WARRRL) and Jasmine Koong and Mel Harrison at The Brand Agency for making this collaboration possible. 🌱 Urban List project team: Isabella J., Felicity Johnson, Kylie O'Connell, Tai Pham and Leilani Vakaahi 👏

It was a great to partner, once again, with SXSW Sydney this year. After countless inspiring talks and panels and performances, our crew reflect on their faves sessions. Kylie O'Connell, Head of Production   Session: Diversifying Diversity: Beyond Buzzwords Towards Inclusive Innovation Professor Rashina Hoda’s talk was a highlight, reminding us that technology often reflects and amplifies societal inequities. She urged us to consider why innovation fails – either teams aren’t diverse, or they don’t consult diverse users. Rashina challenged us to imagine leadership teams as diverse as their customer bases, driving real representation in tech. Session: The Lies We Live By: Question How You Think This fun, thought-provoking panel pushed us to question the clichés we live by. Key takeaways included: “Don’t stay in your lane” and “Find the balance between magic and logic.” It was a powerful reminder to challenge norms, act fast, and take creative risks. Georgia Condon, Sydney Editor Session: For News Media, Digital Transformation Isn’t a Process – It’s a State A great session with Lucy Blakiston, CEO of Shit You Should Care About, who stressed the importance of focusing on an owned audience rather than chasing platforms. I walked away even more inspired to get closer to our community. Rojan Khastoui, Client Service Director Session: Are Brands the New Cultural Superforce? This session delved into how brands like Heaps Normal have successfully tapped into cultural moments through authenticity and community, especially as trust in traditional institutions declines. It was a timely reminder that brands need to align with cultural movements and show real integrity to connect emotionally with consumers. Eric Ponce, Digital Designer Session: Creativity from the Inside: Lessons from the Best In-House Agencies in the World It was affirming to see global companies embracing in-house agencies as creative leaders. It’s great to see that Urban List is already doing what many companies are just starting to implement. 

“Ever since I was a 10-year-old, swapping my curry sandwiches for my friends' plain chicken ones as the only brown kid in my entire school I had a sense of otherness. I've been fortunate enough to turn this ability to stand out into a superpower and love helping the next generation of media talent do the same.” Chris Wirasinha, Co-Founder Pedestrian.tv & Co-Founder & CEO Linkby. Join Chris in conversation with Camey O'Keefe, Director of Gambol Creative and Panellist of Gruen Transfer, An Le, Co-Founder Smelly Lunch Stories, and Rose Herceg, ANZ President, WPP for an intimate conversation about diversity and commonality, and the opportunity to connect with like-minded people while sharing really great food. At Urban List, our mission is to champion a more diverse and inclusive media landscape, and we proudly lead by example. Partnering with Smelly Lunch Stories allows us to create meaningful impact and amplify voices within our industry, aligning perfectly with our values Link in comments to grab your tickets. 

10 TALKS. 5 BARS. 1 NIGHT. If you're Perth based and keen to learn more about anything from AI to Food Science, then Raising The Bar is a must-attend event. Hosted by The University of Western Australia (UWA) researchers, Raising The Bar will see 10 experts share their perspectives and insights in a series of no-cost talks at five of the CBD’s best bars. Thanks to our partners at The University of Western Australia (UWA) and Koshina Y., Jasmine Koong and Mel Harrison at The Brand Agency 👏 Urban List project team Leilani Vakaahi, Angelique Robertson and Maisie Gray 👏

Ever wondered what B Corp CEO has on their wishlist? We did. That’s why we caught up with Elliot Midalia, Co-CEO of Boody, Australia’s first B Corp certified. Elliot’s must-haves are all about elevating the everyday, from a Dreame Technology Robot Vac to the Sleep8 Pod. Get ready to be inspired. Link in comments.

Opportunities like this one don’t come up often... A newly created role to lead our award winning sales crew has just gone live. The perfect candidate will lead our national sales team in a fast-paced environment, focusing on: 🚀 Driving revenue growth 🚀 Expanding and deepening client relationships 🚀 Developing innovative sales strategies 🚀 Winning marketshare in Australia and New Zealand You’ll be repping a leading indie lifestyle publisher, committed to having a positive impact on culture. Creating instead of slinging spots. If this sounds like you...LFG! 🚀 🚀 🚀 Apply now. Link in comments.

SXSW Sydney is back in hot second. The lineup is robust! Here is what our team are most excited about. 🎤 How Moments Create A Movement With Katherine Bennell-Pegg 🎤 Melanie Perkins In Conversation With Mary Meeker 🎤 Reed Jobs And Wesley Chan In Conversation 🎤 How To Get Your Brain Back With Johann Hari 🎤 Alllll the SXSW Sydney Music 🎤 Diversifying Diversity with Rashina Hoda 🎤 Creators: The New Storefront Driving $6 Billion in Commerce See you there!

“When the Smelly Lunch Stories crew first asked me if Urban List would help amplify their powerful stories, it was an immediate and absolute HELL YES!” Jacqui La'Brooy, Chief Commercial Officer, Urban List. At Urban List, we’re committed to shaping culture in a way that inspires and drives positive change. As a proud, female founded, independently owned publisher, our mission is to champion a more diverse and inclusive media landscape. Partnering with Smelly Lunch Stories allows us to continue to amplify voices within our industry by having conversations that matter. Our team have been working hard, lending their experience and smarts to help bring the Smelly Lunch Stories brand identity to life, curating the event series, and acting as consultants for the campaign and content. It’s been a pleasure collaborating with the Smelly Lunch Stories crew, and we are all so proud to be their inaugural launch partner. 🥡 The first of a series of intimate and lively conversations will be help at at Kyiv Social in Sydney on 31 October. 🥟 Join us for a panel discussion, storytelling, drinks and of course, good food. 🍣 Hit the link in the comments to buy tickets now. CREDITS Smelly Lunch Stories An Le, Graham Alvarez-Jarratt, Linda Fagerlund and Michelle Miroforidis Urban List Tai Pham, Jacqui La'Brooy, Emma Bishop, Rojan Khastoui, Sophia Wilcox and Kylie O'Connell