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Daniel’s passion for urban planning has taken him from Perth to South Korea and Singapore, exploring how different cities tackle sustainability and design. Through hands-on experiences like the Global Sustainability Challenge, he’s discovered the power of collaboration and fresh perspectives in shaping smarter, more efficient solutions, discussions and positive collaboration.
Can global perspectives reshape how we plan cities?
Daniel’s passion for urban planning stems from his love of geography and economics, particularly the ways cities develop and function. A town planning unit in Year 12 sparked his interest in a field that, while not often discussed, has a profound impact on people, the environment and urban ecosystems.
This curiosity about urban development and its broader implications led Daniel to explore planning approaches beyond Perth. Having previously undertaken an internship in South Korea, he saw firsthand the contrast between their urban design, versus Perth’s expansive suburban sprawl. When the opportunity arose to take part in Curtin’s Sustainability Challenge in Singapore, he jumped at the chance.
The week-long Sustainability Challenge brought together students from Curtin’s global campuses to tackle real-world problems. Split into groups representing different global goals like Net Zero, Circular Economy and nature positive goals, participants collaborated across disciplines to propose solutions. Daniel’s team, focused on Net Zero, visited Pulau Ubin, an island off Singapore’s mainland, where they examined ways to make tourism more sustainable while improving local transport infrastructure.
“We proposed a battery-powered electric boat based on existing EV technology already used in Singapore. Excess power from the boat’s solar panels could then be used to support the island. We ran our idea by engineers to make sure it was feasible.”
Beyond his own project, Daniel appreciated the chance to collaborate with students from diverse backgrounds, including journalism, engineering, commerce and environmental science. Reflecting on the experience, Daniel believes it broadened his perspective, reinforcing the importance of learning from global approaches to urban challenges. He has come to understand how stuck you can become in your own perspective and how you can limit problem solving abilities. Seeing how other countries address similar issues in different ways has been an invaluable experience for him.
“Naturally, because we’re from different parts of the world, we have different cultures. So the same topic can be approached from a different angles. I do it this way, they do it that way. That doesn’t mean that I’m wrong and that they’re right, it doesn’t matter as long as we have a good dialogue and good collaboration. That’s what counts.”
Daniel has found value in having an openness to collaboration. Collaborating with those who don’t see situations in the same light as you do can help to generate solutions, and he has grown to appreciate the importance of other perspectives. He attests that there is always someone who knows more than you, and they can help you.
For students considering a similar opportunity, Daniel’s advice is simple: take the leap.
“Even if it’s not directly related to your field, the principles behind the Global Sustainability Challenge apply everywhere.”
He stresses the importance of taking every opportunity possible, especially ones that are a part of uni, where you gain credit.
From Perth to South Korea to Singapore, Daniel’s journey highlights the value of stepping outside familiar systems to gain fresh insights. Whether in urban planning or sustainability, he’s determined to bring back lessons that can help shape a better, more efficient future for cities like Perth.
