Samer Bagaeen: The Future is Local, Resilient, and Human

Samer Bagaeen, professor, urban planner, academic, and city councillor, joins us on The Century of Cities. Samer walks us through a personal and professional timeline of urban transformation, reflecting on his childhood city of Amman in 1980, today's challenges in urban resilience and capacity-building, and what cities might face by 2080. Samer explains the tension between civic needs and public opinion, and the growing gaps in infrastructure and workforce shaping the future of cities. From whispering into mayors' ears to spearheading urban resilience in cities like Rome and Milan, Samer reveals how leadership, political will, and technical capacity intersect to shape cities for generations to come. He advocates for a new kind of civic listening, especially when funds are limited, and makes the case for hyperlocal interventions as building blocks for future-ready cities.