With less than a week left to secure early bird tickets, it's our pleasure to announce our master of ceremonies, renowned Australian comedian and fiercely-passionate advocate for Australian architecture, Tim Ross.
Tim has helped propel Australian modernism into popular media and will draw upon his knowledge of architecture to shape the conversation in his own unique, light-hearted and provocative way.
He may be best known for his work on TV, radio and the stage (Modernister, Merrick & Rosso, Man About the House, Streets of Your Town and MOTEL, just to name a few), but comedian Tim Ross stands for a lot more than just laughs.
Over the last six years, he has performed his live Man About the House show in architecturally-significant buildings and homes all over the world.
Turning each venue into a temporary theatre, Tim and musical partner Kit Warhurst have performed sold-out shows in buildings designed by a who’s who of Australian architecture: Harry Seidler, Robin Boyd, Glenn Murcutt, John Wardle, Clare Cousins and Roy Grounds.
They have also toured the show in the United States and New Zealand, the Venice Biennale and the London Festival of Architecture (where it was included among the "must see" events by the New York Times).
Tim’s two-part series on Australian architecture, Streets of Your Town, premiered on ABC TV in 2016 to rave reviews, quickly becoming the most watched arts program on the ABC in that year.
As the most recent recipient of the National President’s Prize from the Australian Institute of Architects for his “advocacy, activism and outstanding contribution to the architecture profession”, Tim's impact on the industry is now as respected as his contribution to comedy and the arts.
Tim passionately supports important issues in Australian architecture and design, in particular the Save Our Sirius campaign, fighting alongside the local community to protect Sydney brutalist landmark, the Sirius.
In 2018, Tim was also awarded the National Trust Heritage Award for Advocacy, which recognised his activism in drawing attention to Australia’s legacy of modernist architecture and promoting its conservation.
Tim will be head up a powerful list of speakers for the two-day conference to be held at Howard Smith Wharves in Brisbane from 23 - 24 October 2019.
Over two days, Urbanity will bring together the leading creators of cities in the Asia Pacific to learn, connect and be inspired.