Description

As our cities and regions grow, how can we address the challenges ahead while ensuring Ballarat's unique character and qualities are maintained? How do we balance heritage conservation with the need for affordable housing? How can we ensure equitable access to community infrastructure like libraries, parks, and public services? And, how can we create a more sustainable city?

Have your say and help shape the future of Victoria! Engage with a series of exciting activations to share your ideas for the Department of Transport and Planning's Plan for Victoria. Visit Engage Victoria to find out more.

What's On

Join our speakers as they share what they love about Ballarat, unpack the challenges that the town and region faces and discuss their visions for its future.

Speakers:
— Mena Kubba, Director at Kubba
— Stuart Harrison, Director at Harrison and White
— Julie McLaren, Curator at Art Gallery of Ballarat
— Sarah Jane Hall, Educator, Speaker and Indigenous Consultant
— Tania Davidge (Moderator), Executive Director + Chief Curator at Open House Melbourne

Light refreshments and snacks will be available. Beforehand, join one of our tours of the newly refurbished Ballarat Library led by Nathan Porter and Rhett Ellis of Porter Architects, at 3.15pm + 4pm.

In Collaboration With:

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  Mena Kubba | Stuart Harrison

  Mena Kubba is Director at Kubba. She is an Architect and Urban Designer based in Ballarat on Wadawurrung and Dja Dja Wurrung Country, specialising in Transport, Infrastructure, Cultural, and Residential projects across Victoria. She recently founded her own practice, KUBBA, an empathy lead design practise that emphasises collaboration and often works closely with larger Melbourne Architecture and Engineering firms to leverage her expertise on diverse projects. As Chair of the AIA Regional Committee for the Victorian Chapter, Mena is dedicated to championing for architectural practice and design excellence. An avid public transport user who enjoys a good stroll, Mena is also a strong advocate for creating safe and inclusive spaces for women, girls, and marginalised communities within our cities.
  
  Stuart Harrison is an architect and good design advocate. He is a director of Harrison and White, Senior Lecturer in Architectural Design at the University of Melbourne and board member of Open House Melbourne. He has worked extensively in TV, public radio, architectural history and authored three books on housing. He writes for Architecture Australia and HOUSES magazines, and is a former host of the ABC TV show Restoration Australia.

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  Sarah Jane Hall | Julie McLaren

  Sarah Jane Hall a proud Narungga woman living on Wadawurrung Country. Having 28 years experience in community groups, business management, strategic planning and project management, she brings widespread knowledge to volunteer organizations, communities, businesses and the corporate world. She is an educator, speaker, Indigenous consultant and a skilled artist who blends traditional cultural practices with modern art. She is passionate about her Indigenous culture and investing back into community. Sarah Jane has a heart for empowering individuals and is a strong advocate for mental health education. Currently, she is the co-chair of the Koorie Engagement Action Group for the City of Ballarat, board member for Women's Health Grampians, community member on Continuous Voices, advocate for Tiny Pride and sits on various other committees. Sarah Jane and her wife Julie own the company Healthy Mind And Soul which is a mental health and wellbeing business.With a background in education, mental health and community engagement, Sarah Jane holds a strong commitment to promoting intersectional voices, fostering inclusive spaces, and advocating for positive change.
  
  Julie McLaren has almost twenty years of experience in the gallery and museum sector and is currently Curator of the Art Gallery of Ballarat, Australia’s oldest regional gallery. She is actively involved in the development, interpretation and display of one of Australia’s most significant art collections consisting of more than 11,500 works. Julie is passionate about working with artists, collections and community to elevate voices and stories which have been previously marginalised and overlooked. Julie has developed more than fifty historic and contemporary art exhibitions including _Angela Brennan: Tête-à-tête & Vis-à-_vis (2024), David Noonan: Stagecraft (2020), Becoming Modern: Australian women artists 1920-1950 (2019) and Romancing the skull (2017). She is currently writing a biography on the artist Ruby Lindsay, one of Australia’s first professional female graphic illustrators.