How do you keep the world’s earliest-rising city awake past 9pm?
Join Bec Mac as she shares insights from her recent Churchill Fellowship, which took her to New York, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Berlin, researching governance, urban planning, design, and cultural programming. She explored how cities can craft a blueprint for making Brisbane the safest, most vibrant 24-hour economy in the world by 2032.
Bec also met with Cultural Olympiad Directors in L.A., London, and Paris, gaining firsthand insights into what legacy looks like – and why the work to create it needs to start now.
She’ll be joined by Tim Hunt from ARUP, a global lighting expert who has transformed spaces locally and internationally. Tim is a pioneer in creating inclusive and inspiring night-time environments and is leading a new narrative: Lighting the Way for Women and Girls.
Together, they’ll reveal how thoughtful design, culture, and light can turn cities after dark into vibrant, safe, and unforgettable spaces.
The session will be moderated by Collab. Chair, Barton Green, guiding the conversation and ensuring your questions are answered.
Location: Arup, Level 26/123 Albert St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
Time: 6pm arrival for 6:30pm commencement
Tickets $25 + $1.46 transaction fee.
KEYNOTE - Bec Mac, Creative Director & Disrupter, Chrysalis Projects and POPSART
Rebecca McIntosh (Bec Mac) is a visionary Creative Director, Campaign Creator, and Arts Journalist who has carved a unique niche at the intersection of culture, community, and urban innovation. Her 2025 Churchill Fellowship research exploring the relationship between night time economies, arts, culture, and safer cities has positioned her as a leading voice in creative placemaking and urban cultural development.
As co-founder of Chrysalis Projects, a dynamic response to the COVID pandemic, Bec Mac has been instrumental in employing artists and activating public spaces, demonstrating the vital role of creativity in community resilience. Her ground breaking arts media platform POPSART has revolutionized how we engage with and promote creative industries.
Bec Mac's distinctive approach bridges public spaces, digital content, journalism, and activism, collaborating with prestigious institutions including QAGOMA, Opera Queensland, and the Museum of Brisbane. Her work with First Nations Contemporary Artist Richard Bell at the 2019 Venice Biennale exemplifies her commitment to amplifying important cultural voices.
Her expertise spans diverse sectors, from traditional arts organizations to cutting-edge technology firms like the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Hub. Working with clients such as Brisbane City Council, City of New York and Women of the World, she consistently delivers innovative solutions that unite communities and transform spaces.
Bec Mac's unique ability to weave together public realm activation, community engagement, and strategic communication has established her as a pioneering figure in Australia's creative landscape, driving meaningful dialogue and sustainable cultural change.
PANEL GUEST - Tim Hunt, Lighting Leader, Arup
Using design thinking, Tim has a desire to put people and at the centre of every strategic decision, continuously improving how humans interact with light. With a background in industrial design, Tim Hunt likes to innovate and challenge convention to find new ways of approaching problems through creativity, research, testing and embracing new technologies.
Tim has worked across Arup’s Sydney, London and Melbourne offices which has given him both local and international experience across a diverse range of lighting projects where he uses this knowledge to challenge briefs and push boundaries, working with collaborators to create inspiring spaces after dark.