SCEWC26

CONGRESS
OVERVIEW

A 3-day program with world-class opinion leaders on the issues that matter.

FROM INSPIRATION TO IMPLEMENTATION

THE CONGRESS ALL CITIES ARE LOOKING TO

The ultimate conversation on what’s next for cities, featuring 600+ international speakers, from industry leaders and innovators to government officials, taking part in it.

1 Main Stage featured inspirational and thought-provoking talks delivered by the biggest names in the industry.

9 Thematic Stages focused on proven urban implementations, funding, and scalability.

Disruptive ideas from leading voices

This year’s lineup is coming together. Get ready to be inspired by the brightest minds driving real urban change.

NIKOLAS BADMINTON

Chief Futurist & Hope Engineer

NIKOLAS BADMINTON

Nikolas has spent three decades working with leaders at over 600 organizations at the forefront of futures, strategy, and disruption, including NASA, Google, Microsoft, and the United Nations. He is the bestselling author of The Hope Engineer’s Playbook and was a key advisor on the Age of AI series with Robert Downey Jr. His research has been featured in leading global media.

SOPHIA KIANNI

Co-Founder of Phia and Co-Host of The Burnouts Podcast

SOPHIA KIANNI

Sophia is the founder of Phia, an AI alignment layer for commerce, and hosts The Burnouts, a business podcast with an audience of over 800K and more than 700 million views. She also launched Climate Cardinals, the world’s largest youth-led climate nonprofit. She has served on boards and advisory councils for the World Economic Forum, Ashoka, and the Reform Alliance, among others.

Meet more standout voices taking the stage.

Disruptive ideas from leading voices

A few of the world-renowned experts and industry leaders who took the stage at Smart City Expo 2025.

Maimunah Binti Mohd Sharif

Mayor,
City of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Hayley Tabor

VP Global Industries,
Dell Technologies

Belit Onay

Mayor, City of Hannover, Germany / Vice President, Association of German Cities

Cris Turner

Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy, Google

Anna König Jerlmyr

Former Mayor,
City of Stockholm, Sweden

Priscila Haidar Sakalem

State Secretary for Transport,
Government of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Kees Hertogh

Vice-President,
Healthcare, Life Sciences and Government Marketing, Microsoft

Lisa Kelvey

Global Head of Infrastructure & Transport, KPMG

Ignacio Baistrocchi

Minister of Public Space and Urban Sanitation, Government of the City of Buenos Aires

Josephine Ong

VP Global Industries,
Dell Technologies

Anne Le Guennec

CEO, Water Tech Zone,
Veolia

Erin Mendenhall

Mayor,
Salt Lake City, US

Meet all the voices that left a lasting impact at SCEWC25.

THE ISSUES THAT MATTER

TOPICS

ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES

AI systems are already making decisions, connectivity networks are being stress-tested, and digital platforms are becoming the nervous system of urban life. The question now is how to deploy it responsibly, equitably and at scale.

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ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Cities are at a decisive environmental crossroads: resilient energy, climate adaptation, circular resources, nature‑based infrastructure, and decarbonization are now imperatives. How can we redesign energy and urban systems that not only endure but thrive in the decades ahead?

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MOBILITY

Urban mobility is being reimagined. Micromobility, shared systems and last‑mile logistics are reshaping movement, while electrification accelerates the shift to cleaner transport. Data‑driven management, multimodal platforms and curbside innovation are now key to reducing congestion and coordinating city flows.

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GOVERNANCE & ECONOMY

Cities are rethinking how they operate, collaborate and grow. Digital public institutions, stronger cross‑sector alliances, innovative financing models and dynamic local economies are redefining what urban progress looks like —and how it can be sustained.

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LIVING & INCLUSION

Urban life is being redesigned around people: inclusive spaces, strong social systems, digital equity and cultural vitality are becoming the foundations of thriving, human‑centered cities.

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INFRASTRUCTURE & BUILDING

The construction and housing sectors are undergoing a profound transformation. Smart technologies, sustainable practices, affordable housing and urban regeneration are reshaping how cities build and who they build for. How can city leaders drive innovation while ensuring inclusive, human-centered development for the greater good of society?

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BLUE ECONOMY

As political, economic, and climate challenges reshape our world, the need to accelerate a sustainable and resilient blue economy has never been more urgent. Built on the vast, yet vulnerable ocean, the blue economy must undergo a profound transformation to remain viable and deliver long-term value.

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