This presentation is proudly delivered in partnership with the Planning Institute of British Columbia and The Real Estate Institute of BC.

What happens when local expertise shapes global cities—and what comes back home.

Join renowned city planner Larry Beasley and urban development expert Michael White as they share firsthand insights from shaping one of the world’s most ambitious urban environments: Abu Dhabi. Drawing comparisons to Vancouver’s globally recognized planning model, this conversation will explore how large-scale vision, policy, and market forces intersect across continents.

Attendees—from developers and planners to real estate professionals and legal experts—will gain valuable perspective on how global best practices can inform the future of development in British Columbia.

To Register: Lunch & Learn: Vancouver to Abu Dhabi; Lessons in Building World Class Cities

Featured Speakers
Larry Beasley -  City Planner
Larry Beasley is the Distinguished Practice Professor of Planning at the University of British Columbia and founding principal of Beasley and Associates, an international planning consultancy. He gained global recognition as Director of Planning for the City of Vancouver. Over a 30-year civic career, he led land use and transportation planning, development approvals, and the transformation of Vancouver’s inner city. His work included neighbourhood revitalization, heritage preservation, and advancing Vancouver’s internationally recognized urban design model. He now advises governments and the private sector worldwide. His international roles have included advising the cities of Dallas and Rotterdam, chairing a national advisory committee for Canada’s Capital Commission, and serving as Special Advisor on City Planning to the Government of Abu Dhabi.

Mr. Beasley has also held senior roles with Aquilini Development and Concord Pacific. He holds degrees in geography, political science, and planning, and has received honorary doctorates from Simon Fraser University and Dalhousie University.

A Member of the Order of Canada, he is also a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Planners and recipient of the prestigious Kevin Lynch Prize from MIT.

Michael White - Senior Urban Planner
Michael White is a senior urban planning leader responsible for campus planning and design at the University of British Columbia, supporting both the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses. His work focuses on advancing the university’s academic mission through affordability, sustainability, reconciliation, and connectivity. With over 25 years of international experience, Michael has worked across North America, the Middle East, and Asia, specializing in urban and regional planning, transportation, strategic planning, and community development.

He spent more than a decade with the City of Vancouver’s Planning Department, contributing to major community planning initiatives, transit integration, and citywide policy. He later became a founding manager of the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, where he helped lead the development of the Emirate’s capital city plan, community revitalization strategies, and early public engagement processes.

Following his work in Abu Dhabi, Michael served as a Principal at AECOM Canada, delivering projects across Canada and internationally. He holds a Master of Science in Planning from the University of Toronto, a Bachelor of Arts from UBC, and is a Member of the Canadian Institute of Planners.
 

To Register: Lunch & Learn: Vancouver to Abu Dhabi; Lessons in Building World Class Cities