Danish design offers a window into future of sustainable and smart cities in a rapidly urbanizing world

With a rapidly developing world, sustainability and smart cities have never been more relevant. Passionate about sustainability, Ambassador Lars Gert Lose, the Danish Ambassador to the United States, welcomed guests to his residence in Washington, DC, on April 10, 2018, for a dinner discussion on the role of design diplomacy in urbanization and foreign affairs.

This fifth dinner of Meridian’s Global Leadership Council Salon Series: Entreé to Dialogue brought together influencers across all sectors to explore how smart, sustainable cities can improve the quality of life for citizens around the world. Guests enjoyed a variety of perspectives from prominent leaders and thinkers in the fields of sustainability, urban design, and urban change management.

The night began with warm regards from Meridian’s CEO and President Ambassador Stuart Holliday and Danish Ambassador Lars Gert Lose. Guests heard from experts Carrie Budoff-Brown, editor of POLITICO; Gabe Klein, co-founder of CityFi; David Yokum, Director of The Lab @ DC; and Mark Erdly, Managing Principal at STUDIOS Architecture, a Meridian Corporate Council Member. Topics discussed ranged from smart technology and the need for appropriate infrastructure to supporting sustainable city growth and the role of local journalism in promoting innovation. Mette S. Lasseson of Ramboll spoke about how Danish cities prioritize developing strong infrastructure to make urban spaces more sustainable in order to grow local economies.

Meridian is proud to collaborate with Ambassador Lose and the Danish Embassy in Washington to promote sustainability and innovative technology worldwide. This event would not be possible without the generous support of the Meridian Global Leadership Council whose members are committed to supporting Meridan’s mission of advancing global leadership and public diplomacy.