Integrated planning and design firm Urbis has appointed Richard Gibbs as its new economic and social advisory director
According to the firm, which was behind such public realm designs as the Gold Coast Metricon Stadium, the appointment of Gibbs brings both rich local knowledge and extensive global experience from his time working in over 18 separate countries across Asia, the US, UK, Europe and the Middle East.
As a former director and global head of economics at Macquarie Group, Gibbs has
“astute strategy and analysis capabilities in capital markets, corporate finance, private equity, mergers and acquisitions, institutional investment, infrastructure, commercial property, and retail banking,” the firm says.
“There is a lot that we can learn from global trends to create really vibrant, inclusive communities; effective urban development; well-founded public policy; and strengthened social fabric. Urbis has a strong reputation in property, urban planning and social infrastructure; the depth of resources and disciplines mean that we can take a holistic approach to problem solving,” Gibbs says.
“I am particularly interested in the way that we can use behavioural economics and social impact factors to change the way that we connect and interact with each other in our communities and urban environments by analysing psychological, cognitive, emotional, cultural and social factors,” he says.
