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Commonwealth Students Association (CSA)
Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassadors Network (CYPAN)
Commonwealth Alliance for Youth Entrepreneurs (CAYE)
Commonwealth Youth Climate Change Network (CYCN)
Commonwealth Youth Health Network (CYHN)
Commonwealth Youth Human Rights & Democracy Network (CYHRDN)
Commonwealth Youth Gender Equality Network (CYGEN)
Commonwealth Youth Sport Developer & Peace Working Group (CYSDP)
Commonwealth Children & Youth Disability Network (CCYDN)
Commonwealth Youth for Sustainable Urbanisation Network (CYSU)

Commonwealth Youth for Sustainable Urbanisation Network (CYSU)

Sixty per cent of the population of the Commonwealth is young people under the age of 30. Well managed human settlements are key drivers of climate change solutions, economic development, innovation and entrepreneurship, and sources of employment underpinned by the activities of young people, who largely still lack a seat at the decision-making table. 

The creation of this network is in response to the Call to Action on Sustainable Urbanisation across the Commonwealth, launched in 2021 by the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Initiative (a multidisciplinary partnership group of Commonwealth partners comprising the Association of Commonwealth Universities, the Commonwealth Association of Architects, the Commonwealth Association of Planners and the Commonwealth Local Government Forum) which acknowledges the importance of youth in sustainable urbanisation. The network builds on the Youth Manifesto for Sustainable Urbanism launched at CHOGM 2018, London. A unique aspect of this network, reflecting the Call to Action, is recognising the need to foster interdisciplinarity between youth interested, or beginning their careers, in sectors related to the built environment, such as the technical professions, local government and academia. 

Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition Youth Action Group (CSET Youth)
The Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition Youth Action Group (CSET Youth) sits under the CYSU network.

The key objective of CSET Youth is:
To empower youth of the Commonwealth to support, contribute to, and advocate for sustainable energy transition in the Commonwealth and help to achieve SDG7 measures and targets including electricity access (7.1.1), clean cooking access (7.1.2), renewable energy (7.2) and energy efficiency (7.3) by 2030.

We will achieve this through the following pathways:

  1. Empowerment, capacity building and mobilisation
  2. Influence and inclusive representation
  3. Research, knowledge creation and awareness
  4. Youth-driven impact

Eligibility to Register

  • Are you interested in urbanisation?
  • Are you a young professional ? A university researcher, architect, land surveyor, urban planner, engineer, local government technical professional?
  • Are you a young city leader in local government ?
  • Are you a high school, college or university student?

If the answer is yes to any of those questions, you are eligible…click here to register!

Purpose

Empower Commonwealth Youth to support, contribute to, and advocate for sustainable urbanisation in the Commonwealth and to look at ways in which cities and human settlements can better reflect the needs of youth.

Aims

  • Provide an opportunity for young people from across different disciplines/constituencies relating to sustainable urbanisation to come together for networking, education, knowledge sharing and to exchange ideas, tools and learnings. 
  • Build the capacity of youth, to advocate for sustainable urbanisation, shape the future of, and re-design their environment 
  • Communicate the importance of youth-friendly and youth-aware sustainable urbanisation
  • Proactively collaborate with relevant stakeholders to implement innovative solutions
  • Integrate a youth voice into Commonwealth policy and programmes and advocate for strengthened youth leadership and integration into decision making to support sustainable urbanisation

Register Your Interest in The Network

Register your interest in this short online form

The network is further supported by:

  • Janine Xavier-Cross, Trinidad & Tobago, Commonwealth Local Government Forum

Outgoing Steering Committee

We would like to share our appreciation of the outgoing Steering Committee members who have contributed to CYSU. We thank them for all their effort and contribution.

1- George Mwanza
2- Amelia Neoh
3- Pulkit Kanotra
4- Sakkeri Ramya
5- Alice Preston
6- Eileen Goh

Meet the CYSU Steering Committee

Eswatini, Commonwealth Local Government Forum
Mandisa Mthimkhulu

Mandisa is an HR Practitioner at the Municipal Council of Mbabane, Eswatini. She holds a degree in Human Resources Management from the University of Johannesburg and currently pursuing her honors in Industrial Psychology with the University of South Africa. Her introduction to the group came through her involvement in the project implemented by CLGF and Gender Links for young women in local government with counterparts in senior managerial positions in local government. She is interested in exploring ways to attract and retain youth in decision making positions in local government.

Cyprus, Association of Commonwealth Universities
Constantinos Vassiliades

Dr. Constantinos Vassiliades is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Architecture, Land and Environmental Sciences, Neapolis University of Pafos. He is a Research Associate of the University of Cyprus and the Cyprus University of Technology, a Visiting Researcher at the Department of Industrial Engineering of the University of Naples “Federico II” and a Visiting Lecturer at the Division of Architecture and Water of Luleå University of Technology (LTU), as well as a partner at “Vassiliades Architects”. Constantinos deals extensively with the sustainability, technology, and energy efficiency of buildings on the architectural side, both professionally and within his research. He participated in relevant research projects, where he made publications, participated in conferences, taught in training schools in Barcelona and Warsaw, and he is selected as one of the 26 Rising Researchers of the ACU British Council Commonwealth Futures Climate Research Cohort.

United Kingdom, Commonwealth Association of Planners
Olafiyin Taiwo

Olafiyin Taiwo is a chartered Town Planner dedicated to shaping better places and delivering high-quality outcomes through multidisciplinary working, multi-sectoral collaborations, and partnerships. She has extensive experience leading development programmes across public & private sectors and civil society. Olafiyin leads the Commonwealth Association of Planners Young Planners Network as the Convener. She is the Co-chair for the UN-Habitat Planners for Climate Action (Education and Capacity Building) and a member of the RTPI General Assembly and International Committee. Olafiyin is committed to improving the quality of life and experiences of local communities in urban areas. She is the co-founder of Life brooks International, a charity dedicated to bringing hope and transforming the lives of children and young people in urban communities. 

Cameroon, Architect
Fouda Martin

Martin is an accredited architect at the National Order of Cameroon Architects and the Senior Managing Director of the architectural firm Art and Design Studio in Douala. He holds a Master Degree in Architecture from the Institute of Fine Art of Cameroon Foumban, and another Master Degree in Urban and Rural Sociology from the University of Douala, Cameroon. He is also a PhD candidate in Urban and Rural Sociology at the University of Douala. A Youth Leader passionate about bringing out the best from youth to contribute positively in making the world a better place, Martin is the Chairperson and co-founder of PEARLS AFRIKA à Youth-led organization that gathers more than 100 professionals of the built environment, and he is also the initiator of this Network.

United Kingdom, Commonwealth Association of Architects
Simeon Shtebunaev

Simeon Shtebunaev is an interdisciplinary doctoral researcher and lecturer at Birmingham City University, researching how young people engage in the planning of future ‘smart’ cities. He has published works and actively worked promoting the role of teenagers in envisioning future cities. Simeon served as a trustee of the RIBA (2016-2019) and as a Vice-President for Students and Associates, co-founding the RIBA Future Architects initiative. Simeon was selected as the RIBAJ Rising Star 2021 and RTPI West Midlands Young Planner of the Year 2021. Simeon co-wrote the Youth Manifesto for Sustainable Urbanism at CHOGM 2018 in London. Currently, Simeon is an Associate of the youth organisation Beatfreeks, part of the Birmingham Civic Society Planning Committee and the West Midlands Combined Authority Cultural Leadership Board. 

Belize, Commonwealth Local Government Forum
Allan Pollard Jr

Allan Pollard Jr. is serving his second term as an elected Councillor of the Belize City Council. At twenty- seven years old, he is one of the youngest elected officials in the Country and is currently presiding as Deputy Mayor; holding one of the largest portfolios of Infrastructure, Urban Development & Labor Relations. Deputy Pollard also serves as a member of the board of directors for Belize Water Services Ltd. and the National Sports Council. He is an alumnus of St. John’s College and is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from John Carroll University. Allan is driven and passionate about transforming his municipality into a smart & resilient city through infrastructure development and sustainable urbanization. His focus remains on youth participation in governance and youth development through various community-based initiatives.

Canada, Commonwealth Engineers Council
Christopher Chukwunta

Chris is the Vice President of the International Renewable Energy Systems Inc. He holds a master’s degree in systems engineering from Imperial College London and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. Chris is a United Nations Affiliated Technical Reviewer, a member of the Commonwealth Engineers Council Board and a national delegate at the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) Young Engineers and Future Leaders, and a member of the WFEO Climate Action Working Group. Chris works with youths and young professionals through the Imperial College Alumni mentorship programme, University of Alberta Career Exploratory Interviews and UN Youth Development programmes

Evangelos Pastras

Evangelos is an experienced project manager from a Civil and Environmental Engineering background. He is chartered with the UK Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) and holds an MEng from Imperial College London and an MBA. Working in the energy sector since 2019, he contributed to or managed the development of more than 300MW of flexible Battery Energy Storage Systems in the UK and 100MW of generation assets. He is a COP26 and COP27 delegate, member of the WFEO Young Engineers Climate Action Working Group of the Young Engineers / Future Leaders, and the steering committee of the Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition Youth Group.

Micheala Chan

Micheala is a civil engineer at Arcadis, specialising in resilience and the water sector. She is a dedicated advocate for youth participation in driving sustainability in the built environment. As the UK Youth Delegate to the G20 Indonesia 2022, she championed the inclusion of the built environment and a holistic planetary health approach in negotiations. Micheala is also a core team member of the World Federation of Engineering Organization’s Future Leaders/Young Engineers Working Group on Climate Action. Her work includes advocating for and building the capacity of young engineers globally in climate action policy. Additionally, she has worked on youth-led sustainable development projects in East Africa, focusing on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.

United Kingdom, Commonwealth Association of Planners
Will Steel

Will is a Chartered Town Planner of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). He is Co-Chair for International Co-operation for the CAP Young Planners Steering Group (CAP YP), and last year delivered a series of events which led to CAP YP being involved at the UN Innovate4Cities Conference.  Will is a member of the Regional Management Board for RTPI Yorkshire, and was awarded Young Planner of the Year for Yorkshire in 2019. In his professional role Will is a Senior Planning Consultant for Atkins in the UK, and is working on a pivotal railway project for the North of England.  

Malith Senevirathne

Malith is a young urban planner specialising in urban designing, infrastructure planning, and planning technology in Sri Lanka. Currently, he is based in the United Kingdom pursuing his PhD studies on transport planning for disaster resilience and early warning. He is attached to the Global Disaster Resilience Centre at the University of Huddersfield, working on community resilience and multi-hazard risk management projects.

New Zealand, Commonwealth Engineers Council
Michelle Meaclem

Michelle is a Civil Engineer at Tonkin and Taylor based in Wellington, New Zealand with experience across climate change risk, three waters infrastructure advisory and planning, and water infrastructure design. She graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) from the University of Canterbury and received the Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia to undertake a university exchange at the University of Hong Kong. Michelle is the Engineering New Zealand Young Engineers Wellington Committee Treasurer, a member of the Asia New Zealand Foundation Leadership Network, and in the World Federation of Engineering Organisations’ Young Engineers Working Group on Climate Action and COP26/27.

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How to join

If you are interested in helping set up Commonwealth networks focused on health or peace-building, please contact the Secretariat’s Youth Division for information about ways to contribute.

Sign up today

Sixty per cent of the population of the Commonwealth is young people under the age of 30. Well managed human settlements are key drivers of climate change solutions, economic development, innovation and entrepreneurship, and sources of employment underpinned by the activities of young people, who largely still lack a seat at the decision-making table. 

The creation of this network is in response to the Call to Action on Sustainable Urbanisation across the Commonwealth, launched in 2021 by the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Initiative (a multidisciplinary partnership group of Commonwealth partners comprising the Association of Commonwealth Universities, the Commonwealth Association of Architects, the Commonwealth Association of Planners and the Commonwealth Local Government Forum) which acknowledges the importance of youth in sustainable urbanisation. The network builds on the Youth Manifesto for Sustainable Urbanism launched at CHOGM 2018, London. A unique aspect of this network, reflecting the Call to Action, is recognising the need to foster interdisciplinarity between youth interested, or beginning their careers, in sectors related to the built environment, such as the technical professions, local government and academia. 

Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition Youth Action Group (CSET Youth)
The Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition Youth Action Group (CSET Youth) sits under the CYSU network.

The key objective of CSET Youth is:
To empower youth of the Commonwealth to support, contribute to, and advocate for sustainable energy transition in the Commonwealth and help to achieve SDG7 measures and targets including electricity access (7.1.1), clean cooking access (7.1.2), renewable energy (7.2) and energy efficiency (7.3) by 2030.

We will achieve this through the following pathways:

  1. Empowerment, capacity building and mobilisation
  2. Influence and inclusive representation
  3. Research, knowledge creation and awareness
  4. Youth-driven impact

Eligibility to Register

  • Are you interested in urbanisation?
  • Are you a young professional ? A university researcher, architect, land surveyor, urban planner, engineer, local government technical professional?
  • Are you a young city leader in local government ?
  • Are you a high school, college or university student?

If the answer is yes to any of those questions, you are eligible…click here to register!

Purpose

Empower Commonwealth Youth to support, contribute to, and advocate for sustainable urbanisation in the Commonwealth and to look at ways in which cities and human settlements can better reflect the needs of youth.

Aims

  • Provide an opportunity for young people from across different disciplines/constituencies relating to sustainable urbanisation to come together for networking, education, knowledge sharing and to exchange ideas, tools and learnings. 
  • Build the capacity of youth, to advocate for sustainable urbanisation, shape the future of, and re-design their environment 
  • Communicate the importance of youth-friendly and youth-aware sustainable urbanisation
  • Proactively collaborate with relevant stakeholders to implement innovative solutions
  • Integrate a youth voice into Commonwealth policy and programmes and advocate for strengthened youth leadership and integration into decision making to support sustainable urbanisation

Register Your Interest in The Network

Register your interest in this short online form

The network is further supported by:

  • Janine Xavier-Cross, Trinidad & Tobago, Commonwealth Local Government Forum

Outgoing Steering Committee

We would like to share our appreciation of the outgoing Steering Committee members who have contributed to CYSU. We thank them for all their effort and contribution.

1- George Mwanza
2- Amelia Neoh
3- Pulkit Kanotra
4- Sakkeri Ramya
5- Alice Preston
6- Eileen Goh

Meet the CYSU Steering Committee

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