Cape Town’s Inner City regeneration efforts are gaining momentum with Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis invited as a speaker at Monocle’s Quality of Life Conference in Barcelona from 4-6 September 2025.
Monocle started as an urbanist publication but has become a global community with an independent voice on global affairs, business, design, and culture. It goes beyond headlines to deliver sharp analysis, inspiring ideas and deep reporting and all with an ambitious global perspective. The event brings together the best thinkers and brightest creatives from across the globe for in-person discussions about the issues that matter most.
The Mayor will join global mayors, urbanists, and global city-makers to explore how better planning, infrastructure and public space can improve urban life. His participation represents a unique opportunity to both showcase Cape Town’s inner city progress and learn from global best practices that could help shape the city’s next chapter.
Says Andrew Tuck, Monocle’s editor in chief, “Our annual Quality of Life Conference brings together the best global names in everything from architecture to urban leadership as we put a spotlight on people who make a difference, new benchmarks for success. It’s a day of debate and discussion that sets out to inspire change, seek out new opportunities. Our belief is that we know what the problems are, now let’s find the solutions.”
Over the course of the three-day conference, everyone from fashion founders to city leaders will gather to hear from designers, architects, CEOs, and cultural thinkers dedicated to building better cities and improving quality of life. Attendees can expect stimulating conversations and thought-provoking debates, as more than 20 visionary speakers – including Mayor Hill-Lewis – and over 200 international delegates explore fresh perspectives on shaping the cities of the future.
“Cape Town has made great strides in both preserving the character while also reimagining our Inner City, but we know we still have much work ahead. This global platform allows us to share what’s working for us here, as well as learn from the world’s best ideas to help us build a more inclusive, accessible, and liveable city for all.”
The invitation aligns closely with the work of Mission for Inner City CT, a cross-sector initiative focused on transforming Cape Town’s city centre into a safer, more walkable and economically vibrant urban core. Through placemaking, infrastructure upgrades and public-private collaboration, the Mission for Inner City CT is helping to drive a more human-scale, connected inner city.
Tim Harris, Mission for Inner City Cape Town co-founder, said the Mayor’s presence in Barcelona reflects both momentum and openness: “It shows that Cape Town is moving in the right direction and that we’re actively looking to global cities to inspire creative solutions to our unique challenges. Our vision is not just about urban aesthetics, but about creating a city that works better for everyone who lives, works or visits here.”
Cape Town’s approach to urban regeneration is rooted in both global curiosity and local innovation. From new safe spaces and economic hubs to heritage-led design and street-level activation, the city is learning by doing and by listening.
Tuck adds: “Every year we invite inspiring mayors to tell us their stories, to speak to our global audience about their cities and what they have to offer the world. The mayors of Dallas, Athens and Oslo have all joined us on stage and challenged people to look afresh at their home towns. This is the age of the mayor and we are delighted that Mayor Hill Lewis will be joining us in Barcelona.”
Mayor Hill-Lewis will appear alongside a distinguished line-up of international speakers, including:
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Adriana Domínguez, executive chairwoman of Adolfo Domínguez – the visionary leader redefining one of Spain’s most iconic fashion brands.
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David Martí Vilardosa, editor and product design director at Santa & Cole – a creative force helping to illuminate cities with clarity and quiet confidence.
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Emre Arolat, co-founder and principal at EAA – the Turkish architect known for creating spaces that resonate with their cultural and physical context.
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Jeanne Autran-Edorh, co-founder of Studio NEiDA – a French-Togolese architect building with care, community and a deep respect for place.
Cape Town’s presence at the conference underscores its growing commitment to thoughtful, inclusive city-making and to bringing the best of global thinking home.
To learn more, visit www.missionforinnercity.org or follow @missionforinnercity on Instagram and LinkedIn.
