Professor Christopher Pettit

Analytics Lab, City Futures Research Centre

UNSW

Chris Pettit is Scientia Professor and Director of the City Futures Research Centre at UNSW Sydney, an internationally renowned institute that has delivered rigorous, applied public-interest research on cities since 2005. Professor Pettit’s work sits at the intersection of digital technologies, artificial intelligence, data science, urban planning and city shaping, with a focus on translating advanced analytics into better urban decision-making.

In 2018, he founded the City Analytics Lab, followed by the establishment of the Housing Analytics Lab in 2025 — both purpose-built facilities designed to better connect data, technology and people to support evidence-based city and housing policy. He is a past Chair and board member of CUPUM (Computational Urban Planning and Urban Management) and currently serves on the Planning Institute of Australia’s National PlanTech Advisory Committee and the Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network (AURIN) Scientific Committee.

Professor Pettit is also the founder of two start-up companies: Value Australia, an AI-enabled property valuation toolkit, and MapAI, an AI-powered assistant for spatial data.

SESSIONS

Day 1

1:30

Data Driven Affordable Housing

Improving housing data collection to ensure policy is evidence based
Using technology to speed up the preconstruction phase

Professor Christopher Pettit, Director, City Futures Research Centre, UNSW

Day 2

2:30

Panel: The Impact of AI on Affordable Housing in Australia

This session will look at the impact AI has and could have on Australian affordable housing in the future. From positive impacts such as faster approvals, smarter planning and better resource allocation. To the negative, including, possible job displacements, regulatory compliance and distraction from deeper issues such as labour shortages and finance. One thing is certain, AI offers significant potential in affordable housing however, its role will be complex.

Facilitator: Luke Achterstraat, CEO, CHIA NSW

Michael Park, Partner, Dentons

George Giannes, National Manager – Capital Markets & Special Projects, Blue CHP

Professor Christopher Pettit, Analytics Lab, City Futures Research Centre, UNSW