Start Date : 3 May 11   End Date : 3 May 11 Location: Columbia University, New York City

UN-HABITAT Executive Director, Joan Clos, has announced the establishment of the annual Brian Williams Memorial Lecture on Sustainable Urban Transport and Energy Policy in commemoration of long-time staff member Mr. Brian Williams, who passed away on 3 October 2009.

The inaugural presentation will be held on 3 May 2011 at 5.15 pm at Columbia University in New York (Room 114, Avery Hall, enter the campus at 116th Street and Broadway).

A pioneer in his field, Brian Williams headed UN-Habitat’s activities in Urban Transport and Energy Policy for many years. Until his untimely death, he promoted sustainable urban transport, energy efficiency in buildings and renewable energy projects in urban settings in developing countries at a time when these topics were only popular among experts in the development field and innovative cities in developed countries.

To honor his legacy within the organisation and beyond, UN-Habitat has established an annual lecture series, which will be implemented in conjunction with major events such as the UN-HABITAT Governing Council, the World Urban Forum or other international congregations to enable a large number of participants from the urban transport and urban energy community to attend. UN-HABITAT will nominate renowned international experts in the field as keynote speakers for the lecture series.