The Maurice Facey lecture, returning for its fifth iteration next Thursday (October 9), will feature globally recognised urban planner Brent Toderian, renowned for his work in sustainable city planning, transportation, and urban design across six continents.

Hosted at the Jamaica Conference Centre, the 2025 lecture will explore global lessons on waterfronts around the world and recommendations to maximise the economic and communal potential of Kingston’s waterfront.

Themed ‘Where the City meets the Sea: Unlocking Downtown Waterfront as a Public Space and Economic Asset’, the event is free and open to the public.

The Maurice Facey lecture series, established in 2019, brings together seasoned thinkers from around the world to discuss the importance of urban development with a key focus on Jamaica.

By fostering dialogue on sustainable, equitable, and future-ready cities, the series honours the legacy of the late Maurice Facey – founder of Pan Jamaica Group– who was deeply committed to Jamaica’s development and the well-being of its people.

This year’s keynote speaker, Brent Toderian, is an internationally recognised thought-leader on cities, downtowns and waterfronts – advising governments, organisations, and developers in countries such as Sydney, Auckland, Medellín, Oslo, Helsinki, and Paris, through his firm TODERIAN UrbanWORKS Inc.

During his tenure as chief city planner for Vancouver, Canada, Brent oversaw transformative initiatives such as the city’s downtown and waterfront planning, the 2010 Olympics, and strategies to create a more complete, multi-modal, and livable city.

Twice named among the ‘100 Most Influential Global Urbanists in History’ by Planetizen, Toderian’s expertise continues to shape how cities embrace sustainability, mobility, and design.

Stephen Facey, chairman of the Pan Jamaica Group and CB Facey Foundation, shared, “The Maurice Facey lecture has always been about sparking critical dialogue on Jamaica’s urban future through the lens of international best practices. Brent’s experience and perspective will help us consider how Jamaica’s cities can evolve to meet the challenges and opportunities of today and tomorrow.”

Gayon Douglas, executive director of the CB Facey Foundation, noted that after several productive meetings with Brent, the team is energised.

“He’ll arrive in Kingston a few days before the lecture to personally experience the waterfront and downtown of our capital city firsthand. At his request, this will allow him to refine his insights and recommendations specifically for the Jamaican context, so we’re looking forward to an engaging lecture,” she added.

The annual event, hosted by the Pan Jamaica Group and the C.B. Facey Foundation, continues to demonstrate the organisations’ longstanding commitment to Jamaica’s development.

In Kingston, the group’s recent projects have included landmark developments such as the ROK Hotel & Residences on the waterfront, alongside ongoing investments in property, logistics, and infrastructure that contribute to national growth. These efforts underscore the company’s belief that sustainable urban development is essential to Jamaica’s future, making this year’s theme of waterfront revitalisation particularly timely.