Managing Director - Free Cities Foundation
Peter Young is the managing director of the Free Cities Foundation. He leads the operational management of the foundation, with oversight over project delivery, communications, and finance. Before joining the Free Cities Foundation, Peter spent most of his career based in Beijing supporting trade links between the UK and China.
Private cities"”urban areas developed and managed by private entities"”are emerging as innovative responses to the challenges of rapid urbanization, especially in regions where public infrastructure development lags behind population growth. This panel will explore the motivations behind the creation of private cities, their governance structures, and their impact on economic development and social equity. Drawing on global examples, we'll examine how private cities operate, the roles they play in national development strategies, and the lessons they offer for future urban planning initiatives.