— Juli Anderson is a design thinker, living in Melbourne and drawn to projects that can solve problems and create positive change.
As a designer, I believe it's my responsibility to use my skills and the design process to create positive social change and improve human well-being and experiences. This principle lies at the heart of our work at AECOM, and it's a privilege to have daily opportunities to contribute to this meaningful goal.
That being said, I'm always on the lookout for new opportunities beyond my regular responsibilities to make a difference.
Joining the Pollinate program in India was a truly transformative experience for me. As a volunteer, I had the opportunity to work alongside a group of inspiring individuals committed to creating sustainable solutions to social problems and improving the well-being of urban poor communities in India.
Over the course of two weeks, I was immersed in a hands-on development program based in Calcutta. Together with my fellow volunteers, we focused on various aspects of Pollinate's business, including their innovative solar energy projects. But what really stood out to me was the time we spent visiting slum communities and getting to know the people who are benefiting from Pollinate's work firsthand.
Hearing the stories of individuals and families who now have access to clean, sustainable energy was incredibly humbling. I was struck by the impact that Pollinate's solutions have had on their daily lives - from being able to see each other's faces at dinner to finding lost livestock at night. Witnessing the transformative power of solar energy in action left a lasting impression on me and fueled my passion for human-centered design and designing for social good.
As a volunteer with the Pollinate program, I was able to contribute to a meaningful cause while also gaining invaluable experience and perspective.
AECOM partnered with 100 Resilient Cities (100RC) in Sydney to develop strategies to enhance urban resilience against increasing urbanisation and climate change. 100 Resilient Cities (100RC) was a global nonprofit organisation that aimed to help cities become more resilient to physical, social, and economic challenges. It was founded in 2013 by the Rockefeller Foundation as part of its commitment to building more resilient cities around the world.
AECOM provided strategic advice and expertise in areas such as infrastructure planning, urban design, transportation, environmental sustainability, and risk management. The partnership resulted in the development of a Resilience Strategy for the city of Sydney, which identified key challenges and specific actions to enhance resilience.
I led a team working with the technical leads at AECOM to provide creative communication services to support the initiative.
Creative Direction: Juli Anderson
Editing: Brendan Dingalson
Video production: Ben Luke Russell