In this episode, Kat Sliwa, Partner in Toronto and leader of the Dentons Municipal Planning, Land Use and Development Law group, moderates a dynamic discussion from the Smart Cities Expo World Congress in Barcelona with Todd Daubert, Partner in Washington, DC and head of the Dentons US Technology Privacy & Cybersecurity team. The panel also features:

• Taj Forer — Chief Product Officer, H&S Ventures and Litehouse
• Megan Higgins — Partner and Data Intelligence Leader, PwC UK
• Jacqueline Lu — CEO and Founder, Helpful Places, and Urbanist-in-Residence at the School of Cities at the University of Toronto

Together, they explore how the concept of a “smart city” has evolved from a focus on automation and efficiency to a landscape shaped by AI, machine learning and pervasive connectivity.

In an era of rapid innovation, ensuring that AI-driven systems serve people first is key to building sustainable, connected and inclusive communities. Success also depends on maintaining a focus on real-world challenges and selecting technology that is appropriate for the task, rather than being sidetracked by every new capability emerging tools present.

The panel emphasizes that successful smart cities are not built on technology alone. Public trust, transparent governance and meaningful community engagement are central to creating urban environments that serve people first. They also examine the challenges of navigating increasingly interconnected systems that span public and private domains and discuss strategies for applying technology thoughtfully to solve real-world urban problems.

Dentons is proud to share this special episode in partnership with the Intelligent Community Forum. Lou Zacharilla, ICF co-founder, speaks with Iñaki Gaztelu, the new Director of Modernization for the City of Bilbao, about the city’s remarkable journey from post-industrial decline to international recognition as a model smart city.

They explore how Bilbao’s digital modernization initiatives and deep citizen engagement have driven sustainable human-centered urban transformation and discuss the strategies that will guide the city’s next chapter. This episode offers valuable insights for anyone interested in creating inclusive connected and technologically empowered communities.

In this episode, Todd Daubert dives into the concept of "private smart cities" and how they’re transforming urban spaces through technology. Unlike traditional smart cities, which rely on multi-departmental coordination, private smart cities benefit from centralized decision-making, allowing a single network to support everything from security to public transit. This streamlined approach cuts costs, boosts efficiency, and enhances access to services like Wi-Fi, education, and healthcare. Todd discusses how these cities could set new standards for innovation and social equity, showcasing the potential for tech-driven solutions to address urban challenges in powerful ways.

Explore the pivotal role of universities as key partners in building smarter, more sustainable cities. This episode dives into how universities provide critical research capacity, acting as community anchors and supporting municipalities with innovative solutions like housing accelerators. We’ll discuss the benefits of university-municipality partnerships, from data-driven insights to transformative urban planning, as well as the unique challenges these collaborations face. Featuring real-world examples, such as C4C’s work with the Municipality of Lakeshore, this episode uncovers how these partnerships are shaping the cities of tomorrow.

In this episode, Amer Pasalic speaks with William Muller, Vice President of Business Development at Seoul Robotics, to explore emerging traffic technologies smart cities are using to enhance efficiency and safety for their communities.

In this episode, Monica Song has a policy discussion on broadband with Ian Scott, former Chair of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). They discuss barriers, opportunities and topics like how well prepared Canada is for scaling up to seamless online access across cities and metropolitan regions. If you would like to watch the video recording of this podcast, please click here.

In this episode, Diana Doracin speaks with Naama Blonder who is an architect and urban designer and the co-founder of the architecture firm Smart Density, about how smart density contributes to smart mobility.

In this episode, Katarzyna Sliwa speaks with Larry Williams, President and CEO of the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), about some of the key challenges in bridging the digital divide between urban and rural cities, with a focus on Georgia.

In this episode, Diana Betlej speaks with Kevin Beaudette, Director of Mid-Rise at Caivan Communities, to discuss the benefits of implementing geothermal energy into new development projects from a developer and consumer perspective.

In this episode, Katarzyna Sliwa speaks with Shannon Brushe, Partner at Dentons Global Advisors, to discuss the communications challenges companies and consumers are facing in the transition to smarter cities and the forward thinking needed to ensure key stakeholders are engaged throughout the process.