About GSN
-
The Global South Nexus (GSN) advances critical, innovative, and practice-oriented dialogues on sustainable development in the Global South. It promotes collaborative North–South research and fosters inclusive debate on addressing the persistent global development divide.
-
GSN contributes to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by generating interdisciplinary, context-sensitive knowledge grounded in Global South realities. It supports transformative approaches to planning, design, governance, and environmental management of the built environment.
-
This platform seeks policy-relevant and action-oriented solutions, advocating for good governance, effective regulations, and design standards, while amplifying marginalised voices and enabling equitable participation from North and South stakeholders.
-
Global frameworks such as the SDGS and UN-Habitat’s New Urban Agenda aim to reduce poverty, enhance resilience, and promote sustainability. Yet, translating these agendas into meaningful local action remains a challenge. GSN addresses this gap by facilitating mutual learning and knowledge exchange across geographies and disciplines.
Founding Co-Directors
The Global South Nexus (GSN) was co-founded by three passionate academics in April 2021 at the School of Design and the Built Environment, Curtin University, dedicated to advancing sustainable development and knowledge exchange between the Global South and North:
-
The Late Dr Mohammad Swapan – an Associate Professor in Urban and Regional Planning at Curtin University, Dr Swapan was a committed researcher and educator whose work focused on liveable communities, environmental planning, and Global South urbanisation.
-
Dr Atiq Zaman—an Associate Professor at Curtin University and leading researcher in circular economy and sustainable built environment, Dr Zaman focuses strongly on applied innovation, policy, partnership, and international collaboration.
-
Dr Shahed Khan – a Professor (Adjunct) at CUTM and Associate Professor (Adjunct) at Curtin University, Dr Khan contributes extensive experience in planning, education, and capacity building across the Asia-Pacific region.
Together, they envisioned GSN as a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration, policy-relevant research, and real-world impact on Global South sustainability challenges.
01
Associate Professor Dr Mohammad Swapan
In Memory of Associate Professor Dr Mohammad Swapan
Urban Planner | Research Leader | Global South Advocate
Associate Professor Dr Mohammad Swapan held a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning from Curtin University, where he served as Director of Graduate Research and co-founded the Global South Nexus (GSN). With degrees from New Zealand and Bangladesh, his research focused on liveable communities, urban green spaces, citizenship behaviours, and sustainable urbanisation in the Global South. He was a passionate educator and leader who embedded the SDGs in planning education and practice. Dr Swapan championed community-centred planning, resilience, and international collaboration, leaving a lasting legacy in sustainable development research and education
02
Associate Professor Dr Atiq Zaman
Circular Economy | Global Partnership | Research Leader | Zero Waste Advocate
Dr Atiq Zaman is an Associate Professor, specialising in circular economy and zero-waste innovation. Recognised among the world’s Top 2% Scientists (Stanford/Elsevier), Dr Zaman is a member of the United Nations Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition (CEET). As the Curtin Node Leader, he leads Curtin’s involvement in the National Environmental Science Program on Sustainable Communities and Waste Hub.
He serves as the Circular Economy Theme Research Leader at the Sustainable Built Environment National Research Centre (SBEnrc). He is also the co-author of the book "Zero-Waste: Reconsidering Waste Management for the Future" (Routledge Publication).
03
Adjunct Prof Dr Shahed Khan
Urban Planner | Urban Governance | Participatory Planning | Global South Advocate
Associate Professor Shahed Khan is an Adjunct Associate Professor in Urban and Regional Planning at Curtin University, where he has contributed significantly since 2007. With a PhD in Urban Planning from the Asian Institute of Technology (Bangkok), an MURP from the University of Hawaii, and a Bachelor of Architecture from NED University (Karachi), Dr Khan brings over three decades of academic and professional experience in urban planning and sustainable development.
His research interests span global and mega cities, urban governance, intercultural planning, informal settlements, housing policy, and community transport. He has supervised numerous PhD projects across Australia, South and Southeast Asia, with a strong focus on participatory planning, sustainable housing, and urban resilience.
