Speakers

Lorina Hoxha is a Senior Project Manager at the City of Toronto's Transportation Services Division, where she leads the Division's transportation equity policy development, research, and evaluation. As a policy professional with a background in Urban Sociology, Lorina's work focuses on improving social outcomes of urban infrastructure and service planning, particularly in the transportation and housing sectors. She has diverse experience working for municipal governments, social policy institutes, urban planning and architecture studios and non-profit organizations in Canada, the Netherlands and the Balkans.

Leila Ghaffari is an assistant professor at the department of Geography, Planning and Environment of Concordia University. She holds a joint PhD in Urban Studies from the University of Québec in Montreal and in Urban Planning from the University of Tours. Her research interests include neighborhood transformation, gentrification, territorial inequalities, housing policies, and social aspects of urban spaces. She has developed a framework for social acceptability of gentrification with a place-based look at the Right to The City. Lately, she has been working on the post-pandemic redefinition of Third Places, as well as on housing policies for fostering housing affordability. Her research on housing policies has benefited from her experience as a Housing Policy Advisor at Vivre en Ville. The study of the bylaw for a diverse metropolis of Montreal is the focus of her current research project. As a member of Task Force for Housing and Climate, she has contributed in the elaboration of the Blueprint for More and Better Housing.

Simon Brascoupé is renowned for his contributions to public art in the National Capital Region. His community-based, participatory art projects promote Algonquin art, culture, and teachings to audiences regionally, nationally, and internationally. His works are designed to foster cultural awareness and appreciation while contributing to urban vibrancy and community resilience. Brascoupé’s notable projects include the Algonquin Birch Bark Basket Sculpture at Abinan Place in Gatineau, crafted in collaboration with Algonquin Elders. This sculpture, inspired by traditional birch bark designs, symbolizes the interconnectedness of family, women, animals, and the land. His large-scale murals at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and Carleton University’s Ojigkwanong Indigenous Student Centre also reflect Indigenous cultural themes, contributing to the cultural fabric of these institutions. At Ottawa’s Pimisi Station, Brascoupé created two significant public artworks: Màmawi – Together, a vibrant paddle installation symbolizing unity, and the Algonquin Moose Sculpture, a powerful red moose that embodies the Algonquin connection to land and wildlife. Additionally, his original artwork for The Ottawa Hospital’s New Civic Development features silhouettes of medicinal plants, created in collaboration with his daughter, Mairi Brascoupé, honouring Indigenous contributions through symbolic, healing imagery

Art places. Culture spaces. Creative Economy. At the centre of a network of urbanists, artists and public space specialists, Jacquelyn’s passion is supporting the Canadian creative economy and catalyzing new opportunities for our cultural and creative industries. Here, and abroad. Jacquelyn does this through several means and with great collaborators. Believing deeply that creative access to public space and central real estate is an essential ingredient for the cultural sector to thrive, Jacquelyn has specialized over the past decade in cultural place development: particularly toward contemporary community hubs, affordable creative workspace, and creative industry clusters. Jacquelyn’s projects have bridged private impact investment, contemporary mixed-use development design, and community need, into new vibrant cultural platforms and welcoming public spaces. She’s spearheaded temporary and permanent projects and contributed to other iconic cultural place projects in several capacities such as Development, Direction, Curation, Community. Jacquelyn brings a rare balance of vision and actualization.

Liliane Lê is Vice-President of Public Affairs and Marketing at the National Gallery of Canada, leading teams responsible for government relations and partnerships, communications, marketing and sponsorship, web, publications and copyright. With past roles at CBC/Radio-Canada, including Director of International & Government Relations, and leadership positions at Telefilm Canada and Canadian Heritage, Liliane combines strategic expertise in policy, planning, and public engagement in cultural industries. 

Cynthia Dorrington is the President of Vale & Associates Human Resource Management and Consulting Inc. Established in 2004, Vale & Associates is a boutique international consulting firm specializing in providing strategy and advisory services as well as customized training and development for organizations. As President, Cynthia undertakes consulting work with small to medium-sized organizations across various industry sectors from start-ups, to businesses undergoing growth, to mergers/acquisitions with an emphasis on strategic positioning of its human resources and managing change. Expertise in areas such as organizational strategy and design; people strategy and human resources; business growth strategies; equity, diversity and inclusion; supplier diversity; change management; and board governance have allowed Vale & Associates the opportunity to provide consulting services to several clients locally, nationally and internationally. 

Carol graduated from the Technical University of Nova Scotia with a Masters Degree in Architecture in 1992. After 15 years in private practice he worked as a senior urban designer in the City’s planning and development group where he chaired the Edmonton Urban Design Awards in 2005 and 2007. In 2007 Carol move over to the City’s building group as a project architect and in 2009 took over as City Architect. As City Architect he has worked to emphasize the importance of urban and architectural design excellence for the betterment of the city and communities that we live in. Leveraging the City’s current policies and bylaws, the City has revised it’s RFQ/RFP process to reflect the required higher design standard. In 2017 Carol was inducted into the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada's College of Fellow for his continued advocacy of the architectural profession and in 2023 he received the RAIC Advocate for Architecture Gold medal.

Niranjan is currently EVP & COO for RBC’s Commercial Bank and a member of its Operating Committee with responsibility for the overall business strategy and shaping the business for the future.  He oversees important HSBC integration priorities and leads our segment and sector teams, ESG and Climate Strategy. Niranjan also manages our overall business performance, business management and transformation agenda and plays a key role in building and strengthening external relations with key partners, regulators and industry stakeholders. Niranjan has spent his career at RBC in progressively senior roles across various lines of business and functional groups including roles as Senior Vice President & Head of Loyalty, Merchant Solutions & Enterprise Partnerships, Vice President, Term Investment & Savings, and Vice President, Strategy Commercial Banking. Niranjan is a member of the Board of Directors of Michael Garron Hospital (Formerly Toronto East General Hospital), the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Ontario Global 100 (OG100). He is also past Vice Chair of the MGH Foundation and the MS Society of Canada, Ontario Division. Niranjan and his wife Sara have two daughters and reside in Toronto.

Margaux Weinrib (they/them) is a Placemaker, Cultural Planner, and Community Engagement Specialist with the Canadian-based creative placemaking firm MASSIVart. Their work is rooted in the belief that culture is the foundation of meaningful connections – between people, places, and communities. For over five years, Margaux has guided ambitious arts and cultural projects across Canada and beyond, leading initiatives that promote public art and cultural development in fast-growing Canadian cities such as Brampton, Barrie, and Stratford. Working closely with corporate real estate clients, art institutions, and local communities, Margaux integrates public art, cultural programming, and placemaking to create vibrant, inclusive cities. Steeped in an understanding of international urban contexts, gained through study and work in the United States, Mexico, Cuba, China, and Australia, Margaux addresses complex urban challenges with a holistic, community-centered approach

Ewa Jackson is a leader in the field of municipal climate adaptation and resilience. Ewa Jackson has worked with municipal governments for over 20 years in the fields of sustainability, public participation, and climate change. In addition to managing ICLEI Canada’s operational and program activities, Ewa Jackson is project manager for many ICLEI Canada consulting activities and has worked on numerous adaptation and sustainability monitoring and evaluation projects, including those of local, national, and international scope. Ewa Jackson’s particular field of interest is in the area of climate communications, and how effective and targeted communications can be used to move forward with the implementation of adaptive actions. She works with specialists in the field to keep officials at the forefront and responding to the advancements being made. She often speaks publicly on the state of adaptation planning across Canada and internationally.

With over 25 years of experience in marketing and analytics, Rupen understands business needs and how data and analytics can help solve them. A Chartered Marketer, he has worked with organizations of all sizes to unlock the value of information in decision-making and business strategy. He specializes in helping organizations understand population trends, segmentation and evaluate performance. Rupen appears regularly on CTV’s federal and provincial election coverage as a commentator on voters in key races.  Rupen held positions with Nielsen, Compusearch, Campbell Soup and CIBC prior to joining Environics Analytics and earned a master’s degree in urban planning from the University of Toronto.

Bon Woo Koo is an assistant professor in the School of Urban and Regional Planning at Toronto Metropolitan University. His research focuses on leveraging innovative GIS techniques, data analytics, and AI to explore how urban design can enhance the health and well-being of city residents, with a particular emphasis on promoting active living and public safety. He received his PhD and his master’s degree in city and regional planning from Georgia Institute of Technology. He also holds another master’s degree in landscape architecture from Seoul National University, South Korea.

Kevin Radford is the Deloitte National Real Estate Leader and a Partner in the Financial Advisory practice, based in Ottawa. Bilingual and highly experienced, he specializes in providing real estate advisory services to a diverse range of clients, including public sector entities and various private sector markets such as retail, telecom, power generation, and higher education. Kevin focuses on ensuring that client portfolios facilitate transformational change and optimize workplace environments for employees. His expertise extends to helping Corporate Real Estate teams develop effective target operating models to maximize the potential of their portfolio assets. Before joining Deloitte, Kevin was a senior executive in the Government of Canada with a distinguished track record in managing large-scale, national-level real estate, IT, and security operations. He has significant experience in large, complex procurement and strategic project management, consistently delivering outstanding results with large national teams.

Frances Donald is the Chief Economist at RBC and leads a team of economists who deliver economic analyses to help inspire and empower informed decision making in an evolving world. Frances is a leading voice on economic issues and is highly sought after by clients, government leaders, policy makers, and media in the U.S. and Canada for her deep insights on the macro-economic environment and financial markets in North America. She is recognized for her ability to effectively communicate complex economic issues to wide audiences. Frances joined RBC from another financial institution where she served as global chief economist and strategist. In this capacity, she was responsible for forecasting global macroeconomic and financial trends, analyzing the economy and capital markets for potential opportunities and risks, and serving as a thought leader both within the firm and externally. She’s a frequent public speaker and regularly appears in international media, including Bloomberg and CNBC. Frances obtained a Bachelor of Economics from Queen’s University and earned her master’s degree in economics from New York University. 

Tonya Davidson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Carleton University. As a sociologist, Tonya is broadly interested in urban spaces, public memory, nostalgia, popular culture, and Canadian identity. Specifically, she has spent many years studying the social lives of statues in Ottawa. As an instructor, Tonya is deeply invested in improving my teaching practice and contributing to the culture of teaching excellence at Carleton. Her research focuses on the urban environment, public memory, and national belonging. Her most recent publication is the book, "Tours Inside the Snow Globe: Ottawa Monuments and National Belonging."

Sarah Button is the Executive Director of the Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation. Her 15-year career in affordable housing development, delivery, planning, and policy, spans the public, private, and non-profit sectors in Canada and the UK. Sarah is a Member of the Canadian Institute of Planners and the Chartered Institute of Housing. She is a passionate advocate for non-profit rental housing, and thinks complex problems are best solved by folks with different perspectives working together to change the system. Sarah believes that affordable housing should be the easiest thing to build, everywhere and always.

Nadia De Santi, MCIP, RPP, is passionate about applying an Age-Friendly lens to all of her projects, including policy, land development files and strives to educate clients and the public on this lens. She has extensive experience in the preparation of Age-friendly Community Action Plans using the frameworks developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ontario Ministry of Seniors and Accessibility. Nadia has managed age-friendly community action plans in the City of North Bay, the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands, the Township Dubreuilville, the County of Frontenac, the Municipality of St.-Charles, the City of Brampton, and Grey County, including providing strategic age-friendly policy advice to municipalities.

Born and raised in Montreal, Mathieu is widely recognized as a global leader in nightlife advocacy. Since 2017, he has worked tirelessly as the founder and director general of MTL 24/24, a non-profit organization that advocates for improved nightlife in Montreal. The Nightlife Commissioner will play a leadership role in growing the nightlife economy. The role of the Nightlife Commissioner is to develop, support and promote Ottawa’s nightlife economy and establish the city as a nightlife destination of choice for residents, visitors, investors and businesses. Working with key nightlife sectors and stakeholders, the Nightlife Commissioner will lead the implementation of the City’s Nightlife Economy Action Plan. He will be a policy strategist at the city. The purpose of the plan is to support the development of nightlife infrastructure, policies and amenities to deliver nightlife experiences that are more vibrant, diverse, inclusive, viable, safe and well-managed.

Jason is a partner with the municipal advisory group at Lerners LLP in Toronto, practicing in the areas of municipal, public, development and litigation.  With a career spanning nearly two decades, Jason has held pivotal public sector roles including Chief Administrative Officer, Municipal Solicitor/Clerk, Utilities Board Chair, and Vice President (Strategy) of a regional health centre.  His leadership in advising and managing teams, including the introduction of the global-first public transit system powered by ride-sharing, has driven significant advancements in urban development, infrastructure, and quality of life improvements for communities across Ontario.  Jason’s academic experience includes a Masters & Bachelor of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School; an M.B.A. from the Schulich School of Business; and, a B.A.(Hons.) in Public Policy and Criminal Justice from the University of Guelph.

Jamie Bennett [he/him] works at the intersections of nonprofits, philanthropy, and the public sector with arts, culture, and equitable community development, across rural, suburban, Tribal, and urban communities. Clients include the Center for Cultural Innovation/Big WE Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Museum Trustee Association, Starfish Accelerator, United States Artists, the University of Toronto's School of Cities, and Walk with Amal. He has held the position of Interim President and CEO of United States Artists as well as Executive Director of ArtPlace America.

Greg has over 20 years of experience in urban and economic development policy making and research. He has worked in consulting and academia roles across Canada, the UK, and Ireland helping local communities reach their full potential. Greg has co-authored high profile reports with leading urban think tanks such as Brookings Metro, The Martin Prosperity Institute, and NESTA. He has also co-authored op-eds in the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, and the Guardian. Greg holds a Ph.D. in Economic Geography and a M.Sc. in Planning from the University of Toronto and a B.A. in Geography from Bishops University. 

Brad has driven construction and development professional with a degree in construction management combined with experience in contract negotiation, real estate finance, design development, procurement, planning approvals, commissioning and project close-out. Brad Rodgers is currently overseeing the development and construction of Dream’s Zibi Development (34-Acre Waterfront Community) and is involved with Dream’s Lebreton Flats Library Pacel development. Brad brings experience in development and construction with an interest in cultivating opportunities to provide attainable and affordable housing in the National Capital Region.

Mary W. Rowe is a leading urban advocate and civil society trailblazer who has worked in cities and with communities across Canada and the United States. Mary was President of the Canadian platform Ideas That Matter, a convening and publishing program based on the work of renowned urbanist Jane Jacobs, when a mid-career fellowship with the US-based blue moon fund led her to New Orleans. There she worked with national philanthropy, governments and community activists to support rebuilding through micro-investments in neighbourhood projects for seven years in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Prior to joining CUI as President and Chief Executive Officer, Mary lived in New York City and served as Executive Vice President of the Municipal Art Society (MASNYC), one of America’s oldest civic advocacy organizations focused on the built environment.

Kwende Kefentse is a creator, researcher, administrator, leader and cultural innovator based in Ottawa with a 20-year career in city building through creative practice, cultural industries development, and public policy. His work has been featured in CityLab, Spacing Magazine, and Monocle Radio to name a few. As the inaugural Cultural Industries Development Officer for Ottawa, Kwende mapped the city's cultural resources and co-led the Renewed Action Plan for Arts, Heritage, and Culture (2013-2018). This laid the groundwork for initiatives like the development of Ottawa Music Industry Coalition and the Ottawa Music Strategy (2018-2020) which he led, among other high impact cultural and economic development initiatives. Most recently, as the first Executive Director of CKCU-FM, Kwende reimagined the station's operations post-pandemic, focusing on technological modernization and community reconnection.

Kate Whitfield is a Professional Engineer and a Professional Planner. She has worked in the private sector since 2005 with the majority of her work being for municipal clients. Her experience includes a variety of project types in transportation planning and engineering, with an emphasis on city planning and community building. Kate has worked on projects in Canada from coast to coast to coast. Kate is recognized as a leader in the planning and design of active transportation infrastructure and complete streets.

Scott’s career has been a deliberate and methodical immersion into the world of building better communities. His experiences have touched on immigration, labour markets, agri-food, corporate social responsibility, transportation, public finance, infrastructure, governance and correctional services. On August 1, 2020, Scott became the tenth Executive Director in the 130-year history of Good Roads, one of Canada’s oldest and largest municipal associations. Through training, advocacy and research, Scott leads a team that has focused on everything roads since 1894. He is a graduate of the University of Guelph, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland and the Detroit music scene. Soccer, basketball and music occupy far too much of his time.

Christel Kjenner has more than 15 years experience in the public sector, on both the administrative and political sides of government. Beginning in 2018, she led the City of Edmonton’s Affordable Housing and Homelessness section through significant change, creating a strategy that led to more affordable housing development in four years than in the previous decade. In her current role as Director of the Housing Action Team, Christel will oversee the implementation of an ambitious plan to increase both market and non-market housing supply in Edmonton. She previously worked in the Office of the City Manager and the Real Estate Branch. Before joining the City of Edmonton, Christel served as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Health at the Government of Alberta.

Andrew Reeves is the driving force behind Linebox Studio, a dynamic and innovative architecture firm based in Ottawa, Ontario. Originally from Windsor, Andrew earned his architecture degree from Carleton University before founding Linebox Studio in 2007. What began as a practice focused on residential infill projects in Toronto and Ottawa has since evolved into a multi-disciplinary firm with a national footprint. Linebox has designed over 1 million square feet of office space for leading companies such as Shopify, Element AI, Klipfolio, GSoft, and BenchSci. Currently, the studio is leading transformative projects in downtown Ottawa, converting underutilized office buildings into vibrant residential spaces. Andrew’s design philosophy is rooted in forging meaningful connections with clients, striving to reflect their unique character and vision in every project. He encourages his team to challenge traditional notions of the built environment, fostering innovation and purpose in their work.

Claire Basinski is a registered professional planner, a certified public participation professional and a trained facilitator. Since 2008, Claire has managed or contributed to over 75 transportation related master plans and over 100 consultation and engagement programs. Claire’s primary focus is on the strategic integration of infrastructure and service planning with more traditional land use planning and urban design. Claire is acknowledged as a leader in the field of integrated strategic planning specifically focusing on functional planning related to transportation and mobility with a strong focus on appropriate and meaningful engagement and facilitation. Claire’s unique skills extend to areas of capacity building, change management and behaviour change in the space of community planning and building for municipal clients throughout Ontario and Canada. Outside of work, Claire is an active volunteer with both the International Association of Public Participation and the Ontario Professional Planners Institute where she now serves as chair with over 7 years of experience on the board and over 10 years volunteering for the organization.

Steven Farber is a Professor of Human Geography at the University of Toronto Scarborough, where he specializes in transportation geography and spatial analysis. As the Project Director of Mobilizing Justice, he leads a national initiative addressing transportation inequities in Canadian cities through collaborative research and knowledge mobilization. This project aims to enhance accessibility and address participation challenges for equity-deserving communities, while developing innovative tools for more equitable transportation planning practices and outcomes. Steven also serves as the Interim Director of the Mobility Network at the University of Toronto, where he coordinates strategic initiatives in the transportation sector on behalf of the university. His research contributions focus on understanding the impact of transit accessibility on activity participation, time use, and social inclusion. He employs spatial analysis, survey analysis, and mixed methods to advance his work. Steven is dedicated to integrating his research findings into practical solutions and policy recommendations by producing reports and briefs, liberating research data, creating open-source planning tools, and training stakeholders in webinars, workshops, and other knowledge transfer activities.

After over 20 years of experience in public relations, policy and stakeholder engagement, Leanne Moussa focuses on mobilizing people and groups to find innovative solutions to effect change. She has led community investors to purchase and repurpose two properties collectively worth over $5M. She has also led major consultations at the national level, including in the health and energy sectors.

Alexandra Badzak has been the Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG) for over ten years where she has led the charge on the OAG Expansion project, one of the most important cultural infrastructure projects in Ottawa for a generation which opened in 2018. Expanding the gallery significantly (physical space, staffing, programming, development and marketing), she also helped to profile the importance of Ottawa’s cultural scene by creating a new, progressive space for the arts and situating it on the vanguard of evolving contemporary conversations. Alexandra is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Ottawa and the Past President of the Canadian Art Museum Directors Organization (CAMDO). She is also a board member of the Downtown Rideau BIA. 

Patti Pon (she/her/hers) is a veteran community and arts champion with an extensive track record of leadership and service in Calgary and beyond. Patti has deep and diverse experience in the arts sector, including senior leadership roles, and she she came to the position of President and CEO following her position as director, resource development, Calgary Arts Development. Her community service includes being a board member of the Agora Foundation - publisher of The Philanthropist Journal, chairing the Program committee for the Action Chinese Canadians Together national leaders summits 2019, 2021 and 2023 and was the first woman of colour elected to the board of the Calgary Stampede. Patti has been awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal as well as the 2013 Harry and Martha Cohen Award, recognizing significant contribution to Calgary’s theatre community. In 2021 Patti was deeply honoured to be gifted the Blackfoot name of Miss’tommohtsaamiaakii—Two Standing Headdress Woman. Earlier this year Patti was a recipient of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee medal. 

Sueling Ching is the President and CEO of the Ottawa Board of Trade, dedicated to advocating for business success and community prosperity. Her connection to the Ottawa business community began in 2016 as she assumed the role of CEO at the West Ottawa Board of Trade, where she played a critical role in the consolidation of three local chambers of commerce to create a unified, influential voice for businesses in Ottawa. Sueling has spent over thirty years working in a variety of business and community leadership roles, including as the CEO of the YMCA of Brockville and Area and as the CEO of the Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce. She is a former board member of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. And she currently serves on the Ottawa Senators Foundation board of directors. A strong community advocate, Sueling has been involved in many volunteer and charitable causes including 100 Women Who Care, Make-A-Wish, Rotary International and The Royal Ottawa Foundation. She continues to pursue a variety of initiatives focused on gender equality, community wealth building, and wellness.

Farida Abu-Bakare, FRAIC, is the Director of Global Practice at WXY. Her experience includes roles as Project Director at Adjaye Associates in Accra, Ghana, and Associate at HOK in Toronto, Canada. She holds a Master of Architecture from Ryerson University (2012) and a Bachelor of Architectural Studies from Carleton University (2009). At WXY, Farida leads prominent New York City projects such as the Packer Collegiate Institute Facilities Campus Master Plan, and the Kingsbridge Armory Visioning Study. Her global portfolio extends across Africa, Canada, the Middle East, and the United States, focusing on civic, cultural, and urban design projects. Farida also collaborates with artists and collectives to design, direct, and curate public experiences at galleries and cultural institutions. A work of note is the Palaver Bench, launched at the 2023 Venice Biennale to foster communication and connection. Farida served as an elected Council member of the Ontario Architects Association, has been a Critic at the Yale School of Architecture Bass Studio, and contributes as a Sessional Lecturer at the University of Toronto, John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture.  

Claire Weisz, FAIA, RAIC, Hon, FASLA, is the founding partner of WXY, a New York City-based architecture, urban design, and planning firm globally recognized for its community-centered approach and ability to incorporate new technologies and green design into every project. A prolific creator of solutions for urban parks and public spaces, she focuses on the adaptive reuse of industrial areas to transform them into vibrant public places. Weisz co-founded the Design Trust for Public Space to enhance underutilized sites across New York City, including spaces beneath elevated transportation structures.

Nicole Cooper is currently the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of Ajax, overseeing a range of portfolios and service areas including Technology and Innovation, Legislative Services, By-law Enforcement & Animal Control, Legal & Real Estate, and Customer Service. Nicole and her teams are known for innovations in service delivery through technology, particularly in the areas of municipal election delivery, data visualization and dashboarding, and technological enablement for employees working in the field. Nicole holds a Master of Public Administration and an Honours B.A. from Western University. Outside of work, Nicole spends her time running, golfing, skiing and keeping busy with two young children.

Sandra is the Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Region of Durham. Under Sandra’s leadership, her team is responsible for the Regional Strategic Plan and organizational performance, climate action, key policy files, innovation, and Indigenous engagement. Her speaking engagements have included talks on environmental sustainability, community engagement, diversity, equity and inclusion, intelligent communities, resilience, and leading high performing teams. An award-winning communicator and change champion, Sandra previously held roles in partnership development and relationship management within the federal and provincial governments. She provided policy and communications expertise on a variety of complex interjurisdictional projects within Ontario’s Cabinet Office – Intergovernmental Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, and the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Prior to her work in government, Sandra was the Associate Vice President of a Canadian public opinion research firm.

Born with a degenerative deafblind condition, Matthew is recognized as an expert in accessibility legislation, policy and practice across sectors and industries, with a passion for accessible places and spaces. As Head, Accessibility Practice for the Rick Hansen Foundation, Matthew helps governments, organizations and leaders apply accessibility insights to remove barriers and create economic and social value. He is an advisor to federal and provincial governments and sits on several boards and committees, including serving as Vice Chair of Accessibility Standards Canada, Chair of the Accessibility Standards Advisory Council, and Vice Chair of Canadian Blind Hockey.

Brian McBay is Executive Director of 221A, a Vancouver-based cultural research and cultural space organization. Under his leadership, 221A operates a growing network of over 140,000ft2 across nine properties that provide space for 1,250 artists working in research, public art, artist housing, and artist studios. As a student Co-founder of 221A during the height of the 2007-08 global economic crisis, he is part of a new generation of leaders in the cultural sector aiming to advance the public appreciation of the arts while also reversing inequality, xenophobia and colonialism in Canada. He applies his training and experience in fine arts and industrial design to governance, non-profit property design, construction and regulation and is known as an active and outspoken collaborator, critic and advisor, championing inter-cultural anti-racism in government policy and cultural development in Canada. He co-founded the Sector Equity Alliance for Anti-Racism in the Arts (SEARA), a BC-based consortium that raised funds for BIPOC Artists with over 100 non-profit cultural organizations.

Cathie O’Toole is Chief Administrative Officer of Halifax Regional Municipality. HRM is home to almost half a million residents and is the economic, financial, educational, social and cultural centre for the Maritime region and is made up of more than 200 diverse communities over nine regions. Halifax is one of the fastest growing cities in Canada and a large regional municipality. Cathie has three decades of leadership and public sector experience and is a Chartered Professional Accountant and has been recognized as a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants (FCPA) of Nova Scotia.  She also has a Master of Business Administration from Laurentian University, a Bachelor of Arts from Dalhousie University, and is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors serving on several Boards.  

Adam Mongrain is Director - Housing at Vivre en Ville. As an expert and manager, he has contributed, among other things, to the Housing and Climate Working Group; the PORTES Solution Laboratory for housing affordability and sustainability; and the PORTES OUVERTES document - For a sustainable exit from the housing crisis. Adam is surrounded by a team of experts from the fields of research, private and NPO real estate development, urban planning and land use planning, and the cooperative movement. Before joining Vivre en Ville, Adam had more than 10 years of experience in software development and project management. He has also been working on the institutionalization of the rent register since 2018.

Strengthening infrastructure asset management across Ontario's public sector.

Mark Sutcliffe was elected Mayor of Ottawa on October 24, 2022. Prior to entering municipal politics, Mark was an award-winning journalist, entrepreneur, volunteer, and community activist. For over 30 years, Mark covered politics and current events as a broadcaster for CFRA, CityNews, Rogers TV, and CPAC, and as executive editor and columnist for the Ottawa Citizen. Mark started his first business when he was 19 years old. He co-founded the Ottawa Business Journal in 1995 and founded and led several other small and medium-sized businesses. He has been a coach, mentor, and adviser to more than one hundred CEOs, entrepreneurs, small-business owners, and not-for-profit leaders. 

Verna brings an in-depth understanding of Native issues having worked with various National and Native organizations. This includes having worked for my community on-reserve as the Economic Development Officer. Her experience includes a background in real estate sales in the Ottawa area leading to working as a personal banking manager for RBC. Verna's roles include policy analyst for the Assembly of First Nations, coordinator for a task force on accessing capital for Aboriginal people, community economic development officer of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg which led to the establishment of Awazibi Pure Maple Syrup. Stepping into the social area, Verna became the national coordinator for the National Aboriginal Circle Against Family Violence, and has worked with various National Native organizations such as the National Aboriginal Forestry Association. Verna is an employment counsellor for women leaving violence at Minwaashin Lodge, contributed to a project entitled: "Indigenous Women Speak on Climate Change", and has coordinated numerous events with the Algonquin Language Committee in her community and on behalf of the Algonquin Nation more broadly.

Cameron Charlebois is a retired executive with experience in architecture, strategic urban and real estate development, and municipal administration. He has held several senior management positions, including executive director of the Campus Planning and Development Office at McGill University, vice president of real estate in Québec for the Canada Lands Company, and deputy general manager at the City of Montreal. Cameron is also active in the not-for-profit sector. He is currently chair of the Board of the Canadian Urban Institute. Cameron has also served as the chair of the Board for numerous organizations, including the Blue Metropolis Literary Foundation, Cuso International, the Canadian Council for International Cooperation (now Cooperation Canada), and Save the Children Canada. In addition to this, he has served as the vice chair of the Board of the Evergreen Foundation in Toronto and the Sacré-Coeur Hospital in Montreal.

Paul Johnson is the City Manager for the City of Toronto. As the fourth largest city in North America, Paul oversees delivery of programs and services to more than three million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine. A proud public servant, Paul is committed to making community connections and enhancing the quality of life for all Toronto residents. Away from work Paul is a basketball official who has "blown the whistle" at thousands of games at the local, provincial and national levels.

Mark Garner has been a successful business and community leader for more than 30 years. As Executive Director of the Calgary Downtown Association, Mark is an active champion for building a thriving, vibrant city centre. His business acumen and social conscience were forged during his years as a senior executive at major Canadian companies, including Bank of Montreal, AT&T and NCR Canada. Over the past decade he has increasingly concentrated on the revitalization and development of urban downtowns, playing an integral role as a catalyst for targeted economic growth, vibrant neighbourhoods, social innovation and start-up incubators.

Dr. Prentiss A. Dantzler is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Founding Director of the Housing Justice Lab within the School of Cities at the University of Toronto. As an interdisciplinary community-engaged scholar, his research focuses on housing and community development policy, race and ethnic relations, and neighbourhood change. Prentiss has been published in various academic journals and popular media outlets and sponsored by several funding agencies. Prentiss received his Ph.D. in Public Affairs with a concentration in Community Development from Rutgers University-Camden. He also holds an M.P.A. from West Chester University and a B.S. from Penn State University. 

Renowned as one of Canada’s most respected national and international experts on world politics, Janice Gross Stein is the Belzberg Professor of Conflict Management and the founding Director of the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a member of the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario. She is an Honorary Foreign Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She was the Massey Lecturer in 2001 and an inaugural Trudeau Fellow. She was awarded the Molson Prize by the Canada Council for an outstanding contribution by a social scientist to public debate. She has been awarded Honorary Doctorate of Laws by five universities around the world. In 1996, Stein became a University Professor. Her research sits at the intersection of cognitive science, psychology, and international politics as she focuses on decision making and strategy. The author of eight books and more than a hundred articles, her most recent work is on the management of escalation, the psychological, institutional, and political factors that explain surprise, and the intersection of geopolitics and technology.

Sadhu is a consultant and thought leader on cities: how they work, how they can be improved, and how they are evolving to handle the myriad of challenges that they are forced to take-on. He was the City Manager of Vancouver, BC from 2016 until 2021 where he was responsible for managing the operations of the City, including oversight of a budget of over $1.6B and over 7,000 staff. As City Manager he spearheaded initiatives to address the growing housing, homelessness and climate change issues in Vancouver. He was deeply involved in the City of Reconciliation initiatives and efforts to name and address systemic racism and ongoing impacts of colonialism. He served as Deputy City Manager in Vancouver from 2009 to 2016 where he oversaw the Greenest City Action Plan. Previously he was the Chief Environmental Officer of Chicago and Deputy Chief of Staff to Mayor Richard M. Daley where he led the development of the first climate action plan in a major North American city. 

Dr. Alexandra Flynn is an Associate Professor at Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia where she teaches and researches in the areas of law and cities. Her work focuses on the constitutional role of cities and urban governance, and she has published numerous peer-reviewed articles, reports, and media articles in leading publications. She is currently leading CMHC and SSHRC-funded projects focused on Canada’s housing crisis: the Housing Assessment Resource Tools project, which redefines and helps to measure housing need; and the Balanced Supply of Housing Node, which brings together academic and non-profit community organizations to research responsive land use practices and the financialization of housing. She is also working on several projects related to precariously housed people in Canadian cities, including the governance of personal property of precariously housed people, and human rights and tent encampments. 

Robert embarked on his entrepreneurial journey at the age of 19 by launching his own beachwear clothing line, Osprey Reef, which achieved nationwide distribution in Canada. At 23, he founded Generation 2000, a Canadian NGO dedicated to informing and inspiring youth to take action. The high school program successfully reached 1200 high schools and over 750,000 students in Canada between 1991 and 1995. In 1994, Robert co-founded Decode, a global innovation and insight firm focused on understanding and connecting with younger generations. For nearly three decades, he has led a passionate team of young individuals to explore and develop the future. Throughout his journey, Robert has addressed audiences worldwide on topics related to younger generations. He co-authored the best-selling book on Generation X, titled "Chips and Pop: Decoding the Nexus Generation." Additionally, he has served on various NGO Boards of Directors, including Street Kids International. His diverse experiences include roles as a bank teller, tennis instructor, recipient of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 Award, and even a pizza delivery guy.

Pino brings extensive expertise in developing planning solutions to the country’s most significant challenges, including sustainability, affordable housing and social inclusion. His role as Partner will focus on strategically identifying and achieving enhanced environmental and social outcomes in the development process across our existing and future projects. Before joining SvN, Pino was Head of Impact Strategy and Delivery at Dream, where he helped lead the execution of the company’s impact pathways across the Dream Impact Trust portfolio. During his tenure, he played a critical role in Dream’s successful bid for two significant development projects - LeBreton Flats in Ottawa and Quayside in Toronto. His previous work with Sidewalk Labs as Director of Planning and Delivery focused on using urban innovations to achieve impactful social and environmental outcomes for the development community.

Matti Siemiatycki is Director of the Infrastructure Institute and Professor of Geography and Planning at the University of Toronto. His work focuses on delivering large-scale infrastructure projects, evidence based infrastructure investment decisions, and the effective integration of infrastructure into the fabric of cities. His recent studies explore transit policy decisions, the value for money of public-private partnerships, the development of innovative mixed-use buildings as a form of place based infrastructure policy, and the diversity gap in the infrastructure industry workforce. Matti consults widely on infrastructure policy and is a frequent media commentator on infrastructure and city planning. 

Kelly is a creative leader with experience in cultural policy, arts funding, international relations, market development, partnerships, and government and stakeholder relations. Throughout her career, she has had the privilege to collaborate with partners across Canada and around the world on many innovative and enduring programs and initiatives and has learned that, without exception, the best ones are accomplished by working with others in a spirit of mutual respect, trust and engagement.

Jennifer Angel is a builder of community, momentum, and places people love. Through collaborative partnerships, she builds inclusive, sustainable places that attract people and investment, enhance resilience, and contribute to well-being for all. Jen works with public and private sector interests to find common purpose and support thriving, communities. Her professional portfolio includes real estate, infrastructure and program development, as well as participatory planning and design. Jen was recognized in Atlantic Business Magazine’s Top 50 CEOs in Atlantic Canada in 2021 and the Most Powerful Women in Atlantic Canada in 2022. She recently received the Inaugural Wije’winen Allyship Award 2022 (Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre), and her team has received multiple project awards, most recently achieving Rick Hansen Gold Certification for Peggy’s Cove, 2022. She is a co-founder of the annual Art of City Building conference. 

Gabriel Eidelman is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, with a joint appointment at the Institute for Management and Innovation. He is Director of the Urban Policy Lab and a Faculty Fellow at the Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance. Gabriel’s research centres on cities, urban governance, and intergovernmental relations in Canada and North America. His work has been published in numerous academic journals, including Cities, Urban Affairs Review, the Journal of Urban Affairs, and Canadian Public Administration. He has also authored several policy reports for organizations such as the Institute for Research on Public Policy, the Canadian Urban Institute, and the CSA Public Policy Centre. His latest initiative with the School of Cities, the Metropolitan Mindset (metromindset.ca), co-led with Don Iveson, former Mayor of Edmonton and Chair of Canada’s Big City Mayors Caucus, aims to foster greater dialogue among governments, industry, civil society, and the public about the future of metropolitan governance in Canada. 

Drew Fagan is a professor at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto, where he teaches in graduate degree programs and leads other university initiatives. Drew also is a senior advisor at McMillan Vantage, a public affairs firm affiliated with the national business law firm McMillan LLP. Drew previously spent 12 years in leadership positions with the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada. With Ontario, he was Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, with responsibility for Ontario’s long-term infrastructure plan. He was also Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, with responsibility for the 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games. Drew joined the Ontario Public Service in 2009 from Ottawa, where he was Assistant Deputy Minister for strategic policy and planning at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (now Global Affairs Canada). Before becoming a public servant in 2004, he worked at The Globe and Mail, including as parliamentary bureau chief, editorial page editor, foreign editor, associate editor of Report on Business and Washington correspondent. 

Dorian Moore, FAIA, partner at Archive DS, Detroit, has been involved in a wide range of large-scaled urban design and architecture projects. Mr. Moore is currently a professional advisor for the University of Windsor Center for Cities where he is a team member for the Housing Lab and the Ojibway National Urban Park Hub. Recently, he was among a select group of architects and planners invited to Mississippi as part of the charrette planning team for 11 cities along the Gulf Coast that were ravaged by hurricane Katrina. Mr. Moore was a member of an international team of architects and urban designers invited to develop a vision for the underutilized “Port lands” in Toronto, Canada. He was also a member of the Core Support Staff for the Mayor’s Detroit Land Use Master Plan Task Force which developed the framework for the long-term evolution of the city. Mr. Moore has taught at the University of Windsor, University of Detroit-Mercy, Lawrence Technological University, and Wayne State University.

Dr. Carolyn Whitzman is a housing and social policy researcher. She has worked as an expert advisor to UBC’s Housing Assessment Resource Tools (HART) project, which developed standardized best practices for analysing housing need, using government land for nonmarket housing, and nonmarket property acquisition, using detailed, open data. These tools have influenced federal housing policy. Currently, she works as a senior housing researcher at University of Toronto’s School of Cities, analysing best practices to scale affordable ‘missing middle’, modular, and replicable housing. Carolyn is the author, co-author or lead editor of six books, including the forthcoming Home Truths: Fixing Canada’s Housing Crisis (UBC On Point Press, October 2024) and Clara at the Door with a Revolver: the scandalous Black suspect, the exemplary white son, and the murder that shocked Toronto (UBC On Point Press, 2023). She is the author or co-author of over 80 book chapters, articles, and reports, on issues related to the right to the city. She has provided expertise to national, state/provincial and local governments, UN Women, UN Habitat, and private and non-profit organizations.

Alex Bozikovic is the architecture critic for The Globe and Mail. He is an author or editor of three books: Toronto Architecture: A City Guide; House Divided; and the bestseller 305 Lost Buildings of Canada. He won the 2019 President’s Medal for Media in Architecture from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada for his journalism.

Isabelle Mondou joined the Department of Canadian Heritage in 2018, as Associate Deputy Minister and, after being on assignment at the Privy Council Office as Deputy Minister for the COVID-19 Response (Communications) since 2020, became Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage in 2021. In 2016, Isabelle was appointed Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet (Priorities and Planning) at the Privy Council Office. Prior to that, she was legal counsel to the Clerk of the Privy Council and Assistant Secretary (Democratic Reform). Isabelle joined Canada’s public service in 1994 as an employee of the Department of Revenue. She has held a wide range of positions, including in the Intergovernmental Affairs, Machinery of Government and Senior Personnel sections at the Privy Council Office. 

Tobi Nussbaum has focused his career on finding solutions to public problems, from the global to the local, including serving as chief executive officer of the NCC since 2019. His professional experience has included work as a senior civil servant, diplomat, lawyer and city councillor, while his volunteer energy has been dedicated to community leadership and youth sports coaching. A graduate of Queen’s University, the University of Victoria and Harvard University, Tobi moved to Ottawa in 1996 to join the Canadian Foreign Service. His postings included work at the United Nations in New York, and on international trade policy in Geneva. At home, he served in the Department of Global Affairs and the Privy Council Office on a range of foreign, trade and social policy issues. He also represented Canada as the co-chair of the International Network on Conflict and Fragility housed at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In 2014, Tobi was elected as a city councillor in the City of Ottawa. In his role as councillor, he championed sustainable land-use planning and transportation, transparency and accountability, as well as ambitious city building.

Deana Grinnell, Executive Vice President, Real Estate, is responsible for leading Canada Lands Company’s cross-country team of real estate professionals that successfully manage a diverse and ever-evolving portfolio of development and real estate assets – leveraging former federal lands for new social, economic and environmental impact, and enabling market and non-market housing. Deana also has a key role in fostering the company’s collaborations with Indigenous partners.  Deana draws from her background in award-winning real estate development, sustainability and urban planning. Deana holds a Masters Degree in Community and Regional Planning from UBC and is a Registered Professional Planner.

Diane has an undergraduate degree in History and Peace & Conflict Studies from McMaster University, and a Master’s Degree in Canadian & Indigenous Studies from Trent University. Diane has worked for the (former) Ontario Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, the Peterborough Poverty Reduction Network, and Trent University prior to her political career. Diane was elected as Peterborough City Councillor in 2014, and in 2018 was elected Mayor. Diane "retired" from municipal politics in 2022, and currently works as a Senior Research Officer for the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), holding the Municipal and Water portfolios. 

Arianne Reza was appointed Deputy Minister of Public Services and Procurement on November 2, 2023. Prior to that, she served as Associate Deputy Minister, beginning in August 2021. In her role, Ms. Reza oversees key government internal services as part of the work Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) does as central purchasing agent, real property manager, treasurer, accountant, pay and pension administrator, integrity advisor, common service provider and linguistic authority. Previously, as the Assistant Deputy Minister for Procurement at PSPC, Ms. Reza was the senior official responsible for federal procurement. Ms. Reza directed the development and implementation for the simplification of procurement practices. These efforts focused on building an accessible procurement system that drives value for money while advancing government socio-economic objectives, simplifying the procurement system for suppliers and client departments, and delivering results for Canadians. She is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Working Party of the Leading Practitioners on Public Procurement.

Jeb has a 35-year career working with cities to establish new practices for local sustainability, social equity and justice. In the 1980s, as National Coordinator of Local Elected Officials for Social Responsibility, he led the establishment of the Sanctuary Cities movement in the United States. In 1989/90, he founded ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, and as Secretary General from 1990-2000 built the worldwide organization. In this capacity, Jeb established the UN-sponsored, worldwide Local Agenda 21 initiative for urban sustainability planning, which by the year 2000 had involved more than 6,400 communities in 113 countries. He also co-founded ICLEI’s Cities for Climate Protection campaign, which engaged more than 500 cities in climate mitigation planning.

Growing up on Fogo Island, Zita developed a deep belief in the inherent value of place and profound respect for the human ways of knowing that emerge from respectful relationships with nature, culture, and community. She held senior financial roles in the high-tech industry, notably with JDS Fitel, subsequently JDS Uniphase, where she contributed to building the company into one of the most successful high-tech innovators in history. Zita returned home to Fogo Island in the early 2000’s and, along with her brothers Anthony and Alan, founded Shorefast. In 2016, Zita was awarded the Order of Canada. She volunteers her time and energies to the active direction and management of Shorefast and our projects on Fogo Island.

Myrna Bittner is the CEO and Founder of RUNWITHIT Synthetics, an advanced synthetic data and generative AI modelling platform company working on global social and environmental justice population issues, including equity, growth, decarbonization, sustainability, and resilience investments and decision support. Myrna is passionate about connecting today's technology, policy, and infrastructure choices to future data about the impacts and outcomes for people and our planet. RUNWITHIT is a Certified Indigenous Business, women-led and global award-winning company pioneering the field of synthetic populations and regions.

With over 15 years of executive leadership spanning public, private and post-secondary sectors, Karen is recognized as a visionary leader. She adeptly navigates complex initiatives, driving organizational change and fostering enduring relationships locally and internationally through authentic stakeholder engagement. Before joining the EMRB, Karen held a number of leadership roles including: the inaugural Executive Lead for Health City where she played a strategic role in its inception and the development of the inaugural comprehensive 10-year strategy, as Assistant Deputy Minister within Executive Council where she focused government restructuring and policy development, and as Associate Vice President (Government & Corporate Relations) at the University of Alberta, where Karen helped advance the research, innovation and learning agenda by securing hundreds of millions of dollars in funding and advancing key partnerships.

After four terms of elected service at Edmonton City Hall, Don founded Civic Good, a public policy advisory practice working on climate resilience, housing innovation, and civic innovation projects with like-minded clients ranging from startups to governments. Don continues to live in Edmonton, but works with organizations across Canada, including his recent appointment as Chairperson of the Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation. His primary engagement is with Co-operators as Executive Advisor for Climate Investing and Community Resilience. He writes occasionally about his work on his Civic Good Substack. Believing strongly in connecting passion with service, he volunteers as Board Co-Chair of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness. More recently he was appointed Co-Chair of the Task Force on Housing and Climate. Don also held an two-year appointment as a School of Cities Canadian Urban Leader at the University of Toronto, co-developing the Metropolitan Mindset initiative on regionalism.

Andre Corbould is the Senior Advisor at Integrated Strategic Partners. He was the City of Edmonton City Manager from January 2021 until April 2024. Under his leadership, the City implemented the visionary City Plan, actioned many pandemic and economic recovery efforts, as well as wildfire support for thousands of evacuees taking refuge in Edmonton.  He also led efforts to deal with mental health and its impact on downtowns, community safety, homelessness and city livability. With more than four decades as a public servant, Andre brings significant leadership experience building high-performing teams and community coalitions. He is also CUI's Mental Health Fellow.

Benjamin is the CEO of the Shared-Use Mobility Center; he chairs the Global Network for Popular Transportation; is the founder of Agile City Partners; and writes and curates Makeshift Mobility, a fortnightly newsletter covering innovations in informal transportation. He also convenes the Shared Mobility 2030 Action Agenda and edits and produces Pop Transport. Benjamin serves on the board of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), the UITP Informal Transportation Working Group, the Digital Transport for Africa Partners Committee, the MobiliseYourCity Steering Committee, and is a Senior Fellow for Mobility for the Canadian Urban Institute. He served as the first-ever Chief of Strategy and Innovation for the Seattle Department of Transportation. He and his team drafted the city’s Transportation Information Infrastructure Plan. He also led the development of Seattle’s New Mobility Playbook. Benjamin served on the advisory committees for L.A.’s Transportation Technology Strategy, the Mobiprize, and Cooper Hewitt Museum’s The Road Ahead: Reimagining Mobility and Design with the Other 90%: Cities. 

Andrea Barrack is Senior Vice President, Sustainability at RBC, responsible for the bank’s sustainability strategy and serves as Executive Director of the RBC Foundation, one of Canada’s largest corporate donors. Her mandate includes delivery of measurable societal, employee, brand and business impact through community investments.
Andrea has worked in the sustainability field for most of her career, including serving in senior sustainability roles at TD Bank and Deloitte and as CEO of the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
An active volunteer, Andrea participated on the Board of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, chaired the Dean’s Council at Ted Rogers School of Management at Toronto Metropolitan University and was an inaugural board member of Ontario Health from 2019 to 2021. She is currently an Executive in Residence at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and teaches in the ESG Certification Program. She also ran for office in the 2022 Ontario provincial election.
Andrea earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at the University of Guelph and a Master of Health Science in Health Administration at the University of Toronto. In 2016, she was named in the Women’s Executive Network Top 100 Most Powerful Women in the Trendsetter and Trailblazer category.

Karen Chapple, Ph.D., is the Director of the School of Cities at the University of Toronto, where she also serves as Professor in the Department of Geography and Planning. She is Professor Emerita of City & Regional Planning at the University of California, Berkeley, where she served as department chair and held the Carmel P. Friesen Chair in Urban Studies. Chapple studies inequalities in the planning, development, and governance of regions in the U.S. and Latin America, with a focus on economic development and housing.

Monique Simard is an accomplished manager in the cultural sector who exemplifies versatility and deep commitment to social, political and cultural causes. Over the course of her exceptional career, she has distinguished herself as the first vice-president of the Confédération des syndicats nationaux. She is a committed feminist who has fought for pay equity, maternity leave and abortion rights. She has also served as a director for numerous cultural organizations, worked as documentary producer, directed the French-language section of the National Film Board of Canada, and was the first female president of SODEC. Previously received honours include appointment to France’s Ordre des arts et des lettres at the rank of Commandeure. She remains highly active in the cultural sector, and currently sits on the boards of La Vitrine, of the Fonds Québecor, the Quartier des spectacles international and the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership.

A magistrate at the Court of Auditors since graduating from the National School of Administration in 1998, Alain Resplandy-Bernard also served for three years as auditor of the UN and UNICEF in New-York. On his return to France, he was appointed adviser to the Prime Minister (Jean-Pierre Raffarin and then Dominique de Villepin), in charge of sports, tourism and housing. He then took up a position as Deputy Director General of the CNRS, the main research organization in France, where he oversaw finance, human resources, information systems and real estate. He was appointed Director at the State Real Estate Department in February 2020 where he is pioneering change in the workplace. Among other things, he is working intently on implementing more effective management of state real estate and doing so in a way that is more respectful of the environment. As a passionate advocate for sustainability, he’s piloting a 4 billion euros plan to renovate public buildings throughout France. 

Fanny Tremblay-Racicot is a tenured professor in municipal and regional administration at the École nationale d'administration publique (ENAP) and co-director of the Centre de recherche sur la gouvernance (CERGO). Her research program focuses on institutional reforms, public policy instruments, and management strategies to achieve sustainable urban development goals. With numerous publications on transportation and land use governance, her current research projects delve into the analysis of territorial policies for circular economy, the affordability of transit-oriented developments, and the use of new municipal fiscal powers by Quebec municipalities.