Pamela has 30 years of planning and development experience, in both private and public sectors. Specializing in land development, strategic planning and growth management, she has held various senior positions, including City Planner for the City of Mississauga, Regional Property Manager with Lafarge Construction Materials and Managing Director for Planning and Development with Kilmer Brownfield Equity Fund. She was Vice President – Planning and Development at Fusion Homes prior to joining the TTC.
Kraft holds an Honours Bachelor Degree in Environmental Studies (Urban and Regional Planning) from the University of Waterloo. She is also a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners, is registered with Professional Planners – Ontario, and is a Professional Land Economist.
erin November 21st, 2017
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Magic Moment: For me, it is when a group of people and professionals come together at first with a diverse and opposing set of interests but, after some creative give and take, it is that moment when we collectively walk away with a better proposal than what we originally put forward and everyone is satisfied with a plan forward. Like most things, the most fulfilling moments are those that require some hard work to achieve.
Key Influence:
Brent Clarkson: Brent was the first employer I worked with in the private sector after working in the municipal sector for 8 years. He is an incredible leader, listener, mentor and friend and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to learn so much from him and I do my best to pass on his mentoring skills, his knowledge and professional work ethic.
My daughter: She reminds me and pushes me to be the best I can be – for her and for me. And I like to think I do the same for her.
Next Big Challenge As An Industry: A lack of housing, infrastructure and parks/services to support an rapidly increasing population coupled with climate change and the need to protect the resources we rely on to sustain that growth. There is a lot to accomplish in a short period of time! Therefore, we need strong leadership, effective decision makers and a system that fosters creativity and inclusivity when it is needed for certain complicated matters but also removes regulatory barriers for decisions that should be simple and stream lined.
On Championing Others…:I receive great fulfillment out of mentoring professionals I work with on a day to day basis and I like to actively “teach” inspiring planners as we work together on a variety of projects and provide them support in meeting their career goals.
Secret Talent: Music trivia.
One word that captures you: Strong
erin November 21st, 2017
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Heather has over 15 years of progressive experience working in real estate. Heather worked as a real estate consultant, and most recently as a Development Director with Canada’s largest multi‐family landlord, where she led the widely recognized Regent Park revitalization. Regent Park, which consists of 69‐acres in downtown Toronto, is the largest urban renewal project in Canada. Heather’s team was responsible for the relocation of 2,000 families, the demolition of 54 buildings, the delivery of roads, parks, community infrastructure, 300,000 square feet of commercial space and 7,500 units of multi‐family housing. In the past five years, Heather delivered over 1,850 units of multi‐family housing (over 700 rental units and 1,150 condominium units) on time and on budget.
Heather started at Realstar in 2016 as Vice President, Development. She is responsible for the overall execution of $900M+ in active development mandates.
Heather has a Bachelor of Science in Architecture, a Bachelor of Architecture from McGill University and an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. Heather is a licensed architect with the Ontario Association of Architects and a member of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.
erin November 20th, 2017
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Magic Moment: One of my most personally fulfilling moments was working on the renovation of Ryerson University’s
School of Interior Design (SID) in 2006, where I was able to return full circle to my SID student days. The
project put into practice the lessons I learned during my formative years in the School’s studio‐based
learning environment. I was able to draw directly from my student experience, such as my intimate
knowledge of the SID building gained from measuring and documenting the building as part of a design
technology class. Most rewardingly, my former professor and mentor, Annick Mitchell, became a client.
We collaborated closely together to develop a well‐designed space for students to learn and create. The
SID project allowed me to give back to Ryerson and shape the journey for the next generation.
Another significant milestone happened in 2013. After many years of renovations and building
additions, our studio’s first standalone building was built – the Durham College Centre for Food, a field
to fork culinary school where horticultural students grow the crops, culinary students cook and
hospitality students serve the food. My “magic” moment was sharing a meal with my family at the
Bistro ’67 while enjoying the expansive views over the horticultural fields. We had a family style harvest
dinner featuring Durham’s crop yield while celebrating our quality time together. I was proud to have
my family experience gourmet locavore food culture and the buzz of cross disciplinary energy in our
largest built project.
Key Influence: Dr. Ray Cole is the former director of the UBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture and
has inspired students and practitioners for over 40 years. The key members of our team – Philip
Hastings, Jim Burkitt and I – were all summer research assistants for Ray as part of the Environmental
Research Group (ERG). Ray’s enthusiasm for energy initiatives, capturing natural light and sustainable
design is contagious and what we collectively learned from him informs what we do every day. I joined
Ray in a “Le Corbusier in Context” tour in France which changed the way in which I think about “Light,
Colour and Space.” The key lesson that Ray instilled in me is the importance of sustainability and
environmental issues in the design of buildings.
Next Big Challenge As An Industry: The next big challenge for our industry is to design for Green Building Initiatives – working towards
buildings with carbon neutral and zero energy footprints. We need to campaign our public and private
clients to ensure that they embrace these agendas and take them seriously. As an industry we should
show our clients how to holistically design an environmentally sound piece of architecture – how it
would function and what it would look like.
On Championing Others… I strongly believe in nurturing the development of the next generation of architects and designers.
Mentoring future designers, interns architects, and thesis students—“giving back”—forms a large part of
our office culture. Our studio actively participates in the co‐op programs of Canadian architecture
schools, and regularly employ students as part of our hiring policy. During their time with us, I aim to
expose students to the full scale and scope of architectural practice, always leaving an open seat for
them at the design and project table. I have conducted mock interviews with students to provide them
with experience of the process, and also participate in Firm Crawls to give them a sense of the design
work environment. I’ve lectured and critiqued at several architecture and design schools, including
Ryerson University Department of Architectural Science, Ryerson School of Interior Design, University of
Toronto, Humber College of Design, Fanshawe College Interior Design and Laval University.
I am also a passionate advocate for the advancement of women in the design professions. I’m an avid
supporter of BEAT (Building Equality in Architecture Toronto), and have participated in the “Women’s
Leadership Seminar” for the Graduate Architecture, Landscape, and Design Student Union & Building
Equality in Architecture at the University of Toronto, and at the Department of Architectural Science at
Ryerson University.
Secret Talent: I am a gifted gift‐wrapper. I wrap presents uniquely without ever buying gift wrap.
One word that captures you: Optimistic.
erin November 20th, 2017
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With 19 years of international and Toronto-based experience in large scale master planning, urban design, architecture and project management, Christine’s professional goal is to creatively respond to each unique city building and development opportunity to bring forward great urban neighbourhoods and public places.
Currently, Christine is engaged in Campus & Facilities Planning with University Planning, Design & Construction at the University of Toronto. In this role she draws upon her prior experience managing development and planning initiatives for TCH on the Regent Park Revitalization in Toronto, as well as developing complex master planning projects for both public and private development sector clients in the UK, North America and Asia that focused on neighbourhood regeneration, stakeholder consultation and sustainable community building.
erin November 20th, 2017
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Lisa has been a member of the firm’s students, associates, compensation, marketing, business development, and management committees and was the firm’s managing partner from 2007 to 2012. She is also the current Chairperson of its Commercial Leasing Practice Group and Client Services Committee and a member of the Business Law Practice Group and Women Lawyers Group at the firm. Over the course of her career, Lisa has written over 150 articles and is a regular speaker at conferences. Her vibrant practice includes a vast array of clients, both large and small, local, regional, national and international, as well as numerous governments and government agencies, in connection with their retail, industrial, office and brownfields properties.
Lisa has been named one of the best lawyers in her practice area by The Best Lawyers in Canada. She has also been recognized as a leading practitioner by Lexpert® in the 2011-2015 Lexpert®/American Lawyer Media Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada. Lisa was selected as one of Women’s Executive Network’s (WXN) 2015, 2014 and 2013 Top 100: Most Powerful Women in Canada. She has also been honoured with the 2014 OBA Award of Excellence in Real Estate.
In 2009, she was a recipient of the Zenith Award in recognition of her accomplishments as a leading business lawyer and a leading woman in the business of law. Lisa was a member of the Steering Committee for the Law Society’s Retention of Women in Private Practice Working Group in connection with the Justicia Project. She was an advisory board member for the Young Women in Law organization and in 2012 was the recipient of the ICRF Women of Action award, recognizing extraordinary achievements in business. Lisa serves on the advisory board for the Canadian General Counsel Awards. She also represents the firm as a member of the Law Firm Diversity and Inclusion Network. Lisa was recently appointed to the Equity Advisory Group of the Law Society of Upper Canada.
In addition to her professional responsibilities, Lisa has, either personally or with the firm, been involved with a number of charities, including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the Sick Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Negev dinners, the Koffler Centre for the Performing Arts, Azrieli Foundation’s Dinner of Miracles, ICRF and Canadian Society for Yad Vashem. She currently serves on the board of the Women’s Brain Initiative, a charitable foundation devoted to funding research into brain related issues affecting women.
erin November 20th, 2017
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Magic Moment: I was extremely proud to be named to the WXN Top 100 Most Powerful Women list in 2013 in the Trailblazer category. At the gala, where I met the other winners, I had an heavy dose of “imposter” syndrome. What was I doing here with such accomplished women? However, I found that most winners were feeling the same way. Such awards are a wonderful way to recognize and empower women.
Key Influence: Michel Lozeau, Executive Coach
Key Lesson: Keep negative emotion out of the workplace. Passion is great. Anger & jealousy will not help you succeed
Next Big Challenge As An Industry: Climate change is the biggest challenge of our generation. The impact on carbon from the built environment is significant. We need to be leveraging technology NOW to reduce this impact and prepare for the future. Intelligent Building tech and Internet of Everything solutions will be key to advancing solutions in this area.
On Championing Others… I have learned to hire mostly for attitude and train for skill. This creates a team of motivated individuals that can benefit from mentoring and coaching. Exposing my teams and my mentorees to opportunities for growth & development provides a platform for them to shine!
One word that captures you: Innovative
Secret Talent: Empathy. The most under rated skill in the business world.
erin November 20th, 2017
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As an accomplished real estate executive, Susan has over 20 years of experience in the ‘Commercial Real Estate Industry’ in the operation and management of leading award winning flagship assets in both the office and retail sectors. Susan has held progressively senior positions within the industry. Her last position was that of General Manager, Toronto Eaton Centre, Cadillac Fairview’s 4 million square foot flagship asset, where she led a team of 160 people. In this capacity, she was responsible for the strategy, vision and day to day operations of the multi billion dollar asset and led the team through the harrowing shooting in the ‘Urban Eatery’ in 2012.
After a career sabbatical to pursue her MBA, Susan moved to the not for profit world in the industry that she loves to lead BOMA Toronto, the second largest BOMA Association in the world. In this capacity, she is responsible for the strategic vision, advancing the organization’s mission, objectives and values, overseeing daily operations, profitability and growth to drive and enhancing member value. She is also focused on driving change, collaboration and mentoring women in the Commercial Real Estate Industry.
Susan is the former Chair, Board of Directors, BOMA Toronto; the former Chair of both the BOMA Canada and BOMA Toronto Awards Committees, and has served on BOMA judging panels on the local, Canadian, and International levels. She is an active member of the International Counsel of Shopping Centres (ICSC) where she Co-Chaired both the 2013 and 2014 ICSC Canadian Convention and continues to sit on the Canadian Convention Planning Committee. As well, Susan sits on the Advisory Council for the Real Estate Management Program at the Ted Rogers School of Business at Ryerson University, and the City of Toronto Food Advisory Committee. She has won numerous property awards including a Canadian TOBY Building of the Year and Earth Awards.
Susan holds her dual MBA from Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management and York University Schulich School of Business and her RPA professional designation from BOMI (Building Owners and Managers Institute).
erin November 20th, 2017
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Michelle Ackerman is an infrastructure and real-estate development leader specialized in delivering public-private partnerships, and large-scale residential and mixed-use projects. An organized and engaging communicator, Michelle works collaboratively with stakeholders and partners to align goals, and creatively solve problems. During her engagement with Kilmer Group, she has been responsible for project development, marketing and stakeholder relations for the 2015 Pan/Parapan Am Games Athletes’ Village, and its legacy master planned Canary District community, transforming Toronto’s downtown east. Other notable projects include the ONroute Highway Service Centres network across Ontario’s 400 series highways, Brightwater, the 72-acre redevelopment of the former Imperial Oil refinery site in Port credit, the Provincial Affordable Housing Lands Program in the West Don Lands, which will deliver over 2,300 rental units to market (including 30% affordable units) and serving as Project Director for the development of the first purpose-built, mixed-use Indigenous Hub in Canada. Michelle has an MBA from the Rotman School of Business at University of Toronto and is currently Chair of ULI Toronto.
erin November 20th, 2017
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