Andrea Sinclair MCIP, RPP Private Land Use Planning, Urban Design	Andrea Sinclair is a Partner with MHBC, specializing in land use planning and urban design. Ms. Sinclair joined the firm in February 2006 after graduating from the University of Toronto with a Masters of Urban Design Studies and the University of Waterloo with a Bachelors Degree (Honours) in Planning (Urban Design Specialization). Ms. Sinclair’s land use planning experience includes obtaining development approvals (Subdivisions, Condominiums, Site Plans, Official Plan and Zoning By–law Amendments, Consents, and Minor Variances), project coordination and management, undertaking special studies and associated research, expert witness at the Ontario Land Tribunal (and it’s predecessors)  and presentations to Committees, Council and the general public. Ms. Sinclair also specializes in providing urban design services to public and private sector clients across Ontario. Her experience includes the application of urban design initiatives through policy preparation, site design analysis, community visioning, design briefs and design guidelines. Ms. Sinclair has also conducted a number of design charrettes on behalf of both municipalities and private sector clients. Since 2022, Ms. Sinclair has provided on-going planning services to the City of Thorold, assisting in the review of development applications. Ms. Sinclair is a full member of the Canadian Institute of Planners and the Ontario Professional Planning Institute and is a registered professional planner.
Andria Leigh RPP Public Land Use, Municipal	Andria is a Registered Professional Planner (RPP) and is a member of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) and Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP).  Over the years, Andria has served in a variety of roles with OPPI including sponsoring and mentoring to new planners, Director on OPPI Council and currently serving on the Executive Committee as the Secretary-Treasurer.  She is a graduate from Wilfrid Laurier University; and continues her lifelong learning through a variety of programs; obtaining her Black Belt Certification in Lean Six Sigma in 2021 and is currently completing her Executive Diploma in Municipal Management. Currently as the Director of Planning and Growth at the Town of Innisfil Andria leads an innovative and dynamic team in responsibly and deliberately planning for a rapidly growing community. Previously Andria was the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)/Director Development Services for the Township of Oro-Medonte.
Beverley Hillier MCIP, RPP Public Policy Development, Development Approvals	Beverley Hillier is the Manager of Planning & Building Services in the City of North Bay where she leads a dynamic team of Planning, Building and Property Standards professionals. Beverley’s experience includes a broad range of projects including development approvals, master planning and policy development. Beverley has worked in the public sector for 20 years and has led the Planning team since 2010. Beverley has been a active member of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute throughout her career. She is currently in her second term as a Director on OPPI Council and is the Chair of OPPI's Governance and Nominating Committee.
Brian Whitehead MA, MCIP, RPP Public & Private Municipal	Brian is an RPP with 40 years of experience in land use planning, development, and environmental projects. Brian has a BA in Geography (1980) from the University of Guelph and a Masters in Planning from the University of Waterloo (1983).  Over the past 30 plus years, Brian has lead the planning team at Jp2g Consultants Inc. which now includes four (4) Planners, a Biologist and two (2) GIS Specialists that provides planning consulting services to public and private sector clientele in Eastern Ontario.
Catherine Rose MCIP, RPP Public	Catherine Rose, RPP, is a graduate of the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies (Honours Geography). She is a member of CIP and OPPI. Catherine became the Chief Planner for the City of Pickering in January 2013. Prior to that, she had spent over twenty years as the Manager, Policy for Pickering. Last year, Catherine oversaw the completion of the City’s Kingston Road Corridor and Brock Specialty Retailing Node Intensification study, and the related implementing official plan amendment. Work then began on the related zoning amendment so that this strategic growth area would be prime for development. She has been involved in assessing, commenting on, and implementing major Provincial policy and legislative initiatives, as well as commenting on the Region of Durham’s Municipal Comprehensive Review of its Official Plan. Further, she has been overseeing the consulting team preparing a secondary plan for Northeast Pickering - an area anticipated to be included in the Region’s settlement area boundary expansion. Now, she will oversee the process to bring 5,000 acres of land that was removed from the Greenbelt Plan, by the Province in late 2022, to enable development to commence in 2025.
Christian Ventresca MScPL, MCIP, RPP Public Development Review	Christian Ventresca is a Community Planning Manager, and currently the Acting Director for Scarborough District, in the City of Toronto's Community Planning group.  Since joining the City Planning Division in 2005, Christian has held a number of policy and development review focused positions focused on the City’s “inner suburbs” of North York, Etobicoke, York and Scarborough.  Whether leading master plans or implementing them through development review, his practice has focused on bringing a practical, resilient and place-based approach to parts of the City transitioning through a second wave of urbanization.  A keen strategist and an unapologetic generalist, he’s comfortable speaking a range of languages from architecture to infrastructure, learning from all manners of professionals to deliver outcomes at the varied scales of city building.  Christian is a graduate of the University of Toronto's Master of Science in Planning program, as well as a Registered Professional Planner and  Member of the Canadian Institute of Planners.
Christine Fang-Denissov MCIP, RPP, MRAIC Public	Christine is a Registered Professional Planner, a Member of Architecture Canada, and a Partner at Urban Strategies. Christine has played a key role in large urban regeneration projects, master plans, and policy studies across Canada and Asia. Trained as an architect and planner, Christine is driven by a passion for design, and a desire to help communities realize positive change. She regularly directs complex and multi-disciplinary teams, and is credited for a number of projects including: planning the 520-acre Downsview Lands; developing the District Plan for Taxiway West District; planning approvals for Canada Square, Commerce Court, Galleria Mall, and Brightwater (Port Credit West Village); and Campus Master Plans for Queens University, and Centennial College. In addition to her work at Urban Strategies, Christine guest lectures at universities and conferences across Ontario on urban design and planning issues.
Claire Basinski MCIP, RPP, CP3 Private Transportation, Mobility, Engagement & Facilitation, Master & Strategic Planning	Claire Basinski is an RPP and Certified Public Participation Professional (CP3). She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Waterloo in Environmental Studies majoring in Urban Planning and has been working in the field of transportation planning and mobility strategy and policy development for over 14 years. Claire’s areas of expertise include project management, master plan development, public and stakeholder consultation, engagement and facilitation and policy development for active transportation, trails, and cycling, TDM and pedestrian related master plan projects. Since 2008, Claire has managed and / or coordinated over 75 active transportation and transportation related planning projects and developed, coordinated, and managed over one hundred consultation and engagement related projects and programs for primarily municipal clients throughout the Province of Ontario.
David Huynh MCIP, RPP Private Land Use, Planning Approvals	David joined Bousfields Inc. in 2004 as a full-time planner and became a partner in 2015. Specializing in land use planning matters, he has been involved in a number of intensification and infill projects, as well as greenfield projects, throughout Toronto and the GTA. These projects include residential, commercial, office, institutional and mixed-use developments. David has extensive experience in obtaining development approvals (Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment, Site Plan Approval, Plan of Subdivision, Plan of Condominium, Consent and Minor Variance), project coordination and management, undertaking reports and studies (Planning and Urban Design Rationales, Segment Studies
Don Given MCIP, RPP, PLE Private Land Use Planning	Mr. Given's professional role is most frequently as the lead planner and coordinator of large scale community plans.  His leadership and broad range of experience with all aspects of development, growth management issues and development approval processes are coupled with his knowledge of development economics and financing which provide an ability to knit together a mix of planning, environmental and political objectives into the fabric of sustainable and attractive neighbourhoods.  Over 300,000 persons now live in communities where Mr. Given has been the lead planner and he is currently working on plans that will house another 750,000 persons and jobs.
Gary Muller RPP Public Land Use Planning	Gary Muller is the Director of Planning for Durham Region. With 30 years of planning experience, Gary is responsible for leading the activities of the Region’s Planning Division, through Policy Planning and Special Studies, Transportation Planning and Plan Implementation. Gary oversees a wide range of including the Region’s Official Plan review, the Regional Cycling Plan update, improvements to business processes, Regional incentive programs, improvement projects and the review of planning and development applications.  Over his career, Gary has led the preparation and review of official plans, community planning exercises, land use studies, facilitated downtown redevelopment projects, community improvement plans and helped facilitate a wide range of residential, commercial, industrial, recreational and institutional developments. Gary has a Master’s Degree in Urban and Rural Planning from Dalhousie University and is Registered Professional Planner.
Giulio Cescato MCIP, RPP Public Development	Giulio joined the City of Markham as Director, Planning and Urban Design, from Arcadis-IBI group where he was Associate Director of Planning in their Toronto office since 2021. At IBI, Giulio grew their planning practice, significantly increasing revenue and productivity, while fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment.  Prior to joining the IBI group, Giulio had more than a decade of progressive planning experience in the City of Toronto holding various positions including Acting Director, Community Planning. During his time at Toronto, Giulio worked on complex development applications including high density projects and completed the Downtown East Planning Study as well as co-leading the Downtown East Revitalization Initiative.  Giulio also founded Planners in Public Spaces, an innovative public consultation strategy that is used in the City of Toronto. He is the past Vice Chair for the Railway Association of Canada's proximity guidelines committee, has taught Policy Planning at Toronto Metropolitan University and also created the City of Toronto's digital consultation strategy for planning applications and studies.  He supports and works closely with the Mentorship Initiative for Indigenous and Planners of Colour (MIIPOC) and writes about planning policy and theory. Giulio graduated with a Masters Degree in Environmental Studies from York University and is a Registered Professional Planner as well as a Member of the Canadian Institute of Planners.
Haiqing Xu PhD, MCIP, RPP Public Policy	Haiqing holds a Ph.D. in Town and Regional Planning from Sheffield University. His career spans more than 25 years of thought leadership on transportation, long-range, development and sustainability planning. Haiqing has shaped planning efforts in both upper- and lower-tier municipalities throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Prior to joining the City of Vaughan, Haiqing served as Director, Development Services with the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville. Haiqing teaches planning at the university level and contributes to research publications on emerging trends and original scholarship in the field. He is a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners and the Ontario Professional Planners Institute and completed the Queen’s University Executive Leadership Program.
Jeffrey Port RPP Public Rural Planning & Development	Jeff was born and raised in upstate New York, where he completed his undergraduate degree in Environmental Science at Cornell University. He moved to Canada in 1981 to pursue graduate studies, and received a degree in planning and economic development from the University of Guelph. Jeff has worked in Northwestern Ontario for the past 35 years, and has extensive experience working in the public sector, private sector and Indigenous communities. His experience ranges from community planning and economic development, to tourism, strategic planning, urban design, infrastructure development and local government services. Jeff is an accredited member of the Canadian Institute of Planners, and Ont
Kirsten McCauley MCIP, RPP Public Land Use, Policy	My passion is secondary planning, community building, and policy work. I have 20 years of experience in the public sector at local, regional and single tier municipalities. I am currently the Director of Community and Development Services for the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Kirstin Maxwell MCIP, RPP Public Municipal Land Use	I have worked in municipal planning for the last 20 years, in planning:  policy creation, implementation, development approvals.
Lisa Prime MCIP, RPP, LEED AP Public Planning Approvals, Environmental	Lisa A Prime, MCIP RPP, LEED AP, is the Chief Planner at the City of Cambridge in Waterloo Region. A vibrant urban community with an important natural and built heritage setting, Cambridge is part of the Toronto-Waterloo Region Innovation Corridor and is one of the fastest growing and strongest economic areas in Canada. Planning in Cambridge is focused vibrant cores with a strong cultural and natural heritage presence as well as secondary planning for Major Transit corridors and incorporation of the missing middle. Lisa leads collaboration with First Nations as part of opportunity through city building. Her experience includes both the public and private sector and major urban initiatives.
Mark Emery BES, MCIP, RPP Private Urban Planning	I thrive while engaging in collaboration with people with diverse backgrounds and roles to develop and implement successful solutions to problems and issues. I graduated from the University of Waterloo in 1982 with a Bachelor of Environmental Studies in Urban and Regional Planning.  I started by career with the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Toronto from 1982-1984 in a research role developing position papers representing Toronto’s business community views regarding municipal and Provincial initiatives.  From 1984-1989, I worked with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) where we engaged with Provincial Ministries to represent the interests of municipal governments on various legislative changes.  In 1989, I changed the trajectory of my career by joining Weston & Associates. In the past 34 years with what is now Weston Consulting, my role evolved over time from where I started as the manager of a Land Investigation Services division, to a Planner with a business development focus to 1996 where I was promoted to Vice President.  I became deeply involved in a range of business operational issues including administrative, financial and personnel matters associated with a consulting business.  I was appointed President in 2007 and today I work closely with over 70 team members to provide a range of planning and urban design services to public, private and community interests across Ontario.
Matthew Cory MCIP, RPP, PLE, PMP Private Land Use	A land use professional with 20+ years combined experience in land use planning, land economics, and project management. Responsible for the day-to-day management of a full range of planning initiatives in Ontario’s Greater Golden Horseshoe Area for both public and private sector clients. Matthew is a member of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute, Canadian Institute of Planners, Urban Land Institute, Building Industry and Land Development Association, and is a Professional Land Economist and Project Management Professional.
Melissa Halford MCIP, RPP Development	Bio not provided.
Michelle Banfield RPP Public Municipal	Michelle Banfield is currently the Director of Development Services at the City of Barrie, overseeing all land use planning for a municipality in a rapid growth phase. She is a Registered Professional Planner with over 27 years of public and private experience, and a big picture thinker and strategic leader with expertise in policy development, project management and community building. Michelle has worked for municipalities across Canada and for the Government of Bermuda, focusing on a wide range of issues such as conservation, intensification and growth management. She has a degree in Urban & Regional Planning from the University of Waterloo and a Masters of Arts from Athabasca University.
Mike Keene MCIP, RPP Private & Private Policy, Municipal Planning Services, Land Development	Mike is a Principal of Planning and Development. He has over 20 years of professional planning experience in land development, policy planning and facilitation and has completed land use evaluations and planning approvals for private sector developers. Mike’s policy work is far-reaching and covers a range of topics including: rural and small-town planning, shoreline development and community improvement. His unique approach to planning demonstrates a special understanding for creating appropriate and relevant public consultation opportunities. Mike is also routinely called upon as an expert witness for Ontario Municipal Board hearings.
Nathan Westendorp RPP Public Municipal, Transportation	With a blend of both public and private sector planning experience spanning more than 20 years, Nathan is currently the Director of Planning/Chief Planner for the County of Simcoe.  HIs passion for unlocking the untapped potential in communities has brought him into his current role as he plans for future growth in a large, diverse and rapidly growth municipality.
Nicole Wilmot MCIP, RPP Public Development	Nicole holds a Masters in Planning from York University and began her career with the City of Brantford in 2007. Nicole was born and raised in Brantford and is honored to be able to shape the community she calls home. Nicole has held several positions with the City, including the Manager of Long Range Planning and currently, Chief Planner and Director of Planning and Development Services, which includes Planning and Development Engineering”. She leads a progressive team of Planners and Engineers dedicated to building a better Brantford”.
Pam Duesling PhD, RPP, MCIP, EcD, CMM3 Public Development & Policy,  Rural	Pam Duesling is a Registered Professional Planner and Economic Development Professional who has been practicing in rural southern Ontario for over 20 years.  Pam formerly worked in both Haldimand County and Norfolk County and is now the General Manager of Development Services in the County of Brant. Pam has a Bachelor of Environmental Studies in Urban and Regional Planning, a Masters in Local Economic Development from the University of Waterloo and a PhD in Rural Studies from the University of Guelph.  Pam is a lifelong volunteer with OPPI and is currently serving as a Director on OPPI Council. Pam is finally a wife, mother and a sixth generation farmer in Norfolk County.
Ray Duhamel RPP Private Land Use	Partner with The Jones Consulting Group Ltd., which is a land use planning and civil engineering firm.  I am a Planner with over 25 years of consulting experience working for public and private sector clients.  My primary practice involves working within Simcoe County and upper York Region.
Richard Zelinka MES, MCIP, RPP Private Policy, Zoning, Development, OLT	Raised in Toronto, the building boom of the 1960s and 1970s initially sparked Richard's interest in urban planning. He graduated from York University with an M.E.S. degree in Urban and Regional Planning. He worked for 12 years as a Planner and Senior Planner for the City of London, with a wide range of responsibilities, including secondary plans, comprehensive zoning bylaws, parks & recreation facilities, development review, and OMB expert witness. Richard entered consulting practice in 1986, where he was consulting planner to several small municipalities, and undertaking planning and recreation studies for others. He prepared several Official Plans and OP Updates, Comprehensive Zoning Bylaws and Updates. He provided planning services to a range of private sector clients. In 1999, Richard partnered with Greg Priamo to establish Zelinka Priamo Ltd., serving private and public sector clients throughout Ontario, and beyond, with offices in London and Toronto. The quality of their work and service attracted a number of large, national and regional corporate and institutional clients, as well as local clients; and their firm grew to become well-recognized and respected across the province. After the untimely passing of Greg in 2021, Richard has worked with new partners from the firm's senior ranks. Currently, in addition to overseeing projects,  Richard focuses on mentoring, providing advice and dealing with broad issues of planning policy and practice.
Roger Saunders MCIP, RPP Public Municipal Planning  & Development	Roger is the Commissioner of Planning and Development Services, responsible for the Planning, Building and Engineering service areas. Prior to joining the Town in 2017, Roger spent 17 years at the Region of Durham where he led the implementation of the key Provincial Planning initiatives and a comprehensive review of the Regional Official Plan.  Roger was in the private sector as a consultant for 13 years prior to joining the Region, working on a variety Municipal Planning and Development projects.
Ronald Shishido FCIP, RPP Private Community & Regional Policy	Senior planning consultant and Partner (E) at Dillon Consulting Limited with over 35 yrs of experience serving public and private sector clients across Canada and internationally. Have served the planning profession as President of OPPI and CIP,  VP of the Commonwealth Association of Planners and member of the Global Planners Network Board. Am currently serving on the CIP- Planning Student Trust Fund Board.
Sandra Weber MCIP, RPP Public Rural Planning	Sandra Weber is the Director of Planning and Development with the County of Huron. She has a Masters in Rural Planning and Development from the University of Guelph and has many years of experience planning with communities across all of Huron County. She is actively involved with the Ontario Professional Planners Institute advising on rural issues and perspectives. Sandra also runs a beef cow/calf operation together with her husband and 3 sons near Belgrave in the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry.
Sarah Wilhelm MCIP, RPP Public Policy, Development Review, Rural Issues	I am a creative, engaged and experienced municipal planning manager at the County of Wellington. I have over twenty-five years of rural and urban planning experience in Ontario upper-tier and lower-tier settings, and a short stint in the United States. I have reviewed all types of development applications and more recently transitioned into a policy role where I am overseeing a municipal comprehensive review. I also present at the University of Guelph, participate in LORAPON and mentor new planners.
Sean Hertel MCIP, RPP Private Land Use, Transit Corridor/Station, Transit-Oriented Development, Housing	Sean is a Registered Professional Planner (RPP) with 25 years of experience in the public and private sectors, beginning at the former Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto upon graduating from the planning program at the University of Windsor. Though based in Toronto he remains very much a “Windsor Boy” and a long-suffering Detroit Tigers fan, and an adopted son of New Orleans. He established his own small and nimble practice, Hertel Planning, in 2012 after a long tenure as York Region’s first Centres, Corridors & Subways Program lead.
Thom Hunt RPP Public	Thom is a Registered Professional Planner and graduate of the University of Windsor and St. Clair College, he holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Urban Planning, a Masters Degree and a Diploma in Civil Engineering. Thom has over 35 years of professional and multi-disciplinary experience and has held various roles in both private and public practice including consulting engineering, conservation authorities, and community sustainability initiatives. He joined the City’s of Windsor’s Planning and Development Department in 1998 and is currently its Executive Director and Chief Planner. For the past 2 years Thom has been the Chair of the Regional Planning Commissioners of Ontario (RPCO) who’s mandate is to advocate common positions on behalf of its member municipalities to both the Provincial and Federal governments.