Keynote Speakers

OPPI is pleased to offer attendees at OPPI19: Beyond25 three timely and fantastic keynote speakers: Gregg Lintern, RPP, MCIP, Ramona Pringle and Mikael Colville-Andersen. Please read more about them below:

Gregg Lintern, RPP, MCIP

As Chief Planner for the City of Toronto, Gregg is committed to leading the City Planning Division to making Toronto one of the world's most liveable and equitable cities. In his 35 years of municipal planning, Gregg has held various roles and responsibilities in several different community planning districts across the City giving him a deep institutional knowledge, understanding of legislation, and history of working across the municipal spectrum. Gregg's proven track record in delivering transformative projects of both city-wide and local significance demonstrate his ability to steer city-building in a manner that consistently looks to the future.  He has led many significant projects in the City, including a plan for Toronto's downtown known as "TOcore", the Port Lands Planning Framework, Mirvish + Gehry, Mirvish Village, Yonge-Dundas Revitalization, Billy Bishop Airport and Regent Park. Gregg strongly believes in a positive future for Toronto. As Chief Planner, his priorities include transit network expansion, housing affordability, proactive planning and improvements to the Development Review Process, and implementing OMB Reform.

Ramona Pringle

As a writer, producer and digital journalist, Ramona’s work examines the evolving relationship between humans and technology. She is the writer and director of the interactive documentary “Avatar Secrets.” Previously, she was the interactive producer of PBS Frontline’s “Digital Nation” and editor in chief of “Rdigitalife”. Ramona’s projects have been featured at festivals and conferences around the world, including i-docs, Power to the Pixel, TFI Interactive, Sheffield Doc/Fest, Hot Docs, SXSW, NXNE, Social Media Week, TEDx, and in publications including the New York Times, Mashable, Cult of Mac and the Huffington Post. As a go-to expert on technology, digital culture, and creative innovation, Ramona breaks down complex technological concepts into easy-digestible, actionable insights. Her customized presentations are timely, frequently incorporating the latest news cycle developments. Ramona has a Master’s Degree from NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program.

Mikael Colville-Andersen

Mikael Colville-Andersen is one of the leading global voices in urbanism and he regards the bicycle as the most important tool in our transport toolbox for rebuilding our liveable cities and nations. He is known for his pioneering philosophies about simplifying urban planning and urban cycling and how cities and towns should be designed instead of engineered. He employs anthropology and sociology in his work to develop liveable cities and is sceptical about the weight we place on traffic engineering. He has worked with over 100 cities around the world. His approach and philosophy have led to him being referred to as The Richard Dawkins of Cycling by The Guardian and the Pope of Urban Cycling by Canadian newspaper, La Presse. He travels around the world giving keynotes about how countries and cities could be better if we go "back to the future" and look at solutions that worked for centuries - and apply them today. His new TV series about urbanism - The Life-Sized City - is currently filming Season 3 and his book “Copenhagenize - the definitive guide to global bicycle urbanism” is available at bookshops.