GTA Affordable housing panel biographies

OPPI is pleased to offer a great program and exciting keynote panel discussion on October 7. Please see below the biographies for our keynote moderator and panelists. Register for our conference by visiting our registration webpage. 

Panel Moderator Jeanhy Shim, President of Housing Lab Toronto

Jeanhy Shim is a strategic and creative 'thinker and doer' who is passionate about the opportunities of city building and the responsibilities of community building.

For the past 28 years, Jeanhy has been working in the real estate development industry providing strategic market analysis, recommendations and innovative solutions to leading developers and financial institutions. Her experience spans the full spectrum of real estate development, including: market research and feasibility analysis; land acquisition due diligence; strategic master-plan placemaking and positioning; product design and development; sales and marketing strategy and execution; project launch and sales management; and post-occupancy Tarion, customer and condo corporation management. She has been involved in the planning, design, development and/or launch of hundreds of new residential projects (condominium and rental) and/or mixed-use developments throughout the Toronto GTA and region.

Currently, Jeanhy is working as strategic consultant to industry clients through her company, Housing Lab Toronto, as well as several of her own initiatives to promote more affordable housing, more family housing and co-housing, as well as more 'child-friendly' cities.

In our community, Jeanhy serves on the Board of Directors at Waterfront Toronto, as well as Urban Land Institute (ULI) Toronto, and the Berry Road Food Coop - a start-up co-op grocery store in south Etobicoke. She also serves on the Community Safety and Wellness Committee of the newly launched BlackNorth Initiative, which is committed to the removal of anti-Black systemic barriers in our society. Previously, she also served on the Board of Woodgreen Community Services and as Board President for two condominium corporations.

On a personal note, Jeanhy grew up in Rexdale in north Etobicoke, then spent her university years living/studying abroad in Montreal, Quebec, Washington DC and London, England before returning to Toronto where she currently lives with her 11-year old daughter.

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Curt Benson, RPP, MCIP

Curt Benson is the Director of Planning Services and Chief Planning Official for Halton Region. He leads a planning team in Halton of over 50 dedicated staff in delivering plans and programs relating to long range planning, growth management and infrastructure, development review and approvals, affordable housing, forestry and community and corporate sustainability. Curt has over 16 years of progressive experience in regional planning, including 5 years at Halton and 10 years at Niagara Region. Curt is a Registered Professional Planner and a Member of the Canadian Institute of Planners.
 

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Sarah Cameron, RPP, MCIP

Sarah joined York Region in 2005 and is now a Senior Planner in the Planning and Economic Development Branch with a focus on growth management and housing related issues.  Most recently she has collaborated with regional and local staff and other stakeholders to work toward addressing the housing needs of the mid-range income group in York Region. Sarah has spent over 15 years in public sector planning. Prior to joining the Region she worked at the local municipal level in the City of Richmond Hill and Town of East Gwillimbury. She is a member of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute and the Canadian Institute of Planners.
 

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Naheeda Jamal, MES, MPA, RPP, MCIP

Naheeda Jamal is presently an Acting Manager with the Region of Peel’s Regional Planning & Growth Management Division. Naheeda’s career spans over 17 years at the Region of Peel.  She has worked in a number of policy-related areas over the course of her career, that have included communication, consultation and engagement, human services planning, age-friendly planning, growth management strategies, sustainability, and housing. Naheeda is a Registered Professional Planner and holds a Master of Environmental Studies from York University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Western Ontario.
 

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Nick Michael, RPP, MCIP, PLE

Nick is a Partner at N. Barry Lyon Consultants Limited who specializes in the housing market and urban economics.  He holds a Masters degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Queen’s University and is a Registered Professional Planner (RRP) and Land Economist (PLE).  

Nick is heavily involved in the market and financial feasibility of real estate development.  He regularly assesses the viability of projects ranging from luxury condominiums in downtown Toronto to affordable rental housing and social housing redevelopments.  As part of his affordable housing work, he understands the complex financial challenges associated with these projects and how private and non-profit developers can overcome these issues at various depths of affordability.   

As a planner and economist, Nick is also active with assisting municipalities to develop housing strategies, policies, and incentive programs.  Nick has recently assisted the Region of Peel with developing their first Regional affordable housing incentive program and will also be assisting the City of Mississauga and Brampton with inclusionary zoning analyses and policies.  He also led major social housing regeneration initiatives in Windsor and Greater Sudbury and was an advisor to Waterfront Toronto on affordable housing for the Sidewalk Labs project.