Meet Our Speakers + The Full Summit Experience

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Discover The Full Summit Experience

Day 1 Agenda, Meet Our Speakers, and Register To Secure Day 2 Activities

Dec. 3-4, 2025 | Ottawa ON | Spots Are Limited!

The wait is over — the full agenda for the State of Canada’s Cities Summit is here. See who’s taking the stage, what topics are on the table, and why this is the national gathering for anyone shaping Canada’s urban future. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the conversation.

Day 1 at a Glance

Day 1 sets the stage with big ideas and bold discussions. From local innovation driving national change to the partnerships powering community resilience. Dive into the sessions that kick off the Summit and set the tone for two days of city-building in action.

Meet Our Speakers

Meet the incredible lineup of speakers coming to the State of Canada’s Cities Summit. From housing to climate to the future of our communities, these speakers are rolling up their sleeves for real conversations about real cities. Here’s your first look at who’s joining us in Ottawa this December, and keep an eye out as more speakers are released.

Ana Bailão

Chief Executive Officer

Build Canada Homes

Toronto, ON

As the Chief Executive Officer of Build Canada Homes, Ana Bailão leads Canada’s new national housing agency in its mandate to accelerate supply, strengthen affordability, and modernize the housing industry. Her focus is on building homes at scale in partnership with governments, Indigenous communities, industry, and the non-profit housing sector. Ana brings more than 20 years of leadership experience spanning the private sector and public service.

Andrea Barrack

Senior Vice President, Sustainability and Impact

Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)

Toronto, ON

As Senior Vice President, Sustainability and Impact, Andrea Barrack is responsible for RBC’s sustainability strategy which aims to better leverage its business, operations, people and community investments to help support the transition to a net zero economy, equip people with skills for a thriving future and drive more equitable opportunities for prosperity.

Margaret Pfoh

Chief Executive Officer

Aboriginal Housing Management Association

Mission, BC

A proud member of the Tsimshian Nation from the Ginaxgiik tribe (people of the Hemlock), which carries the powerful Blackfish crest, Margaret has dedicated over 30 years to advocating for Indigenous rights and advancing housing solutions for Indigenous Peoples across Canada.

Naama Blonder

Co-Founder

Smart Density

Toronto, ON

Naama Blonder has a bold vision: to change what good housing can and should look like in a growing city like Toronto; with that in mind, she co-founded Smart Density. Her professional practice combines the disciplines of architecture, urban planning, and urban design to bring a deeper, more realistic understanding of how cities can address housing affordability and champion inclusive neighbourhoods with more equitable access to housing.

Omar Siddique

Head of Office

United Nations Human Settlements Programme Canada

Montréal, QC

Mr. Omar Siddique is the first Head of Office for UN-Habitat in Canada, based in Montréal. Omar is an urbanist and local development planner with over 20 years’ experience shaping sustainable, climate-responsive, and inclusive cities across more than 40 countries. At UN-ESCAP, he led regional intergovernmental processes and multi-country technical assistance on enabling city climate finance, SDG localization, sustainable housing and land management.

Rionel Comia

Manager, Project Development

City of Edmonton

Edmonton, AB

With over 20 years of combined private and public sector experience, including 11 years in Real Estate (Land Development) and over 6 years in Social Development, Rionel Comia is a highly experienced professional. He currently serves as Manager of Project Development at the City of Edmonton, where he leads a team of urban planners and engineers. In this role, he focuses on developing and increasing the supply of affordable housing units and collaborates closely with non-profit housing providers to advance the City's initiatives in creating and retaining affordable housing.

Tsering Yangki

Executive Vice President, Real Estate Finance and Development

Dream Unlimited Corp.

Toronto, ON

Tsering Yangki is Executive Vice President, Real Estate Finance and Development, for Dream Unlimited Corp. an impact driven & fully integrated real estate development & asset management company. With over CAD 28 billion of assets under management, Dream has a diverse portfolio ranging from condominium, purpose-built rentals, office, retail development, industrial, and income producing properties across Canada, Europe, & the USA. Tsering has over 20 years of experience in real estate development, finance & private-public partnerships.

Zita Cobb

Founder

Shorefast

Fogo Island, NL

Zita has 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.

All Summit Speakers

Alex Sarian, President & CEO, Werklund Centre

Alexander Caudarella, CEO, Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse and Addiction

Ana Bailão, CEO, Build Canada Homes

Amy Robinson, Executive Director, LOCO BC

Andre Corbould, Senior Advisor, Integrated Strategic Partners

Andre LeBlanc, Social Ventures Senior Associate, Community Sector Council of Newfoundland & Labrador

Andrea Barrack, Senior Vice President, Sustainability and Impact, RBC

Brandon Searle, Director of Innovation and Operations, University of New Brunswick Off-site Construction Research Centre

Carolyn Whitzman, Senior Housing Researcher and Adjunct Professor

Colleen Volk, CEO, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Cynthia Dorrington, President, Vale & Associates Human Resource Management and Consulting Inc.

Danya Pastuszek, President & CEO, Tamarack Institute

David Miller, Managing Director, C40 Centre for City Climate Policy and Economy

Deana Grinnell, Executive Vice President, Real Estate, Canada Lands Company

Diane Therrien, General Vice President, CUPE

Dina Graser, Director, Social Innovation Canada

Dorian Moore, Partner, Archive Design Studio

Donna Chiarelli, Director of Programs and Capacity Building, Natural Assets Initiative

Ehren Cory, CEO, Canada Infrastructure Bank

Eric Rosand, Executive Director, Strong Cities Network

Francesca Dobbyn, Executive Director, United Way Bruce Grey

Jacqueline Lu, CEO & Founder, Helpful Places

Jan Kestle, President, Environics Analytics

Jen Angel, Chair, Canadian Infrastructure Council Secretariat

Jennifer Quinn, CEO, Nieuport

Karen Chapple, Director, School of Cities, University of Toronto

Lisa Helps, Housing Solutions Advisor, BC Builds

Mark Schaan, Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Artificial Intelligence), Government of Canada

Margaret Pfoh, CEO, Aboriginal Housing Corporation

Moira Greer, Senior CFO, Southern Chiefs’ Organization Inc.

Myrna Bittner, CEO & Founder, RUNWITHIT Synthetics

Naama Blonder, Architect & Urban Planner, Smart Density

Omar Siddique, Head of Office, United Nations Human Settlements Programme Canada

Ren Thomas, Associate Professor, School of Planning, Dalhousie University

Ricardo Chejfec, Research Director, IRPP

Rionel Comia, Manager, Project Development, City of Edmonton

Robin Sokoloski, Director of Programming and Research, Mass Culture

Sam MacLeod, GM, The Spire Arts & Community Hub

Sanjeet Rana, Advisor to the CEO, Vancity

Stephanie Shewchuk, Director, Housing Policy, RBC

Tabatha Bull, President & CEO, Canadian Council For Indigenous Business

Tobi Nussbaum, CEO, National Capital Commission

Trevor Anderson, Toronto Office Leader & Associate Principal, Major Rail Projects

Tsering Yangki, Executive Vice President, Real Estate Finance & Development, Dream

Verna McGregor, Employment Counsellor, Minwaashin Lodge

Vic Gupta, CEO, Create TO

Zita Cobb, Founder, Shorefast

What Attendees Say About The Summit

“One of the very best conferences I have ever attended.”

“Excellent program.”

“It was a really great day, very rich sessions. A valuable use of my time.”

“Lively, relevant and engaging.”

“Fantastic line up of speakers, excellent variety of subjects and themes, great flow to the day, and so many valuable insights.”

On Day 2 of the Summit

Can't-Miss Activities For Urban Leaders

On Day 2 of the Summit, customize your itinerary with activities happening across the National Capital Region. With sessions curated by local partners, these field trips, spotlight sessions, guided tours and more are first come first serve. So get your ticket now!

1 hardhat tour of a soon-to-open, collaborative public infrastructure project

3 hands-on workshops designed to spark real community solutions

2 field trips to leading examples of public space and housing design

2 indoor tours showcasing creative approaches on the ground

4 spotlight sessions diving deeper into essential conversations for leaders

1 outdoor walking tour for the true Canadians - bundle up and brave the cold!