Executive Director
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Richard Joy is the Executive Director of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Toronto. Since his arrival as the first full-time Executive Director in 2014, the organization has more than tripled its membership – now the largest chapter in the global network.

ULI Toronto’s multidisciplinary professional network extends across the private and public sectors to advance the global ULI mission to “shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide.”

Prior to joining ULI, Richard served as the Vice President Policy and Government Relations at the Toronto Region Board of Trade (2008-2014) following a tenure as Director of Municipal and Provincial (Ontario) at Global Public Affairs, a leading Canadian Government Relations firm.

Richard’s extensive public policy knowledge and experience comes from over a decade of service at Toronto City Hall and Queen’s Park, where he was the Senior Policy Advisor to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing responsible for the public policy development for the City of Toronto Act (2006).

Richard received his Bachelor of Arts in History from Carleton University, and currently sits on the Advisory Committee at the Toronto Metropolitan University Centre for Urban Research and Land Development. He has previous served on the Premier of Ontario’s Community Hubs Advisory Panel, the City of Toronto, TOCore Advisory Committee, and the Greenbelt Foundation, Places to Grow Advisory Board.

Senior Director
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Alexandra Rybak joined ULI Toronto in 2005 as its founding staff member,  working with senior real estate leaders in the Toronto region to expand the ULI into Canada. Alexandra oversaw the creation and operations of all of ULI Toronto’s committees, and executed marketing and events to increase the organization’s profile to Toronto’s real estate development community. Today she continues to build relationships with members and key stakeholders to deliver valuable industry programming.

In her current role, Alexandra manages several initiatives and committees that serve ULI Toronto’s members with a focus on community outreach. She oversees Technical Assistance Panels (TAPs) which provide multidisciplinary advice to local governments, public agencies, and nonprofits facing complex land use issues. Alexandra also supports the Curtner Leadership Program and drives the UrbanPlan program in Toronto.

Alexandra graduated from Carleton University with a Bachelor of Arts in Art History/Architecture and holds a Certificate in Communications from the University of Toronto.

Senior Associate
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Jenny joined ULI Toronto in June 2019, allowing her to continue to explore her interests in sustainable land use and development. As an Associate, Jenny supports the work of ULI Toronto District Council and its members.

Before joining ULI, Jenny worked at Scotiabank, where she provided administrative and financial support to the IT sector. Prior to working at Scotiabank, Jenny graduated from York University with a Bachelor of Environmental Studies, specializing in Urban and Regional Planning. Jenny strongly believes in creating more liveable, walkable and sustainable communities, she is in the process of completing a Sustainable Planning and Development Certificate at Seneca College. Jenny has previously volunteered for nonprofits such as ULI, Options for Davenport, and sat on the Board of Directors at a housing cooperative in Toronto.

Outside of her work, Jenny enjoys spending time with family, cooking, watching movies, and reading.

Jenny is excited to join the ULI team and looks forward to supporting our mission to make cities a better, more livable place for everyone.

Marketing and Events Associate
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Events Associate
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Juhi joined ULI Toronto in March 2024, allowing her to continue her journey in fostering sustainable community development and event management. With a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies, specializing in Environmental Management, Policy, Resources, and Conservation from York University, Juhi brings a fervent dedication to addressing environmental challenges and striving for a sustainable future.

Before ULI, Juhi served as a Student Services and Activities Coordinator at Kaplan International, orchestrating engaging activities to enhance student experiences and emphasizing community engagement. Furthermore, her tenure as a Field Research Assistant at York University afforded her the opportunity to delve into environmental fieldwork and research, particularly focusing on colonial water birds in Lake Ontario.

Outside of her professional pursuits, Juhi finds joy in painting, exploring new places and uncovering hidden gems within the city.

Juhi is excited to join the ULI team and looks forward to making meaningful contributions to support ULI’s mission of shaping the future and enhancing communities. Juhi is dedicated to advancing this noble cause.

Marketing Associate
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Laura joined ULI Toronto in February 2024, allowing her to continue her interests in Marketing and Event Management. As a Marketing Associate, Laura supports the ULI’s Toronto District Council and its members in delivering expectational content to the community while supporting ULI’s exciting roaster of events.

Laura is a graduate from the University of Guelph where she received her Bachelor of Arts (Dean’s List). She strongly believes in creating more liveable and sustainable communities and she looks forward to supporting ULI’s mission to help shape the built environment. In her previous role, Laura has worked as a Client Services Coordinator at East York Meals on Wheels, a non-profit organization to engage the community using social media and crafting engaging content to the community. While at school she led comprehensive Game Day operations for all varsity events on campus at the University of Guelph Athletics Department.

Laura is excited to join ULI Toronto and to bring her dedication and experience to the team.