Class of 2024
CURTNER URBAN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM 2023-2024
How to tackle the escalating urban crisis of housing affordability?
ULI Toronto’s Curtner Urban Leadership Program engages multi-disciplinary emerging industry leaders to work with communities to advance responsible, transformative, and positive city-building.
2024 Curtner Urban Leadership Program Directory
MISSION
The program’s mission is to cultivate thought and industry leadership by immersing emerging leaders in the real estate and land use industry in the challenges and opportunities of developing the Greater Golden Horseshoe. The program is sponsored by BDP Quadrangle in memory of one of its founding partners, Brian L. Curtner and reflects many of his passions, including city building, mentorship and collaboration.
2023/2024 PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The focus of this year’s program is how to tackle the escalating urban crisis of housing affordability?
Participants will engage with industry-peers across the private and public sector. They will discuss, contribute and develop knowledge and skills, learning from each other and known subject matter experts.
As part of the broader suite of tactics to ease the cost of rental housing at the low end of the market newly elected Mayor Olivia Chow is seeking a return of government or not for profit housing.
- Is this a practical idea in the modern Toronto housing economy?
- If so, what advice could ULI Toronto offer to support the advancement of such a market segment without adding upward pressure on for profit housing?
Together, they will develop a Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) to offer guidance on a question that impacts every city-building profession: What must be done to increase the availability of affordable housing in Toronto through not-for-profit ownership?
2023/2024 PROGRAM FEATURES
The program features 1 day per month of programmed engagement and learning for 8 months, with periodic work outside of such sessions. Participants and their respective organizations benefit from networking and cross-industry engagement to support their individual and organizational objectives.
This year’s program will feature:
- Monthly workshop sessions and site visits (8 months:October 2023 – May 2024)
- Leadership development through coaching session including DISC Assessment
- Meetings with senior public and private sector industry leaders and experts
- Educational Session from industry leaders surrounding housing affordability
- Collaborate and make professional connection with other industry professionals
- Final output a public presentation of ideas and solutions by the cohort to the city-building communities.
- Participants (and where applicable their employer) must commit to the full program.
- 2 Leadership Tools Workshops by Vanessa Judelman: Know your Leadership Style and Coach and Develop your Team
Vanessa Judelman is the President of Mosaic People Development, a company that helps develop leaders who inspire great results. Her visionary approach has been critical in helping organizations to create conscious, thoughtful and results oriented leaders.
Class of 2024 Curtner Urban Leadership Program Participants
Zakaria Abdulle, Chair, Somalia Centre for Culture and Recreation
Paul Arkilander, Project Manager, CreateTO
Ajeev Bhatia, Board Chair, People Design Co-op
Amelia Briggs-Morris, Real Estate and Social/Affordable Housing, Lawyer Robins Appleby LPP
Zoie Browne, Associate, Lura Consulting
Nuri Chang, Housing Development Officer, City of Toronto
Charline Chau, Associate, Investments Marlin Springs
Stephanie Cirnu, Development, Manager Kilmer
Ciaran Connaire, Housing Consultant, Tim Welch
Juliana Dutkay, Senior Lead Strategic Intiatives, United Way Greater Toronto
Jonella Evangelista, Community Engagement and Advocacy Advisor, Canadian Centre for Housing Rights
Ivy Farquhar-McDonnell, Tenant Engagement Coordinator, Circle Community LandTrust
Dalia Gebran, Intern Architect, Jacobs
Johanna Hashim, Senior Planner, City of Toronto
Corey Horowitz, Senior Urban Planner, DIALOG
Eli Levin, Senior Advisor, Development, Infastructure Ontario
Lauren Marshall, Architect, KPMB Architects
Sebastian Martinez, Sr. Advisor, Metrolix
Ellen McGowan, Development Manager, New Commons Development
Jamilla Mohamud, Planner, City Planning (Strategic Initiatives, Policy, and Analysis), City of Toronto
Narmadha Rajakumar, Partner, SHS Consulting
Jahnavi Ramakrishnan, Senior Advisor, Transit Oriented Communities Program, Infastructure Ontario
Brandon Riddell, Principal, People Design Co-op
Emily Rossini, Director of Planning, Real Estate Habitat for Humanity GTA
Alex Smiciklas, Senior Project Manager, Bousfield
Amir Tabatabaei, Project Lead, BDP Quadrangle
Victoria Tang, Accounting Manager, Camrost Felcorp
Sybelle von Kursell, Registered Professional Planner, N/A
Archana Vyas, Manager, Housing Development Systems and Services, Region of Peel