TSA CONNECT: A professional networking and mentorship event for newcomers and emerging practitioners in the architecture and design industry!
It’s been a long time coming, but we are so excited to announce the return of in-person sessions for TSA CONNECT—our signature networking events for young professionals, emerging practitioners, and newcomers! This fall, join us in one of two sessions as featured guests from Toronto’s architecture and design community share their experiences, perspectives and advice on issues of practice, career and life.
For our first in-person session of 2022, we’re bringing the focus to a topic very near to our hearts: volunteering! Come join us for a night of networking and relationship building as our featured guests share their advice on volunteering, from what motivates them to give back to how they manage to balance work, family and volunteering obligations. And with featured guests representing a wide variety of organizations in the architecture and city-building communities, this is an amazing opportunity to get to know the many groups working to make our industry and city better for all.
So come join us for a fun evening and meet some of the amazing volunteers making a difference in our community!
Schedule
6:30 PM Doors Open
7:00 – 8:00 PM Structured Networking Sessions
8:00 – 9:00 PM Mix and Mingle
*Light refreshments will be served and a cash bar will be available.
Featured Guests
Executive Chair, BEAT
Stephanie Hosein is a registered Architect with the Ontario Association of Architects and an Associate at Omar Gandhi Architect. She attended Dalhousie University and received the AIA Henry Adams certificate and RAIC High Honour Roll upon graduation from the Master of Architecture program. Stephanie is driven and detail-oriented, naturally taking on a leadership role in any project she is involved in. She excels at problem-solving and is steadfast in her approach to realize a project’s design intent by working closely with clients, consultants and contractors through all project phases. Her wide range of project experience in both new construction and adaptive re-use includes commercial, hospitality, residential, offices and higher education.
Stephanie is a founding member of Building Equality in Architecture Toronto (BEAT). She currently leads the Executive Committee as Chair (2021-2023). Past BEAT contributions include serving as Sponsorship Chair (2019-2021) and co-organizing the annual Forum, focused on creating awareness and promoting equity, diversity and inclusion in the field of architecture and design. She also volunteers her time mentoring through the OAA internship program and post-secondary institutions. TSA Advisory Board Member
Antonio Gómez-Palacio’s professional experience and research focus on the intersection of architecture, planning, and urban design. He is internationally recognized for creating transformational and vibrant urban spaces that support their social, economic, and environmental contexts.
As one of DIALOG’s founding partners, Antonio facilitates his project work through participatory processes. His portfolio encompasses a wide range of projects that address urban densification, master planning, mixed-use, transit, heritage, economic development, and sustainability. His recent work includes light-rail transit projects for Mississauga, Brampton, and Edmonton; downtown plans for Halifax and Regina; and campus plans for Seneca College and Laurentian University.
In addition to impacting communities through his professional practice, Antonio has acted as chair of the Toronto Society of Architects and the City of Vaughan’s Design Review Panel. He is involved with several industry initiatives and organizations, including the Canadian Institute of Planners, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, and the Canadian Urban Transit Association. He is on the Advisory Board and Operating Committee for the Commonwealth Games 2030; a member of the Advisory Committee and Research Team for HealthyDesign.city; and is the chair of DIALOG’s Community Wellbeing Framework Roundtable, which launched in January 2021.
To learn more about Antonio's past and present engagements, check out his
Speaker Page.
Founding Member, The Architecture Lobby - Toronto
Heather Breeze is an intern architect who has studied, worked, and lived in Toronto for over a decade. She has completed both an undergraduate and a Master’s degree in Architecture at Toronto Metropolitan University. She works as an Intern Architect and Marketing Director for Dubbeldam Architecture + Design, where she is currently focused on a large institutional heritage renovation, missing middle housing projects, and the firm’s communications and marketing strategies. Heather’s interests revolve around the intersection of public policy and architectural design, and practicing her passion for writing by advocating for engagement and connection between the architecture profession and the community at large. She served as the 2021 Intern Representative for the Ontario Association of Architects Council and adjacent committees, and is a founding member of the Toronto chapter of The Architecture Lobby, where she organizes and volunteers with other designers throughout the country on grassroots initiatives within and adjacent to the profession.
To learn more about Heather, check out her
LinkedIn profile.
Volunteer, Toronto Society of Architects
Daniel Gaito is an Architect with 2 degrees in the History of Art, and Architecture. He has worked in the industry over 56 years as student, Intern, Lecturer, Mentor, Architect, Associate, Project Manager...and Tour Guide, in Canada, the US and the UK. Daniel was the TSA Newsletter editor and Vice Chair back in the early 1980s. He has also been active in community groups over the years in various roles.
Co-Director of Outreach Task Force, BAIDA
Chris Williams is a licensed Architect in Ontario. Over the past 11 years, he has been involved with projects of various building types from commercial, institutional, residential, recreational, and retail. Currently at
BNKC Architects in Toronto, he is the Project Architect of a synagogue renovation in Toronto.
Born and raised in Barbados, and having attained his tertiary education in the US, Chris has gained architectural experience in these two countries prior to him planting his flag in Canada. He prides himself on his organizational skills and loves the fast-paced duties of coordinating between his project team, consultants, contractors, and clients to bring his projects to fruition.
Chris is a founding member of
BAIDA (Black Architects and Interior Designers Association) and is the Co-Director of the Outreach Task Force. He has a great interest in bringing more exposure of the architectural and interior design fields to the Black communities in Toronto and the rest of Canada.
Director, Advocacy at BAIDA
Michael Otchie is a Licensed architect in Ontario; registered architect in the U.K; and holds a PhD in Architecture. He has developed a portfolio of construction and research projects for a broad range of clients in England and Ontario. Key projects include the renovation of several high-profile government and cultural significant buildings.
Current interests include strategies for interpreting meanings associated with places, the preservation of affordability and inclusionary approaches to heritage sites. All these themes inform his involvement with BAIDA (Black Architects and Interior Designers) as an organisation that seeks to elevate conversations around making the topic of architecture and successful city-building accessible, engaging, and representative for all. Associate, BDP Quadrangle
Lisa Spensieri joined
BDP Quadrangle in 2017, and ever since she has been involved with projects of varying scales and is skilled in executing innovative solutions to dealing with city by-laws, site constraints and complex project requirements. In addition to leading multiple feasibility studies and schematic design projects focusing on adaptive re-use and heritage sites, she has also contributed to mixed-use and residential projects within downtown Toronto such as: Rush Condos, the all-female leadership team at Reina Condos, Craft Residences, Leaside Commons, Biblio Lofts, 18 Elm Street, 263 Adelaide St. W and 111 St. Clair.
Constantly seeking more knowledge, Lisa is currently pursuing her Passive House Certification and is interested in conducting deep energy retrofits of existing housing stock.
To learn more about Lisa, check out her
LinkedIn profile.
Executive Committee member of BEAT (Building Equality in Architecture Toronto)
Vineetha Sivathasan is a graduate of the Masters of Architecture program from the University of Toronto's John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design. She currently works at Superkül, where she is continuing her path to become a fully licensed Architect in Ontario. She has accumulated a diverse set of skills through her past work experience at Kohn Partnership Architects, Ontario Association of Architects (OAA), the Textile Museum of Canada, and the Art Museum at the University of Toronto. She has also participated in independent exhibitions, and exhibition/graphic design with independent curators.
She is currently an Executive Committee member of BEAT (Building Equality in Architecture Toronto), an independent organization dedicated to supporting equality and diversity in the profession of Architecture through advocacy, community engagement. She is also an Interns Committee Member of the Ontario Association of Architects, which tackles issues pertinent to future architects. Outside of architecture she volunteers with Scarborough Food Security Initiative to address food insecurity in her local neighbourhood.
To learn more about Vineetha, check out her
LinkedIn profile.
Executive Director at SOSA - Society of South Asian Architects
Tushar Negi is an architect, registered with the OAA. Originally from New Delhi, India, Tushar moved to Toronto in 2016 and has managed a diverse range of projects including retail, commercial, residential, and interior fit-outs. Tushar possesses strong project management skills and technical proficiency combined with his knowledge of sustainable design practices that allows him to work effectively with an integrative approach with clients, consultants, and contractors. Tushar is currently serving as the Executive Director at SOSA - Society of South Asian Architects, Canada, a not-for-profit organization that serves our communities by creating opportunities for mentorship, education, networking, and outreach, and provides aid to newcomer professionals. Tushar also chairs the Sustainability Committee at his firm – WZMH Architects. He has previously held a seat on the Emerging Green Professionals (EGP) Committee of the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) from 2018-2021 where he served as the Mentorship Program Lead in 2020-21.
To learn more about Tushar, check out his
LinkedIn profile.
To learn more about SOSA, check out their
LinkedIn profile.
Principal, Envision Design Ltd & Treasurer at BAC-DAC
Afsaneh Asayesh is registered with the OAA and has been volunteering since 2013, leading the preparation of OAA’s white paper for the 2014 CACB Validation Conference. She was a founding member of RAIC Emerging Practitioners, Canada’s first Advocacy Group for Interns serving as Director of Knowledge from its inception in 2016 – 2020. She created a series of Webinars on the National Building Code and Contract Administration (ExAC Exam Sections 2 & 4), and participated in the preparation and/or presentation of Con Ed Sessions at RAIC Festivals 2015 - 2020.
In 2021, Afsaneh was a founding member of “
Becoming Architects Canada” whose primary focus is advocating and providing support for individuals on the path to licensure. As Director of Knowledge, she has been responsible for preparation of BAC-DAC’s Launch Event Findings Report, the position paper submitted to CACB for the October 2022 Validation Conference, and a webinar on supporting ExAC prep.
Director, Twenty + Change & Advisory Board Chair, BEAT
Heather Dubbeldam is a fourth generation architect and the principal of Dubbeldam Architecture + Design. Heather is known as a leading advocate for sustainable design and the betterment of our built environment. Through her practice and ongoing research in both Canada and Scandinavia, Heather has become an advocate for more progressive design and planning that exemplifies best practices in social and environmental and social sustainability, climate-positive developments, and urban resilience. She is regularly invited to speak as a thought leader on the subject at schools of architecture, industry events and national conferences.
Outside of her practice, Heather is known as an advocate for the profession and is active on many boards including as an executive member and past Chair of the Toronto Society of Architects; Director of Twenty + Change, a national organization dedicated to exposing the innovative ideas of emerging Canadian architects; past Vice-Chair of the Design Industry Advisory Committee, a provincial not-for-profit, cross-disciplinary design think tank and research group; and the current Chair of the Advisory Board of BEAT (Building Equality in Architecture Toronto), amongst other boards and volunteer organizations. She is the co-editor and author of several architecture publications, including the Toronto Architecture Guide Map and four publications in the Twenty + Change series. Heather is regularly invited to participate on professional and awards juries and as a guest critic at schools of architecture across Canada. Principal, Archdesign Architects & Director of Syllabus at RAIC
Ivan Martinovic is a practicing architect with over 35 years of professional experience. He is a graduate of the University of Belgrade with a professional architectural and engineering degree. Ivan is the principal architect and founder of the office of Archdesign Architects, a Toronto-based architectural and consulting architectural practice providing a wide range of architectural, design and urban planning services. Ivan is also consulting on the code, universal design, resilience, and professional education issues.
Ivan teaches undergraduate and graduate architectural programs at the Ryerson University’s Department of Architectural Science and in the Continuing Education Studies of University of Toronto. He is also a Director of Syllabus, the professional architecture diploma program of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.
For his professional work, Ivan received the G. Randy Roberts Service Award from the Ontario Association of Architects and was named a Fellow in the College of Fellows of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.
Ivan’s professional and academic interests revolving around a basic idea that the architecture of the future has to move away from buildings designed as unique objects to buildings designed as self-sufficient, resilient mechanisms that can respond to the new realities of the society and the environment.
President at Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (ACO) - Toronto Branch & Creative Director at Giaimo
Stephanie Mah, CAHP, is a cultural heritage strategist and designer with a diverse background in architectural history and theory, digital media, and environmental and technology studies. She is the Creative Director at Giaimo, a Toronto-based architecture firm that integrates design, conservation, and sustainability. With over eight years of unique experience, from working for non-profits and design firms to real estate developers and tech start-ups, her work focuses on creative and critical approaches to understanding, communicating, and promoting the connection between people and places.
Stephanie has been involved with the charitable non-profit Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (ACO) in a variety of volunteer roles since 2014, and currently serves as the President of ACO's Toronto Branch. She also sits on the Society for the Study of Architecture in Canada (SSAC) Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity, and Sustainability Committee and is a past member of City of Toronto’s Montgomery’s Inn Museum Art Committee. Her multi-disciplinary background allows her to provide unique insights in architecture, landscape architecture, urbanism, and heritage conservation through research, writing, creative strategy, design thinking, content development, community engagement, programming, and placemaking.
To learn more about Stephanie, check out her
LinkedIn profile.
“When I first moved to Toronto, I was looking at ways to not only connect with other architects and local designers but also to learn more about the architecture in this beautiful city.”
Varsha Kumar believes that social, cultural, spatial and economic aspects are all intrinsic to architecture and the design process, and is constantly looking at ways to effect positive change. She is currently an architect at
IBI Group, and her prior experience includes commercial renovations, new builds, and custom residential projects at offices in India and Toronto. Having completed her post-graduate degree at Oxford Brookes University, U.K., Varsha brings both international and Canadian experience to the table.
Varsha has been a volunteer at the Toronto Society of Architects (TSA) since 2017, and has served on the
TSA Executive since 2020. In addition to her role as the Society’s Secretary, she currently co-leads several of the TSA’s initiatives, including Doors Open, Building Tours, Home Tours, Breaking Barriers, and Climate Action initiatives.
To learn more about Varsha, check out her
LinkedIn profile.
Founding Principal, Ho K. Sung Architect
Ho Sung is the founding Principal of
Ho K. Sung Architect. He obtained his B.Sc (natural sciences) and the 5-year professional B.Arch degree from UofT, and the M.Arch2 degree from Syracuse University (Florence, Italy). Ho is a member of the OAA, RAIC and the TSA.
Ho’s architectural experience ranges from small private projects to urban design, as well as international architectural competitions. Ho has been a visiting critic at the Daniels Faculty, UofT and Ryerson University (now TMU).
Along with professional practice, Ho has served as; a mentor at University College, UofT (since 2010), the Chair of the UC Alumni Association, member of the UofT College of Electors, member of the UC Principal Search Committee, member of the UC Revitalization User Committee, and as an OAA ExAC instructor and mentor. Ho is also the donor-benefactor of the Blanche Lemco van Ginkel Admission Scholarship at the Daniels Faculty. (Professor van Ginkel is the first woman to serve as Dean at Daniels and in all Canada and US architecture schools). Ho’s service to UofT was recognized with an Arbor Award in 2014.
Ho’s life-long interest in continuous learning is enhanced by his love of traveling, learning different languages, art, music, photography and reading science articles.
Principal, Montgomery Sisam
Jason Dobbin is an AIA and OAA licensed architect. He began his practice in Chicago 24 years ago working for several acclaimed firms. Jason returned to Canada in 2010 where he joined Montgomery Sisam Architects. He was appointed to the role of Principal in 2015.
Jason has been an integral part of helping build and strengthen Montgomery Sisam’ leadership across several sectors. He believes in a culture of collaboration, knowledge sharing, creative discovery, and inspiring young architects to take ownership of their work.
Jason’s award-winning portfolio is wide ranging, with projects in education, healthcare, supportive housing, and urban infrastructure. In keeping with the ethos of his practice, each of these projects draws on elemental qualities of design: natural light, effortless form, and a palette of rich, locally sourced materials to support the wellbeing of inhabitants. They demonstrate a commitment to socially responsible, environmentally sustainable architecture that serves the best interests of their community and city.
Jason’s contributions extend beyond his practice, working with several industry organizations to support positive, inclusive urban development. He is a former Chair and current executive of the Toronto Society of Architects (TSA) and a committee member of the Urban Land Institute of Toronto. He previously served as a member of the City of Toronto Urban Design Reference Group and City of Toronto and Waterfront Toronto’s Stakeholder Advisory Committee. He is also a former Director of the Design Industry Advisory Committee. A meaningful project for Jason is the TSA’s K-12 Initiative, helping to make architecture as a profession and the wider design industry more equitable, accessible, and representative of the people it serves. Manager of Campus Planning and Projects at OCAD University
Dana Séguin is a Licensed Technologist OAA and Registered Interior Designer ARIDO, NCIDQ with a decade of professional experience, and prior on site experience in construction, non-profit arts, and hospitality. Dana serves on the Communications Committee and OAAAS Integration Committee with Ontario Association of Architects, the Membership Committee with ARIDO, and was a former Board Member of the Ontario Association for Applied Architectural Sciences (OAAAS) prior to its recent dissolution into the OAA. As both a Licensed Technologist and Interior Designer, she regularly mentors intern members and loves it.
Dana worked in various architectural firms in Toronto over the past decade on deep green residential, commercial, and institutional projects and is now the Manager of Campus Planning and Projects at OCAD University.
To learn more about Dana, check out her
LinkedIn profile.
Vice President of Commercial + Development Strategy, MGAC Canada
Gail Borthwick’s current role at MGAC Canada brings together skill sets from previous roles and continuing interest in city building. She leads the business development and project strategy for the Toronto office. She brings over 22 years of experience in architecture and urban design on a variety of mixed-use and repositioning projects across North America and the Middle East. She is an industry leader in sustainability as a LEED® AP and has previously served on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Green Building Council. Her work has been published in books and journals, and she has presented on the topic of sustainability internationally. Gail’s previous career as a business analyst combined with her professional experience in architecture and urban design gives her a unique perspective that ensures economic, social, and environmental sustainability is considered on every project. Gail earned a Bachelor of Architecture and Bachelor of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo and went back to school ten years ago to her hometown for a Master’s degree in Urban Regeneration at the University of Edinburgh.
To learn more about Gail, check out her
LinkedIn profile.
Click on the pictures above to learn more about our Featured Guests.
More guests are being added as they are confirmed.
Architecture Organizations in the GTA
There are many volunteer-led organizations helping advance numerous issues in our industry and city. For this TSA CONNECT we are happy to have individuals from the following organizations:
COVID-19 Safety
The health and safety of our participants and volunteers is our top priority. For this event, capacity has been limited to allow for additional space for physical distancing. In addition, all attendees are required to have at least two doses of a Health Canada approved vaccine as per venue policy.
About the TSA CONNECT Series
Join the Toronto Society of Architects for evenings of networking and relationship building as featured guests from Toronto’s architecture and design industry share their experiences, perspectives and advice on issues of practice, career, and life. Each session will feature new guests, topics and small group discussions giving participants the opportunity to ask questions and form connections with our featured guests. Sessions, featured guests and dates will be announced as they are confirmed, with limited tickets for each session released with the TSA member bulletin so make sure to sign up so you don’t miss out!
This event is free for TSA members using the discount code found in the latest e-bulletin! Not a member yet? You can join here (and student memberships are free!).
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