Urban Planning
I am a Registered Professional Planner and a Member of the Canadian Institute of Planning as of October 2024. I hold a Master of Planning, Urban Development from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University). I have interests in active transportation, transit, and parks. During my graduate degree, I received the Social Science and Humanities Research Council Canada Graduate Scholarship, the most prestigious graduate scholarship. My major research paper (MRP) The Time is Ripe: New financial tools for the City of Toronto’s Parkland Dedication Rate has influenced parks policy in Toronto-area municipalities. The MRP received the Minto Planning Best Sustainability-Led Award in November 2022. I am also the Executive Director of A Voice for Transit, an advocacy group addressing overcrowding, delays, and transit equity in Toronto.
During my career as a research analyst, I found the middle path between financial and non-financial information to identify risks and opportunities. These insights are applicable to urban planning projects. Key differentiators are my quantitative analysis and critical thinking skills honed during my sustainable finance career. I am open to opportunities across Canada, Latin America, and Europe.
The Urban Hulk offers the following services:
- Planning Justification Reports / Planning Rationales
- Site planning
- Pro Formas
- Systems mapping
- Public engagement strategies
- Research and insights on urban planning and public policy concerns
Sustainable Finance
I currently work as a Research Fellow for the Ivey Business School’s Sustainable Finance Lab. Earlier in my career, I worked for over six years at Sustainalytics, an environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) data provider for some of the world’s largest institutional investors. During my time there, this work took on increasing importance as the industry grew during my tenure. For context, the Canadian responsible investment industry’s assets increased from $1 trillion in 2013 to $2.1 trillion in 2017.
During my time at Sustainalytics, I researched and engaged with some of the world’s largest financial institutions on environmental, social, and governance issues. These interactions led to improvements in disclosures and reporting from firms as investors took an increasingly active interest in non-financial metrics. I also downgraded financial firms who were involved in controversies, which helped to inform investors’ decision-making.
My work has included researching and writing thought leadership pieces in responsible investment. In January 2024, I was the lead author of “Advancing Regenerative Agriculture in Canada: Barriers, Enablers and Recommendations” published at Western University. In 2021, I was a contributing author on an article about the state of investment funds involved in the circular economy published by Sustainalytics. In January 2020, I co-authored an article describing resilience bonds and how they can help to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather for the insurance industry. In 2019, I co-authored a series of articles about the role of the financial and consumer goods sectors in the deforestation of Brazil’s Amazon.
The Urban Hulk offers the following services:
- ESG research of publicly-traded companies
- Engagement strategies on ESG issues
- Insights on emerging ESG/non-financial issues affecting publicly-traded companies
