Uncertain Futures in the Time of Crises (CANCELLED)

Sonali Praharaj is an urban designer with city building experience in a range of planning, urban design, and architectural projects across North America, India, and France. Her work focuses on building resilient and inclusive communities, ecology, and infrastructure through equitable and collaborative planning and design processes. Sonali currently works with DTAH, where she has contributed to numerous built forms, public realm and streetscape studies. She is a recipient of the University of California Berkeley Graduate Fellowship, the Architect and Interiors India Outstanding Thesis Award, and the Bonjour India Embassy of France Travel Fellowship.

Cybele Sack is a researcher/writer on AI Ethics, Accessibility and Smart Cities.

Andrew Weir currently serves as Executive Vice President of Tourism Toronto, responsible for global marketing and communications to elevate Toronto as a destination for leisure and business travelers. Andrew has also served as a Communications Director for an Ontario Cabinet Minister and was a communications consultant in the health care industry.

Elder Whabagoon is an Ojibway Elder, member of the Lac Seul First Nation, born in Sioux Lookout. She is a keeper of Sacred Pipes, active community member, speaker, land defender and water protector

Dr. Dori Tunstall is Dean of the Faculty of Design at the Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCAD University) in Toronto, Canada. An academic leader in decolonization and Indigenization of design curriculum and practice, Dr. Tunstall is also the first black dean of a design faculty anywhere. She holds a Ph.D. and MA in Anthropology from Stanford University and a BA in Anthropology from Bryn Mawr College. Dr. Tunstall aims to prepare the next generation of designers with an understanding of the cultural implications of design, and the role of designer as cultural influencers.

Howard Tam, MSc. (Urban Planning), BASc. is a Strategic Designer and Urban Planner. He is the founder of ThinkFresh Group, a city building consultancy based in Toronto responsible for such projects as the Dragon Centre Stories Commemoration Project and the upcoming Honest Ed’s Alley Micro-Retail Market. Howard has worked with government and private sector clients in Canada to facilitate and design strategies that create urban spaces with amazing human experiences.

Maggie Greyson is an Award-Winning Designer, Award-Winning Futurist, writer, speaker, and Co-founder of Futures Present. She also sits on the Program Academic Committee of the Centennial College Journalism program. Her most important work, Making Futures Present has won global awards for helping people to empower themselves in a complex world. It is a hands-on technique using art and storytelling to help people to reflect on their meaningful contribution to society. Maggie holds a Masters in Design, Strategic Foresight and Innovation from OCAD U.