Keynote Panel | Interprovincial Insights: Advancing Infill Initiatives Together
SPEAKERS:
Paragon Living
As Paragon Living's President and co-founder, Nigel spearheads the company's strategic direction. He shapes short and long-term goals, develops plans, and formulates vital strategies. Nigel's pivotal role extends to land acquisitions, real estate endeavors, and overall business development. On a daily basis, he collaborates closely with the Paragon team, trade partners, and key stakeholders. Nigel proudly represents the company, promoting business growth and investment prospects. His entrepreneurial mindset has been the driving force behind Paragon Living's success, as evidenced by the $600 million worth of projects currently in development under his leadership.
Situate
Avid urbanist and community builder, Chelsey Jersak founded Situate in 2016 after a decade of leading strategic and urban planning projects in the public and private sectors. Consistently balancing innovation with pragmatism, Chelsey provides advice, support and coordination on all aspects of infill projects, large and small.
Chelsey holds a bachelor’s degree in regional and urban development and a master’s degree in human geography. She’s a Registered Professional Planner (RPP), Member of the Canadian Institute of Planners (MCIP), and past president of IDEA.
Carl Issak
Small Housing
Carl Isaak is the Director of Planning with Small Housing BC. He specializes in rallying industry and municipal partners to accelerate the delivery of gentle density homes that fit well in neighbourhoods, and is a strong advocate for government policies that encourage ‘right-sizing’ new housing. His efforts build on years of leading policy and development teams in small and large communities, as well as private development experience and working with a non-profit convening city-to-city learning networks. Carl’s policy expertise includes climate action, heritage adaptation, and tenant assistance, but his main passion is improving quality of life for all by promoting housing that allows elderly folks to stay in their neighbourhoods, grown children to afford their own place without an hour commute, and young families to live near the ‘village’ it takes to raise children.
Alkarim Devani
RNDSQR
Alkarim's vision is to help others deliver middle housing and gentle density at scale in our established neighborhoods across Canada. The emphasis is placed on living, access, and creating sustainable homes where people can make it all fit. He wants to connect more people to the simple pleasure of living in walkable neighborhoods full of vibrant local businesses and existing infrastructure. Seeded in his hometown of Calgary, he is committed to improving urban life and the connection of people everywhere.
As the President of RNDSQR and a Doctorate of Design candidate at the University of Calgary, his ideas are rooted in his work and everyday life. In addition, Alkarim is a proud board member of the Calgary Housing Corporation, the city's largest housing affordability provider, and D.Talks, an organization committed to furthering discussions on all things design.
ModeratorS:
Lilit Houlder
Invistec Consulting
Lilit Houlder is a local planner in Edmonton, working with a consulting firm, Invistec Consulting Ltd. Lilit has pursued her Masters in Urban Planning at the University of Calgary and has since worked in private and public sectors with a focus on urban design and policy.
Having been with IDEA for two years now, Lilit has served on the Policy Committee, the Events Committee, and more recently has acquired the role of the newest host for the In Development Podcast. In her volunteering efforts, Lilit strives to advocate for equitable cities as the Co-Chair of her national organization, Women in Urbanism, by taking an intersectional approach to urban planning that focuses on people’s health and safety.
Alison Rosland
Situate
Allison is an urban planner with six years of planning consulting experience in both an urban and rural context. She began her planning career working with small urban and rural municipalities to prepare long-range future land use plans, zoning bylaws, watershed management plans and tackling the day-to-day planning challenges municipalities face. Since joining Situate in 2022, her focus has shifted to rezoning and strategic advisory services for awesome infill projects.
Allison holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Alberta and Master of Planning from the University of Calgary’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape. Her technical background in engineering has enabled her to take an analytical lens to planning challenges. She is passionate about community building and is actively involved with her local community league. She recently joined the IDEA team as one of the new hosts of the In Development podcast.