UDI Webinar: The Modernization of Urban Planning and Community Engagement

Megan Fitzgerald is an engagement manager at the City of Vancouver, with a passion for dialogue in the context of citybuilding and major infrastructure. She holds a Masters in Community and Regional Planning and is an alumnus of the SFU Centre for Dialogue and Civic Engagement.

 

"I love the creative side of planning, but what I enjoy most is bringing positive change to communities."

In his role as president and senior planner, Gary drives the firm's growth and manages major client projects. With over twenty years of planning-related experience, he has spearheaded projects throughout the Lower Mainland, the Sea to Sky corridor and throughout BC, Alberta and most recently Ontario. His expertise includes policy planning, public consultation and advanced negotiation and facilitation. After being appointed President in 2008, Gary was honored as one of Business in Vancouver's Top Forty under 40 within a year.

Passionate about supporting the community, Gary chairs the Urban Development Institute Membership Committee, is an annual instructor for the UDI School of Development, and serves on the board of Provincial Health Services Authority. He also serves as Director of the Indo-Canadian Friendship Society, which provides funding and resources for infrastructure and community development in Punjab, India.

Gary holds a Master's Degree in Environmental Design (Planning) from the University of Calgary and a B.A. in Geography from Simon Fraser University, and is a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners.


Katie Pystchula, Marketing and Administrative Coordinator - Pooni Group

Katie Pystchula is the Marketing and Administrative Coordinator at Brook Pooni Associates, one of Vancouver's most experienced Urban Planning and Communications firms specializing in public engagement.  In her role Katie supports the Brook Pooni team with a focus on social and digital media adding value to both the clients and the communities the company works with. Katie recently developed Brook Pooni's online open house platform which has resulted in a number of highly successful online events. In addition to a background in fitness and counselling, Katie has a Social Media and Digital Marketing Certificate through British Columbia Institute of Technology. Her diverse background has shaped her belief in the importance of clear and concise presentation for effective communication. Katie stays informed about industry trends while helping to strategize and implement new ways to reach a broader audience as part of Brook Pooni's engagement initiatives. As a millennial and a renter who is passionate about the future of Vancouver's housing market, Katie hopes to remove barriers in the public engagement process through the integration of digital platforms.

Joyce Uyesugi, RPP, MCIP is a Senior Planner at the City of Vancouver, currently leading the Development Process Redesign initiative. She has worked in community planning, policy planning and current planning over the course of her long time career at the City. Joyce is a born- and raised-Vancouverite and holds a Masters in Planning from the University of Waterloo.

Michael White, Associate Vice-President - UBC Community Campus & Community Planning (guest moderator)
Michael White is a respected leader in urban planning responsible for a broad set of municipal functions including campus planning and design for UBC's Vancouver and Okanagan campuses, planning and development services, sustainability and engineering, transportation planning, and community development.
The current strategic focus for Michael and his team is supporting the academic mission through the themes of connectivity, affordability and sustainability.
Michael has been with UBC since 2014 and is an urban planning professional with 22 years of experience in North America, the Middle East and Asia. His areas of specialization include urban and regional planning, transportation planning, strategic planning, community development, and public engagement.
As a key member of the City of Vancouver's Planning Department for over a decade, Michael had a leading role in community planning programs, transit integration, and citywide policy initiatives. Of particular note was his role in managing both the technical teams as well the stakeholder engagement processes. Projects included Canada Line station planning, Community Vision Implementation, Neighbourhood Centres, False Creek Flats planning, EcoDensity and the City's Public Involvement Review.
From Vancouver, Michael moved on to become an accomplished international planner. As one of the founding managers of the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, Michael played a key role in managing and guiding the Council's Planning Policy team from inception in 2007 to 2011.  His team led the creation of a range of plans and policies, including a new capital city plan for the UAE, revitalization plans for existing communities, and pioneered public engagement in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. After returning from the Middle East in 2011, Michael became a Principal for AECOM Canada based in Vancouver.  He led and participated in a range of projects including design guidelines for Calgary's Centre City, a strategic plan for Toronto's Planning Division, community plans in Western Canada and city plans in Abu Dhabi and the Philippines.
Michael holds a Master of Science in Planning from the University of Toronto, a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia and is a Member of the Canadian Institute.