Speakers

Dr. Alex Anas, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA

A professor of economics at the State University of New York at Buffalo since 1991, Dr. Alex Anas' research interests span theoretical, empirical and applied urban economics and include the application of economics to urban planning. His publications have contributed to dynamic land use adjustment, effects of transportation on property values and land use, effects of traffic congestion on land use, dynamic housing market models, models with dispersed and mixed residential and commercial land use, theory of systems of cities with intercity interactions and trade, urban agglomeration and ethnic segregation. Dr. Anas has developed the RELU-TRAN (Regional Economy, Land Use and Transportation) model, supported with research awards from the National Science Foundation and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. While these awards helped apply the model to the analysis of congestion, road pricing and urban sprawl in Chicago, a recent award from the University of California is now supporting a more extensive application to Los Angeles. Dr. Anas obtained his BA and BS from Carnegie Mellon University and his MA, MCP and Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania (1975).

Mr. Michael Fenn, Canadian Urban Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

After being City Manager of Burlington and CAO of Hamilton-Wentworth Region for eleven years, Michael Fenn served a total of seven years as Deputy Minister in the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MAH) and in the Ministry of Community Safety. During his tenure at MAH, the Ministry initiated several ground-breaking policies such as Ontario Smart Growth, the Greenbelt, brownfields, social housing reform and the first new Municipal Act in 150 years. Since retiring from the Ontario Government in 2005, he has been CEO in a succession of organizations, including Metrolinx, the Mississauga Halton Local Health Integration Network, eHealth Ontario and the Institute of Public Administration. He is now interim President and CEO of the Canadian Urban Institute, where he continues to use transit on a daily basis.

Ms. Sue Flack, MRC McLean Hazel, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Sue Flack is Managing Director of MRC McLean Hazel. She specialises in the integration of land use planning and transport, including the development of partnerships and delivery models to move towards sustainable models of urban development. In previous public sector positions she has been responsible for managing strategic and operational transport in a significant UK growth area and has a national reputation in partnership development and behaviour change in transport.

Ms. Melanie Hare, Urban Strategies, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Melanie is an Urban Planner and Partner with Urban Strategies. For over 15 years, she has been working with communities across North America on city building initiatives in particular related to growth management, transit supportive development and sustainable communities. She assisted the Ontario Growth Secretariat in preparation of key policy directions in the Growth Plan including intensification targets, employment strategies and urban growth centres. Currently she is working with regional and local municipalities in implementing the Growth Plan and key elements such as urban growth centres and mobility hub planning. Working for the Greenbelt Foundation, she has been reviewing the municipal progress toward implementing the Greenbelt Plan. Melanie holds a Master of Urban and Rural Planning degree from the Technical University of Nova Scotia and an Urban Studies and Economics BA from the University of Toronto.

Mr. Hugh Heron, Heron Group of Companies and Heathwood Homes, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Within the Canadian housing sector, Hugh Heron stands at a vantage point enjoyed by few others, that allows him a broad view of the industry's landscape of issues, challenges and opportunities. For over 30 years, he has served in leadership positions at some of the industry's most important institutions: former chair of the Ontario New Home Warranty Program, past president of both the Greater Toronto and Ontario Home Builders' Associations and a board member of Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation. Mr. Heron brings a deep understanding of, and appreciation for, the principles and vision that guide The Heron Group of Companies' ongoing success.

Dr. Bruce Krushelnicki, City of Burlington, Burlington, Ontario, Canada

Bruce Krushelnicki has been the Director of Planning and Building for the City of Burlington since May of 2004. Before joining the City, he spent nearly 13 years as a member of the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). At the time of his OMB appointment, Dr. Krushelnicki was an associate professor and Director of the Institute of Urban and Environmental Studies at Brock University where he taught urban and environmental planning for 12 years. He also maintained a small consulting practice in planning and housing. Dr. Krushelnicki studied at Queen's University in Kingston and at the University of Waterloo. He is the author of A Practical Guide to the Ontario Municipal Board published in 2003 by LexisNexis (Butterworths) Publishers. Dr. Krushelnicki continues to teach, and is an active member of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute.

Dr. Robin Lindsey, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Dr. Lindsey's research interests include road pricing, traffic congestion models, paying for roads, traveler risk aversion and advanced traveler information systems. Lindsey has participated in several European Union projects concerned with efficient transportation pricing, usage of user charge revenues, and institutional factors in transport policy implementation. He has also studied private provision of roads and other topics related to market structure and efficiency. Lindsey holds a Ph.D in economics from Princeton University as well as an M.A. and B.A. (Economics and Physics) from Queen's University.

Dr. Richard Soberman, Trimap Communications, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

A graduate of Dalhousie University and MIT, Dr. Soberman is the former Chair of Civil Engineering at the University of Toronto. He directed the Toronto Commuter Rail Study, the Metropolitan Toronto Transportation Plan Review, and the Strategic Plan for the Scarborough RT. Dr. Soberman was Director of Research in the Canadian Transport Commission, Senior Vice President for Planning and Development in the Urban Transportation Development Corporation, and is a Director of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority.