SENIOR MANAGEMENT

GLEN MURRAY
President and CEO
Glen Murray is the chief executive officer and president of the Canadian Urban Institute. As the former Mayor of Winnipeg for six years, his vision for urban centers is anchored in practical and very successful experience on the council floor, working with business and union leaders, and collaborating with other levels of government. His vision for a new deal for cities started with the formation of the C5 - a coalition of mayors from five Canadian cities. It was during that time that he became the first chair of the Big City Mayors Caucus 2002. He was appointed by the Prime Minister of Canada to the chair of the Canadian National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy, where his extensive experience in municipal government is helping to shape environmental policy and respond to climate change in Canada.

JEFF EVENSON
Director, Centre for the Development of Community Assets (CDCA)
With more than 20 years of experience managing urban issues and public engagement, Jeff Evenson is the founding director of the CDCA, a downstream non-profit organization incorporated by CUI in 2004 with a mandate to bring together people, money and ideas to develop community assets and restore the civic public realm. Acting as a consultant and advisor on private and public sector projects, he specializes in communications, community consultation, partnership building, strategic issue management and process facilitation. Jeff has a strong interest in sustainable urban development, with expertise in issues such as reinvesting in the public realm, culture and heritage, affordable housing, waterfront development, sport and recreation and green buildings. During his career, Jeff has worked at various times as a political advisor to senior politicians at the provincial and municipal levels of government and as a manager of major city-building initiatives. This has included serving as a founding member and managing coordinator of the Toronto 2008 Olympic Bid, director of Toronto's Waterfront Regeneration Trust, executive director of the Toronto Cultural and Heritage Foundation, manager of the Toronto Vital Signs project, lead organizer of the 2002 Toronto City Summit and founding executive director of the North Kingston Community Development Project. During the 1990s, he served as Chief of Staff to two Toronto mayors, Art Eggleton and June Rowlands, and during the 1980s he managed an advocacy group in the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, leading a project to build 35,000 units of urban social housing. Jeff has experience working on international urban cooperation projects in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil. Jeff Evenson was born in Toronto and did his graduate and undergraduate studies at Queen's University in Kingston.

ANDREW FARNCOMBE
Director, International Partnerships
Andrew Farncombe, an urban geographer and register professional planner, directs CUI's portfolio of international projects undertaken in partnership with cities and communities around the world. He has over 20 years of work experience in the public, private, non-profit and academic sectors in Canada and internationally. His areas of expertise include local government, urban planning, environmental management, local economic development, civic engagement and urban partnership building. Since the mid 1990s, he has worked as a senior manager and consultant on local government planning, capacity building and urban management programs in Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Mr. Farncombe is skilled in the leadership, planning and management of large international cooperation projects. He is experienced in on-site identification and design of local governance programs, multi-year project implementation, project financial management, performance monitoring and evaluation, results-based management and gender mainstreaming. He has provided leadership to projects funded by CIDA, AusAID and UN-HABITAT, and served as a consultant on initiatives funded by the World Bank and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Earlier in his career, Andrew served as a CUI researcher on urban issues in Canada and internationally, as a land use planner on contract with the Town of Ajax (ON), as a teacher of urban studies at York University, as a public affairs specialist with Sun Life Financial Canada and as an Ottawa-based legislative assistant to a Canadian Member of Parliament (St-Boniface). Born in Vancouver, Andrew holds two degrees, a Masters in Environmental Studies (Planning) from York University (Toronto) and a Bachelor of Arts (Geography) from the University of British Columbia (Vancouver). He is a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) and the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI). Mr. Farncombe has a working knowledge of French and Spanish.

SUE HUSOLO
Director, Finance and Operations
Sue Husolo has provided oversight to the accounting and corporate operations functions of CUI since 1993. She has over 15 years of experience in financial management, accounting, business planning and NGO management. Ms. Husolo serves as an officer of the organization in the capacity of Secretary and Treasurer. She is responsible for the direction of all financial operations of CUI, including accounting, budget, purchasing, insurance, tax, treasury, audit and reporting. She oversees corporate operations and administration, including human resource management, and systems implementation and staff training both in CUI's head office and in field offices worldwide. She is integral to the development of grant applications and project proposals in cooperation with project managers and teams. In addition to her work in the non-profit sector, Ms. Husolo has experience providing consulting services in accounting, administration and human resource management to private sector clientele, particularly in the fields of real property development and media. Ms. Husolo was educated at the University of Toronto and subsequently at Ryerson Polytechnic University in Public Accounting and Administration.

GLENN R. MILLER, FCIP, RPP
Director, Education and Research
Glenn Miller directs CUI's applied research, conference, urban leadership and education programs. Glenn is a registered professional planner who brings more than 25 years of experience providing advice to the private sector, governments and the non-profit sector. Since 1996, Glenn has helped build CUI's Canadian programs by undertaking applied research, convening conferences, contributing objective commentary on critical urban issues and providing consulting services to a range of clients. With an emphasis on generating new ideas and thinking for cities and their regions, he is actively involved in research and communication initiatives related to land use, regional growth management, municipal practice, transportation, competitiveness, economic development, brownfields redevelopment and sustainable buildings. In 1986, he established the Ontario Planning Journal the professional practice magazine of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute, and has served as the publication's editor since inception. Glenn is a graduate of McGill's School of Urban Planning (Masters of Urban Planning) and Concordia University (Honours BA in Urban Studies). In 2005, he was elected as a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Planners in recognition for his contribution to planning in Canada.

back to top

CANADIAN STAFF

LISA CAVICCHIA
Program Manager, International Partnerships
Lisa Cavicchia manages CUI's International Urban Partnerships (I-UP) program and oversees the Institute's international youth internship program, both of which receive funding from the Canadian Partnership Branch of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). She is trained as an urban and regional planner and has taken other post-graduate training related to local government, strategic planning, participatory practices in local governance, negotiation and group facilitation. Ms. Cavicchia has over a decade of international development experience acting as manager, coordinator or technical expert on a range of projects funded by CIDA, the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Slovakia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Cuba, Jamaica, Paraguay, the Philippines, Indonesia and Ethiopia. Ms. Cavicchia is an accomplished manager and team leader, with solid competencies related to local government capacity development, civic engagement, decentralization and the delivery of international development cooperation. She has demonstrated skills related to the design, results-based management, financial coordination and performance monitoring of international development programs. Prior to joining CUI, Ms. Cavicchia worked as consultant with a Toronto-based planning consultancy. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts (Urban and Regional Planning) from Toronto's Ryerson University. Lisa speaks French and has a working knowledge of Spanish.

CARLENE DEMPSTER
Financial Administrator
Carlene Dempster is the Financial Administrator for the Canadian Urban Institute. Ms. Dempster is responsible for processing accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and government remittances. She works alongside the Director, Finance and Operations and project staff in providing support for all aspects of financial record-keeping and budgeting. Carlene holds a Diploma in Accounting and Financial Management from Centennial College, an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Relations & Development Studies and a Masters Degree in International Studies.

EMESE DOMBOVARI
Project Assistant
Emese Dombovari provides financial, administrative, and logistical support to CUI's Ukraine RGD program. She is responsible for project accounting and records' management, coordinating logistics for international missions of staff and consultants, liaising with administrative staff in the overseas offices, and providing hands-on support to the project team. Ms. Dombovari holds a Diploma in Travel and Tourism from the International Institute of Travel and is currently attending Sheridan College to pursue a Business Certificate. She speaks English and Hungarian.

BRENT GILMOUR
Project Manager, Education and Research
Brent Gilmour manages a range of projects with CUI's Education and Research centre. He has a strong focus on the Institute's urban energy issues and programs, undertaking research for government and private sector clients, assisting with the development of conferences and providing commentary and presentations on emerging urban issues, such as greening municipal infrastructure and the application of large-scale community carbon reduction. Brent is CUI's lead investigator on district energy and green building issues, as part of the secretariat services provided by CUI to the Canadian District Energy Association and the Green Building Alliance. He also manages CUI's Canadian-based internship and volunteer programs. Prior to joining CUI, Mr. Gilmour was the Strategic Coordinator responsible for the establishment of the University of Toronto's Sustainability Office (USO) and was an independent research consultant specializing in community energy innovation. Mr. Gilmour holds a Masters of Science in Planning from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Toronto.

JANIS LYNCH
Project Manager, Urban Leadership Program
As a Project Manager with the Urban Leadership Program, Janis Lynch undertakes the management of the CUI's annual Urban Leadership Awards program. In this role, her responsibilities include securing sponsorship, overseeing the nomination process, coordinating the work of the awards jury and producing the annual Urban Leadership Awards luncheon. Janis also contributes to the development of other CUI leadership activities and is responsible for a variety of communications and outreach activities including the production of The Urban Century magazine. Before assuming her role in Urban Leadership programming, Janis was a Project Manager in the CUI's International Partnerships program, responsible for the delivery of several CIDA-funded development initiatives in Central Europe and the Balkans. Prior to joining the CUI, Janis worked as a planner and policy analyst for the Government of Ontario and as a planner and public consultation coordinator with a variety of private consulting firms. Janis has also served two terms as an elected municipal councillor in the Town of Kingsville, Ontario. Janis holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from McMaster University.

GILL MACLACHLAN
Project Assistant
Gill MacLachlan provides financial, administrative, and logistical support to CUI's International Urban Partnerships program. She is responsible for project accounting and records' management, coordinating logistics for international missions of staff and consultants, liaising with administrative staff in the overseas offices, and providing hands-on support to the project team. Gill has many years of project and financial administration experience through her work at Ryerson University, University of Toronto, the Institute for Computer Studies and most recently as part of a team delivering public consultation and community engagement services.

IAIN MYRANS
Research Planner, Education and Research
Iain supports the Institute’s research initiatives through his experience and enthusiasm for social science and applied planning research. Some studies and research endeavours that Iain has been involved with at the Institute include the impact of broadband technologies on cities and city-regions, a long-range office-intensification strategy study, research into the impacts of human aging and mobility. His personal research interests include urban and lighting design in the public realm, brownfield redevelopment, transit planning, and public engagement techniques through web 2.0. As an avid photographer of urban landscapes, Iain’s images have been featured in the International Society of City and Regional Planners’ (ISOCARP) Review and on covers of the Ontario Planning Journal. Iain holds degrees in urban and regional planning (Ryerson University) and political science, and urban, economic and social geography (University of Toronto).

JENNIFER PAVEY
Project Manager
Jennifer is responsible for management of special projects and implementation of new initiatives. Working alongside the Director, Finance and Operations, Jennifer provides guidance, support, and training to program staff in the financial and logistical aspects of project implementation. She coordinates the provision of space, resources, and technology for CUI's Toronto office. Jennifer also acts as Coordinator to the Canadian District Energy Association (CDEA) – for which CUI acts as secretariat – providing financial and administrative support to the operations of the Association. Jennifer has an Honours Bachelor of Mathematics from the University of Waterloo.

ANDREA ROBERTS
Project Officer, International Partnerships
Andrea Roberts is responsible for coordinating CUI's International Urban Partnerships Program. Previously, she coordinated the Regional Governance and Development (RGD) Project in Ukraine on the Canadian side. Prior to joining CUI, Andrea was a Policy Research Assistant with the World Bank in Ukraine, where she worked on the People's Voice Project and the TB and HIV/AIDS Control Project. She also served as a policy intern with the EastWest Institute in New York, where she assisted with the US-Russia Working Group on HIV/AIDS. Ms. Roberts holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from Columbia University (New York), with a focus on Eastern Europe and economic and political development. She has a working knowledge of French and an intermediate knowledge of Russian.

OLGA SEMENOVYCH
Project Officer, International Partnerships
Olga Semenovych coordinates the Canada-Ukraine Regional Governance and Development (RGD) Project. Prior to joining the Canadian office, she was a CIDA-funded intern working as a Social, Environmental, and Economic Strategic Planner in Zakarpattya, Ukraine, one of the RGD Project’s pilot regions. During this internship, Olga supported the implementation of a participatory strategic planning process in that region. Prior to joining CUI, Olga worked at the Department of National Defence in various capacities, including in areas of technical, administrative and project management support to departmental programs and reserve units. She remains an active reservist in the Canadian Forces. Olga graduated from Carleton University with a Bachelor Degree in Public Affairs and Policy Management (Honours), specializing in International Relations. She is fluent in Russian and Ukrainian and has a working ability in French.

RAIJA SUOMELA
Senior Program Administrator
Raija Suomela is responsible for providing organizational and administrative services for CUI's Canadian-based programming, pertaining to event planning and implementation, executive support and membership services. She is in charge of the web updates, email marketing and online registrations of CUI events. She compiles researched information to produce various deliverables and promotional materials and oversees the administration and development of CUI's database. Raija brings an array of organizational and knowledge-based skills from her previous employment with senior executives and professionals. She has an Honours BA in Linguistics from the University of Helsinki (Finland). Raija speaks Finnish and has a good knowledge of Swedish, German and French.

CHRIS VANDOOREN
Project Manager, International Partnerships
Chris VanDooren is the Canadian-based manager of CUI's Regional Governance and Development (RGD) Project in Ukraine, funded by the Europe, Middle East & Maghreb Branch of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Chris also serves as technical advisor on the Ethiopia-Canada Urban Management Programme, a component of the International Urban Partnerships program. His earlier work with CUI included serving as the Contract/Financial Manager on the World Bank-financed Poland Institutional Development Program and as an advisor on various local government support programs throughout Central and Eastern Europe. Before joining CUI in 2000, Chris served as a consultant on a local government reform project in Jamaica, where he was resident for one year, and on community development projects in Ecuador and Mexico. Mr. VanDooren is an economic development practitioner who holds a Masters in Applied Environmental Studies in Local Economic Development from the University of Waterloo and a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from McMaster University in Hamilton.

LINDA VAREKAMP
Project Coordinator, Education and Research
Linda Varekamp works on a range of Canadian-based research and education initiatives, providing support with conference logistics, marketing, research and graphic design. One of her major portfolios is to coordinate CUI's brownfields redevelopment program, including the organization of the annual Canadian Brownfields Conference and Brownie Awards programs. She also supports the design and organization of CUI's Roundtable Breakfast Seminars and Urban Leadership symposia. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Policy and English Literature from the University of Toronto.

back to top

INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES

RAFAEL BETANCOURT
Regional Manager, Caribbean and Latin America
Rafael Betancourt manages CUI's projects in Cuba and has responsibilities for other initiatives in Spanish-speaking countries of the Americas. He is an urban economist and specialist in Latin American studies with over 25 years of employment and academic experience in program development and management, business administration and economic research. Resident in Havana, Rafael has extensive on-site experience managing, coordinating and implementing international development and local capacity building projects including local administrative and financial management, organization and delivery of workshops and trainings, and research. He understands how to effectively build cross-cultural relationships and partner with multi-lateral agencies. In 2005 Rafael initiated a partnership with UNDP and UN-HABITAT in Cuba, where CUI has expanded its programming to support the CIDA-funded Program for Local Human Development (PDHL) in the Eastern provinces of Cuba and UN-HABITAT's Localising Agenda 21 Program. Rafael also facilitated a promising new partnership for applied research between the Environmental Health Unit of Cuba's Ministry of Public Health and the Canadian Public Health Agency. In addition to managing CUI projects in Cuba, Rafael also teaches postgraduate courses in Urban Economics for local government officials in Cuba. He was born in Cuba and holds a Masters in International and Urban-Regional Economics and a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) from the University of Florida (USA). Mr. Betancourt is fluent in English and Spanish.

FRANCIS GENTORAL
Regional Manager, South-East Asia
Francis Gentoral manages CUI's projects in the Philippines and has responsibilities for other initiatives in the South-East Asia region. He has close to 20 years experience working in the public, private and non-profit sectors in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. He has extensive experience in participatory program design, project implementation, performance monitoring and evaluation of local environmental, economic and governance initiatives, as well as social service delivery enhancement activities. Francis has been successful at promoting CUI project experiences in the Philippines as national best-practice models, initiating knowledge networking activities with the Department of Local and Interior Government (Philippines), UN Habitat (Philippines), USAID Making Cities Work Project, UNEP and CIDA. Prior to joining CUI, Mr. Gentoral supported a CIDA-funded bilateral project entitled Philippines-Canada Local Government Support Project Phase I, providing technical assistance in project assessment, design, coordination, monitoring and impact evaluation. He has also completed evaluation and impact studies on environmental, economic and health services delivery for USAID and the Government of the Philippines. During the early 1990s, Francis served as Program Officer for Philippines Business for Social Progress, a Philippines-based non-profit foundation dedicated to promoting business sector commitment to social development. Living in Iloilo City, Mr. Gentoral holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of San Agustin (Philippines) and Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Western Visayas State University (Philippines). He is fluent in English, Tagalog and Ilonggo.

IRINA LEKH
Oblast Project Manager-Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine
Irina Lekh is CUI's Oblast Project Manager in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, one of two pilot oblasts (regions) of the Regional Governance and Development project. Prior to joining CUI, Irina worked as a regional consultant on a technical assistance project where she was responsible for supporting and developing entrepreneurship in Zaporizhzhia Region and providing business and legal advice and services in the field of regulatory reform. Ms. Lekh has previously served as Chairperson of the Entrepreneurs' Union in Zaporizhzhia, as a consultant for the United Nations Development Programme, regarding the creation of a safe environment for youth, and as an entrepreneur where she provided legal counselling and business registration to foreign and local entrepreneurs, represented business interests, and consulted on investment activities. Irina has extensive NGO experience and was a pioneer in establishing NGOs in Zaporizhzhia. She also is experienced in participatory program design, project implementation, performance monitoring and evaluation of local economic and governance initiatives, as well as social service activities. Irina is an author of many articles and an active participant in many regional and Ukrainian social activities.

NATALIE NOSA
Oblast Project Manager-Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine
Natalie Nosa is CUI's Oblast Project Manager in Zakarpattya, Ukraine, one of two pilot oblasts (regions) of the Regional Governance and Development project. Prior to joining CUI, Ms. Nosa was Head of the European Integration and Cross-Border Cooperation Department of the Zakarpattya Oblast State Administration. From 2002-2006, Natalie served as an advisor on regional development to the Head of the Zakarpattya Oblast Council. She has also been a member of the Steering and Coordination Committees of the Neighbourhood Programs of the European Commission, Director of the Regional Development Agency in Zakarpattya Region, and President of the International Association of Regional Development Institutions. Ms. Nosa has experience in project management, governance, training programs, monitoring and evaluation, and results-based management. She also has extensive experience in the fields of NGO development, regional development programs, cross-border cooperation issues, and institution building. Natalie holds a Specialist Degree with Distinction in Management and Engineering from Kharkov Aviation Institute (Kharkov, Ukraine). She was a lecturer at Uzhgorod Institute of the Economy and Law and is currently a post-graduated student. Natalie speaks Ukrainian, Russian and English.

YURI POLIANSKI
Project Manager, Ukraine
Yuri Polianski manages CUI's Regional Governance and Development project on the Ukrainian side. Prior to joining CUI in early 2006, Mr. Polianski served as UNDP's Regional Development Advisor on their "Integrity in Action: Governance Program" in Ukraine. He has expertise in international project management, governance, public administration and public service, the development and international accreditation of training programs, monitoring and evaluation and results-based management. Yuri was previously the Deputy Vice Rector and Head of the International Relations Department of the National Academy of Public Administration, which operates out of the Office of the President of Ukraine, where he coordinated and contributed to numerous technical assistance projects in Ukraine. Mr. Polianski has also served in the Chernihiv Regional State Administration and Regional Council in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He is the author of many books and articles on performance evaluation, policy implementation, governance issues and the public service. Yuri received a Specialist Degree with Distinction in English Language and Literature from the Chernihiv State Pedagogical Institute (Ukraine) and a Masters of Public Administration from the Institute of Public Administration and Local Government, Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. Mr. Polianski speaks Ukrainian, Russian and English.

TEFERRA SILESHI
Project Manager, Ethiopia
Teferra Sileshi manages CUI's activities in Ethiopia. He is an urban planner and urban management specialist living in Addis Ababa. Prior to joining CUI, Mr. Sileshi was General Manager of the Urban Management Institute, an institution established by the City of Addis Ababa to provide need-driven urban management training, research and consultancy services to the City as well as municipal and non-municipal offices, non-governmental agencies and private sector organizations. Teferra has engaged in several multi-lateral agency-funded projects including Public Sector Capacity Building Program (PSCAP), a five-year, World Bank-funded program, and a UN-Habitat project assessing capacity gaps of professionals supporting urban development/planning in Ethiopia. He has extensive experience designing and managing capacity building projects including performing training/capacity assessments, producing training manuals and conducting training workshops. Prior to joining the Urban Management Institute, Mr. Sileshi was lecturer and Deputy Dean of the College of Urban Planning and the Ethiopian Civil Service College, Addis Ababa. Mr. Sileshi holds a Master of Science (GIS) from the International Institute for Aerospace Survey and Earth Science, the Netherlands, and Bachelor of Science Urban Planning (Honours) from the College of Urban Planning, Addis Ababa. Teferra is fluent in English, French and Amharic.

back to top