OUR TEAM

At the UDesign Justice Initiative, our team is made up of students, designers, researchers and community advocates who believe in design justice. Through our diverse disciplines and lived experiences, we position ourselves not as experts, but as facilitators, co-learners, and accomplices in the work of reimagining design processes. We believe that those most affected by design decisions should be the ones leading them. We value transparency, relational accountability, and collective care.

Founder

Cecile Kotyk

Cecile Kotyk is the founder of the UDesign Justice Initiative, launching the project with a commitment to reshaping design education, community relationships, and planning processes through design justice, accountability, and relational care. Their work centers the voices of communities most impacted by design decisions, challenging extractive forms of consultation and advancing approaches rooted in co-learning, shared power, and sustained collaboration.

Dr. Marie (Cecile) Kotyk has 15 years of experience in the housing and homelessness sector and is known for her expertise as a Social Planner. She possesses extensive knowledge in developing and managing housing and community development projects that have a positive impact on marginalized individuals and communities. Her peers describe her as a passionate advocate for social justice who is committed to addressing housing challenges faced by marginalized populations. Throughout her career, she has spearheaded numerous significant projects by effectively collaborating with a variety of stakeholders, including government officials, private and public organizations, non-profit organizations, Indigenous groups, Black communities, and individuals with lived/living experiences. She has advanced from providing direct service to clients to taking on leadership roles, where she influences systems by making policy and service recommendations, aligning community and government strategic plans, and enhancing the professional capacity of community agencies to end homelessness and increase the supply of affordable housing.

Cecile earned her undergraduate degree in Human Ecology from the University of Manitoba, specializing in Family, Housing, and Communities. Additionally, she holds a Master's in City Planning, during which she co-developed a Comprehensive Community Housing Plan for an on-reserve First Nation. Cecile is also a graduate of the Doctor of Design Program in the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture at the University of Calgary. During her program, she developed the first of its kind in Canada, the Black Housing Equity Framework (BHEF), to combat anti-Black systemic racism and advance Black inclusion in the housing and homelessness sector. For her research, she was awarded the Alberta Human Rights and Multiculturalism scholarship for 2022/2023 at the doctoral level. Cecile is the founder and principal consultant at Kotyk Consulting, and an assistant professor and design justice research chair at the University of Calgary's School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture.

UDJI Co- Lead - Education Focus

Assistant Professor Zahra Khaniki headshot

Matthew Parker

Matthew Parker is an architectural designer and educator who has been a consistent presence at SAPL since 2010, currently working as an assistant professor with a focus on co-learning, collaboration, and divergence. He brings a wealth of professional experience to his teaching role from his work at the prominent design firm DIALOG. His current research includes the (re)production of architectural images within the contemporary mass-media landscape, innovative design pedagogies, and the equity of computation and digital fabrication. With a career that spans over a decade in both professional practice and academia, Parker’s journey is marked by a deep commitment to education, a reflective and agile approach to teaching, and a dedication to pushing the boundaries of architectural pedagogy by destabilizing rigidities. His work emphasizes the importance of creating discomfort in the learning process, challenging students to think critically and question their assumptions. Parker’s approach to teaching at SAPL is characterized by a commitment to challenging students, fostering collaboration, and continually re-evaluating the methods and structures of architectural education. He is committed to realizing the potential of architecture as a force for societal good but recognizes that this requires a continuous process of pedagogic evolution and critical self-reflection. As he continues to innovate in his teaching, Parker remains dedicated to pushing the boundaries of architectural pedagogy, ensuring that it remains relevant and impactful in a rapidly changing world.

SAPL Team

Architectural Designer and Graduate Research Coordinator Zahra Khaniki headshot

Zahra Khaniki

Zahra Khaniki is an Iranian-Canadian architect and interdisciplinary designer with over 10 years of experience in architecture, product design, and community-driven housing projects. She has received the A’Design Award (Italy) and the Memar Award (Iran) for her innovative work. Zahra specializes in participatory design, feminist urbanism, and socially innovative housing solutions. Currently, she researches collective self-build housing models that address social and economic exclusion in urban contexts. She also co-produced a Farsi podcast on urban justice topics and leads design initiatives through her consultancy, Studio 63.

Research Assistant Zainab Ahmed headshot

Zainab Ahmed

Zainab Ahmed is an undergraduate student in the Bachelor of Design in City Innovation program at the University of Calgary. She is passionate about advancing equitable and inclusive practices within design, particularly in the built environment. Dedicated to advocating for racialized communities, she supports more inclusive, community-driven design processes. In her free time, she enjoys figure skating, travelling, and spending time with family and friends.

Research Assistant and Marketing Coordinator Rein Gonzales headshot

Rein Gonzales

Rein Gonzales is an aspiring urban designer with a passion for sustainable architecture, graphic design, and equitable city innovation. Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Design in City Innovation at the University of Calgary’s School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape (SAPL), their research focuses on community engagement, design justice, and the integration of emerging technologies to create inclusive urban spaces. A finalist in the global Map the System competition, they explored housing instability in Black communities through systems thinking and spatial equity. Rein brings experience in design mentorship, youth education, and strategic communications, applying a collaborative, justice-driven approach to every project.

Research Assistant and Marketing Coordinator Cordelia Yip headshot

Cordelia Yip

Cordelia Yip is an aspiring architect who is passionate about using effective and sustainable design to serve the community. Currently, she is a second-year undergraduate student studying international relations and hopes to use this knowledge to create architectural designs that fulfill a diverse range of cultural needs. Her current research focuses on supporting the launch of the Design Justice Lab and Clinic by developing the media platforms and organizing collaborative co-design workshops.

Advisory Team

Community Engagement Strategist Beng Reyes Ong headshot

Beng Reyes Ong

Beng Reyes Ong is a seasoned program manager and community builder with over 20 years of experience in event management, program coordination, and training and development. With a deep commitment to social and environmental justice, Beng’s work focuses on creating meaningful change through mindset and behavior transformation, professional and personal development, and inclusive community engagement. Their career spans the corporate-consumer industry and the human services non-profit sector, blending decades of hands-on expertise in full-cycle program design, campaign and advocacy work, and equity-driven collaboration. Beng brings a strong foundation in anti-racism, racial equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) principles, working closely with individuals, communities, and organizations to foster spaces of belonging and impact.

CEO Simon House Recovery Center John Rook headshot

John Rook

Dr. John Rook is the founding director of the Canadian Poverty Institute and currently serves as Managing Director (Calgary) and Director of Strategic Initiatives for The Mustard Seed. Formerly President & CEO of the Calgary Homeless Foundation and CEO of the Salvation Army Community Services (Calgary), he has also taught at McMaster Divinity College and is adjunct faculty in Social Work at the University of Calgary. From 2007–2011, he chaired the National Council of Welfare and later served on the Alberta Interagency Council on Homelessness. Holding degrees in Sacred Literature, Psychology, Divinity, and a Doctorate of Philosophy from Oxford University, Dr. Rook has authored over 20 peer-reviewed publications and the children’s book Where is My Home?, and has been recognized with the Rotary Club Integrity Award, the City of Burlington Service Award, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

BC Housing Senior Researcher Cindy Moran placeholder headshot

Cindy Moran

Researcher, Accessibility Advocate, and Associate Professor - Geography Victoria Fast headshot

Victoria Fast

Victoria Fast is a professor at the University of Calgary specializing in geographic information science (GISci), human geography, and urban studies. They lead the Accessible Mapping and Mobilities Lab, embedding accessibility into cities, data, mapping technologies, education, and urban standards. Their work combines academic research, teaching, and community engagement to create urban and digital environments that are safe, inclusive, and supportive of all. With expertise in spatial analysis, geovisualization, and participatory GIS, they develop tools and evidence-based indicators that help dismantle barriers to accessibility and inform healthier, fairer, and more sustainable cities. They hold a PhD in Environmental Applied Science and Management from Toronto Metropolitan University, an MA in Geography from Brock University, and a BA (Honours) in Human Geography from Brock University, and completed the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification Training at Athabasca University in 2023.

Associate Dean of Research + Innovation, and Associate Professor - Architecture Joshua Taron headshot

Joshua Taron

Joshua Taron is an Associate Professor and Associate Dean (Research and Innovation) at the University of Calgary’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape (SAPL), where he co-directs the Laboratory for Integrative Design (LID) and serves as academic co-lead for the Cities and Societies area of focus at the University’s Institute for Transdisciplinary Scholarship. His work blends digital design and fabrication with transdisciplinary collaboration, addressing challenges at the intersection of industry, society, and the built environment. With research spanning construction innovation, climate action, and community engagement, Taron advances inclusive, resilient, and adaptable design practices that bridge disciplinary divides and prepare cities for a more sustainable and equitable future.

Nursing Professor, and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair Bukola Salami headshot

Bukola Salami

Bukola Salami is a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Black and Racialized Peoples’ Health and Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine, cross-appointed to the Faculty of Nursing and a member of the O’Brien Institute for Public Health. Her research examines policies and practices shaping migrant and Black health, with over 90 funded studies totaling $230 million and more than 150 peer-reviewed publications. She founded the African Child and Youth Migration Network and the Black Youth Mentorship and Leadership Program, and her work has influenced policy change and the creation of Canada’s first mental health clinic for Black Canadians in Western Canada. An internationally recognized scholar, she collaborates with governments, communities, and global organizations to advance equity, health, and social justice.