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OUR TEAM

At the UDesign Justice Initiative, we are a collective of planners, designers, practitioners, researchers, academics, community advocates, and students committed to design justice. Drawing on diverse disciplines and lived experiences, we do not position ourselves as experts, but as facilitators, co-learners, and accomplices in reimagining how design is practiced. We believe that those most affected by design decisions should lead them, and we ground our work in transparency, relational accountability, and collective care.

Founder

Founder portrait

Cecile Kotyk

Cecile Kotyk is the Founder and Director of the UDesign Justice Initiative (UDJI), launched with a commitment to transforming design education, planning practice, and community–university-practice relationships through principles of design justice, accountability, and relational care. Her work centres the leadership and expertise of communities most impacted by design decisions, challenging extractive models of consultation and advancing approaches grounded in co-learning, shared power, and sustained collaboration.

A nationally and internationally recognized social planner, researcher, and speaker, Dr. Kotyk brings over 16 years of experience in the housing and homelessness sector, with deep expertise in housing policy, community development, and equity-driven planning. Her career spans direct service, systems planning, and senior leadership, where she has shaped policy, aligned community and government strategies, and strengthened the professional capacity of organizations working to end homelessness and expand access to affordable housing. She is widely regarded by peers as a principled and effective social justice advocate, known for translating lived and living experience into actionable policy and design outcomes. Dr. Kotyk has led complex, multi-sector initiatives in collaboration with government agencies, Indigenous Nations, Black communities, non-profit and private sector partners, and people with lived experience, advancing trauma-informed, culturally responsive approaches to housing and the built environment. She is a frequent national and international conference speaker, and her work and leadership have been featured in Avenue Calgary for its impact on equity and social justice in urban development.

She holds a Bachelor of Human Ecology (Family, Housing, and Communities) and minor in Psychology from the University of Manitoba, a Master of City Planning, and a Doctor of Design from the University of Calgary’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture. During her doctoral research, Dr. Kotyk developed Canada’s first Black Housing Equity Framework (BHEF)—a nationally significant tool designed to confront anti-Black systemic racism and advance Black inclusion in housing and homelessness systems. Her doctoral work was recognized with the Alberta Human Rights and Multiculturalism Scholarship (2022–2023). Dr. Kotyk is also the Founder and Principal Consultant of Kotyk Consulting, supporting governments and non-profit organizations in designing community-led research and policy initiatives. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor and Design Justice Research Chair at the University of Calgary, where she continues to bridge scholarship, practice, and community-led change.

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.
Researcher, Associate Professor - Social Work Dr. Ajwang Warria headshot
Dr. Ajwang Warria
Ajwang’ Warria, DLitt et Phil., is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary (Canada). Prior to this, she was a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Social Work at the University of the Witwatersrand (Johannesburg, South Africa). Her research interests lie in child protection, transnational migration, intervention research and international social work. She has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications. Ajwang’ has led and supported various projects initiated by the South African government, USAID and UNICEF focusing on children on the move, trafficking in persons and alternative care for children. She has worked on various research, practice, and advocacy-related initiatives in southern and East Africa. In Canada, she is working with several community partners on violence prevention and migration data curation as part of a Newcomer Knowledge Hub. Her current projects in South Africa are addressing survivor-informed service provision to trafficked persons, Africentric trauma-informed practice, child migration, and community-based child protection. Ajwang’ serves as a member of the Olympic Refuge Foundation Think Tank. She is a research fellow at the University of Johannesburg (South Africa). She holds a doctoral degree from University of Johannesburg and a Master degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Cape Town.