OUR TEAM

Dr. Marie Cecile Kotyk is an Assistant Professor and Design Justice Research Chair at the University of Calgary’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape. She is a housing scholar and practitioner with over 15 years of experience advancing equity in housing, homelessness, and community development...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.