5th Annual Municipalities of the Future Symposium
We are pleased to announce that our 5th annual Municipalities of the Future Symposium will proceed as a hybrid in-person and virtual event (at Vantage Venues, 150 King St W, Toronto, ON and on Zoom) on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Vinay Sharda, Associate Deputy Minister, Policy, Planning & Agency Relations with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation will serve as keynote speaker. You can browse our guest speaker bios below.
For more information about our annual event please contact: Dr. Alena Kimakova, Director, School of Public Policy & Administration at akimakov@yorku.ca.
This event is co-sponsored by the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO).
Quick Links
- Government Career Panels
- Celebrating Public Service
- Ontario Public Service Breakfast
- Professional Development Workshops
- Professional Networking Events
- Recognition Awards Dinner
This event is free, but space is limited and registration is required.
Agenda
Last Updated: March 11, 2022
9:00 AM – 9:15 AM
Participants connect
9:15 AM – 9:30 AM
Welcome and introductions
9:30 AM – 9:50 AM
Keynote Address
Delivering through Partnership by Vinay Sharda, Associate Deputy Minister, Policy, Planning & Agency Relations with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation
09:50 AM – 10:00 AM
Q&A Period
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM
Small group networking session
10:15 AM – 11:00 AM
Panel Discussion | Session I
Environmental sustainability and municipal infrastructure: Challenges and opportunities for transformation
- Quentin Chiotti, Practice Lead, Climate Risk and Resilience, Matrix Solutions Inc.
- Thomas MacPherson, Manager, Transportation Asset Management, Transportation and Infrastructure Planning, Transportation Services, The Regional Municipality of York
- Sharon Walker, Manager, Emergency Planning, Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service, Emergency Planning, City of Vaughan
Facilitator: Fausto Natarelli, Adjunct Faculty, School of Public Policy & Administration
11:00 AM – 11:15 AM
Break
11:15 AM – 12:00 PM
Panel Discussion | Session II
Human resources and procurement policies as a site of sustainability through equity, diversity and inclusivity
- Zincia Francis, Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer, City of Vaughan
- Joanne Kinya Baker, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Specialist, City of Markham
- Jennifer McCabe, Procurement Advisor, City of Ottawa
Facilitator: Naomi Couto, Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director, Master of Public Policy, Administration and Law (MPPAL) Program, School of Public Policy & Administration
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
Lunch Break
12:30 PM – 1:15 PM
Panel Discussion | Session III
Unpacking the potential of “smart cities” infrastructure and the need for new governance approaches
- Alison Burgess, Manager of Government and Community Relations, Durham Region
- Barbara Swartzentruber, Executive Director, Smart Cities Office, City of Guelph
- Robert Trewartha, Director of Strategic Communications and Initiatives, City of Mississauga
Facilitator: Zac Spicer, Associate Professor, School of Public Policy & Administration
1:15 PM – 2:00 PM
Panel Discussion | Session IV
Municipal ethics: Improving governance by strengthening council-staff relations
- David Arbuckle, Executive Director, Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO)
- Kimberley Kitteringham, City Clerk & Director of Legislative Services and Corporate Communications, City of Markham
- John Mascarin, Partner, Aird & Berlis LLP and Adjunct Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
- Bianca Wylie, Co-founder of Digital Public and Tech Reset Canada; Senior Fellow, Centre for International Governance Innovation
Facilitator: Ian Stedman, Assistant Professor, School of Public Policy & Administration
2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Small group networking session
2:15 PM – 3:00 PM
Round-table Discussion | Session V
Emerging from the pandemic: Lessons learned about sustainability and governance
- Binnu Jeyakumar, Director of Clean Energy, Pembina Institute
- David LePage, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Buy Social Canada
- Ajay Nandalall, Risk Manager, Environmental & Social Risk Management, TD Bank
- Christine Tu, Director, Office of Climate Change and Energy Management, Region of Peel
Facilitators: Alena Kimakova, Associate Professor and Director, School of Public Policy & Administration and Zac Spicer, Associate Professor, School of Public Policy & Administration
Keynote address by Vinay Sharda
Vinay Sharda, Associate Deputy Minister, Policy, Planning & Agency Relations, Ontario Ministry of Transportation
Vinay Sharda is the Associate Deputy Minister, Policy, Planning & Agency Relations, Ontario Ministry of Transportation. In this role he provides executive leadership over public transportation and infrastructure initiatives, agency relations and oversight and developing transportation strategies, policies and plans.
Before taking on this current role, Vinay was the Assistant Deputy Minister at Cabinet Office, Policy and Delivery. In this role he provided advice to the Premier’s Office and partner ministries in supporting the delivery of the government’s policy and legislative agenda in areas related to economic, environmental, justice and intergovernmental policy. Prior to going to Cabinet Office Vinay was the Executive Director of the Transit Policy and Programs Group at the Ministry of Transportation where he provided the ministry with leadership on matters related to transit. Vinay has a long history at MTO which includes also being the Director of Transit Policy Branch – where he was responsible for policy delivery and oversight of Metrolinx; as well as being instrumental in supporting negotiations with municipalities, the City of Toronto and key transit projects. Vinay has also been the Executive Assistant for two Deputy Ministers.
Vinay has an Honours Applied Economics Degree from the University of Waterloo, and a Master’s of Public Policy, Administration & Law from York University.
Speaker Bios
David Arbuckle
Executive Director, Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO)
Zincia Francis
Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer, City of Vaughan
Kimberley Kitteringham
City Clerk & Director of Legislative Services and Corporate Communications and Community Engagement, City of Markham
Thomas MacPherson
Manager, Transportation Asset Management, Transportation and Infrastructure Planning, Transportation Services, The Regional Municipality of York
John Mascarin
Partner, Aird & Berlis LLP and Adjunct Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
Ian Stedman
Assistant Professor, Canadian Public Law and Governance in the School of Public Policy and Administration
Sharon Walker
Manager, Emergency Planning, Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service, Emergency Planning, City of Vaughan
Bianca Wylie
Co-founder of Digital Public and Tech Reset Canada; Senior Fellow, Centre for International Governance Innovation