We are delighted to announce Urban Strategies’ latest staff promotions, reflecting our continued growth and evolution as a company.  We aim to make space for everyone at the firm to grow, lead, mentor and have an impact. These promotions allow us to expand our capacity to deliver excellent work at all levels, and include new Partners, Principals, Senior Associates and Associates. We are proud of the contributions of all of our staff who strive to make every project great, working with our clients and collaborators to create inclusive communities that attract people and advance equity, sustainability and economic development. Please join us in congratulating our growing leadership team!

Partners

Christine Fang-Denissov is driven by a passion for design and a desire to help communities realize positive change. She regularly directs complex and multi-disciplinary teams, and is credited for various award-winning urban regeneration and master planning projects across Canada and Asia. She is developing the Framework Plan for the 520-acre Downsview Lands; advancing the District Plans for Taxiway West District and Brightwater (Port Credit); planning approvals for Canada Square, Commerce Court, and Galleria Mall; and recent Campus Master Plans for Queens University, and Centennial College.

Leigh McGrath is a planner who works with a diversity of clients at a range of city-building scales to understand the opportunity inherent in any site. Leigh leads and manages complex public and private sector work including development approvals and statutory land use planning processes, waterfront master plans and campus master plans. Leigh is currently working on a number of processes to transform and urbanize major malls and shopping centres in the Toronto area, as well as planning policy development for the Richmond Hill Regional Centre, the planned terminus of the Yonge North Subway Extension.

Josh Neubauer is a planner who loves complex and strategic projects. He has diverse experience in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. has played a lead role on the Princeton University Campus Plan, employment land strategies for the City of Markham and Stelco, development approvals for Oxford Properties and other developers in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), planning for the Regional Transit Centre at Pearson Airport, strategic neighbourhood plans in Detroit and London, and many other projects. Josh is also leading Urban Strategies’ Collaborative Studio in Hamilton Ontario, convening cross-sectoral discussions on mid-size city planning.

Principal

Yiwen Zhu is an urban design lead on many of Urban Strategies’ diverse local and international projects, including the University of Virginia Grounds Framework Plan, Pinewood Studio Vision and a number of large scale master plan competitions in Singapore and China. She also leads our Visualization Committee and is a valued member of the Toronto Community Housing Design Review Panel.

Senior Associates

Lauren Haein An is a planner recognized for her dedication towards helping create equitable and healthy places. Bringing strong project management and creative problem solving skills to projects, Lauren has played key roles on a number of mixed-use master plans, development approvals and long-range planning studies in Toronto, Ottawa, and London. Her current projects include the transformation of former industrial sites into mixed-use communities, including the former Christie’s Cookie factory and the 1st District (Taxiway West) at the 520-acre Downsview Airport lands.

Mihaly Szabo, in his 16 years at Urban Strategies, has played a leading role in delivering and expanding our range of 3D design services. His work has innovatively integrated BIM tools and techniques to support our extensive roster of complex master planning and development-related assignments, enabling us to seamlessly integrate and test development and place-making ideas with the surrounding landscape and urban infrastructure. 

Neil Loewen is a planner with expertise in transportation planning and development approvals, including several office and residential tower approvals in Downtown Toronto and Mississauga. His transportation work has included pedestrian and cycling plans, updating Metrolinx’s GO Station Access Plan, and studying east and west extensions to the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. Neil draws on his excellent communication skills and boundless energy to manage effective teams in the creation of innovative urban solutions.

Tatjana Trebic is the planner and project manager for some of the firm’s most complex mixed use projects in Toronto and Vancouver, including the ʔəy̓alməxw / Iy̓álmexw / Jericho Lands Comprehensive Development Plan, Yorkdale Master Plan and development approvals, and the Queen Ashbridge/Don Summerville mixed income redevelopment.  Recognized as an exceptional project manager, Tatjana coordinates teams for effective delivery of plans and approvals in a range of urban contexts.

Associates

Davin McCully is a Planner with a strong understanding of urban planning, design, and development. Davin is actively working on a number of Master Plans, including the long term vision for Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto. Davin plays a leading role on planning feasibility, site assessments, and highest and best use reports. 

Junhao Fu is a skilled urban designer with a background in urban planning and urban design. He has diverse experiences working on projects including master planning, transit-oriented development, waterfront redevelopment, campus planning locally and internationally. His recent project Alexandra Park Revitalization won the 2021 ULI Global Awards for Excellence. He is currently involved in the University of Toronto Development Approvals project.

Lisa Ward Mather is a project manager and planner with a multi-disciplinary background and extensive research experience. She has studied and written on a wide range of topics including smart cities projects, planning policy and municipal open data. Her recent projects include Weston Park (1871 & 1885 Weston Road), the revitalization of the Loch-Sloy Business Park and the Picton Airport lands and the update to the Barbados National Physical Development Plan.

Ning Lin is an urban designer with extensive experience in large-scale master plans, transit-oriented developments, campus planning and development approvals locally and internationally. She is currently involved in the development of a framework plan for the Downsview Lands and master plans for Yorkdale Shopping Centre and Pinewood Toronto Film Studios in Toronto.

Peter Pantalone is a planner who is involved in several large-scale development applications, master plans, and other due diligence and highest and best use exercises. Peter has contributed to several prominent development proposals across the Greater Toronto Area, including 101 Spadina Avenue, Sherway Gardens and 50-64 Merton Street. He has also been involved in planning appeals at the Ontario Land Tribunal and the Toronto Local Appeal Body, which have secured positive outcomes for clients.