Elsa Lam
Elsa Lam
Advisory Chair
Elsa Lam is the Chair of BEAT's Advisory Board and the editor-in-chief of Canadian Architect magazine. She was the 2012 winner of the Phyllis Lambert Prize for writing in architecture, awarded for her doctoral dissertation “Wilderness Nation: Building Canada’s Railway Landscapes, 1885-1929,” completed at Columbia University in the City of New York under the supervision of Kenneth Frampton and Vittoria di Palma. The dissertation explores the role of Canada's railway hotels, western national parks and other railway-sponsored buildings and landscapes in forging a sense of national identity.
Elsa studied architectural history at McGill University and architectural design at the University of Waterloo. She has written extensively for architecture magazines, as well as collaborating on the editing and writing of several books on design history. Previous to her role at Canadian Architect, she worked with the Canadian Centre for Architecture in Montreal. She is co-editor of the forthcoming book Canadian Modern Architecture, 1967-2017, to be co-published by Princeton Architectural Press and Canadian Architect in Fall 2019.
Kyra Clarkson
Kyra Clarkson
OAA, FRAIC
Advisory Vice-Chair
Kyra is the founder of Kyra Clarkson Architect Inc., a design-oriented architecture studio founded in 2007 with a focus on creating modern houses that sit thoughtfully in the fabric of the city. Her firm works on a range of projects in downtown Toronto, southern Ontario, and has recently completed a house in the Alberta Badlands. The work of her studio has been featured in numerous publications, including the Globe and Mail, Canadian Architect, Designlines, Monocle and Dwell. In addition to managing her residential practice, Kyra is a co-founder of MODERNest Inc., an architect-driven development firm with a mission to build moderately priced houses with a modern sensibility.
Kyra is a member of the Ontario Association of Architects, the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, and the Toronto Society of Architects. She was elected to the College of Fellows of the RAIC in 2022. Kyra has sat on design juries and lectured on her work. In 2022 she participated in a ULI technical advisory panel to provide strategic advice to the City of Toronto on zoning policy.
Betsy Williamson
Betsy Williamson
B.A., M.Arch, OAA, FRAIC
Past Advisory Chair, Leadership Seminars, Dinners
Betsy Williamson is a registered architect with the Ontario Association of Architects and a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (FRAIC). Betsy received a Master of Architecture from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Architecture from Barnard College. Her office’s work has been awarded the prestigious 2014 Emerging Architectural Practice Award by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and the 2014 Emerging Voices Award by the Architectural League of New York. Betsy was also named a finalist for the Architects’ Journal 2015 Emerging Woman Architect of the Year Award. Her office’s early work was awarded the Ronald J. Thom Award for Early Design Achievement from the Canada Council for the Arts and won the Canadian Prix de Rome for their research in the field of innovative wood construction.
Betsy continues to foster her commitment to engaging the city in a greater capacity through volunteer work on a number of boards. As vice-chair of the Waterfront Toronto Design Review Panel, she actively contributes to a culture of quality at an urban scale by signaling that high quality design is a critical consideration for the development of Toronto’s waterfront and the city.
Shirley Blumberg
Shirley Blumberg
CM, OAA, FRAIC, AIA
Advisory Sponsorship
A founding partner of KPMB Architects, Shirley Blumberg is an invested Member of the Order of Canada “for her contributions to architecture and for her commitment to creating spaces that foster a sense of community.” Her portfolio ranges from mixed-use developments to highly specialized cultural and academic institutions, many with a focus on revitalizing heritage contexts. Shirley’s projects include the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre at the University of British Columbia, the Fort York Public Library in Toronto, the James Stewart Centre for Mathematics at McMaster University, and the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) Campus in Waterloo which received a RIBA Award in the UK, an AIA Award in the US, and a Governor General’s Award in Canada. Currently, she is the partner-in-charge of the Remai Modern Art Gallery of Saskatchewan, the Ronald O. Perelman Center for Political Science and Economics at the University of Pennsylvania, the new Global Centre for Pluralism for His Highness the Aga Khan in Ottawa, 20 Washington Road for Princeton University as well as the new Campus Framework Plan at Princeton.
Shirley is a member of the Toronto Community Housing Design Review Panel and has served on design review panels for the Ontario College of Art and Design and the City of Toronto. She has been a guest critic and lecturer at universities across North America.
Nina Boccia
Nina Boccia
Advisory Media & Communications
Nina Boccia is a marketing and communications professional with over a decade of experience creating dynamic and engaging content that connects to vision and values. A graduate of Ryerson University’s School of Journalism, she previously served as an associate editor at Azure Magazine and managing editor of its sister publication, Designlines, where she interviewed and reported on the best minds in design and architecture.
At Design Exchange, a not-for-profit organization in Toronto, she held various leadership positions, including director of programs, and oversaw the organization's marketing, programming, and fundraising initiatives. Prior to joining KPMB, Nina was a national marketing and communications lead at Lemay. She has spearheaded and managed national marketing efforts including branding campaigns, partnerships, and content strategies.
Nina is passionate about sharing stories that are purpose-driven, facilitate important conversations, drive investment in community and culture, illustrate the transformative power of design, and champion the people creating meaningful impact.
Sue Jean Chung
Sue Jean Chung
OAA, FRAIC
Sue Jean Chung is the founding principal of Studio JCI, a multidisciplinary architectural practice recognized for its high quality residential and mixed-use urban developments. A graduate of the University of Toronto’s Bachelor of Architecture program, Sue Jean is a registered architect with the Ontario Association of Architects, a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and member of the Toronto Society of Architects.
Her contributions were recognized when she was inducted into the Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) Championship team in 2022, celebrating her impact in real estate and urban development. Driven by a passion for educating and mentoring young architects and interns, she founded JCI Learn, a lecture series aimed at nurturing the professional growth of emerging architects. She consistently provides mentorship to young professionals, helping them enhance their technical knowledge and understanding of both the detailed and broader aspects of the profession, while also honing their leadership skills.
Heather Dubbeldam
Heather Dubbeldam
OAA, FRAIC, LEED AP, WELL AP
Past Advisory Chair
Heather Dubbeldam is the past Chair of BEAT's Advisory Board and the principal of Dubbeldam Architecture + Design, an award-winning architectural practice and research studio. A fourth-generation architect with 30 years of experience in Canada and internationally, Heather is a registered architect with the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA), a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (FRAIC), a LEED and WELL Accredited Professional (LEED AP & WELL AP,) and a member of the Canada Green Building Council. Heather has been recognized as a leading advocate for sustainable design and the betterment of our built environment through her practice and ongoing research in both Canada and Scandinavia on progressive design and planning that exemplifies best practices in social and environmental sustainability.
Heather engages in a range of advocacy work in the profession; she is also the Director of Twenty + Change (a national organization dedicated to exposing the work of emerging Canadian architects), past Chair of the Toronto Society of Architects, past Vice-Chair of the Design Industry Advisory Board. As a recipient of the Professional Prix de Rome in Architecture, she is regularly invited to speak at conferences, schools of architecture, and industry events, to participate on juries, and to contribute as a guest critic at architecture schools across Canada. Heather was the co-editor and author of several architecture publications.
Jennifer Esposito
Jennifer Esposito
OAA, AANB, MRAIC, M.Arch II, M.Arch, B.A.S.
Past Executive Chair
Jennifer Esposito previously guided the Executive Board team, as the Executive Chair, and was responsible for coordinating resources for events and projects organized by BEAT, as well as ensuring that the organization is working towards its long-term and short-term goals.
Jennifer is an architect and educator with over 15 years in professional practice. She is a registered Architect in Ontario and principal at Place of Work, an architecture studio based in Halifax, NS and Toronto, ON. She currently holds a position as assistant professor at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Department of Architectural Science. She currently holds a position as assistant professor at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Department of Architectural Science.
Graduating with a post-professional Master of Architecture II from Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Jennifer previously earned a Master of Architecture and a Bachelor of Architectural Studies with Highest Distinction from Carleton University, where she was named to the RAIC Honour Roll. She is also a recipient of the Canada Council for the Arts JBC Watkins Award, which enabled her to pursue postgraduate education beyond Canadian borders.
Jennifer is a past Associate at Superkül (Toronto, ON) and MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects (Halifax, NS), where she led single family residential projects, a typology she has specialized in for over a decade. Additional past work experience includes Pin/Taylor Architects (Yellowknife, NT), Brown + Storey Architects (Toronto, ON), LUCE et studio (San Diego, CA), and William Rawn Associate Architects (Boston, MA). She has held teaching positions at Harvard GSD (Career Discovery Program), Dalhousie University, and the University of Waterloo.
Committed to mentorship and advocacy in the profession, Jennifer volunteers her time to OAA Intern Architects as well as students in the Carleton Alumni Mentorship Program, Harvard GSD's Women in Design, and Harvard Mentor Collective. Jennifer is currently co-chair of Harvard GSD Alumni Council Governance Committee and previously served as co-chair for the 2023 Harvard GSD Alumni Award Jury.
As a Toronto native, Jennifer developed a deep appreciation for urban environments. She leveraged her architectural education and professional experiences to explore cities worldwide, spanning South America, North America, Europe, and the Middle East. She brings this internationally informed expertise to her projects marrying ideas with thoughtful practice.
Valerie Gow
Valerie Gow
OAA, FRAIC, ARIDO, IDC
Advisory Outreach, Workshops
Valerie Gow is the co-founder of Gow Hastings Architects, a practice that has been recognized as an industry-leader in the creation and transformation of post-secondary institutions.
Valerie is an active participant in the design community and a passionate advocate for the advancement of women in architecture. She mentors intern architects and thesis students and is a member of the Urban Land Institute's Women's Leadership Initiative Championship Team. She has presented at post-secondary leadership seminars for women at both the University of Toronto and Ryerson University. She is also a regular critic at architecture and design schools, and a frequent jury members for design and product competitions.
Valerie is a founding member of the Harbourfront Architecture Gallery Advisory Committee and sits on the Ryerson School of Interior Design Program Advisory Board, the CISV (Children’s International Summer Villages) Toronto Board and the Southwestern Ontario Region Committee of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC). In 2016, she was named a Fellow of the RAIC for her distinctive service to the profession and community at large.
Stephanie Hosein
Stephanie Hosein
BEDS, MArch, OAA, MRAIC
Past Executive Chair, Outreach, Dinners
Stephanie is a registered Architect with the Ontario Association of Architects and an Associate at Omar Gandhi Architect. She attended Dalhousie University and received the AIA Henry Adams certificate and RAIC High Honour Roll upon graduation from the Master of Architecture program. Stephanie is driven and detail-oriented, naturally taking on a leadership role in any project she is involved in. She excels at problem-solving and is steadfast in her approach to realize a project’s design intent by working closely with clients, consultants and contractors through all project phases. Her wide range of project experience in both new construction and adaptive re-use includes commercial, hospitality, residential, offices and higher education.
Stephanie is a founding member of Building Equality in Architecture Toronto (BEAT) and served as the past Executive Board Chair (2021-2023). Past BEAT contributions include serving as Sponsorship Chair (2019-2021) and co-organizing the annual Forum, focused on creating awareness and promoting equity, diversity and inclusion in the field of architecture and design. She also volunteers her time mentoring through the OAA internship program and post-secondary institutions.
Camille Mitchell
Camille Mitchell
OAA, MRAIC, M.Arch
Advisory Special Events
A highly accomplished Architect, Camille brings several years of experience on award-winning projects, garnering recognition for this work through speaking, mentorship, and teaching opportunities. An Architect with the Toronto office of SvN Architects + Planners, Camille leverages her achievements in architecture to advocate for the involvement of under-represented groups in the design of their built environments. Camille is a founding member of the independent organizations Building Equality in Architecture Toronto and Black Architects + Interior Designer Association. Their programs are dedicated to supporting mentorship, networking and leadership opportunities for women and visible minorities within the architecture profession.
Camille was the 2022 recipient of the G. Randy Roberts Service Award from the Ontario Association of Architects in recognition of her contributions to the architectural profession. That same year she was also awarded the Alumni Achievement Medal for Community Service presented by the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Waterloo for exceptional commitment towards volunteer leadership and humanitarian endeavours.
Elaine Pantel
elaine pantel
Strategic Advisor to Architecture, Engineering & Design (AED) Firms
Elaine Pantel is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 30 years of experience advising privately held firms. She specializes in supporting leaders of architecture, engineering, and design practices through business transition, succession planning, and financial strategy.
Elaine builds financial literacy and business acumen by developing tools—such as executive financial dashboards and share purchase scenario models—that help firm leaders focus on drivers of value to better align strategy, operations, and long-term ownership planning. Her consultancy focuses on integrating firm data into actionable insights to support leadership development, phased internal ownership transitions, and sustainable growth.
She works with firms across Canada on projects involving ownership restructuring, interpreting Key Performance Indicators, and strategic planning to navigate phased business transition plans. Based in Toronto, Elaine brings a collaborative and thoughtful lens to helping practices navigate complex transitions.
She is a frequent speaker on firm strategy and succession in the AED sector.
Sonia Ramundi
Sonia Ramundi
M. Arch, OAA, MRAIC
Past Executive Chair, Outreach, Leadership Seminars
Sonia Ramundi holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Toronto with a double major in architecture and fine art history, and a minor in visual studies. Since graduating from the master’s program at the Daniels Faculty in 2012, she has been actively practising and teaching architecture.
Ramundi is a registered architect and has been the project lead on multiple commercial interior fit-outs and residential new-builds. She has worked in offices in Los Angeles and Toronto on various institutional projects as well as award winning, high-end interiors and residential projects. She is particularly interested in exploring the dynamic relationship between site and architecture, and in examining design problems and their potential solutions at various scales.
Since 2017, Ramundi has been involved in BEAT (Building Equality in Architecture Toronto) as an executive member, then as the executive director, and presently as an advisory member. During her term as executive director of BEAT, Ramundi led the internal visioning workshop initiative which sought to update the group's mandate to respond to current needs in the profession, and to prepare the organization for future growth.