Announcing CUI's 2025 Board of Directors

Subject: Announcing CUI's 2025 Board of Directors

Announcing CUI's 2025

Board of Directors

We’re proud to introduce the new Board of Directors guiding our mission in 2025 and beyond.

These accomplished leaders bring real world experience, diverse perspectives, and a shared commitment to building thriving, resilient communities across Canada. Together, they will help shape the strategic direction of our work and champion bold, practical solutions to the challenges facing cities today.

We also want to extend our sincere thanks to our outgoing Board members for their invaluable service and leadership.

Please join us in welcoming the 2025 Board of Directors!

Meet the Directors

Cameron Charlebois (Chair)

Urban Development Professional -Retired

Toronto, ON

Cameron is a retired executive with experience in architecture, strategic urban and real estate development and municipal administration. He has held several senior management positions in the area of Montreal urban development, among others as Executive Director, Campus Planning and Development Office, McGill University; Vice President, Real Estate, Québec, for the Canada Lands Company; Deputy General Manager, City of Montreal; President and CEO of the Urban Development Institute of Quebec and General Manager of the Viger project development management company.

Cameron has a longstanding history of contributions to the not-for-profit sector. He has held numerous leadership roles, including Chair of the Board at the Blue Metropolis Literary Foundation, Cuso International, the Canadian Council for International Cooperation (now Cooperation Canada), and Save the Children Canada. Additionally, he has served as Vice Chair of the Board at the Evergreen Foundation (Toronto) and the Sacré-Coeur Hospital in Montreal.

Cameron has degrees in architecture (B.Sc.(Arch), B.Arch.) and management (McGill-McConnell Masters of Management) from McGill University and a Doctor of Management from the University of Hertfordshire in the U.K.

Cynthia Dorrington (Vice-Chair)

President & CEO | Vale & Associates

Halifax, NS

Cynthia is the President & CEO of Vale & Associates Human Resource Management and Consulting Inc., a boutique international consulting firm established in 2004. The firm specializes in providing strategy and advisory services, as well as customized training and development for organizations. As President, Cynthia works with small to medium-sized organizations globally, spanning various industry sectors—from start-ups to businesses undergoing growth, mergers, or acquisitions. Her expertise includes organizational strategy and design, people strategy and human resources, business growth strategies, equity, diversity and inclusion strategies, supplier diversity, change management, and board governance. This expertise has allowed Vale & Associates to provide consulting services to a wide range of clients locally, nationally, and internationally.

With over 35 years of board service, Cynthia has contributed her skills and expertise to strengthen organizations. She serves on several boards, including as a member of the Board of Governors of St. Francis Xavier University, Chair of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission, Chair of Black Business Enterprise, and Committee Chair at VON Canada.

Andre Corbould (Treasurer)

Senior Advisor | Integrated Strategic Partners

Edmonton, AB

Andre is the Senior Advisor at Integrated Strategic Partners, a firm that brings extensive government relations, marketing, communications, research and polling into successful joint ventures. He served as Edmonton’s City Manager from January 2021 to April 2024. Under his leadership, the City implemented its visionary City Plan, spearheaded pandemic and economic recovery efforts, and provided wildfire support for thousands of evacuees. He also led initiatives addressing mental health, downtown revitalization, community safety, homelessness, and city livability.

A retired Brigadier General with over four decades in public service, Andre brings extensive leadership experience in building high-performing teams and community coalitions. He held senior executive roles in the Government of Alberta, serving as Deputy Minister for six departments, including Municipal Affairs, Transportation, and Education.

Ana Bailão

Head of Affordable Housing & Public Affairs |

Dream Unlimited Corp.

Toronto, ON

Ana Bailão is the head of affordable housing and public affairs for Dream Unlimited Corp. She is a municipal leader and housing expert, former Deputy Mayor of Toronto, long-time City Councillor, and former mayoral candidate.

After building a successful career in the private sector, Ana was first elected to Toronto City Council in 2010. Over her 12-year tenure at City Hall, she served on multiple committees and represented Toronto at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, earning national recognition as one of Canada’s leading voices for city-building and housing. As Chair of Toronto Community Housing and the city’s inaugural Chair of Housing and Planning, Ana secured unprecedented multi-billion-dollar investments for housing from other levels of government. She also championed innovative solutions, including historic planning and zoning changes, and led the establishment of CreateTO to manage the city's real estate portfolio. Today, Ana remains focused on making cities more livable and inclusive, working with partners across all sectors and regions.

Derek Ballantyne

Managing Partner | New Market Funds

Toronto, ON

Derek is a Managing Partner at New Market Funds, an innovative social impact investment platform specializing in housing affordability and community lending. He is also the CEO of Boann Social Capital, an impact investment fund and one of three capital wholesalers for the Federal Social Finance initiative. From April 2018 to May 2024, he served as Chair of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Board. Throughout his career, Derek has been dedicated to community and impact investment, with a strong focus on housing affordability.

Michael Barrack

Partner| Blakes

Toronto, ON

Michael is a partner at Blake, Cassels & Graydon and is recognized as a leading Canadian litigator. He has represented individuals, pensioners, governments, regulators, private and public corporations, financial institutions, and boards of directors. His clients have faced a wide range of challenges, including criminal charges, pension loss, unfair treatment by domestic or foreign governments, insolvency issues, regulatory obligations, family disputes, damage to professional reputations, and complex commercial matters. Michael has appeared in courts across Canada, including the Supreme Court of Canada, in U.S. courts as both counsel and expert witness on Canadian law, and in arbitration proceedings against foreign governments in London and The Hague.

Michael has also contributed to the for-benefit sector, serving on the boards of Unison Community Health Services, Dixon Hall, Scarborough Health Network Foundation, and the Ontario Heart and Stroke Foundation. Within the legal community, he was a founding director of Pro Bono Law Ontario and served on the board of Parkdale Community Legal Services. He is a past president and board member of The Advocates' Society and has lectured at Canadian law schools.

Wade Griffin

National Director for Indigenous Engagement | BGIS

Caledonia, ON

Wade is a proud community member of the Six Nations of the Grand River with a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a minor in Indigenous Studies from McMaster University. He is a tireless champion for Indigenous rights and economic development and is committed to promoting Reconciliation.

Wade has worked 30+ years with and within Indigenous communities, initially as an entrepreneur. He has over a decade in leadership roles, many of which were directly with Indigenous communities in Canada. Currently, Wade is the National Director for Indigenous Engagement for BGIS, responsible for the Canadian Indigenous Engagement program which entails creating and implementing a business strategy that facilitates greater Indigenous participation in a meaningful manner. Previously, he was the Acting CEO for Mississaugas of the Credit Business Development Corporation. Wade has also served on the inaugural Board of Directors for the Mississaugas of the Credit Business Corporation as well as the Board of Directors for Ni’Akinde (an Indigenous consortium between Tlicho Investment Corporation, Des Nedhe Group and Mississaugas of the Credit Business Corporation).

Lisa Helps

Executive Lead of BC Builds Project Origination| BC Housing

Victoria, BC

Lisa currently serves as Executive Lead of the BC Builds Project Origination at BC Housing. BC Builds is an innovative housing program that leverages public land, low-cost financing, and other creative tools to accelerate the construction of affordable housing for working people in B.C. She also teaches Leading Urban Change at the University of Toronto School of Cities and is the Chair of her neighborhood association, the Fernwood Community and Arts Association, in Victoria, B.C.

Previously, Lisa was the Housing Solutions Advisor to Premier Eby. Before that, she served two terms as Mayor of Victoria, British Columbia, and co-chaired the BC Urban Mayors Caucus, advancing shared priorities for cities across the province. As mayor, her focus areas included economic development, housing, climate action, resilient infrastructure, and Reconciliation.

Ilona Larionova

Legal Counsel | Ontario Securities Commission

Toronto, ON

Ilona is a lawyer called to the Bar of Ontario, specializing in securities law with a strong focus on corporate governance. Currently serving as Legal Counsel at the Ontario Securities Commission in the Investment Management Division, Ilona has previously held legal positions in the Registration, Inspections and Examinations Division and the Investor Office.

Ilona has also worked as a corporate governance consultant and has shared her expertise through presentations on corporate governance and legal topics at the University of Toronto, Osgoode Hall Law School, and international conferences. Her key areas of interest include Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues and governance during times of crisis. Passionate about legal research and innovation, Ilona is a contributing author to "Digital Assets and the Law: Fiat Money in the Era of Digital Currency," co-authoring a chapter on the legal framework for a central bank digital currency in Canada.

Ilona holds a J.D. from Osgoode Hall Law School, as well as an Honours B.Sc. in Psychology and Criminology, an MSW in Social Work from the University of Toronto.

Tobi Nussbaum

Chief Executive Officer | National Capital Commission

Ottawa, ON

Tobi has dedicated his career to finding solutions to public problems at both the global and local levels. He has served as Chief Executive Officer of the National Capital Commission (NCC) since 2019. Tobi’s professional experience spans roles as a diplomat, lawyer, and city councillor, while his volunteer efforts have focused on community leadership and coaching youth sports.

A graduate of Queen’s University, the University of Victoria, and Harvard University, Tobi moved to Ottawa in 1996 to join the Canadian Foreign Service. His postings included work at the United Nations in New York and on international trade policy in Geneva. In Canada, he served in the Department of Global Affairs and the Privy Council Office, handling foreign trade, and social policy issues.

Abigail Slater

Director| Barlow Lane Holdings Limited

Toronto, ON

Abigail has over 25 years of experience as an entrepreneur, strategic business advisor, and impact investor. Most recently, Abigail’s advising practice has centered around changing the way capital is distributed by supporting innovative ways to fund and grow ventures in under-represented communities. Through social enterprise, impact investing, and new models of sustainable growth, Abigail explores how to build equity and inclusion into our economic systems.

Abigail’s work in the charitable sector focuses on governance for organizations promoting social justice, gender equity, diversity and inclusion. She is a seasoned Board Director, having volunteered in many fields including economic development and entrepreneurship, health, food security and sustainable food systems, healthcare, education and racial justice. She was the founding Chair of Justice Fund Toronto, and of Coralus (formerly SheEO), and is also the past Chair of the Governance Committee and Vice-Chair of Centennial College.

Abigail is a proud recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2014. She holds a BA in Economics from Smith College and an MBA from the Schulich School of Business.

Anneke Smit

Director and Associate Professor at Centre of Cities |

Faculty of Law, University of Windsor

Windsor, ON

Anneke is Associate Professor, and the founder and inaugural Director of the Centre for Cities (C4C) at Windsor Law. Prior to joining Windsor Law, Anneke held a Lectureship at the School of Law, University of Reading (UK). She holds a PhD from the University of Reading, an LLB from McGill University, and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Alberta. She has held visiting positions at Oxford University; the Université d'Aix-Marseille; and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

At the core of her research and teaching is a long-standing interest in spatial justice and the intersection of people and place. This includes a deep interest in municipal law and policy, land use planning (including expropriation), and property law. Her work "Public Interest, Private Property: Law and Planning Policy in Canada" (UBC Press, 2016, co-edited with M. Valiante), continues to be required reading for both law and planning courses in numerous Canadian universities.

Juvarya Veltkamp

Senior Advisor | C40 Cities

Squamish, BC

Juvarya is a respected leader renowned for spearheading purpose-driven organizations that address the climate emergency. With extensive expertise in economic development, climate governance, and public policy, she has significantly contributed to local government climate strategies and the integration of climate considerations into financial decision-making.

As a Senior Advisor at C40 Cities, Juvarya plays a critical role in helping some of the world’s largest cities and their ports achieve a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030. Juvarya has also served as Chief of Strategy at InBC Investment and as Director of the Canada Climate Law Initiative at the University of British Columbia. For 10 years, she worked alongside Vancouver entrepreneurs and small business owners, leading green economy programs for the City of Vancouver.

Juvarya serves as a director on the board of Vancity Credit Union and as an advisor to Realize Capital Partners, a fund-of-funds manager for the Government of Canada's Social Finance Fund.

Juvarya holds an MBA in Finance and Strategy from the University of British Columbia and a BA (Hons) in Economics and Sustainable Development from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, UK. Additionally, she holds the Global Competent Boards (GCB.D) ESG designation and the Global Association of Risk Professionals’ Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR) certificate.

We’re excited for what’s ahead and grateful to have such

dedicated leaders at the table.

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Subject: Announcing CUI's 2025 Board of Directors