Item - 2019.CA8.2

Appointees' biographies:

Lori Davison

Lori Davison is Vice President, Brand Strategy & Communications at SickKids Foundation where she lead the launch of the Internationally awarded SickKids VS campaign.  Prior to joining SickKids, Lori had roles on the senior management teams of leading advertising agencies Leo Burnett and BBDO.  Lori holds a Master of Arts degree from University of Toronto.   She was named Canada’s 2017 Marketer of the Year by the Canadian Marketing Association and 2018 Marketer of the Year by Strategy Magazine.

Juliet French

Juliet French has held several administrative positions with the federal government, the most recent being with the Department of Canadian Heritage. A graduate of the University of Toronto (HBA 2000 Art History) Juliet has volunteered and worked with a series of art and cultural organizations in Canada and the US including Stella Jones Gallery, New Orleans; Harbourfront Centre, CARFAC Ontario, Descant Magazine and Lord Cultural Resources.

Martin Green

Martin Green is a Principal of Foresight Strategic Advisors, a Toronto-based consultancy that advises organizations in highly-regulated sectors on complex challenges. He has had a life-long interest in history and architecture, and is an alumnus of Duke University. Martin has served as an honorary aide-de-camp to the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal and the Ontario Volunteer Service Award. He is married with two children.

Jeff Junke

Jeff Junke holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in History and English from the University of Ottawa and a Master of Professional Communication from Ryerson University. He is currently Communications Manager at CivicAction, a non-profit that focuses on various urban issues. Originally from the Niagara Region, Jeff now calls Toronto's Danforth East neighbourhood home and has a strong passion for Toronto's past and how it can shape the city's future.

Sandy Kedey

Born and raised in Toronto, with 29 years teaching Design thinking and Advertising at OCAD University, Sandy is a tenured Professor in the Faculty of Design, as well as Chair of the Advertising Program, responsible for creating Canada’s only registered university four-year Advertising Design Program. As a practicing professional, she holds over 20 years in both international advertising agencies, awarded in virtually every category of business.

James Lane

James Lane is a commercial litigation lawyer engaged in private practice as a partner of the Toronto firm of Bersenas Jacobsen Chouest Thomson Blackburn LLP.  He has extensive board experience in the not-for-profit sector with a focus on board governance, including as founder and Board Legal Officer of Medecins sans Frontieres, Canada and Board Chair of the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture.

Shirin Mandani

Shirin brings over 20 years of leadership experience in many not-for-profit agencies in Canada and internationally. She has a Masters' degree in Public Policy Administration and Law from York University and a Post degree Diploma in Not-for-Profit Management from University of Western Ontario. Trained in Governance and Leadership from Kellogg Schulich School of Business, she has worked in world renowned agencies along with agencies serving many ethnic and diverse groups in Toronto.

Claire Nelischer

Claire Nelischer is an urban planner whose work focuses on planning and policy to support a vibrant public realm. She is currently a Project Manager at the Ryerson City Building Institute, where she leads research and public programs on topics related to street design, parks policy, and Toronto's built and cultural heritage. She frequently presents and writes on urban issues. Claire holds a M.Sc. in City and Regional Planning from Pratt Institute and a BAH from Queen’s University.

Leslie Thompson

Leslie Thompson is an independent corporate board member (15+ years), risk management consultant and visual artist.  She actively promotes the value of heritage in her downtown Toronto community. Her governance and board experience has encompassed public (listed) and not-for-profit corporations, crown agencies, civic and community organizations.

The Civic Appointments Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council appoint the following candidates to the Heritage Toronto Board, at pleasure of Council, for a term of office ending on July 17, 2023 and until successors are appointed:

Lori Davison

Sandy Kedey 

James Lane

Shirin Mandani

Claire Nelischer

Leslie Thompson

2.  City Council appoint the following candidates to the Heritage Toronto Board, at pleasure of Council, for a term of office ending on July 17, 2021 and until successors are appointed:

Juliet French

Martin Green

Jeff Junke

3.  City Council direct that the balance of Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (June 21, 2019) from the Executive Director, Heritage Toronto remain confidential as it relates to personal information about identifiable individuals being considered for appointment to the Heritage Toronto Board.

Candidates' biographies:

Lori Davison

Lori Davison is Vice President, Brand Strategy & Communications at SickKids Foundation where she lead the launch of the Internationally awarded SickKids VS campaign.  Prior to joining SickKids, Lori had roles on the senior management teams of leading advertising agencies Leo Burnett and BBDO.  Lori holds a Master of Arts degree from University of Toronto.   She was named Canada’s 2017 Marketer of the Year by the Canadian Marketing Association and 2018 Marketer of the Year by Strategy Magazine.

Juliet French

Juliet French has held several administrative positions with the federal government, the most recent being with the Department of Canadian Heritage. A graduate of the University of Toronto (HBA 2000 Art History) Juliet has volunteered and worked with a series of art and cultural organizations in Canada and the US including Stella Jones Gallery, New Orleans; Harbourfront Centre, CARFAC Ontario, Descant Magazine and Lord Cultural Resources.

Martin Green

Martin Green is a Principal of Foresight Strategic Advisors, a Toronto-based consultancy that advises organizations in highly-regulated sectors on complex challenges. He has had a life-long interest in history and architecture, and is an alumnus of Duke University. Martin has served as an honorary aide-de-camp to the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal and the Ontario Volunteer Service Award. He is married with two children.

Jeff Junke

Jeff Junke holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in History and English from the University of Ottawa and a Master of Professional Communication from Ryerson University. He is currently Communications Manager at CivicAction, a non-profit that focuses on various urban issues. Originally from the Niagara Region, Jeff now calls Toronto's Danforth East neighbourhood home and has a strong passion for Toronto's past and how it can shape the city's future.

Sandy Kedey

Born and raised in Toronto, with 29 years teaching Design thinking and Advertising at OCAD University, Sandy is a tenured Professor in the Faculty of Design, as well as Chair of the Advertising Program, responsible for creating Canada’s only registered university four-year Advertising Design Program. As a practicing professional, she holds over 20 years in both international advertising agencies, awarded in virtually every category of business.

James Lane

James Lane is a commercial litigation lawyer engaged in private practice as a partner of the Toronto firm of Bersenas Jacobsen Chouest Thomson Blackburn LLP.  He has extensive board experience in the not-for-profit sector with a focus on board governance, including as founder and Board Legal Officer of Medecins sans Frontieres, Canada and Board Chair of the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture.

Shirin Mandani

Shirin brings over 20 years of leadership experience in many not-for-profit agencies in Canada and internationally. She has a Masters' degree in Public Policy Administration and Law from York University and a Post degree Diploma in Not-for-Profit Management from University of Western Ontario. Trained in Governance and Leadership from Kellogg Schulich School of Business, she has worked in world renowned agencies along with agencies serving many ethnic and diverse groups in Toronto.

Claire Nelischer

Claire Nelischer is an urban planner whose work focuses on planning and policy to support a vibrant public realm. She is currently a Project Manager at the Ryerson City Building Institute, where she leads research and public programs on topics related to street design, parks policy, and Toronto's built and cultural heritage. She frequently presents and writes on urban issues. Claire holds a M.Sc. in City and Regional Planning from Pratt Institute and a BAH from Queen’s University.

Leslie Thompson

Leslie Thompson is an independent corporate board member (15+ years), risk management consultant and visual artist.  She actively promotes the value of heritage in her downtown Toronto community. Her governance and board experience has encompassed public (listed) and not-for-profit corporations, crown agencies, civic and community organizations.

The purpose of this report is to recommend the appointment of public members to the Heritage Toronto Board of Directors.