Innovation in Infrastructure: Building More, More Sustainably
Whether it is boosting the housing supply or building more hospitals, the construction sector must find ways to improve productivity to adapt to the demands of a changing population while contributing to Canada’s climate goals. The good news is that there are strong examples of innovation in infrastructure that the sector can draw upon.
Join us on January 30th for a keynote address from His Worship Mark Sutcliffe, Mayor of Ottawa, on the challenges and opportunities facing infrastructure projects in Canada’s national capital.
Dr. Wendy Cukier, Founder & Academic Director at Diversity Institute, will set the stage with introductory remarks highlighting the latest research by the Future Skills Centre.
The event will conclude with CCO President Jennifer Cross, Co-Founder of City BuildHERS & , moderating a panel discussion between leading experts on the innovative solutions their companies have pioneered and championed.
Panelists:
- Sherry Larjani, President, Spotlight Development
- Stephen Willis, Senior Principal, Federal Sector Leader, Infrastructure, Stantec
-
Frederic Bettez, Vice President & Chief Investment Officer, Pomerleau Capital
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
His Worship Mark Sutcliffe has lived his whole life in Ottawa. He was elected Mayor of Ottawa on October 24, 2022.
Prior to entering municipal politics, Mark was an award-winning journalist, entrepreneur, volunteer, and community activist. For over 30 years, Mark covered politics and current events as a broadcaster for CFRA, CityNews, Rogers TV, and CPAC, and as executive editor and columnist for the Ottawa Citizen.
Mark started his first business when he was 19 years old. He co-founded the Ottawa Business Journal in 1995 and founded and led several other small and medium-sized businesses. He has been a coach, mentor, and adviser to more than one hundred CEOs, entrepreneurs, small-business owners, and not-for-profit leaders.
Mark has been a passionate volunteer and fundraiser. He served as chair of the board of United Way Ottawa, the Ottawa Board of Trade, OrKidstra, the Great Canadian Theatre Company, Ottawa Community Housing Foundation, and Run Ottawa. He also served as board member for Algonquin College, Invest Ottawa, Kind Ottawa, the Ottawa International Writers Festival, and the Royal Ottawa Hospital Foundation. His contribution to the city was recognized in 2016 when he was inducted into the Order of Ottawa and named the United Way’s Ambassador of the Year. In 2018, Mark delivered a highly regarded TEDx Talk about the role of luck in his life.
Mark is an avid marathon runner who has raised more than $250,000 for Ottawa charities with his fundraising runs. He is the author of four books, including Long Road to Boston, which chronicled his quest to qualify for the Boston Marathon, which he completed in 2015 and 2018.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Wendy Cukier is the Diversity Institute Founder, Academic Director of the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, and Research Lead of the Future Skills Centre. She is the co-author of the bestseller, Innovation Nation: Canadian Leadership from Java to Jurassic Park and former VP of Research and Innovation.
The Diversity Institute has 130 research staff, 100 research associates from around the world, 200 industry partners and focuses on dimensions of diversity and inclusion in the workplace, future skills, and entrepreneurship and innovation. Harnessing the power of innovation, it promotes the advancement of underrepresented groups. The Diversity Institute is also a research lead for the $300 million Future Skills Centre and the $8.6 million Women Entrepreneurship Hub.
Wendy has been recognized with the Harry Jerome Diversity Award, the Bob Marley Award, the Canada-Pakistan Business Council’s Female Professional of the Year, the Metropolis Research Award, the CATA Alliance, Sara Kirke Award for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 by WXN. She has been named a YWCA Woman of Distinction and one of the International Women’s Forum 2020 Women Who Make a Difference, a Woman of Influence and one of the "100 Alumni who shaped the Century" by the University of Toronto. Wendy holds a PhD, an MBA, an MA, and honorary doctorates from Laval and Concordia.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sherry Larjani brings over a decade of real estate development and entrepreneurial experience to her role as President at Spotlight Development. She is responsible for leading the company’s visionary projects, ensuring that each development reflects innovation, inclusivity, and design excellence. Sherry’s background includes founding Spotlight Developments in 2010, where she specialized in high-density residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects. She is a champion of collaboration and inclusivity in real estate, notably partnering with Urban Capital to create Reina, Canada's first all-female development team, raising awareness about gender equality in the industry. Sherry’s leadership has driven award-winning projects that push the boundaries of urban development. Sherry holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from TMU (formerly Ryerson).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen Willis is fascinated by the dynamics of cites and is an avid believer that these complex, but adaptable, systems can support more resilient communities through thoughtful approaches to urban planning.
A registered professional planner and a professional land economist, Steve has over 30 years of professional experience in both consulting and public sector leadership roles involving community development, land use planning, economic development, urban revitalization, and brownfield redevelopment. He’s built a reputation as a trusted advisor, valued collaborator, and problem solver. He’s also known for building multiple agency consensus on complex projects and specializing in the planning and redevelopment of lands for public agencies.
In a previous role as chief planner for the City of Ottawa, Steve led the completion of critical documents including climate change planning and economic development strategies. He contributed to affordable housing and infrastructure projects as well as asset management strategies.
Dedicated to his profession, Steve volunteers as treasurer for the Canadian Institute of Planners Planning Student Trust Fund and is on the advisory board for the Urban Land Institute, Ottawa Chapter.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Frederic Bettez is Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of Pomerleau Capital. In this capacity, Frederic is responsible for leading investments initiatives as well as overseeing the asset management functions of Pomerleau Capital.
Before joining Pomerleau Capital, Frederic was Managing Director of Investments at the Canada Infrastructure Bank, where he focused on the Commercial Building Retrofits Initiative and investments in Broadband, as well as overseeing the activities of the CIB in Québec. Prior to his role with the CIB, Frederic was a President of Cosime Infrastructure and Energy Inc., where his practice focused on the financing, acquisition and management of infrastructure and energy projects across Canada. Prior to his role with Cosime Infrastructure and Energy Inc., Frederic was Vice-President at Dexia Crédit Local and Macquarie Capital Markets Canada.
Frederic also holds a bachelor’s degree of Engineering (Mechanical) from McGill University, a Master of Business Administration from the UBC Sauder School of Business and he is a CFA Charterholder.