Speakers

Ryan Bragg

Perkins&Will

Adventurous and curious, Ryan jumped at the opportunity to leave northern Alberta and live with relatives in Europe for several months when he was 14. That journey began a life-long love of travel and an appetite for experiencing different cultures—traits that Ryan believes to be the foundation of his context-first design approach.

When responding to the contextual and external influences of a project, Ryan looks for the clear simple design solutions first. Through extensive project experience, he has adopted an objective and malleable approach to design. He likens design to another of his passions, artisanal bread baking: all the right ingredients can be combined in the correct proportions, but a successful outcome requires adjusting and responding to the specific environmental conditions.

Kate Gerson

DIALOG

Kate has been an architect in our Vancouver studio for over two decades. She is known for designing interior and exterior spaces that are both beautiful and functional. Some examples of her exceptional work are the Shipyards mixed-use project in North Vancouver, Kelowna’s Rotary Centre for the Arts, and Dawson Creek’s Calvin Kruk Centre for the Arts. Kate leads diverse and integrated teams through the design process and loves to see a project evolve from conception to completion. She is a devoted mentor who enjoys collaborating with and sharing her experience with younger colleagues, interns, and students alike. Kate is also an active member of Women in Architecture Vancouver, where she serves on the programming and steering committees.

Greg Shea

First Nations Health Authority

Greg is a Vice President at the First Nations Health Authority responsible for health infrastructure and development, which includes the construction and maintenance of health facilities in BC First Nation communities and FNHA office accommodations. He has over 25 years of management experience, most of this serving health and wellness organizations in British Columbia. Greg has worked in or with the public, private and non-profit sectors, and with all levels of government in multiple jurisdictions across Canada. He has leadership experience in the areas of construction, facilities management, risk management, organizational governance, human resources, quality management and performance improvement. Greg is on the Board of Directors of Coast Mental Health, which for 50 years has provided housing, programs and services to people living with mental illness in the Metro Vancouver area. He​ is of Mi’kmaq ancestry and a member of the Qalipu First Nation.

Ryan McClanaghan

DIALOG

Ryan is an architectural and urban designer whose work is informed by design innovation, research, and collaboration with clients and colleagues. He brings experience in mixed-use, office, residential and master planning projects gained through an international career with firms in Canada, the United States, and Germany. An advocate for functional, elegant designs that are specific to a project’s unique culture, local community and environment, Ryan also looks at each project as an opportunity for creative evolution. Ryan is currently a member of the City of Vancouver’s Mass Timber Advisory Committee.

Shauna Bryce

Perkins&Will

Passionate about creating vibrant and livable places in our urban neighborhoods, Shauna champions projects that honour and enrich the diversity of our communities. Her portfolio includes some of Perkins&Will’s most multifaceted civic, cultural, and residential projects, including the Shannon Estate Residential Development, the Ashley Mar Cooperative Housing Redevelopment, and the Britannia Community Centre. Shauna is currently leading the Vancouver Art Gallery project, which aims to provide a world-class destination for arts and culture in Vancouver and is designed with meaningful commitments to reconciliation, an energy-efficient envelope, and a reduced carbon footprint.

Aaron Knorr

Perkins&Will

With a deep interest in institutional, development, and transportation projects, Aaron has spent much of his career working at the intersection of architecture, infrastructure, and public space. Alongside a broad portfolio of research on transportation, his projects also include many high-performance buildings with a focus on low carbon, healthy, and sustainable solutions. Aaron is the project architect on the UBC Gateway project, a high-performance 6-storey hybrid mass timber academic building that has utilized off-site prefabrication extensively for both the building structure and envelope.

Michael Banman

Stantec

Michael Banman is an award-winning architect with an inspired vision to see beyond the usual. As Stantec’s design director for Western Canada, he leads the design for a wide range of building types including institutional, commercial, retail, healthcare, hospitality, academic, and cultural, and scales, from urban & campus planning, large to small buildings, and installations.

An instinctive leader, Michael and his colleagues have designed spaces for the Manitoba Museum & Manitoba Centennial Centre, University of Manitoba, RRC Polytech, First Nations University of Canada, and the City of Winnipeg, as well as Centrepoint Development. Currently, his allied team of architects, engineers, and sustainability experts are working on FortWhyte Alive’s Buffalo Crossing. This all-mass timber visitor centre has achieved the CaGBC Zero Carbon Building Design Standard, is targeting Passive House Certification, and aims to be Manitoba’s most sustainable building.

Michael is teaching Professional Practice in the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Architecture. He has taught, lectured, and been a visiting critic at the University of Manitoba, RRC Polytech, Carleton University, University of Calgary, BCIT, University of British Columbia, and Texas Tech University.

Brian Hubbs

RDH Building Science

Brian is recognized as a practical engineer and researcher who delivers innovative solutions. He is one of the three co-founders of RDH and has a unique blend of theoretical and hands-on knowledge gained from completing hundreds of projects across RDH’s various practice areas.

Brian’s experience includes work on both high- and low-rise commercial, institutional, and residential projects in many geographic locations and in virtually all climatic regions in North America.

A key member of any design team, Brian specializes in façade engineering and is regularly involved in the design, testing, and construction of unique and complex building façades. He is often asked by clients to test and review various enclosure systems manufactured around the world.

An engaging and vibrant presenter, Brian regularly speaks at seminars, conferences, and universities on a range of building science topics. As one of the key contributors to the evolution of building enclosure technology in British Columbia, he has led landmark policy, guideline, and research initiatives.

Nick Milkovich

Nick Milkovich Architects Inc.

Caroline Inglis

Diamond Schmitt

Caroline is a Vancouver based architect with expertise in sustainability and accessibility. She is a certified Passive House Designer, a LEED Accredited Professional in Building Design & Construction, and is a member of Diamond Schmitt’s Sustainability Committee where she plays a vital role in helping project teams achieve ambitious sustainability targets. Caroline is Diamond Schmitt’s first Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC) Accredited Professional and shares her knowledge on creating inclusive spaces with the firm. This range of expertise has come to a forefront with her work on the Marpole Community Centre which will be the most accessible and high-performance building in the City of Vancouver’s portfolio. This project has helped the City of Vancouver to set the standard for achieving the City’s 2030 Climate Goals. It is also the first RHFAC Gold community centre in the City of Vancouver and will be a precedent for all future community projects for the City.

Simon Ross

Thermal Systems

Simon Ross has over 20 years of experience in the architectural building envelope industry. He’s the Regional sales and technical manager at Thermal Systems. Thermal Systems is a leading building envelope, mechanical insulation and daylighting subcontractor serving the commercial and industrial marketplace with high quality and exclusive products. He enjoys collaborating with architects, consultants, contractors, and owners to help deliver their project vision. Some examples of his work include Studio Bell National Music Centre, Shane Homes YMCA, and Eighth Avenue Place Towers.

Simon appreciates the opportunity to provide AAA or AIBC accredited educational presentations to various architecture firms throughout Western Canada and he is a member of ABEC, and CSC.

Michelle Murray

SAFTI First

Michelle Murray has over 15 years of experience in the architectural glazing industry. As the Architectural Sales Representative at SAFTI FIRST®, she brings her extensive knowledge and expertise of fire rated glazing systems and fenestration in general when working closely with architects, specifiers, glazing contractors and code officials. Michelle is a dynamic presenter and speaker who has been delivering our AIA-registered presentation to various architecture firms, AIA local chapters, CSI local chapters, and at other architectural and glazing industry events.

J-F Robert

RAICO North America

As a Professional Engineer and owner of Blackcomb Facade Technology, J-F Robert has focused his practice on significant curtainwall projects. His experience ranges from 60 story high rise, PHI certified commercial buildings, high end residences and complex freeform structures. Blackcomb Façade Technology is the exclusive fabrication partner for RAICO Bautechnik in the Pacific Northwest for all systems types including Timber, Steel and Aluminum.

Felix Weber

RDH

As a Façade Specialist, Felix has a deep knowledge in complex façade and glass design. He is a highly creative engineer and experienced team leader with over 15 years of experience in façade consulting and structural engineering. He enjoys designing structures and façades influenced by individual materials or products. He has worked with many cladding types and specializes in structural facades, structural glass, complex geometry structures, and uncommon building materials such as ETFE and fiber-reinforced polymers. Felix was involved, for example, in the Bombay Sapphire Greenhouses (Laverstoke, UK), a Large Confidential Campus Project (Cupertino, CA), San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (San Francisco, CA) and the Berkeley Hotel Entrance (London, UK).

Aaron Alterman

STI Specified Technologies

Curtain Wall & Façade Specialist for the Strategic Accounts Division of STI Specified Technologies, covering the central United States and Canada.

Aaron joined STI Specified Technologies in 2015 and has over 30 years of experience in construction materials. He has conducted firestop trainings for STI, The International Firestop Council and to a variety of groups including; architects, engineers, consultants, code officials, inspectors and all types of trades. He is certified at Level 2 of Firestop Instructional Training (FIT II).

Bob Zhang

North Glass

Bob is the Sales Director of Tianjin Northglass for North America, the leading fabricator of specialty and oversized architectural glass for the global construction industry.

Bob has many years of experience working with Quality Control department. Bob was the project manager for Apple Park project in Cupertino, supporting the design team on the glass selection for Apple’s new headquarters. In 2015, Bob came to the US to make more connections with architects and support their designs of future projects with the innovation and capabilities that Northglass has to offer.

Felicity Ju

North Glass

Felicity Ju is the Sales & Operations Manager at Northglass, responsible for the company’s North American business. With a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alberta, she has a strong background in technical project management and strategic operations. At EPCOR, Alstom, and Bombardier Transportation, she coordinated large-scale engineering projects, optimizing operational efficiency while demonstrating exceptional leadership. Felicity’s comprehensive expertise in building systems, innovative design, and project coordination ensures streamlined operations and successful execution in complex architectural projects.

Dionne Darling

The Architect's Newspaper

Dionne Darling has been with The A|N Media Group for over six years. As A|N’s Associate Publisher, she manages A|N’s Texas headquarters and handles accounts in the West, Southwest and Europe territories. Dionne has over 28 years of direct B2B sales, management and business development experience.