Alex Josephson co-founded PARTISANS in 2012 after studying architecture at the University of Waterloo and Rome, and the Architectural Association School of Architecture (AA). Alex is a native of Toronto. Prior to starting PARTISANS, Alex worked in the studio of Doriana and Massimiliano Fuksas in Rome. Known for his rigorous commitment to PARTISANS' design vision and his ingenuity in finding high impact, Alex brings a strong creative vision for the rapidly-growing city of Toronto.

In addition to his work with PARTISANS, Alex is a lecturer and core faculty member at the University of Toronto’s Daniels School of Architecture. He frequently writes and speaks on the future of architecture, design, and cities internationally. He is also a guest contributor to Azure Magazine. As a registered architect in Ontario, he has received numerous accolades through the years -- he was named 2015 Best Emerging Designer by Canada’s Design Exchange, awarded Globe & Mail Catalyst award for Design, and has the distinction of being the only Canadian to ever have received the New York Prize Fellowship at the Van Alen Institute.

Brad Rodgers, Associate Vice President, Development, leads Dream’s development activities in Ottawa, with a focus on advancing transformative projects that deliver long-term value for communities and stakeholders. Drawing on extensive construction and development experience, he provides strategic oversight for complex mixed-use, multi-residential, commercial, and retail developments, including Dream’s work at Zibi and Odenak. Brad is committed to fostering innovative and sustainable growth, with a particular interest in expanding attainable and affordable housing opportunities throughout the National Capital Region.

Brian Porter, from Six Nations of the Grand River, is a business leader with years of experience designing and managing projects for First Nation communities across Canada and the U.S. He focuses on culturally appropriate designs and maximizing the use of First Nation skills and trades. Two Row Architect blends traditional symbols with modern technology and emphasizes environmentally conscious materials, reflecting a commitment to sustainable design.

Bruno Weber joined KPMB Architects in 2000. He is committed to making architecture that cultivates community and brings diverse groups together to work for a better world. KPMB’s reputation has been enriched by Bruno’s influential contributions to a series of winning design competitions including the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal and Pier 8 in Hamilton. Bruno’s diverse portfolio includes a series of developments that have transformed major urban precincts into vibrant, pedestrian-friendly destinations.

Dan McTavish brings a client-centric approach to every project, driven by the excitement of solving complex challenges through design. He finds inspiration in his clients’ work and enjoys learning about their industries. As a design principal, Dan fosters close collaboration within the team and actively engages clients to collectively shape innovative spatial solutions through all phase of project delivery. By deeply understanding the functional, cultural, historical, economic, and environmental layers that influence a project, Dan creates resilient and timeless architecture. His designs inspire communities to come together in unexpected ways, forming connections through shared spaces. For Dan, truly amazing places are born from collective effort. These are beautiful environments that evoke awe and curiosity, supporting learning, well-being, and community for occupants, users, and visitors alike.

David de Rose has worked on 500+ projects over his 29-year career in building renewal and enclosure design. David takes the lessons learned in evaluating building enclosure performance issues in existing buildings and applies them to new building enclosures or building renewal to optimize building performance and durability.

David is the Chair of the CSA A440.6 subcommittee that deals with high-exposure Fenestration Installation and a voting member for CSA-S478 Standard on Durability in Buildings. He is currently a Part-Time Professor at TMU where he teaches Building Envelope Restoration for the Master of Building Science Program. David is also a part-time Professor at the University of Toronto where he delivers a course on Building Enclosures. He is a past President of the Ontario Building Envelope Council (2007-2008). In 2020, David was awarded the Anthony A. Woods Career Achievement Award (The Beckie) for his significant contribution to the design, construction, and performance of the building envelope.

David Dow is a principal with Diamond Schmitt Architects in Toronto. He enjoys tackling large and complex design problems to which he brings a pragmatic sensibility and creative flair. His demonstrated ability to work with developer, institutional and private owner clients is testament to his collaborative approach to design.

David has implemented many projects of varying size and budget within a broad portfolio of completed work. Among these are the Schulich School of Engineering at the University of Calgary, numerous residential projects, the Bahen Centre for Information Technology at the University of Toronto, and the Computer Science and Engineering Building at the University of Michigan.

With multiple Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) projects completed under his direction, he is an acknowledged industry leader in this relatively new and highly collaborative contract type and has spoken on the topic at conferences across North America.

David Duvall is the Research & Development Manager for H.B. Fuller's Glass team, where he focuses on innovation, product development, and advancing next-generation building solutions. Through his work in R&D, David collaborates with engineering, product management, and customer-facing teams to evaluate new technologies and ensure solutions meet the evolving needs of the architectural and design community. David holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Minnesota, bringing a deep understanding of material science and product performance to the development of solutions that support modern architectural design and building performance

Dima Cook leads EVOQ’s Toronto office. She has over 27 years of experience and specializes in project management. She has overseen many heritage studies, historic structures reports and building condition assessments where she led multi-disciplinary teams of architects, conservation experts, engineers and specialized consultants. Her experience and dual training as an architect and project manager have allowed Dima to develop a remarkable capacity for organization and leadership, two abilities essential in managing complex and long-lasting projects. Dima’s projects include Union Station, Toronto; Old City Hall, Toronto; Historic Calgary City Hall; and she is currently managing the Hart House Infrastructure Renewal Project and leading the Studies for rehabilitation of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Dima is a past president of the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals and currently co-chairs the Advocacy Committee focused on adaptive-reuse and climate change. Since 2014, Dima sits on the City of Toronto Design Review Panel.

Emily Pepper is a Senior Structural Engineer and the Heritage Structures Local Market Lead for the GTA. She has professional experience in the adaptive reuse, restoration, and retrofit of historic structures, both locally and internationally, including extensive work during her time in the United Kingdom and Germany, as well as in Ontario and Quebec. Her specialty extends from brick restoration and historic arch analysis, historic lime mortars, to the analysis and strengthening details on historic timber pitched roofs and the analysis and repair work on historic cast and wrought iron. She has worked on historically designated structures extending from Early Gothic to the Contemporary era. Emily is a licensed Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario and is a Professional Member of the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals.

Fariz Dhalla is a Professional Mechanical Engineer and Building Envelope Specialist at Entuitive, with a Master of Building Science from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson). His experience spans EPCM delivery, on-site construction coordination for landmark projects including the Ismaili Centre Toronto and Aga Khan Museum, and building enclosure consulting, giving him a practical, end-to-end perspective on how buildings are designed, constructed, and ultimately perform.

Fariz specializes in building enclosure design and Building Enclosure Commissioning (BECx), working with project teams to identify performance risks early and connect design intent with constructability, fabrication, installation, testing, and field verification. As a Qualified Commissioning Process Provider (QCxP), he is involved throughout the BECx process, from design and detailing reviews and mock-up testing through construction observation and performance verification.

His approach to enclosure performance emphasizes collaboration across disciplines and early identification of risks, with a focus on ensuring that enclosure systems perform as intended in the field. His project experience includes working with complex interfaces between structure, enclosure systems, and construction processes, including prefabricated façade systems and mass timber construction.

Gabriel Fain is a licensed architect with over 15 years of experience and Principal of Gabriel Fain Architects. He is recognized as a leading voice among a new generation of Toronto practitioners advancing new approaches to housing, urbanism, and city building.Gabriel holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Toronto’s Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, where he received the Heather M. Reisman Gold Medal in Design. His studio is working on some of Toronto’s most innovative housing projects, spanning mid-rise and tall-building typologies and exploring new models of density, construction, affordability, and urban living.An active contributor to Toronto’s architectural community, Gabriel frequently speaks at conferences, symposia, and events on the future of housing and the evolving city. His work combines design ambition with an interest in how architecture, policy, and construction can come together to create a more livable city.

Jordi Marasse is Project Consultant Manager North America at Reynaers Aluminum. For the last 4 years Jordi has been coordinating the North American projects. Jordi consistently goes above and beyond to foster enduring partnerships with our esteemed architects, real estate developers, general contractors and engineers. By nurturing these relationships, we ensure mutual growth and success in the future.

‘Together for Better’ is our company’s motto. And this we want to achieve on the level of sustainability as well. We want to be a trusted partner in achieving our partners’ sustainability ambitions and grow together. Together with our partners we want to focus on energy-efficient, circular and low-carbon products that make a difference to homes, buildings and the people.

Juan Carlos Portuese is an award-winning architect and design leader with extensive experience delivering complex institutional projects across Canada, the United States, and internationally. His work spans healthcare, civic, academic, and community architecture, with a particular focus on high-performance building envelopes, low-carbon design, and the humanistic and theoretical dimensions of architecture, exploring how buildings not only perform, but shape our experience and place in the world.Juan Carlos approaches architecture as both a technical and cultural discipline, pursuing design excellence through clarity of concept, materiality, proportion, and meaningful relationships between buildings, people, and place. He has led multidisciplinary teams on projects of significant scale and complexity, bringing together clients, consultants, constructors, and communities around a shared architectural vision. His work seeks to demonstrate that rigorous performance and ambitious design are essential parts of creating enduring, responsible, and meaningful architecture.

Martin brings over 30 years of experience working alongside architects. Renowned for his passion for architecture and façade design, he has spent the past nine years creating, managing, and delivering optimized Saint‑Gobain Glass façade specifications. Prior to joining Saint‑Gobain, Martin worked at Autodesk, where he played a key role in driving the widespread adoption of BIM (Building Information Modeling) and innovative digital tools within the architectural community.

With over 11 years of experience in the architectural and construction industry, Matias Reyes brings a deep understanding of both design intent and building performance to every project. For the past two years, he has been with Vitro Architectural Glass, where he supports architects, designers, and developers in specifying high-performance glazing solutions that align with both aesthetic vision and sustainability goals.

Matias’s career spans both the design and construction sectors, giving him a well-rounded perspective on how materials and systems come together in the built environment. His passion for design, architecture, and building science is evident in the thoughtful solutions he brings to every collaboration.

Throughout his time at Vitro, Matias has contributed to the specification of several notable projects across Ontario, including Trillium Healthcare, CAMH, and a number of post-secondary.

Natasha Appel is a Business Development Manager at EJOT, bringing over two decades of experience in architecture and façade systems. With a deep-rooted passion for building science, design, and high-performance building envelopes, she works closely with partners and clients to promote ventilated façade systems and EJOT solutions across the industry.

A graduate of The University of Texas, Natasha holds both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Architecture. She began her career in architectural practice, developing a strong foundation in design, documentation, and project coordination. Her professional experience spans small- and large-scale commercial projects worldwide, consistently balancing technical precision with architectural intent.

Natasha later transitioned from traditional architectural practice into façade specialization, where she now leads EJOT’s façade and rainscreen business development efforts across North America. Her work bridges engineering, design, and construction, supporting project teams through early development, code compliance, and system optimization.

Known for her technical rigor, collaborative approach, and practical problem-solving, Natasha brings valuable insight into the performance, constructability, and sustainability of façade systems. She is a LEED Accredited Professional and Associate Member of the AIA, with a strong commitment to advancing durable, high-performance, and resilient building envelopes.

Owen Coyle is a qualified Structural Engineer who graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 2009. Shortly after, he joined the family business, Keystone Lintels - the UK and Ireland’s largest manufacturer of steel lintels - as a Technical Engineer. His career has since evolved through a variety of leadership roles across the Keystone Group of companies.

Owen gained experience in sales with Keylite Roof Windows before leading the successful start-up of IG Masonry Support in 2014, where he served as General Manager. In 2018, he was appointed Group Business Development Director, where he played a key role in shaping strategic growth initiatives across the organization.

In February 2020, Owen took on the role of Division CEO for both Keystone Lintels and IG Masonry Support. Under his leadership, these divisions have continued to strengthen their market positions, driven by innovation, quality, and customer focus.

Owen brings a strong blend of technical expertise, commercial insight, and entrepreneurial drive, and is currently playing a key role in IG Masonry Support’s expansion into the North American market.

Ravneet brings over a decade of experience in the glass industry, specializing in façade glass solutions. Her career has spanned multiple countries, where she has collaborated with architects, designers, and project teams in India, UAE, France, and now Canada. Ravneet firmly believes in the power of innovation and its role in shaping the future of architecture. Through her expertise, she supports architects in selecting the most suitable glass products for their projects, ensuring both aesthetic appeal and functional excellence.

Shelley Ludman is a licensed architect and Principal at ERA who specializes in transforming existing buildings and vacant sites into vibrant place-making projects. Her creative pragmatism has helped clients create meaningful places for local gathering, renovate agricultural barns for event and hospitality use, and convert a historic train station into a community service hub. Building on this experience, Shelley has worked across multiple practice areas at ERA, contributing to a wide range of urban intensification and infill projects. She is known for finding thoughtful solutions that balance cultural heritage value with modern-day development pressures and for fostering lasting relationships with municipalities, community organizations, entrepreneurs, and other project collaborators.

Sudhir is an Associate in the Arup Toronto office. He specializes in integrating architectural design, building physics, daylighting, and structural engineering through digital design skills to provide a holistic approach to building envelope design.

Sudhir has worked with multiple disciplines and building types, including sustainability and building physics, sports venues, transport venue design, lighting design, high-rise towers, aviation, residential, and commercial. He has significant experience in all project stages, starting from early concept design through construction administration. He brings a unique perspective to building design with his exceptional computational 3D skills. He is experienced in a variety of scripting and parametric tools, BIM platforms, and thermal and structural analysis software.