Our Team

John Brown, PhD is Professor of Architecture and Dean of the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape (SAPL) at the University of Calgary. He is a registered architect and a founding partner of the residential design/build company Housebrand, and Garden Loft, a start-up delivering prefabricated senior’s housing units and community-centred digital technology solutions to Canada’s aging population. He is a past president of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.

As Dean, John led SAPL through an intense period of transformation, creating Canada’s first doctoral program for established practitioners, launching the Bachelor of Design in City Innovation, expanding enrolment from 300 – 1300 students, and moving the school into 14 floors of an underutilized downtown high-rise.

John’s work is shaped by two areas of interest: architectural entrepreneurship – which is about exploring new ways for architects and other design professionals to create practice models that increase their impact on the world, and housing innovation – which is about developing new housing typologies and delivery strategies that bring the advantages of good residential design to a broad segment of the population. Most recently this has expanded to include seniors and those with differing abilities and increased needs who cannot live independently in a typical home.

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Steven Oundo is Immediate Past President of the CAA. He is a Fellow of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, past Chairman of Architectural Association of Kenya, former Treasurer of African Union of Architects and former Vice President of East African Institute of Architects. He is appointed by the President of Kenya to the Selection Panel for Members of the National Gender and Equality Commission.

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Hugo Chan is Director and Chartered Architect of StudioHC, with qualifications in architecture and environmental law, whose research-driven practice focuses on ecological and cultural sustainability through critical engagement with place. Since 2016, he has taught architecture history and theory at UNSW and urban renewal at the University of Sydney, while maintaining active involvement with the Australian Institute of Architects, serving on its National Heritage Committee. His award-winning research has included reports examining adaptive reuse, high-rise residential architecture, and cultural diversity in design with his writing being published in prominent architectural journals.

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Vince brings 35 years’ experience across the architecture and built environment sector in Australia, Asia and the United States. He has led design studios, chaired executive teams and served as a global board director of Woods Bagot, overseeing teams of up to 1,000 staff while driving significant revenue growth over his career. He continues to mentor emerging architects and has made longstanding contributions to the Australian Institute of Architects’ practice committees, alongside his ongoing service to the CAA.

Prior to his appointment as Secretary, Treasurer & Trustee, Vince served as Vice-President, Pacific and over the past two years, Vince grew the Association’s regional membership, bringing the NZIA, the Papua New Guinea Institute of Architects, the Samoan Association of Architects and the Tongan Institute of Architects into the CAA, and championed the case for the General Assembly to be held in Aotearoa. Vince’s strategic leadership led to the formation of three inaugural activities – the King’s Foundation & COP Session, the Architectural Institute Presidents’ Summit and the Emerging Architects Forum as part of a suite of events at in:situ 2026.

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Florence Nyole is an architect and environmental design expert with over 15 years’ experience and a Director of EcoSpace Architects Limited. Recently elected as the CAA Vice President for Region Five, Africa, she previously led the Architectural Association of Kenya and East Africa Institute of Architects as President and now serves on the boards of  National Construction Authority and Kenya Green Building Society and was Kenya’s first AIA country representative. She has held roles at Waweru and Associates, African Wildlife Foundation, and University of Nairobi. Her award-winning work advances architecture, sustainability, collaboration, and professional leadership across Africa.

During this session she aims to use her experience and network as a leader to advance advocacy, by pushing for the uptake of cross boarder practice through the enactment of Mutal Recognition Agreements, provide opportunities for bridging academia and practice to ensure the curricula meets future needs for a fast-urbanizing Africa and also encourage schools of architecture to take up CAA validation in collaboration with local institutions and to promote enactment of building laws such as building codes and green building standards and the use of rating tools to avert the effects of Climate Change that Africa is highly vulnerable to.

Chandana Edirisuriya is a Chartered Architect, a Fellow of the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA), and the newly elected CAA Vice President for Asia. A graduate of the University of Moratuwa, where he also completed his M.Sc. in Architecture, he is Principal Architect and Managing Director of Design Link Associates (Pvt) Ltd., which he founded in 2004. His practice has won top-three placings in numerous design competitions, and one of its projects was nominated for the 2010 Aga Khan Award. A former SLIA President (2009) and Chairman of Sri Lanka’s Architects Registration Board, he is Vice President of the Green Building Council of Sri Lanka and chairs the Credential Committee of the Construction Industry Development Authority. He previously served CAA as Vice President for Asia, Chair of Practice and Chair of Communication, and led SLIA when Colombo hosted the 19th CAA General Assembly.

Curisa Smith is the President of the Antigua and Barbuda Institute of Architects (ABIA) and a passionate advocate for the advancement of the architectural profession across the Caribbean and the Americas. Curisa’s commitment to community building and education is evident through her work in launching the ABIA Fellows program, establishing the ABIAS mentorship initiative to foster the next generation of architects, and introducing an Affiliate membership category to deepen connections with local businesses and enhance professional networks. As Vice President for the Americas, Curisa is focused on creating sustainable, resilient, and inclusive environments, with a strong emphasis on climate resilience, urban growth, and equitable spaces.

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Simone Vella Lenicker holds a BE&A (Hons) from the University of Malta and has played a vital role in the regulation of the architecture and civil engineering profession and the construction industry in Malta. She served in various roles within the Kamra tal-Periti (Malta) for over 15 years, including as its President between 2019 and 2021. She has represented the Kamra on the Building Regulation Board, the Planning Authority’s Users’ Committee, and the Building Industry Consultative Committee’s Advisory Board, amongst others. She is currently a Partner and Director at AP Valletta, an award-winning architectural firm specialising in sustainable heritage.

A Fellow of Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects, Rachel Venables is Principal Architect at Wingates in Auckland, where she leads design teams across varied sectors and contribute to strategic direction. Over the past decade my work has centred on social and affordable housing. At Context Architects, Rachel led the development of standardised housing for Kāinga Ora, establishing a design and delivery framework that supports speed, quality and adaptability at scale. This work responded to diverse needs, including accessibility and multi‑generational living, and continues to underpin large-scale housing delivery.

Alongside practice, Rachel bring extensive governance experience. She has previously served as Auckland Director on the NZIA Board from 2019 to 2022 and she is a member of the Institute of Directors, with additional experience in community governance. Earlier service included a long-term role on the Auckland Architecture Association committee, supporting programmes that fostered architectural discourse, awards programmes and emerging talent. As a New Zealand Green Building Council Homestar Assessor, she is actively engaged in sustainability and resilient design. Rachel’s work is driven by a belief that architects have a critical role in addressing housing, climate and equity challenges through solutions that are practical, transferable and grounded in delivery.

Maira Khan is an architect, academic, sustainability advocate, and international professional leader with more than 20 years of experience spanning architecture, climate resilience, architectural education, institutional governance, and international partnerships. She currently serves as Chair of the Professional Practice Steering Committee of the Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA) for 2026–2028, following her tenure as Regional Vice President – Asia (2024–2026) and Executive Director (2019–2024).

Through her leadership within the CAA, Maira has worked with professional institutions and member organisations across the Commonwealth, contributing to strategic initiatives, stakeholder engagement, knowledge exchange, professional development, and cross-border collaboration. Her work brings together architects, educators, policymakers, institutions, and development partners to address shared challenges relating to climate resilience, sustainable development, professional practice, and the future of the built environment.

Maira is an Assistant Professor at COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, where she combines academic leadership with teaching, research, curriculum development, and mentoring. She also serves as a Board Advisor to the Board of Studies at UET Lahore, contributing to academic and professional development in architectural education. Her professional leadership is grounded in a commitment to climate action, inclusive development, indigenous knowledge, humanitarian architecture, heritage conservation, and community-led transformation. Through initiatives such as One Eco Street at a Time, she works to translate architectural leadership into practical, locally rooted, community-focused, and scalable action.

Her work reflects a continued commitment to connecting professional practice, education, climate action, and community resilience, while strengthening international collaboration and creating platforms for knowledge exchange across the architectural profession. ‎

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Based in Toronto, Canada, Dr. Lisa Landrum is a licensed architect, award-winning educator, widely published author, and respected leader in architectural education, with nearly 30 years of teaching experience in Canada, the United States, Europe and China, and substantial professional experience in New York City. She is full Professor and immediate past Chair of the Department of Architectural Science (DAS) at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), where she has advanced new partnerships and led program evaluations and enhancements, including transformative Indigenous curriculum developments, and opportunities for student agency and well-being. She previously taught at the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Architecture for 15 years, where she held leadership roles in areas of research, doctoral studies, design thesis, cooperative education, and program accreditations.

Landrum is a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC); past-President of the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB); and current Chair of the Canadian Council of University Schools of Architecture (CCUSA), representing Canada’s twelve accredited architecture programs. She is nationally recognized for launching and leading the ongoing Canadian Architecture Forums on Education (CAFÉ), a SSHRC-supported initiative begun in 2019 to foster exchange among Canadian architecture schools, and for working across sectors via Rise for Architecture to mobilize an architecture policy for Canada and host public conversations on the value of design.

Her widely published research and advocacy examines interactions of architectural agency, theatre, democracy, philosophy and imagination. Recent publications include Theatres of Architectural Imagination (Routledge 2023), and Women Changing Architecture (Centre de Design 2026).

As Chair of the CAA’s Education Steering Committee, Landrum is keen to work with members to strengthen advocacy, capacity building and climate action.

Landrum believes architects have crucial roles to play in advancing climate action, social justice, and cultural vitality. Architectural education is vitally important not only in training future professionals for these challenges, but in fostering more radical and comprehensive forms of imagination to envision new forms of practice and to advance architectures of peace, justice and joy.

Bonita-Alicia Bart is a Caribbean architectural designer and a 2026/27 Chevening Scholar pursuing an MA in Architectural History at The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL. She is working toward becoming a Registered Architect, architectural historian, author and, eventually, professor. Bonita-Alicia runs her own practice, iBart Design Studio, and has completed 19 design project cycles, creating resilient, context-responsive spaces shaped by the region’s identity and climate. As founder of the Caribtecture Research Project, she produces peer-reviewed scholarship on Caribbean spatial culture and vernacular architecture. She also teaches technical drawing and holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Instructional Design with Distinction. Bonita-Alicia serves as Secretary of the Saint Lucia Institute of Architects, sits on the Steering Committee of the World Bank-funded Saint Lucia Urban Resilience Flood Investment Project, and contributes to Saint Lucia’s National Climate Change Committee.

Asim Jalal is the CAA’s IT Coordinator. He graduated in computing science from Pakistan and then moved to UK to pursue post graduate studies in IT, where he held several positions in London before joining a Press Office as IT Manager. Asim has also worked for the Government of Punjab, and the Board of Revenue, Punjab.

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An urban designer and strategist working to maximise the value of urban public space. As a Trustee and Vice Chair of ‘Living Streets’, Christopher brings a wealth of experience in charity governance and funding.

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Vince brings 35 years’ experience across the architecture and built environment sector in Australia, Asia and the United States. He has led design studios, chaired executive teams and served as a global board director of Woods Bagot, overseeing teams of up to 1,000 staff while driving significant revenue growth over his career. He continues to mentor emerging architects and has made longstanding contributions to the Australian Institute of Architects’ practice committees, alongside his ongoing service to the CAA.

Prior to his appointment as Secretary, Treasurer & Trustee, Vince served as Vice-President, Pacific and over the past two years, Vince grew the Association’s regional membership, bringing the NZIA, the Papua New Guinea Institute of Architects, the Samoan Association of Architects and the Tongan Institute of Architects into the CAA, and championed the case for the General Assembly to be held in Aotearoa. Vince’s strategic leadership led to the formation of three inaugural activities – the King’s Foundation & COP Session, the Architectural Institute Presidents’ Summit and the Emerging Architects Forum as part of a suite of events at in:situ 2026.

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An architect with experience of working in public, private and third sectors both in the UK and Africa, having most recently served as primary researcher for the East African Schools Design Guide on behalf of the Feilden Foundation in partnership with the Belgian development agency Enabel.

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Flora Runumi is the first woman to graduate with a first-class degree from the Department of Architecture at Makerere University and her career has been marked by outstanding contributions across Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan, and Norway. With advanced qualifications in environmentally sensitive design, real estate & construction, project management, and arbitration, Flora has shaped both architectural education and policy at national and regional levels. Flor currently serves with the Uganda Society of Architects and was elected to be the CAA’s Honorary Secretary & Treasurer, also joining the Board of Trustees as an ex-officio member.

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Maira Khan is an architect, academic, sustainability advocate, and international professional leader with more than 20 years of experience spanning architecture, climate resilience, architectural education, institutional governance, and international partnerships. She currently serves as Chair of the Professional Practice Steering Committee of the Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA) for 2026–2028, following her tenure as Regional Vice President – Asia (2024–2026) and Executive Director (2019–2024).

Through her leadership within the CAA, Maira has worked with professional institutions and member organisations across the Commonwealth, contributing to strategic initiatives, stakeholder engagement, knowledge exchange, professional development, and cross-border collaboration. Her work brings together architects, educators, policymakers, institutions, and development partners to address shared challenges relating to climate resilience, sustainable development, professional practice, and the future of the built environment.

Maira is an Assistant Professor at COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore Campus, where she combines academic leadership with teaching, research, curriculum development, and mentoring. She also serves as a Board Advisor to the Board of Studies at UET Lahore, contributing to academic and professional development in architectural education. Her professional leadership is grounded in a commitment to climate action, inclusive development, indigenous knowledge, humanitarian architecture, heritage conservation, and community-led transformation. Through initiatives such as One Eco Street at a Time, she works to translate architectural leadership into practical, locally rooted, community-focused, and scalable action.

Her work reflects a continued commitment to connecting professional practice, education, climate action, and community resilience, while strengthening international collaboration and creating platforms for knowledge exchange across the architectural profession. ‎

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John is a highly accomplished architect with over 30 years of experience in all design and construction phases. Believing that an architect should provide intelligent design solutions that make sense in a world where climate change is the preeminent problem, he has developed a reputation for successfully designing and managing challenging projects with award-winning sustainable designs throughout his professional career. He is well-known across Canada for his advocacy and thought leadership in low-carbon and regenerative design. As a means of advocating for the changes in the built environment needed to address climate change, John contributes to the RAIC’s Committee on Regenerative Environments and the CAA’s Professional Practice Committee.

Sui-Te Wu is an expert in design strategy with extensive client experience in public sector architecture, transport, education, BIM, and project governance. She is Director of Lean BIM Strategies, Co-Chair of the CAA Professional Practice Committee, and Chair of the RIBA Client Adviser Steering Group. A strategic thinker and collaborative leader, Ms. Wu champions design quality, environmental sustainability, social value, and inclusion through her work with major clients and stakeholders. Her notable experience includes the world-class Jubilee Line Extension Project for London Underground (1991-2000), serving as a CABE Enabler (2001-2011), and strategic advisory roles on Building Schools for the Future programs, Academy Trusts, and Local Authorities across the UK. She is also a core member of Climate Framework, mentors architects of diversity, and serves on the RIBA Standards Committee, bringing unique expertise in design transformation and inter-disciplinary collaboration.

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Based in Toronto, Canada, Dr. Lisa Landrum is a licensed architect, award-winning educator, widely published author, and respected leader in architectural education, with nearly 30 years of teaching experience in Canada, the United States, Europe and China, and substantial professional experience in New York City. She is full Professor and immediate past Chair of the Department of Architectural Science (DAS) at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), where she has advanced new partnerships and led program evaluations and enhancements, including transformative Indigenous curriculum developments, and opportunities for student agency and well-being. She previously taught at the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Architecture for 15 years, where she held leadership roles in areas of research, doctoral studies, design thesis, cooperative education, and program accreditations.

Landrum is a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC); past-President of the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB); and current Chair of the Canadian Council of University Schools of Architecture (CCUSA), representing Canada’s twelve accredited architecture programs. She is nationally recognized for launching and leading the ongoing Canadian Architecture Forums on Education (CAFÉ), a SSHRC-supported initiative begun in 2019 to foster exchange among Canadian architecture schools, and for working across sectors via Rise for Architecture to mobilize an architecture policy for Canada and host public conversations on the value of design.

Her widely published research and advocacy examines interactions of architectural agency, theatre, democracy, philosophy and imagination. Recent publications include Theatres of Architectural Imagination (Routledge 2023), and Women Changing Architecture (Centre de Design 2026).

As Chair of the CAA’s Education Steering Committee, Landrum is keen to work with members to strengthen advocacy, capacity building and climate action.

Landrum believes architects have crucial roles to play in advancing climate action, social justice, and cultural vitality. Architectural education is vitally important not only in training future professionals for these challenges, but in fostering more radical and comprehensive forms of imagination to envision new forms of practice and to advance architectures of peace, justice and joy.

Professor Heba Elsharkawy is Professor of Architecture and Head of the Department of Architecture and Landscape at Kingston School of Art, Kingston University. With over 23 years in higher education, she has advanced through academic roles from Teaching Assistant to Professor. She is a registered architect in the MENA region and holds a PhD in Architecture from the University of Nottingham. Her research focuses on environmental design, sustainability, and climate-resilient education. Professor Elsharkawy has led major funded projects, including British Council and Medical Research Council grants, totalling over £470,000. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and a Fellow Chartered Member of CIAT. She co-chairs the SCOSA Council and leads its Climate Literacy Working Group, while also serving on the Education Committee of the Commonwealth Association of Architects. Her leadership has shaped curriculum innovation, international partnerships, and sustainable architectural practice.

Dr Charmaine ‘Ilaiū Talei as co-leader representing the Pacific Region from NZIA is Tongan Registered Architect, Researcher, and Educator at Waipapa Taumata Rau | The University of Auckland and is a Consultant Cultural Engagement Designer and Senior Architect at GB-A, Brisbane Australia. As a researcher, Charmaine specialises in Tongan and Fijian architectural histories, Pacific architectural praxes, Indigenous design approaches, and the built environments of the Pacific diaspora. Her work is concerned with how Indigenous peoples’ values shape space, and reciprocally, how those values are informed by space. As an architect, Charmaine has practiced in Aotearoa New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga, and Australia, and led projects in the other Southwestern Pacific Islands. She is director of Charmaine ‘Ilaiū Talei Architecture which is devoted to research-informed projects that are meaningful to Pacific communities.

Sienna Lewis is an architect representing the Trinidad and Tobago Institute of Architects. Having obtained my Masters in Architecture and returned home to begin my career. Driven by my love of people, cultures and the natural environment, Sienna possesses a strong passion for sustainable development of the built environment in light of the challenges posed by climate change and rapid urbanization. She is driven to ensure that the future of my country and others within the Commonwealth develop in a way that engages even the most overlooked communities with inclusivity, safety, resilience and sustainability firmly in mind.

Joanna Nsenga is a licensed architect from Rwanda with a BA in Architecture from California Baptist University. She serves as a Senior Project Manager at Journeyman International and as a council member of the East African Institute of Architects. Her professional journey has fueled my passion for bridging the gap between academia and architectural practice. As a member of the CYSU Steering Committee, Joanna has been applying her passion to promote sustainable urbanization by fostering collaboration between students, professionals, and policymakers to create impactful, inclusive, and resilient urban environments.

Mahiat Hasna Shawrna is a Senior Assistant Architect at the Ministry of Housing & Public Works in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and a member of the Institute of Architects Bangladesh. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from BRAC University, Bangladesh, and a Master’s degree in Urban Management & Development (specializing in Infrastructure & Green Cities) from IHS, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands. Her work spans architectural design and layout planning for public buildings, as well as providing policy recommendations/advice/assistance to the government on human settlements, land use planning across various Ministries, Departments, Directorates, and Corporations. She has previously served as co-editor of the Chattogram City Road Safety Report (2020-2022) and as a technical member of the Building Construction Committee for Patuakhali and Bhola Districts.