The panel discussion with municipal leaders in Canada will provide valuable insights into the importance of partnerships and collaboration in the development of smart city initiatives. The leaders will discuss how they have leveraged partnerships with private sector organizations and academic institutions, and collaborated with other municipalities to advance their practices. They will also share their thoughts on the priority areas for future smart city initiatives, and how they plan to address them. The panelists will provide insights into the evolution of smart city initiatives in Canada over the next 5-10 years and share any defining moments that helped make their initiatives a success.
Dr. Anna Robak is a nationally respected leader in infrastructure innovation and applied research, currently serving as Director of Research & Innovation at WSP Canada. Through her work, Anna drives strategic initiatives that aim to enhance quality of life and generate long-term economic value—most notably, a transformational infrastructure strategy developed in partnership with the University of New Brunswick.
A passionate advocate for diversity in STEM, Anna actively mentors emerging professionals through programs such as the Indigenous and Black Engineering and Technology (IBET) initiative, and regularly engages with students to inspire future changemakers.
She holds a PhD in Business (Applied Economics) from the University of South Australia, a Master’s in Infrastructure Engineering from the Asian Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from the University of New Brunswick.
Anna is also an Adjunct Professor at UNB, Vice President of the Canadian Transportation Research Forum, a member of the University of Toronto’s Civil & Mineral Engineering Industry Advisory Board, and a contributor to the Building Transformations Smart Cities Think Tank.
A frequent speaker on the intersection of infrastructure, climate, and technology—as well as women in STEM—Anna brings both academic insight and practical experience to the future of resilient, inclusive infrastructure.
The panel discussion with municipal leaders in Canada will provide valuable insights into the importance of partnerships and collaboration in the development of smart city initiatives. The leaders will discuss how they have leveraged partnerships with private sector organizations and academic institutions, and collaborated with other municipalities to advance their practices. They will also share their thoughts on the priority areas for future smart city initiatives, and how they plan to address them. The panelists will provide insights into the evolution of smart city initiatives in Canada over the next 5-10 years and share any defining moments that helped make their initiatives a success.
Kitty Yung is the Smart City lead at the City of Vaughan, one of Canada's fastest-growing cities. She has established the city's first-ever Smart City unit to identify opportunities and build capacity and partnerships to deliver high-impact strategic initiatives. Kitty drives a future-focused agenda and strives to transform placemaking by developing ambitious, sustainable, and purpose-driven projects to enhance the quality of life for all residents.
Meghan Doucette is an Urban Planner working on the Energize Bridgewater project. Energize Bridgewater is led by the Town of Bridgewater, a community with a population of 9,000 on Nova Scotia's South Shore. In 2019 the Town was awarded $5 million through the Infrastructure Canada Smart Cities Challenge to reduce the rate of energy poverty in Bridgewater by 20% by 2026. Meghan leads communications and engagement for the project, sharing the value and outcomes of energy poverty reduction programs and smart cities technologies. Meghan holds a Master of Urban Planning from McGill University and a Bachelor of Management with a major in Environment, Sustainability and Society from Dalhousie University. She combines her skills in planning, management and sustainability to contribute to projects that are focused on equity, accessibility, and making the world a better place. Prior to working with the Town of Bridgewater, Meghan was the Executive Director of the Halifax Cycling Coalition, a dedicated group of staff, volunteers, and community members working to make Halifax more cycling-friendly. She advocated for high-quality active transportation infrastructure and delivered cycling programs and events. Meghan believes that prioritizing active modes of transportation has a radical potential to change our cities for the better. In all of her work, Meghan applies an equity lens to support equity-deserving groups.
Cyrus is the City of Hamilton’s Chief Digital Officer and Director of Information. His portfolio includes Smart City / Communities, Open Data, Digital & Innovation, Strategic Partnerships, Corporate Initiatives and Hamilton’s CityLAB program. Cyrus has over 20 years of experience in senior leadership roles in IT, digital solutions and transformation, quality assurance, process improvement and project management in the healthcare, manufacturing and education sectors. Cyrus is a Professional Engineer, and a Certified Project Management Professional with a keen interest in digital social equity and all things technology related. He is also a member of the United Way Halton Hamilton Cabinet, YMCA Community Connections Newcomer Mentor and Chairs the Public Safety Innovation Alliance Canadian Smart Cities Community of Practice.
As the Smart City Program Manager for Storytelling, Engagement and Experimentation, Jason and his team have established a culture of municipal innovation, whether it’s through a sandbox environment that allows City employees to experience the tools of the future or by opening the door to City assets for industry and academia to access real world experimentation. Jason’s biggest challenge in this role is reshaping the narrative of Calgary to a story of a vibrant innovation hub where the City is an active partner in building a better future for all Calgarians.
