How to Build an Architectural Legacy: Lessons from Chicago
Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), Baillie Court
Wednesday June 18, 2014 - 6:00pm
Guests
Lynn Osmond , Hon AIA, CAE
President & CEO, Chicago Architecture Foundation
Lynn Osmond assumed the position of President and CEO of the Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF) in 1996. Osmond is responsible for overseeing CAF’s comprehensive program of architecture tours, exhibitions, public programs, including lectures and special events, youth and adult education programs. With Osmond’s strong leadership in organizational development, CAF has realized 300% in organizational growth, has consistently ranked among the top ten Chicago cultural institutions, and has grown its audience to more than half a million visitors.
In 2005, Osmond was recognized as an Honorary Member of the American Institute of Architects. In 2002 she was awarded the Paul Berger Arts Entrepreneurship Award presented by Columbia College, and in 2009 she received the Chicago Woman Achievement Award from the Chicago Alliance for Women. In addition to serving CAF as a docent, Osmond currently serves as Founding Chair of the Association of Architecture Organizations and is a Mayoral appointment as Chair of the Toronto Sister Cities.
She serves on the boards of Choose Chicago, the Magnificent Mile Association, the Central Area Committee, the Chicago Loop Alliance, and the Richardson Architecture Center in Buffalo, New York. She is an active member of The Chicago Network, the Economic Club of Chicago, the Executives’ Club of Chicago, the Ely Chapter of Lambda Alpha International, International Women’s Forum Chicago, and Urban Land Institute. Osmond holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Queens University, Ontario, Canada, she is a Certified Association Executive (CAE), and a graduate of the Advanced Executive Program at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Jennifer Keesmaat
Chief Planner, City of Toronto
As the recently engaged Chief Planner for the City of Toronto, Jennifer is committed to creating places where people flourish. Over the past decade Jennifer has been repeatedly recognized by the Canadian Institute of Planners and OPPI for her innovative work in Canadian municipalities. Most recently, Jennifer was named as one of the most influential people in Toronto by Toronto Life magazine and one of the most powerful people in Canada by MacLeans Magazine.
Her planning practice is characterized by an emphasis on collaborations across sectors, and broad engagement with municipal staff, councils, developers, business leaders, NGO’s and residents associations. Her priorities include implementing a divisional strategic plan, leading an Official Plan review process, refining public consultation to provide more access to city building conversations, transit planning, midrise development on the City of Toronto’s many avenues, and overseeing development review for over 4000 applications annually.
Jennifer is the founder of Project Walk, which premiered its first short film in 2011, as an official selection at the TIFF. In 2012 Jennifer debuted her first TED talk, Walk to School and in 2013 she delivered her second, Own Your City. Jennifer is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario (combined honours English and Philosophy) and has a Master in Environmental Studies (Politics and Planning) from York University.