Dobrina is a talented designer and project architect with 15 years of experience specializing in master planning, residential design, affordable housing, and commercial design. She holds a Master’s Degree in Architecture, with a focus on public buildings, which she completed in 2014. During her studies, she spent half of her MSc program at Nottingham Trent University on a full scholarship due to her extraordinary performance in both international and local competitions, including an honorable mention from CTBUH. Dobrina graduated top of her class from both programs. She also participated in several international architectural competitions and workshops, including one with Daniel Libeskind, earning multiple prestigious prizes for her innovative work.

After relocating to Canada, Dobrina gained considerable experience in multi-residential, commercial, and hospitality design, becoming a key asset to her team. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a deep commitment to the design process, consistently exploring fresh perspectives and innovative solutions. Her work is characterized by creativity, enthusiasm, and a strong focus on delivering exceptional results. While advocating for better design and sustainable solutions, Dobrina remains mindful of project budgets and constraints, balancing creativity with practicality. Her impeccable attention to detail and passion for architecture make her a standout professional in the field.

Mike is one of the founding partners of Edge Architects in Waterloo, Ontario.   His portfolio includes residential, commercial, institutional, and healthcare projects.  Michael’s work focusses on accessibility, inclusivity, and human experience.  Michael is an alumnus of the University of Waterloo School of Architecture, a Licenced Architect with the Ontario Association of Architects, and a member of the Grand Valley Society of Architects Executive Committee.

Brian is a graduate of University of Waterloo School of Architecture and is a licensed Architect with the Ontario Association of Architects.  Brian acts as a Project Architect at Edge Architects in Waterloo, Ontario, leading projects from conceptual design through to construction completion.  Prior to joining Edge Brian worked at Architectural practices in Toronto, New York, London UK, and Madrid.

Yvonne has enjoyed a career in architectural practice for over two decades. She has been involved in a wide range of project types and is well-versed in all phases of practice. Beyond her architectural work, Yvonne is an accomplished artist, with her artwork featured in exhibitions across Canada and the United States, residing in public and private collections.

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Yvonne’s dedication to the societal and cultural dimensions of architecture is reflected in her active community engagement. She has contributed to initiatives such as the City of Kitchener Public Art Working Group, Queen’s Green Community Garden, and the Waterloo Region Food System Roundtable. She has also held leadership roles in organizations, including the Trillium Waldorf School and the Grand Valley Society of Architects (GVSA), where she has served in various capacities over the past decade.

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Yvonne has extensive experience in leading government-funded and regulated projects and has a track record for successfully guiding novel developments through planning approvals, including the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT, formerly OMB and LPAT).

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Yvonne proudly holds several memberships in co-operatives with single-digit membership numbers. She currently serves as the coordinator for continuing education at the GVSA and a Founding Director at Arise Architects Co-operative.

Bill Birdsell received his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Waterloo in 1984, has practiced in Guelph since 1990, made a Fellow of the Royal Architecture Institute of Canada in 2014 and recognized with the G. Randy Roberts Award in 2017.

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He has designed and been recognized for a diverse range of community based child focused projects, housing, offices and facilities.  His interior design work has been acknowledged for insights on how great places to work can impact the creation of the workplace as a competitive tool.  Currently he has focused his work on the adaptive re-use of structures and through those efforts has created landmark buildings in Brampton and Guelph.

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Throughout his career, Bill has served the profession as a mentor.  He has participated on several provincial and national committees and many design profession’s awards juries.  Bill has been, Chair of the Grand Valley Society of Architects, Chair of the City of Guelph Committee of Adjustment, Chair of the Pro-Demnity Insurance Company Board of Directors, and a past President of the Ontario Association of Architects.  He currently serves as an OAA Council Member, Architectural Society Liaison and a Pro-Demnity Board Member.

David Thompson has a BA from the University of Toronto and a Dipl.Arch. from the RAIC Syllabus. He worked for Architectural firms in Toronto, Vancouver and Kitchener before setting up his own practice in Kitchener Waterloo in 2004, specializing in Institutional and Residential projects. David has previously chaired a number of Juries including the OAA Awards of Excellence, the Ontario WoodWORKS! Design Awards, and Urban Design Awards for both Kitchener and Waterloo.

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Notable projects include the Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery Renovations, numerous renovations to the Centre in the Square, Lazaridis School of Business with Diamond Schmitt Architects, Guelph Police Service Headquarters with CS&P Architects and a number of private residential commissions in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.

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David has been on the GVSA Executive for almost twenty years and was the Chair between 2008 and 2016.

Sulaf joined the new Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) committee at GVSA, to ensure the diversity of voices and perspectives which ,in turn, increases transparency, fairness, and objectivity of OAA registration and regulatory processes.

She completed a B. Arch degree at the University of Technology in Iraq, and gained a graduate certificate in Construction Project Management at Conestoga College. She brings with her both international and Canadian experience.

Sulaf is passionate about architecture as well as helping others and giving back to the community. Part of her volunteering activities include helping with: Tiny House construction, Covid 19 Community inclusion campaigns, Doors Open WR events, and other city events and causes. For Sulaf, architecture design is an integration process that involves a variety of aspects: functional, esthetics, cultural, social, and economical.

Mitali’s architectural journey spans over fifteen years, combining academic training with professional experience in India and Canada. A Registered Architect in India, she began her career on notable public and heritage projects, nurturing a lasting interest in the cultural, social, and environmental narratives embedded within architecture.

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She completed her Master of Architecture at the University of Manitoba, where she was awarded the Canadian Masonry Research Scholarship (2018–2019), and has been part of a local architectural firm in Canada since 2022.

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A member of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, Mitali has previously volunteered with other prominent architectural organizations, including TSA and BEA – Prairies, reflecting her commitment to professional dialogue and community engagement.

William Pentesco is a licensed architect with the OAA and a graduate of the University of Waterloo School of Architecture. He has a decade of experience leading multi-disciplinary teams on projects of varying scale and complexity, delivering innovative and purposeful design solutions.

William enjoys executing projects from conceptual design through to construction, delivering work across the commercial, industrial, and post-secondary sectors. Notably, design and construction of Phase 1 of Conestoga College’s Trades Campus and design for the ArcelorMittal Ingersoll Facility.

In his role as a student liaison on the committee, Will is dedicated to fostering connections between students and the architectural profession, providing mentorship and guidance to support the next generation of designers. He is passionate about creating spaces that enrich communities and actively contributes to advancing the profession through mentorship and volunteer initiatives.

Duncan Macdonald is an intern architect and graduate of the Laurentian McEwen School of Architecture’s Master of Architecture program. He is actively building experience across a wide range of architectural disciplines, from early‑stage concept development to technical detailing and project coordination. His work reflects a balance of design sensitivity and practical problem‑solving, supported by a commitment to learning from diverse project types and collaborative environments. Duncan continues to expand his professional capabilities while contributing to thoughtful, context‑driven architectural solutions.

Paniz is a licensed architect with a career bridging practice, research, and advocacy, with a focus on the social, ethical, and cultural dimensions of built spaces and design. She has nearly a decade of professional experience across offices in Toronto, Dubai, Victoria, New York, and Kitchener, working on a wide range of building types, delivery models, and design stages. Skilled in community consultation and multi-stakeholder engagement, Paniz is a strong advocate for participatory, community-led design.

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Paniz’s award-winning thesis, Your Passport Doesn’t Work Here, explores the intersection of architecture, identity, and Iranian queer heritage. Her writing appears in Canadian Architect, JSSAC, and The Signs That Define Toronto. She has taught design studio at Laurentian University, assisted courses at Waterloo Architecture, and served as a guest lecturer and critic at TMU and Carleton.

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As a co-founder of Treaty Lands, Global Stories, Paniz has advocated for recognizing Canada’s Indigenous heritage and broadening architectural education beyond Western paradigms since 2016. She is a former Advisory Board Member to Waterloo Architecture’s Racial Equity and Environmental Justice Task Force, and an active member of the Architecture Lobby, where she advocates for equity and improved working conditions in the profession. Paniz is the current secretary for the Grand River Society of Architects’ Executive Committee and a Director at Arise Architects Co-operative.