Location: Rooms 208/209
Streams: Housing Planning, Development & Supply
Tracks: Housing Solutions; Prefabrication, Modular & Offsite Construction; WoodWorks at BUILDEX
Building Types: Mixed-Use, Residential: Multi-Unit
Partners: Canadian Wood Council (CWC)
As municipalities push for increased levels of housing in a market full of challenges, how does wood construction provide opportunities in building heights previously overlooked? This session will discuss how the prototypes presented in the Tall Timber Playbook relate to municipal policy and current community planning strategies across the lower mainland. Speakers will discuss the alignment of wood projects with community plans and what conditions can make them financially viable. The session will answer the question of how residential developers can find viable project solutions amid difficult market conditions using wood construction.
Graham Brewster is the founder of Beam, a Vancouver-based mass timber development and advisory company. A fifth-generation BC builder, he previously led mass timber innovation at Wesgroup Properties, including the 10-over-2 concept and the creation of the Western Mass Timber Alliance. Beam builds the frameworks and tools that make mid-rise mass timber viable – connecting developer economics, structural optimization, and modern methods of construction to build better homes, faster.
Annabelle is part of the WoodWorks BC team, overseeing active engagement, technical support and strategic development of initiatives that support the growth and awareness of Mass Timber in the BC market. Prior to joining WoodWorks, Annabelle built her career in the private sector, working for several Vancouver-based multi-family developers, successfully leading projects from concept to completion.
Sailen is part of the Green & Resilient Buildings team in Planning, Urban Design & Sustainability at the City of Vancouver. His recent work included expanding and simplifying zero emission incentives for the new multiplex zoning, and developing incentives and relaxations for tall mass timber buildings.
Location: Room 224
Streams: Economics, Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management; Project Planning, Procurement, Management & Delivery
Building Types: Civil / Infrastructure, Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Mixed-Use, Residential: Multi-Unit, Residential: Single-Unit
BC’s Construction Prompt Payment Act (CPPA) will fundamentally change how payments and payment disputes are managed on construction projects. This panel will bring together perspectives from across the industry to discuss what organizations need to understand and do to prepare for the CPPA coming into force. The discussion will cover the new payment timelines, proper invoicing, notices of non-payment, adjudication, and the practical changes that will be required across the construction pyramid. This session is designed as an introductory session for anyone who will be affected by the new legislation.
Glenn is the Chair of the Construction Practice Group at WeirFoulds LLP, specializing in construction law, liens, and litigation. As a trusted project lawyer, he advises clients across the construction industry—owners, developers, contractors, and consultants—on contracts, procurement, risk management, and dispute resolution. An active industry leader, Glenn is the ex-officio lawyer member for the Canadian Construction Documents Committee (CCDC.) He also has served on the National Advisory Council of the Canadian Construction Association, the Toronto Construction Association Board, and Ontario’s Expert Panel on Construction Lien Act reforms. He has also taught construction law at Toronto Metropolitan University and frequently speaks at industry and legal seminars. With extensive experience in mediation and arbitration, Glenn is a go-to expert for navigating legal challenges and ensuring fair, efficient project outcomes.
Location: Rooms 218/219
Streams: Housing Planning, Development & Supply; Sustainability, Decarbonization & High-Performance Buildings
Building Types: Residential: Multi-Unit
Small-scale housing is expected to deliver on affordability and climate performance at the same time, but in practice these goals often compete. Higher insulation values, heat pumps, low-carbon materials, and electrification all add cost to projects already operating on thin margins. For builders delivering duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes under Part 9 of the building code, the question is not whether to pursue climate goals but how to do so without pricing out the households these homes are meant to serve. This session explores practical strategies for managing the tension between carbon performance and construction cost in small-scale residential projects. Attendees will learn how to prioritize high-impact, low-cost sustainability measures, navigate evolving energy code requirements, and make informed tradeoffs between upfront investment and long-term operating savings.
Elisabeth is passionate about policy development and bolstering community resilience. At the heart of her professional journey is a commitment to enhancing low-carbon construction practices, a principle that led to the founding of Carbon Wise. The mission at Carbon Wise is to bridge the gap between the practical aspects of construction and the urgent actions required to meet our climate goals.
In 2022, she led the creation of the first Embodied Emissions Guide for Local Governments. This guide provides a tailored set of strategies for BC municipalities to lower their embodied emissions. Her collaborative work extends to over 20 local governments, the Step Code Council, and the Province of BC, contributing to the effective implementation of the BC Energy Step Code and Zero Carbon Step Code. This experience has granted her a deep understanding of the complex challenges our industry faces
As the Principal of NBA, Nick focuses on a wide range of projects throughout BC, including mid- to high-rise multi-residential homes, community spaces, and commercial buildings. His studio prioritizes holistically designed, low-carbon, efficient buildings with an emphasis on environmental and social responsibility.
Beyond his studio, Nick actively promotes forward-thinking design through lectures and participation in industry committees, including CHBA’s Technical Research Committee, HAVAN’s Government Relations Committee, and the AFBC’s Advocacy and Practice Committee. His involvement in panels for organizations like ZebX and Passive House Canada reflects his dedication to shaping sustainable building policies for the future.
Akua Schatz is owner and partner at Smallworks Ltd., a Metro Vancouver design-build firm with over 400 completed small-scale housing projects. Before joining Smallworks, Akua spent years in green building policy, including as Vice President, Market Engagement & Advocacy at the Canada Green Building Council, and holds a Master’s degree focused on community responses to infill housing. At Smallworks, she has championed sustainable product and material selections, tighter building envelopes, standardized heat pump adoption, and the exploration of modern methods of construction – using standardized components and streamlined processes to deliver homes faster, more efficiently, and at lower cost. Her work directly tackles the tension between sustainability ambitions and the thin construction margins small-scale builders face every day.
Dan is a skilled leader, fostering collaboration across multidisciplinary teams. At Small Housing, Dan identifies and convenes interest holders nationwide to promote gentle density housing (GDH), leveraging his extensive experience in building partnerships for equitable housing solutions. Dan has acted as Project Director for initiatives advancing practical housing delivery and industry capacity. He oversees the InfillBuild program, which involves the design and delivery of applied training for more than 200 small-scale builders across the province. Dan oversees the Natural Resources Canada-funded project, which has involved the development of Small Housing’s education portal and creation of a Best Practices Guide to support high-performance GDH. He oversees the Building to Electrification project, which involves the development of implementation-focused industry guidance that addresses real-world utility, coordination, and delivery challenges in GDH projects.
Location: Room 217
Streams: Workforce Solutions, Business Strategy & Leadership
Building Types: Residential: Multi-Unit, Residential: Single-Unit
BC contractors are competing for a shrinking pool of skilled labour, yet most firms still set raises based on years of service. This approach leaves owners guessing at numbers they cannot justify and losing their best people to competitors who pay for capability instead of tenure. This session presents an alternative tested within an operating trades business: a fixed rate per role, a gross margin bonus that allows employees to earn more without renegotiating wages, and a skills chart that ties every raise to measured standards for speed and accuracy. Attendees will learn how to map roles to rates, define competencies their crew can be tested against, set review intervals, and conduct the "I want a raise" conversation using a structured framework rather than guesswork. Every participant leaves with a skills chart template they can adapt to their own trade. Designed for owners, general managers, and operations leads at contracting, renovation, and millwork firms with 5 to 50 employees, this is an intermediate level session covering workforce development, business management, leadership, and strategy.
Lee Miller helps trades businesses build the systems that let them run without their owners. He bought a struggling painting franchise in Vancouver, rebuilt its sales process, production process, and pay structure, and exited the business in 2021. He now coaches cabinetmakers, closet companies, and general contractors across North America through Brave Academy, working mostly with firms between $250,000 and $20 million in revenue, and hosts the Conquer Contractor Chaos podcast. His focus is the unglamorous operating side of a contracting business: gross margin control at the job level, repeatable production, and compensation structures that hold on to skilled people. He is based in Kamloops, BC.
Location: BUILDEX Main Stage (Booth 843)
Streams: Economics, Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management
Building Types: Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Mixed-Use, Residential: Multi-Unit, Residential: Single-Unit
Partners: Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA)
With municipal, provincial, and federal elections behind us, the focus now shifts from campaign promises to action. This panel will bring together perspectives from all three levels of government and the construction industry to explore what is already underway, what priorities are emerging, and where greater collaboration is needed. From housing and infrastructure to permitting, procurement, workforce development, and project delivery, the conversation will focus on the decisions shaping what gets built across the province. This will be a candid, solutions-focused discussion about bridging the gap between government and industry, creating greater certainty, and working together to build the communities our growing region needs.
Location: Networking Hub (Booth 312)
Building Types: Mixed-Use, Residential: Multi-Unit, Residential: Single-Unit
This mixer brings together homebuilding and renovations professionals in a relaxed yet productive environment to connect with industry peers. Attendees will network, exchange ideas, and connect with a wide range of design and construction industry professionals committed to residential homebuilding.
Location: Rooms 208/209
Streams: Technology, Innovation & Smart Buildings
Tracks: Prefabrication, Modular & Offsite Construction; WoodWorks at BUILDEX
Building Types: Commercial, Institutional, Residential: Multi-Unit, Residential: Single-Unit
Partners: Canadian Wood Council (CWC)
Financing barriers are slowing mass timber and advanced wood systems across the value chain, from manufacturers needing capital to secure production capacity or expand facilities, to developers facing collateral and draw-timing mismatches. Panelists will explore underwriting gaps, risk-sharing models, and emerging tools ranging from milestone-based draws to manufacturer-focused capital solutions. Attendees will learn how lenders evaluate mass timber risk, what financing structures are emerging, and how to position their projects or facilities for financing. Designed for an intermediate audience with some familiarity with construction finance, this session is suited to lenders, developers, manufacturers, and policy professionals working in real estate development and climate finance.
Michaela Neuberger is the Executive Director of Affine Climate Solutions, a climate advisory that accelerates investment in low-carbon, climate-resilient buildings by connecting financial institutions, real estate leaders, governments, and industry partners. She leads the development of business cases, financing solutions, market tools, and partnerships that support building decarbonization, climate resilience, and innovative construction.
With more than 15 years of experience across the private and public sectors, Michaela combines technical expertise and strategic leadership to turn ambitious climate goals into practical action. Before joining Affine, she managed operational improvement projects in the construction industry across England, Germany, and France. In Canada, she has led market transformation initiatives for BC Hydro and the City of Vancouver, and she contributes to the National Building Decarbonization Alliance and BC’s Building Electrification Coalition.
Jim Vela is Director of Commercial Real Estate at Vancity, where he leads a team responsible for originating, structuring, and managing complex commercial and construction financing across residential, commercial, industrial, and mixed-use properties. He drives portfolio growth, oversees credit risk, and builds relationships with developers, investors, and industry partners.
With nearly 30 years of experience in commercial lending, portfolio management, and real estate finance, Jim has held progressively senior roles at Vancity and across the financial services sector. His expertise includes underwriting, financial analysis, loan structuring, and client relationship management. Known for his collaborative leadership and strong market knowledge, he is committed to mentoring high-performing teams and delivering strategic financing solutions that support client success and organizational objectives.
Colin is a Senior Director within RBC’s Sustainable Finance Commercial Banking group and works with RBC’s business banking clients to integrate ESG factors into their debt financing. He also advises them on emerging trends in climate while guiding their decarbonization strategies. An economist by background, Colin has authored several major reports for RBC on the interface between climate change and the Canadian economy, including "The $2 Trillion Transition" and "High Rise, Low Carbon." Prior to joining RBC, Colin worked on mortgage and macro-financial policy for the Department of Finance Canada.
Location: Room 224
Streams: Sustainability, Decarbonization & High-Performance Buildings
Building Types: Mixed-Use
"Regenerative" has become an increasingly popular term in the built environment, but regenerative according to who? This session explores regeneration as a project-specific conversation rather than a predetermined checklist. Every project begins with a unique site, community, owner, budget, and set of priorities. As a result, regeneration may mean something different from one project to the next. This session explores how owners, designers, engineers, contractors, and operators can work together to define regeneration at the outset of a project and establish meaningful, measurable outcomes. Participants will examine the growing use of terms such as "net positive" and discuss what these claims would look like in practice. Furthermore, participants will explore strategies for aligning project teams around shared regenerative goals before design begins, ensuring that performance targets are intentional, measurable, and relevant to the project’s context.
Brenda Martens (O.B.C., B.Sc., CSBA, TRUE Advisor, LEED FELLOW) is a leading sustainability advocate and early adopter of green building practices and has worked on some of the most environmentally progressive and largest projects in B.C., such as the Vancouver and Whistler Olympic Villages, and some of the most modest, including dozens of social housing projects across the province. Martens’ contributions have been recognized by her election to the board of the Cascadia Green Building Council and selection to the LEED Technical Advisory Group and Steering Committee. She has developed and delivered several courses through UBC and BCIT on the circular built environment and regenerative design. In 2012 she was named a LEED Fellow, one of only 10 Canadians and 226 individuals in the world at that time. She was appointed to the Order of British Columbia in 2018 and received the Carbon Leadership Forum BC’s "Strengthening the Practice" award in 2026.
Location: Room 207
Streams: Project Planning, Procurement, Management & Delivery
Tracks: Housing Solutions; WoodWorks at BUILDEX
Building Types: Mixed-Use, Residential: Multi-Unit
Partners: Canadian Wood Council (CWC)
As mid-rise density is developed around transit hubs and other community features, the lack of project examples in this height range leave room for wood buildings to find an opening. This session will discuss the design and construction aspects of the two prototypes presented in the Tall Timber Playbook. Featuring voices from architecture, engineering, and construction, this session will discuss ideas to consider when designing or building with wood in the 7 to 18 storey range. The presentation will cover strategies to achieve the greatest benefits of wood within a construction climate where cost is the biggest driver, how to ensure design is responsive to the constraints on contractors, and how project teams can work together to bring viable solutions to today’s construction market.
Scott Goldfinch is a Senior Project Manager at Wesgroup Contracting with over ten years delivering complex projects, including large-scale master-planned communities. For the past four years, he has led the construction arm of Wesgroup’s mass timber innovation, taking a practical owner-developer-builder approach to making timber work – blending technical and financial viability with the execution realities in planning and on-site.
Derek is the Technical Director at WoodWorks BC and has been involved in the wood industry for over 30 years in various roles. He started in single and multi-family light wood construction before moving into structural engineering consulting. Derek has experience in the design of all types of wood construction, and played key roles in the delivery of iconic BC wood structures such as, the Richmond Olympic Oval and Grandview Heights Aquatic Centre. He brings his experience to the development of education and resources for the wood construction industry.
For over 20 years, Taizo Yamamoto Architect AIBC has been the Principal of Yamamoto Architecture, a firm established in 1991 by his father Tomizo Yamamoto. Yamamoto Architecture’s practice focuses on wood construction and on aligning policy with construction realities to accelerate the delivery and affordability of housing.
Tobias Fast is a Partner at Fast + Epp with more than a decade of experience delivering innovative structural engineering projects across North America and Europe. Before joining the firm’s Vancouver office, he worked with leading engineering firms in New York and London, as well as Fast + Epp’s Frankfurt office. He holds graduate and undergraduate engineering degrees from the University of British Columbia and was named Partner in 2023. Tobias also leads Fast + Epp’s Concept Lab, advancing research, innovation, and digital practice across the firm.
Location: Room 217
Streams: Workforce Solutions, Business Strategy & Leadership
Building Types: Commercial, Mixed-Use, Residential: Multi-Unit, Residential: Single-Unit
Trade contractors work harder than anyone on the job site, but plenty still lose money on projects they should have won. This session breaks down the three pillars that separate profitable trade businesses from busy ones: people, profits, and projects. Attendees will learn how to build a team that runs their business without micromanaging every decision, how to control financials to know the real margins before a job goes sideways, and how to run projects with the structure and communication that keeps the site team and office staff on the same page. Drawing on 20+ years of hands-on construction and project management experience, this talk connects the dots between these three pillars and shows how a breakdown in one always shows up in the other two. Attendees will walk away with a practical framework to apply to their business the next day.
Brenden Melanson is the president of Blueprint Consulting, a construction advisory firm with over 200 projects delivered, and the founder of BuildBox, an AI-driven construction management platform where trade contractors manage their entire operation in one place.With over two decades of construction experience spanning trades work, project management, and development, Brenden started on the tools as a carpenter, built a business leading framing crews, and moved into project management on complex multi-family work. At Ledcor Construction, he co-managed a $300M three-tower development, and he holds a B.Tech in Construction Management from BCIT. Brenden’s main objective is to make life easier for trade contractors. He has worked both on the tools and in the GC’s office, and he has seen that when the trades run efficiently, every stakeholder benefits: general contractors, developers, and ultimately the homeowners who buy the finished product.
Harold Frederiks is co-founder of The Standard, a management certification program that helps contractor businesses across North America build stronger leaders. It trains the people leading those businesses in core disciplines such as decision-making, communication under pressure, and building trust. Before The Standard, Harold spent more than 20 years in waterpark operations, leading teams of 130 to 150 people in businesses doing about $1 million a month in revenue. It’s a world of short seasons, big seasonal crews, and systems that have to work whether or not the boss is standing there. That’s a lot closer to running a trades company than it sounds. He also coaches contractors and trades owners one-on-one and holds a professional coaching certification from Royal Roads University.
Location: Rooms 215/216
Streams: Design Concepts, Health & Wellness
Tracks: Property Management Solutions
Building Types: Mixed-Use, Residential: Multi-Unit, Residential: Single-Unit
Indoor thermal safety is becoming an increasingly important topic as summer temperatures increase across the country. Cooling measures such as heat pumps, exterior shading, improved ventilation, increased tree canopy, and others can all have an impact on keeping occupants safe while also helping to reduce energy demand and associated emissions. As local governments begin to require them, many building owners and managers continue to face challenges in their implementation.
This session will share new insights and information on ways to keep occupants cool in residential buildings in BC through a range of lenses, from the policies and actions that require the installation of cooling measures, to the viability of the measures and technologies themselves, to on-the-ground experiences in their implementation. This session is intended to support owners, managers, designers, researchers, and policymakers of all skill levels interested in learning more about indoor thermal safety.
Leya is a professional engineer and leader in climate action. With over 20 years in clean tech, industrial energy management, energy utility consulting and local government, she has worked to advance clean energy solutions that center equity and impact. As Deputy Director of Climate Action at the City of New Westminster, Leya develops and integrates local government climate policy with utility operations and desig demand side management and electrification initiatives. After the devastating and deadly 2021 heat dome, extreme heat and thermal safety have quickly become a primary concerns. Leya has been committed to ensuring that the solutions to address this climate risk support health, safety, energy efficiency, affordability, social connectedness, comfort and resilience. Guided by a deep commitment to climate justice, she believes people are at the heart of every decision; working to build a more sustainable and equitable future.
Eric Campbell is an Associate Principal and mechanical engineer with Introba, specializing in high-performance, low-carbon, and climate-resilient buildings. His work spans both building design and policy development, combining mechanical engineering, building performance analysis, passive design, and sustainability strategy. His recent work includes research and project-level design focused on mechanical equipment right-sizing to support cost-effective building electrification and energy transition. He has also contributed to policy and technical work addressing overheating risk and safe indoor temperatures, including leading the compliance analysis study for the City of Toronto’s Maximum Indoor Temperature By-law. Across both design practice and policy development, his work focuses on translating technical analysis into practical measures for more resilient, affordable, and low-carbon buildings.
Rupert has over 15 years of experience in urban planning, sustainability, Mandarin, and real estate development. His background includes managing development projects from visioning to completion, encompassing feasibility analysis, acquisition negotiations, financial modelling, conceptual design, due diligence, and project structuring, all the way through design development, team management, financing, and construction to final deficiencies and handover. As a trained urban planner, his approach brings together public and private perspectives to city building, with a strong working relationship with Planning Departments, funding agencies, and consultants. Hailing from New Zealand, Rupert brings a unique creativity and jovial cynicism to his team, as well as a bizarre passion for long-fin eels, boxing, and tabletop wargaming.
Lisa Westerhoff is recognized in British Columbia and across Canada as a focused, reliable leader in energy-efficient and climate-ready building policy and interest holder engagement. With over 10 years of industry experience, Lisa works with local governments, universities, and industry organizations to create policies and strategies for a healthy, low-carbon and resilient built environment. Lisa holds a PhD in urban sustainability from UBC and is the author of several academic publications on strategies for increasing climate change resilience and energy and emissions reductions. She also holds a Master’s degree in climate change resilience and adaptation, is IAP2 certified in public engagement, and a winner of the Canada Green Building Council’s Green Building Champion award.
Location: Room 222
Streams: Economics, Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management
Building Types: Commercial, Institutional, Mixed-Use
Knowing the requirements of Section 3.8 Accessibility of the 2024 British Columbia Building Code is one thing. Understanding why those requirements exist and how design decisions can prevent barriers to create truly usable spaces is another. This interactive technical session moves beyond a checklist approach to accessibility. Through real-world case studies, participants will revisit key Section 3.8 requirements and explore how the Code’s functional and objective statements can inform more intentional design decisions. The presenters will examine common accessibility challenges, practical ways to identify and prevent barriers, and examples where universal design principles can improve usability without compromising project requirements. Designed for architects, interior designers, engineers, code consultants, contractors, and other building professionals, this session will equip participants to approach accessibility as both a regulatory requirement and a design opportunity.
Randi MacAlpine is a Technical Accessibility Consultant and certified RHFAC Professional with a Master’s in Architecture and a specialization in neurodiverse design. She sits on the RHFAC Technical Subcommittee and is well versed in comprehensive design criteria intended to help built environment professionals design more accessible, inclusive, and sensory-supportive spaces for the full range of human experience. At ABE Factors, she conducts technical accessibility reviews and assessments across a wide range of building typologies, bringing both regulatory fluency and a human-centred lens to every project.
Brieann Ventura, CTech, RHFAC, is a Senior Technical Accessibility Specialist and inter-provincially trained Building Code Consultant with over 10 years of experience interpreting a wide range of accessibility-related codes, standards, and certifications. Her project portfolio includes complex mixed-use developments, civic facilities, transportation hubs, industrial spaces, and more. She contributes her expertise to several national accessibility technical committees, including Accessible Standards Canada’s Accessible Ready Modular Homes and the Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC) Accessibility Committee. In addition to her committee work, Brieann is active in the community, delivering presentations and training sessions to professionals across the built environment sector. With a focus on creating spaces that are functional, aesthetically thoughtful, and intrinsically inclusive, she brings both technical precision and design innovation to her work.
Location: Networking Hub (Booth 312)
Building Types: Civil / Infrastructure, Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Mixed-Use, Residential: Multi-Unit, Residential: Single-Unit
The built environment’s version of speed dating, this memorable fast-paced event introduces you to a wide range of design, building, construction, and real estate industry professionals, so your networking time is optimized for efficiency and impact.
Location: Rooms 208/209
Streams: Housing Planning, Development & Supply
Tracks: Prefabrication, Modular & Offsite Construction; WoodWorks at BUILDEX
Building Types: Mixed-Use, Residential: Multi-Unit
Partners: Canadian Wood Council (CWC)
230 Royal York is a 9-storey, 60-home mass timber rental building in Etobicoke. Presenters will share their experience applying a prefabricated mass timber platform for mid- to high-rise housing that is affordable, repeatable, and scalable. In this session, attendees will learn about details on new mass timber high-rise projects already in advanced approvals that require broad tenderability and apply lessons learned from both 230 Royal York and Intelligent City. Attendees will learn how to use mass timber systematically through prefabrication and platform design, how to collaborate effectively in an industrialized model by engaging early rather than tendering late, and how to understand value creation across the entire forest-to-cities supply chain.
David is one of Canada’s foremost leaders in timber structures, heavy timber, glulam, and CLT, and an advocate for advances in structural engineering and industry standards. His extensive portfolio includes the first Canadian CLT and passive house buildings and the Art Gallery of Ontario renovation – at the time one of the most sophisticated wood structures in North America, as well as three prestigious professional awards. The firm’s genuine nature, passion for projects, and attention to detail are driven by David.
Oliver Lang is a strategic leader and construction innovator with more than 30 years of experience across architecture, engineering, and technology. He is a fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and principal of LWPAC Architects, an award-winning firm he co-founded in 1999 known for low-carbon construction, prefab mass timber, and civic design. In 2025, he co-founded and serves as CEO of Avenue Zero Communities, a vertically integrated platform delivering Passive House-certified mass timber rental housing. He previously co-founded Intelligent City, serving as CEO for 17 years to pioneer mass timber high-rise construction via robotics. Oliver holds degrees from Columbia University, TU Berlin, and ETSA Barcelona. He is a registered architect and serves on the board of LWPAC.
Location: Room 220
Streams: Economics, Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management; Housing Planning, Development & Supply
Building Types: Residential: Multi-Unit
Recent changes to the BC Building Code have enabled single-stair residential buildings, creating new opportunities for compact, efficient housing. However, early projects reveal an uneven approval landscape, with differing interpretations among municipalities, building officials, and fire departments. This session will draw on the experience of small architecture practices pursuing single-stair projects across BC. The panel will share lessons from early applications, including where projects are advancing and where challenges remain. Attendees will learn the key life-safety and technical requirements distinguishing single-stair buildings from conventional multi-unit construction, illustrated through current projects. Designed for contractors, architects, engineers, developers, and other industry stakeholders, the session will provide practical guidance to help teams navigate approvals and construction as this emerging housing typology moves toward built reality.
James Huemoeller is an architect, educator and founder of JIM Architecture, Ltd., a Vancouver-based architecture studio working across housing, public buildings, landscapes and urban design. His experience includes running both architecture and construction firms and contributing to large research and educational projects across North America and internationally. James is currently a faculty member at UBC’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, where he is involved in the Design-Build program, and serves on the Board of the Architectural Institute of British Columbia. He is a founding member and board member of the Field Collective, bringing together small architecture practices to share knowledge, advocate for better design and contribute to the evolution of architectural practice in BC.
Tony Osborn is an architect, educator, and founder of Tony Osborn Architecture + Design (TOAD), a Vancouver-based practice working across housing, adaptive reuse, commercial and community-focused projects throughout British Columbia. He is currently an instructor in BCIT’s Architectural Science program and serves as Co-Chair of the Vancouver Urban Design Panel. Tony is also a founder of the Field Collective, a non-profit organization bringing together small architecture practices to share knowledge, advocate for better design and contribute to conversations shaping the profession in BC. His work is particularly focused on how regulatory change, emerging housing models and thoughtful design can expand the possibilities for small and mid-scale development.
Location: Rooms 218/219
Streams: Sustainability, Decarbonization & High-Performance Buildings
Building Types: Civil / Infrastructure, Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Mixed-Use, Residential: Multi-Unit, Residential: Single-Unit
BC’s clean electricity grid creates a distinctive opportunity for solar PV and BESS. As electrification, peak demand costs, resilience needs, grid constraints, and evolving utility programs reshape building operations, these technologies can deliver value in ways many owners may not yet have considered. This session looks beyond the equipment to the owner’s business case, exploring how PV can reduce energy costs and support future loads, while BESS can add value through demand management, demand response, resilience, and operational flexibility. Using BC-specific conditions and case studies from across Canada, attendees will learn how to identify high-value opportunities, compare PV, BESS, and combined systems, manage project and lifecycle costs, and align system design with long-term asset objectives. The session will also highlight incentives, utility programs, and funded feasibility studies that can help owners move from an initial idea to an informed investment decision.
Sunny Ghataurah is the President of AES Engineering with over 30 years of experience in the design and construction industry. With his passion for technology, a rich understanding of the building and infrastructure industry, and sensitivity to design simplicity, Sunny is an active advocate for advancements in technology and innovation to improve people’s lives. Sunny helps teams focus on user experience and behavioral change that in turn achieves true sustainable results. Being a technophile, Sunny has his finger on the pulse of the industry. An experienced public speaker and recognized industry thought leader, Sunny shares insights on emerging trends and paradigm shifts transforming the built environment. In addition to contributing to award-winning projects, he was recognized as one of Business in Vancouver’s Top Forty Under 40.
Victor Lu combines academic research, hands-on field experience, and integrated electrical systems design with a data-driven approach to energy infrastructure. His work spans Solar PV, BESS, EV charging, building electrification, and decarbonization, with a particular focus on translating emerging technologies into practical, investable solutions. He advises owners on energy generation, storage, demand management, resilience, grid integration, and utility opportunities, while evaluating the broader commercial context of rates, incentives, constraints, operating requirements, and lifecycle cost. By integrating engineering judgement with real-world implementation and business-case analysis, Victor helps organizations identify high-value opportunities and make informed, future-ready energy investments.
Location: Room 207
Streams: Project Planning, Procurement, Management & Delivery; Technology, Innovation & Smart Buildings
Tracks: WoodWorks at BUILDEX
Building Types: Residential: Multi-Unit
Partners: Canadian Wood Council (CWC)
Estrella demonstrates how modular construction can help deliver much needed rental housing in remote BC markets where labour availability, cost certainty, and construction timelines are major constraints. This case study will unpack the delivery of a five-storey, 40-unit modular rental apartment in Prince Rupert, including the decision to fabricate modules off site in Manitoba, the project’s approach to foundation coordination, craning, inspections, financing, transport, and moisture risk, and the lessons learned by a first-time modular developer throughout the process. For contractors, consultants, developers, and suppliers, the session will highlight what worked, what required careful mitigation, and how modular delivery can be used strategically to improve predictability, reduce on-site labour intensity, and support faster housing delivery across challenging regional markets.
Jeff Brown brings a complementary lens to NorthStar’s leadership, combining deep development experience with hands-on operational expertise. Active in commercial real estate for 20+ years, Jeff has led the design, approval, and delivery of more than 2 million square feet of retail and office development valued in excess of $1 billion. Jeff has guided teams through large-scale, mixed-use, master-planned redevelopments, including Ivanhoe Cambridge, Shape Properties Corp., City of Lougheed, and Deerfoot City. He also served as Director of Development for Tsawwassen Mills, a landmark treaty-based project delivered in partnership with the Tsawwassen First Nation. His leadership is marked by clarity, decisiveness, and a strong understanding of how projects perform not just at delivery, but over their full lifecycle. Jeff also owns and oversees Westwynd Real Estate Services, a residential property management company managing more than 300 properties across British Columbia.
Brock brings a lengthy track record of housing construction and development expertise, specifically focusing on volumetric modular design and construction methods. Brock is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and has 15+ years of construction and project management experience in affordable housing, education, residential, government infrastructure, Indigenous housing, industrial, and commercial projects. He has worked for large modular housing providers, Horizon North and NRB Inc., and has a proven track record of delivering complex design-build projects on schedule and budget, including over 1,800 suites of housing throughout Canada and the U.S. with completed projects in BC, Alberta, NWT, Ontario, Hawaii, Montana, and California.
Andy has over 20 years of experience in the modular design and fabrication industry, recognized for leading high-performing teams and delivering complex projects on time and within budget. Known for a proactive, anticipatory approach, Andy leverages his extensive experience to identify potential challenges early, implementing strategies to mitigate risks and ensure smooth project execution. He brings a diverse portfolio spanning residential, commercial, and hospitality projects, with a deep understanding of client needs and a proven ability to deliver comprehensive, full-service solutions. Highly proficient in AutoCAD Architecture and Revit, Andy also excels in collaborative project management platforms including BIM360 and Smartsheet, enabling seamless coordination across multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders.
Cam Baker is a Technical Advisor with WoodWorks BC. His background is in construction project management with experience delivering mass timber, light wood-frame, and prefabricated buildings. His background in general contracting provides firsthand insight into the challenges of project coordination, scheduling, procurement, and constructability. At WoodWorks BC, he works closely with project teams across British Columbia to share best practices and help industry professionals successfully plan and deliver wood construction projects. He brings a practical, collaborative perspective shaped by experience delivering projects in the field.
Location: Room 221
Streams: Workforce Solutions, Business Strategy & Leadership
Building Types: Civil / Infrastructure, Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Mixed-Use, Residential: Multi-Unit, Residential: Single-Unit
25% of the construction workforce is neurodivergent, meaning that 1 in 4 workers has a diagnosis of ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyscalculia, or other conditions. This also means that a significant portion of your workforce isn’t designed to fit the existing architecture for success, but we have an opportunity to build better architecture for everyone. Under the Hard Hats (UTHH) demonstrates how embracing neurodiversity is an underutilized tool for recruitment, retention, and boosting productivity in the skilled trades. Participants will gain a high-level understanding of different neurodivergent conditions and how they might show up in the trades, an introduction to neuro-inclusivity and psychological safety, a new perspective on "accommodations" that support everyone, and actionable steps that organizations and individuals can take to build better architecture for success.
Alex Knight is the president of Iron & Ember and is the only consultant in the world operating at the intersection of neurodiversity, skilled trades, organizational psychology, and environmental design. She strongly believes that supporting neurodivergent individuals benefits minds of all kinds. With honesty, soul, and an unwavering belief in human potential, Alex is pioneering the integration of psychological safety and neurodiversity in Canada’s construction industry.
Location: Room 217
Streams: Housing Planning, Development & Supply
Tracks: Housing Solutions
Building Types: Residential: Multi-Unit
As governments and municipalities seek faster, more cost-effective ways to deliver housing, standardized designs are gaining momentum across Canada. This session explores Canada’s Housing Design Catalogue, a national initiative developed to accelerate the delivery of low-rise housing and how it’s being applied in practice. Attendees will receive an inside look at the Catalogue and learn about a 12-unit pilot project in the City of Vancouver that is adapting a catalogue design for local implementation. Representatives from CMHC, the City of Vancouver, and project architects will share key insights and lessons learned from both the design and implementation of the Catalogue and the pilot project. This session will provide practical strategies for using standardized designs to streamline projects, and support faster housing delivery.
Chris is a Principal at MGA, Michael Green Architecture, where he brings over a decade of experience designing mid-rise multi-family residential projects both locally and internationally. Originally from Toronto, he is a vocal advocate for housing policy reform and is particularly engaged in mass timber and prefabricated construction. He holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Waterloo.
Rhys Leitch is a Principal at Integra Architecture with extensive experience in multi-family residential design, mass timber, and off-site prefabricated construction. Originally from Australia, Rhys joined Integra in 2013 and has since led a wide range of residential and mixed-use projects throughout British Columbia.
Rhys has extensive experience leading projects incorporating mass timber, prefabricated panelized wall systems, CLT floor assemblies, and other advanced off-site construction methodologies. His work explores the integration of mass timber, prefabrication, BIM, and high-performance building design to improve constructability, quality, and efficiency while delivering thoughtful, context-responsive architecture.
Michael is an experienced Development Planner with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital & health care industry. He is a strong business development professional with a Master of Planning from The University of Calgary.
Elle Ziegler is an Advisor in Housing Programs at CMHC and a co-lead of the Housing Design Catalogue. She brings over 15 years of experience across architecture, strategy, and innovation, and leads national housing initiatives that create practical, inclusive design solutions adaptable by non-profits, municipalities, and developers alike. Elle completed a Masters of Advanced Studies in Architecture at UBC and began her career in Vancouver’s architecture sector, with roles in consulting, research, and federal program delivery. She draws from both lived experience and technical expertise, and believes deeply in the role of housing as a foundation for community well-being.
Location: Room 224
Streams: Project Planning, Procurement, Management & Delivery
Building Types: Civil / Infrastructure, Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Mixed-Use, Residential: Multi-Unit, Residential: Single-Unit
Effective payment certification is critical to keeping construction projects and payments moving. This session will examine best practices for reviewing applications for payment, assessing work completed, managing documentation, communicating payment decisions, and avoiding common certification problems. It will also look at how BC’s Construction Prompt Payment Act will interact with existing payment certification processes, including proper invoices, statutory timelines, and notices of non-payment. This session is intended for owners, consultants, architects, engineers, contract administrators, project managers, contractors, and subcontractors.
As the Facilities Management Procurement Director for Fraser Health and BC Shared Health Services for the past 18 years, Elizabeth Zhu has successfully built and led a specialized 14-person procurement team focused on public construction, facility maintenance, and capital redevelopment projects across BC health authorities. Elizabeth has extensive experience in public procurement, construction contracting, and major capital project delivery. She currently supports provincial initiatives related to implementation of BC’s Construction Prompt Payment Act and serves as a member of the BC Public Construction Council. Her team has been recognized with the BCCA Best of Public Owner Award three times (2017, 2022, and 2023) for outstanding contributions to public sector construction procurement.
Glenn is the Chair of the Construction Practice Group at WeirFoulds LLP, specializing in construction law, liens, and litigation. As a trusted project lawyer, he advises clients across the construction industry—owners, developers, contractors, and consultants—on contracts, procurement, risk management, and dispute resolution. An active industry leader, Glenn is the ex-officio lawyer member for the Canadian Construction Documents Committee (CCDC.) He also has served on the National Advisory Council of the Canadian Construction Association, the Toronto Construction Association Board, and Ontario’s Expert Panel on Construction Lien Act reforms. He has also taught construction law at Toronto Metropolitan University and frequently speaks at industry and legal seminars. With extensive experience in mediation and arbitration, Glenn is a go-to expert for navigating legal challenges and ensuring fair, efficient project outcomes.
Location: Room 220
Streams: Sustainability, Decarbonization & High-Performance Buildings
Building Types: Commercial, Residential: Multi-Unit
Adaptive reuse can deliver affordable housing solutions while addressing excess vacancy rates, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste. However, many owners and developers lack reliable tools for evaluating the adaptive reuse potential of existing buildings compared with demolition and new construction. Circular Construction Canada (CCC) and researchers from the University of Ottawa will share the latest insights from CCC’s new Industry Guide and Toolkit developed using Alberta as a learning laboratory. Through a series of detailed case studies, attendees will learn how projects navigated the technical, financial, and regulatory conditions to manage risk and evaluate opportunity. The panel discussion featuring a developer, architect, and local government will share on-the-ground experience that helped strengthen the business case for making adaptive reuse replicable and scalable.
Paul Shorthouse is Managing Director of Circular Construction Canada (CCC), a Solution Space of the non-profit charity Generate Canada. CCC is the first national initiative focused on accelerating the adoption of circular strategies and practices across Canada’s construction and real estate sector. He has been leading CCC’s work on adaptive reuse of existing buildings, with support from the Alberta Real Estate Foundation and Alberta Ecotrust Foundation. Paul is considered one of Canada’s top experts on the circular economy, with a proven track record of providing strategic solutions and engaging with senior leaders from business and government. He has a demonstrated ability to build national-level partnerships and collaborative platforms, which he has leveraged to provide thought leadership and technical expertise for clients and partner organizations across the country.
Dr. Daina Mazutis is Associate Professor of Strategy at the Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa, where she holds the Professorship of Ethics, Responsibility and Sustainability, directs the Telfer Green Academy, and co-leads the Centre for Sustainable Impact. Her research focuses on leadership, strategy, sustainability and the business conditions required to accelerate sustainable urban development. She leads the Sustainable Construction and Development Applied Research Project, which is developing Canadian case studies on adaptive reuse and circular construction. Daina holds an MBA from the University of Ottawa and a PhD from Western University’s Ivey Business School.
Arsheel Hirji is a Calgary-based city builder with more than 20 years of experience advancing sustainable infrastructure, resilient development and high-performance buildings. His work spans municipal policy, development strategy, project finance, and the integration of environmental, social, and economic performance into major projects. Arsheel has supported Astra Group’s office-to-residential conversions and has helped communicate the heritage, accessibility, energy-performance, and delivery lessons from the office conversion projects. He brings a practitioner’s perspective on how adaptive reuse projects move from early feasibility through approvals, design, and implementation.
Steve Wirzba is Leader of Downtown Investments with The City of Calgary’s Downtown Strategy team. With a background in community planning, development review and land-use bylaw interpretation, he has helped deliver Calgary’s Downtown Office Conversion Program since its inception. Steve works directly with development partners to move conversion projects from application through implementation and is helping shape the program’s next phase. He brings a municipal practitioner’s perspective on incentives, approvals and the conditions that determine whether adaptive reuse projects proceed. Steve holds a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from the University of Calgary.
Vedran Škopac is a Principal Architect at Reimagine Architects and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Calgary’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape. A European and Canadian architect with more than 30 years of experience, he works across adaptive reuse, regenerative design and high-performance buildings. His Alberta portfolio includes WSP Place, Concordia University of Edmonton’s Braaksma Hall and the proposal to adapt the former Royal Alberta Museum in Glenora. Vedran brings a design practitioner’s perspective on how existing buildings can retain cultural and material value while meeting contemporary performance, program and community needs.
Location: Rooms 218/219
Streams: Sustainability, Decarbonization & High-Performance Buildings
Building Types: Residential: Multi-Unit, Residential: Single-Unit
Partners: Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF) BC
Reducing embodied carbon is becoming a priority for housing projects, but questions remain around costs, constructability, and broader project outcomes. This session shares findings from the Near Zero 2 incentive program, including analysis of 18 residential projects that evaluated common embodied carbon reduction strategies and their associated costs. Speakers will discuss how low-carbon building approaches can also advance affordability, resilience, and housing delivery goals. The session will feature lessons learned from the City of Vancouver’s Zero Emissions Building Incentive Program, including practical approaches used to achieve significant embodied carbon reductions and insights into municipal verification and inspection processes. Grounded in a prefabricated housing case study, the discussion will explore real-world trade-offs and opportunities, alongside emerging national research on industry readiness to undertake embodied carbon assessments in Part 9 housing.
Zahra Teshnizi is a Senior Planner with the City of Vancouver, where she leads implementation of the City’s Embodied Carbon Strategy and its goal of reducing emissions from new construction by 40% by 2030. She led development of Vancouver’s Embodied Carbon Guidelines, establishing a consistent methodology that informed the National WBLCA Practitioner’s Guide and advanced embodied carbon policy and regulation.
Zahra also helped develop Vancouver’s embodied carbon reporting and reduction requirements for low-rise residential projects accessing floor-area incentives for zero-emissions construction. The guidance aligns with national standards while simplifying implementation for smaller projects and teams. It recognizes salvaged materials and retained building components, allowing material reuse and recovery to contribute to compliance. Zahra also contributes to national code and industry initiatives advancing practical approaches to embodied carbon assessment and reduction.
Mélanie joined BfCA in the summer of 2021, with an urge to nourish her inner flame with something meaningful to act on climate change. She has inputted the most projects in BEAM among all of us, which was key in finding bugs and helping develop the tool. Mélanie holds a double master’s in Architecture and Urban Design from University Laval in Québec, and she is a Certified Passive House Designer. As a naturally curious, meticulous and dynamic person, she’s always motivated by new challenges, leading her to help design training programs for BEAM users and adding EPDs in the database.
Newton is a designer with 15 years of architectural design experience in part 3 and part 9 buildings in BCHe is passionate about designing buildings that have a low impact on climate change, whether that means using fully-electric equipment, being built with low-embodied carbon materials, or being designed with efficient, circular systems. Newton is well versed with sustainability-focused certification programs including Passive House, LEED, and Zero Carbon Buildings
Location: Room 217
Streams: Project Planning, Procurement, Management & Delivery; Technology, Innovation & Smart Buildings
Tracks: Prefabrication, Modular & Offsite Construction
Building Types: Residential: Multi-Unit
Prefabricated and modular construction methods have long promised faster timelines, lower costs, and reduced waste, but most prefab solutions have been designed for large-scale projects, leaving small builders on the sidelines. With a new focus on infill development, more builders are considering how to transition to prefab housing for residential infill projects. This session explores what it takes to bring prefab within reach of small-scale builders, from panelized wall systems and factory-built components to full volumetric units. Attendees will gain practical insight into where prefab makes financial sense at the small housing scale, how to evaluate suppliers and systems, and what site and logistical constraints to plan for. The session also addresses barriers that can stall prefab adoption, and is ideal for builders, architects, planners, and housing delivery professionals from beginner to intermediate levels.
Ali Bartram works within the sustainable wood building industry, with a focus on wood value-added, customizable panel-framed homes and buildings. He believes off-site construction is a step forward in minimizing material wastage and providing better working conditions. Ali stays closely attuned to industry trends and emerging product innovations, particularly in building construction, prefabrication, and Passive House standards. He is deeply detail-oriented when it comes to client needs and consistently focused on analyzing the financial performance of both projects and products.
Chris is a strategic leader and construction innovator with 25+ years of experience in finance, development, mass timber, offsite construction, and sustainable building. A CPA and consultant with Sacred Waters Developments, he supports Indigenous-led projects with expertise in industrialized construction, prefabrication, feasibility, and community-centred economic development. He is principal of Chris Hill Consulting Inc. and director of business development at the CLT Centre, advising First Nations, public agencies, and developers on offsite construction strategy, capital investment, and financial modelling. He previously founded BCollective Homes, an award-winning offsite builder that delivered $20M+ in projects and achieved B Corp certification.
Chris holds a BA in Economics and is a Master Residential Builder and Certified Passive House Tradesperson. He serves on the boards of Hiy̓ám̓ Housing Society, Small Housing BC, and Safer Homes BC, and founded the Building Offsite Network.
Shawn is a strategic growth executive and structural engineer with more than a decade of experience leading innovation in construction. He serves as a trusted advisor to public agencies, housing authorities, developers, manufacturers, and scaling ventures to develop and execute growth strategies, commercialize new products, and de-risk market adoption.
His advisory practice is backed by an extensive network and diverse operating experience across the construction ecosystem. As Vice President of Strategic Growth at Intelligent City, Shawn led the company’s go-to-market and sales strategy, successfully scaling the company’s prefabricated mass timber product platform from demonstration to commercial scale. Prior to that, as Executive Director of WoodWorks BC, he directed industry-wide market development, orchestrating a strategic transformation and ecosystem-building effort that expanded market adoption and policy impact in North America’s leading wood construction jurisdiction.
Dan is a skilled leader, fostering collaboration across multidisciplinary teams. At Small Housing, Dan identifies and convenes interest holders nationwide to promote gentle density housing (GDH), leveraging his extensive experience in building partnerships for equitable housing solutions. Dan has acted as Project Director for initiatives advancing practical housing delivery and industry capacity. He oversees the InfillBuild program, which involves the design and delivery of applied training for more than 200 small-scale builders across the province. Dan oversees the Natural Resources Canada-funded project, which has involved the development of Small Housing’s education portal and creation of a Best Practices Guide to support high-performance GDH. He oversees the Building to Electrification project, which involves the development of implementation-focused industry guidance that addresses real-world utility, coordination, and delivery challenges in GDH projects.
Location: Room 222
Streams: Building Management & Optimizing Building Performance and Net Asset Value; Design Concepts, Health & Wellness
Building Types: Commercial, Industrial, Mixed-Use, Residential: Multi-Unit
As buildings become denser and mixed-use developments more common, acoustical design plays an increasingly important role in occupant comfort, public health, and project success. Through real-world case studies from residential, commercial, institutional, and mixed-use projects, this session will demonstrate how early acoustical planning can prevent costly redesigns, reduce noise-related disputes, and improve overall building performance. Attendees will gain practical insights into identifying common acoustical challenges, applying industry standards and best practices, and integrating acoustical considerations throughout the design and approval process. The session will also discuss emerging trends in urban development, evolving regulatory expectations, and lessons learned that can be applied to future projects. Designed for architects, developers, planners, engineers, contractors, and municipal staff, this intermediate-level session is relevant to anyone involved in the planning and design of projects.
Zoe Razavi is the Founder and Principal Acoustical Engineer of STC Acoustical Consulting Ltd., with more than 25 years of experience in architectural acoustics, environmental noise, and vibration control. She holds a Master of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of British Columbia and is a Professional Engineer registered with Engineers and Geoscientists BC. Throughout her career, Zoe has provided acoustical consulting for a wide range of residential, commercial, institutional, industrial, and mixed-use developments, helping clients achieve practical, cost-effective solutions that enhance occupant comfort while meeting regulatory and performance requirements. Zoe has collaborated with architects, developers, municipalities, and multidisciplinary design teams on projects ranging from high-density residential communities to healthcare facilities, transportation infrastructure, and industrial facilities.
Location: TECHCENTRIC Stage (Booth 1603)
Streams: Technology, Innovation & Smart Buildings
Building Types: Civil / Infrastructure, Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Mixed-Use, Residential: Multi-Unit, Residential: Single-Unit
AI activity across the construction industry is high, yet few firms have translated that momentum into operational gains in revenue, margin, or capacity. This showcase reveals where AI is delivering results through business development, preconstruction, and project delivery, ultimately contributing to increased pursuit capacity, faster bids, and fewer downstream misses. Drawing from operational AI sprints executed within active construction firms, this session highlights the workflows and solutions that are turning AI activity into measurable outcomes. Join this session to hear direct operator feedback on what’s working and what to consider as you build your own AI strategy. This is a curated view of what’s actually delivering results, built specifically for leaders responsible for pipeline, preconstruction, and project delivery.
Shawn Gray is the Founder of ConstructIQ Advisory, specializing in turning AI from fragmented experimentation into measurable gains in revenue, cash flow, cost, and capacity. He works with mid-market construction and real estate firms to operationalize AI inside live workflows, where results are proven and scaled. Recognized as an ENR Top Global Innovator and one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 in construction, Shawn brings nearly two decades of experience across $5B+ in projects and AI initiatives impacting over $25B in construction. He leads industry and government-supported adoption programs focused on proof, capital efficiency, and execution, enabling teams to validate, fund, and scale AI in weeks, not years.
Location: Central Bar (Booth 931)
Building Types: Civil / Infrastructure, Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Mixed-Use, Residential: Multi-Unit, Residential: Single-Unit
Reconnect with industry peers and make new contacts as professionals from all sectors of the built environment come together at the BUILDEX industry networking reception. Head to the Central Bar for complimentary drinks, live music, and networking between 4:30pm and 6:00pm on Wed., February 10.
Location: Room 221
Streams: Design Concepts, Health & Wellness
Building Types: Commercial, Institutional, Mixed-Use, Residential: Multi-Unit
Wildfire smoke is no longer an occasional event, it’s becoming a building design consideration. How do we create affordable buildings that remain comfortable, healthy, and resilient when outdoor air quality deteriorates? Using Brightside’s Timbre & Harmony Passive House project alongside recent retrofit and affordable housing projects, this session will give architects and consultants practical insights into designing for a changing climate. We’ll explore the added design, envelope, mechanical, and operational strategies needed to protect occupants from wildfire smoke while maintaining energy efficiency, comfort, and affordability. From filtration and ventilation to airtightness, heat recovery, controls, and envelope performance, we’ll examine how early decisions can make a big difference. Attendees will learn how to balance resilience with project budgets and integrate climate adaptation into design, not add it later.
Since establishing Ryder in Vancouver in 2017, Adam has led the expansion of the team, which includes architects, designers, technologists, and support staff. As a passionate Passive House designer and advocate, Adam has delivered several certified and high-performance buildings for a range of sectors in Canada, the UK, and Australia. Adam is a member of the Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC) and a chartered architect in the UK. Originally from Newcastle upon Tyne, Adam has lived in Canada since 2006. He studied architecture and planning at Newcastle University and undertook further studies at Kings College, London – earning a master’s in construction law and arbitration. In his adopted home of British Columbia, Adam spends his weekends discovering the mountains and ocean around Vancouver with his family and learning more about Canada, although ice hockey remains a mystery to him.
Shaun brings a unique combination of expertise, leadership, and passion for high-performance buildings. With extensive knowledge of high-performance building standards and hands-on experience with sustainable materials and methods, Shaun bridges the gap between design intent and construction execution. Beyond ETRO, Shaun contributes to the Passive House Accelerator, organizes zero carbon building tours with ZEBx and hosts building science meet-ups, with his expertise playing a key role in driving decarbonization, resiliency, and efficiency in both new and existing buildings.
Location: Rooms 215/216
Streams: Project Planning, Procurement, Management & Delivery
Tracks: Indigenous-Led Projects and Design
Building Types: Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Mixed-Use, Residential: Multi-Unit
In 1997, RBC’s The Cost of Doing Nothing put a price on excluding Indigenous people from Canada’s economy. Thirty years later, Indigenous participation in projects is still measured through spend targets, supplier lists, and subcontracting clauses. The result is a capacity trap: Nations cannot build capacity without projects, and can’t win projects without capacity. This session asks what changes when the Nation is the owner and decision-maker rather than a checkbox in an RFP. Drawing on Sacred Waters’ experience as a development corporation of the Katzie, Kwantlen, and Semiahmoo First Nations, the panel examines where value disappears when engagement begins after scope, delivery models, and commercial terms are fixed. It then explores how ownership, joint ventures, workforce pathways, and long-term operating value can and should be structured earlier. Attendees will learn what questions to ask before the next procurement goes out and a clearer view of The Opportunity Cost of starting too late.
Chris is a strategic leader and construction innovator with 25+ years of experience in finance, development, mass timber, offsite construction, and sustainable building. A CPA and consultant with Sacred Waters Developments, he supports Indigenous-led projects with expertise in industrialized construction, prefabrication, feasibility, and community-centred economic development. He is principal of Chris Hill Consulting Inc. and director of business development at the CLT Centre, advising First Nations, public agencies, and developers on offsite construction strategy, capital investment, and financial modelling. He previously founded BCollective Homes, an award-winning offsite builder that delivered $20M+ in projects and achieved B Corp certification.
Chris holds a BA in Economics and is a Master Residential Builder and Certified Passive House Tradesperson. He serves on the boards of Hiy̓ám̓ Housing Society, Small Housing BC, and Safer Homes BC, and founded the Building Offsite Network.
Jason Hingley is a real estate finance and housing development leader delivering housing, infrastructure, and community development projects in Canada and the UK. As Director of Finance at Sacred Waters Developments, he leads financial strategy, corporate structuring, capital planning, and investment modelling for large-scale Indigenous development initiatives on behalf of the Katzie, Kwantlen, and Semiahmoo Nations. Jason has overseen housing portfolios, development financing, procurement, governance, stakeholder partnerships, feasibility analysis, funding strategies, construction oversight, operational planning, and long-term asset management. His previous roles include senior housing and regeneration leadership with Manchester City Council and housing development, planning, and finance leadership with Metro Vancouver. He has worked closely with BC Housing, CMHC, lenders, municipalities and Indigenous partners. An ACA, and BFP, Jason is a speaker on housing strategy and development.
Graham Wood, MBA, is CEO of Sacred Waters Developments and a leader in Indigenous-led real estate development, housing strategy, and community-focused economic development. With more than 25 years of experience across public, private, and non-profit sectors, he advances strategic development initiatives on behalf of the Katzie, Kwantlen, and Semiahmoo Nations. Graham specializes in Indigenous land planning, real estate development, housing strategy, and nation-to-nation partnerships. He is known for aligning economic growth with Indigenous values, environmental stewardship, and long-term community prosperity. He holds an MBA from the University of Victoria, a Diploma in Urban Land Economics from UBC Sauder School of Business, and a BA from Simon Fraser University. He serves on the Board of Directors of the BC Non-Profit Housing Association and speaks on Indigenous economic development, housing innovation, reconciliation, and sustainable community-building.
Location: Room 217
Streams: Housing Planning, Development & Supply; Technology, Innovation & Smart Buildings
Tracks: Housing Solutions; Prefabrication, Modular & Offsite Construction
Building Types: Residential: Multi-Unit
To meet the growing demand for housing in Canada, the industry is turning to modern methods of construction using standardized and prefabricated building systems to accelerate project delivery and improve construction efficiency. Through understanding the prototype MEP Cassettes created for BC Housing, this session explores how shifting complex mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work from the job site to an offsite factory optimizes construction workflows. Attendees will discover how this approach shortens project timelines, minimizes waste, and simplifies the coordination of multiple trades on-site. Whether you’re a developer, contractor, or designer, you’ll walk away with a clear understanding of how prefabrication empowers teams.
Karina is the Director of Strategic Initiatives at ETRO Construction in Vancouver, BC, Canada, where she oversees the implementation of digital solutions for both the office and field in order to provide ETRO with the best ways to deliver construction projects for our clients.
With a scholarly foundation in Architecture, and roles in Urban Planning, Architecture and Interior Design, Karina discovered her passion lay in the "how" of building projects and measuring the outcomes over the form and function. She challenged this curiosity for improving systems and processes throughout her career.
Helen Goodland is an architect registered in the UK and has an MBA from the University of BC. As head of research and innovation for Scius, she brings over 30 years of experience working on transformative solutions for the real estate and construction industries in Canada and around the world.
Helen is firmly committed to achieving truly sustainable buildings within the next decade. She is also passionate about advancing leadership opportunities for women in construction technology. To this end, she participates on numerous boards and committees. Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors of Building Transformations (formerly CanBIM), the BC Digital Advisory Council, the BCIT Mass Timber Education Advisory Board and the University of Victoria’s Green Civil Engineering Advisory Council. She is also past chair of the UN Sustainable Buildings Initiative’s Materials Technical Committee.
Albert Lam’s experience ranges from architecture, BIM, innovation, and apprentice carpentry. He brings detailed knowledge of construction methods and a practical approach to resolving on-site issues. His project portfolio includes a variety of heritage, commercial and residential projects, as well as innovation development in sustainability and housing.
Albert is passionate about global and community stewardship. He routinely works within international teams and has delivered presentations on innovation to peers globally. He also works closely with City policy makers and staff, as well as directly with communities, on social and economic development, including Vancouver’s Chinatown, the Downtown Eastside, and Strathcona.
Gabriela’s goal is to create buildings that go beyond meeting regulatory standards, contributing instead to a sustainable, climate-resilient future. With a focus on energy efficiency, regeneration, and climate adaptation, she is committed to advancing sustainability and resilience within the built environment. At BC Housing, Gabriela leads efforts in sustainability and resilience planning, identifying opportunities to drive innovation and transformation across projects. By overseeing performance monitoring at both the project and portfolio levels, she helps ensure that sustainability and resilience remain core components of these initiatives. She also works to shape strategies that prioritize climate adaptation, long-term environmental stewardship, and the continuous improvement of the built environment.
Location: BUILDEX Main Stage (Booth 843)
Streams: Housing Planning, Development & Supply
Tracks: Housing Solutions
Building Types: Residential: Multi-Unit
BC needs tens of thousands of new homes on existing residential land, and the builders best positioned to deliver them aren’t large developers – they are homeowners, small contractors, and local entrepreneurs. Provincial SSMUH legislation has opened the door to duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes on single-family lots across the province, creating a market opportunity measured in the hundreds of thousands of potential units. But turning policy into housing requires a new ecosystem of support for these "citizen developers" who are building one to four units at a time and need accessible financing, streamlined design, and practical guidance to get started. This session brings together a small-scale builder and a financing partner to explore what it takes to activate this segment at scale. Attendees will learn how to identify viable projects, access emerging lending products, and navigate the path from lot to livable units.
Jake started Smallworks in late 2005 and became a strong advocate for the introduction of laneway housing. He established Smallworks Studios and Laneway Housing Inc. and worked with the City of Vancouver and other municipalities to help develop zoning by-laws based on his experience and interaction with hundreds of potential small home clients. Jake not only wanted to build small but to build sustainably. He brings together a team of dedicated people and develops homes that blend innovative techniques and incorporate modern building science and Flat Pac with hand-built finishes and millwork. "My desire in starting Smallworks was to build simple, elegant modern homes which, with basic maintenance, would look as good a generation after they were built as when they were new." Today, Jake focuses on finding new ways to broaden the range of housing types in Vancouver to create affordable options for single-family home ownership.
In addition to lending over 1 billion dollars and supporting >1,500 members in the last 5 years alone, Ryan supports Vancity’s housing impact agenda by designing and scaling innovative mortgage and lending solutions that increase housing supply and expand homeownership access. He bridges high-level strategy with frontline execution by translating affordable housing commitments into tangible retail offerings, including multiplex financing, shared ownership models, modular housing lending, and equity co-op solutions. Ryan serves as a cross-functional connector across retail, rommercial, impact, innovation, and external partners to unlock new housing markets and deliver tailored financial solutions that help more Vancity members achieve homeownership. He is also piloting and scaling innovative products that align policy with purpose, embedding housing impact into everyday banking services.
Dan is a skilled leader, fostering collaboration across multidisciplinary teams. At Small Housing, Dan identifies and convenes interest holders nationwide to promote gentle density housing (GDH), leveraging his extensive experience in building partnerships for equitable housing solutions. Dan has acted as Project Director for initiatives advancing practical housing delivery and industry capacity. He oversees the InfillBuild program, which involves the design and delivery of applied training for more than 200 small-scale builders across the province. Dan oversees the Natural Resources Canada-funded project, which has involved the development of Small Housing’s education portal and creation of a Best Practices Guide to support high-performance GDH. He oversees the Building to Electrification project, which involves the development of implementation-focused industry guidance that addresses real-world utility, coordination, and delivery challenges in GDH projects.
Location: TECHCENTRIC Stage (Booth 1603)
Streams: Technology, Innovation & Smart Buildings
Tracks: Artificial Intelligence
Building Types: Civil / Infrastructure, Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Mixed-Use, Residential: Multi-Unit
The AI tools gaining traction in construction aren’t the headline-grabbing innovation you might expect. Instead, they are small, practical, and designed to fill the gaps in everyday workflows. This session will demonstrate what is working today, using current tools, real applications, and plain language.
This session features three live demonstrations drawn from actual construction practice, and attendees will learn how to:
Every demonstration will use current tools and be rebuilt live before the session. Each process will be fully explained, step-by-step, so you can implement these strategies immediately in your own business. This session is designed for small- to medium-sized contractors.
As Chief Innovation Officer at the BC Construction Association, Sue Connors leads the team behind BCCA’s digital platforms, including BidCentral, BC’s largest construction bidding marketplace; Builders Life TalentCentral, addressing workforce development; PermitsCA, a Canada-wide permits intelligence platform; and the BCCA AI Hub, a free set of practical AI tools for the industry. Her work is finding innovative solutions through technology that help people achieve their goals. Her close to forty years in tech includes highlights such as hosting shaw@home, a nineties television series explaining the internet to people who weren’t sure they wanted it, and spending eight years at AbeBooks, joining the Victoria startup in 1999 and helping grow it into a global marketplace of 15,000 booksellers before its acquisition by Amazon. More recently her focus has been on construction, and particularly making technology clear and useful for small and mid-sized firms.
Location: Room 221
Streams: Workforce Solutions, Business Strategy & Leadership
Building Types: Civil / Infrastructure, Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Mixed-Use, Residential: Multi-Unit, Residential: Single-Unit
The construction industry depends on strong frontline leaders, but many supervisors and managers are promoted because of technical skill rather than leadership readiness. In a tight labour market, the quality of frontline leadership directly affects retention, safety, communication, productivity, and team culture. This session explores how organizations can support the transition from skilled worker to skilled leader with practical tools for communication, feedback, accountability, coaching, and conflict resolution.
Learning outcomes:
Rikka is a seasoned HR strategist with 16+ years of experience helping organizations turn people challenges into business advantages. With a unique ability to bridge talent strategy with operational outcomes, she has supported companies across North America – from high-growth startups to complex, multi-national enterprises – in improving performance, navigating change, and accelerating growth through smarter people practices.
Location: Room 217
Streams: Sustainability, Decarbonization & High-Performance Buildings
Tracks: Indigenous-Led Projects and Design
Building Types: Mixed-Use, Residential: Multi-Unit
The Chief Leonard George Building is Canada’s first mixed-use tall mass timber Passive House building and an 81-unit Indigenous housing project. This intermediate-level case study explores how integrated design and early collaboration enabled high-performance, low-carbon housing through a nine-storey hybrid mass timber system. The session highlights how prefabrication across structure and façade – including CLT floors, a steel column grid, a concrete core, and robotically fabricated envelope panels – support Passive House airtightness, constructability, and quality control.
Speakers will share lessons learned on off-site manufacturing, digital coordination, and how integrated façade systems improved efficiency while reducing carbon, waste, and site disruption. Attendees will gain knowledge on delivering low-carbon, Passive House-standard housing through integrated design and prefabrication. Ideal for architects, engineers, envelope consultants, developers, and builders.
Achim Charisius joined GBL Architects in 2017 and leads concept and design development. A Certified Passive House Designer and LEED accredited professional, he brings 24 years of experience in towers, mixed-use projects, and urban design. His work includes the award-winning Blatchford Master Plan and True North Square. He currently leads rezoning for Heather Lands and Poco Place and is project architect for the Chief Leonard George Building, Canada’s first tall timber Passive House building.
Tobias Fast is a Partner at Fast + Epp with more than a decade of experience delivering innovative structural engineering projects across North America and Europe. Before joining the firm’s Vancouver office, he worked with leading engineering firms in New York and London, as well as Fast + Epp’s Frankfurt office. He holds graduate and undergraduate engineering degrees from the University of British Columbia and was named Partner in 2023. Tobias also leads Fast + Epp’s Concept Lab, advancing research, innovation, and digital practice across the firm.
Michael is a Principal and Building Science Specialist at RDH Building Science Inc. He has provided consulting services across a range of building typologies with a focus on high-performance and innovative building projects including those that are Passive House, mass timber, and volumetric modular. Michael has also been involved in numerous research projects including product development and performance monitoring and is the lead author of several guideline documents for government agencies and building enclosure product manufacturers. Additionally, Michael was a part-time instructor at BCIT where he taught building science and construction technology classes.
Location: Networking Hub (Booth 312)
Building Types: Civil / Infrastructure, Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Mixed-Use, Residential: Multi-Unit, Residential: Single-Unit
The built environment’s version of speed dating, this memorable fast-paced event introduces you to a wide range of design, building, construction, and real estate industry professionals, so your networking time is optimized for efficiency and impact.
Location: Room 221
Streams: Workforce Solutions, Business Strategy & Leadership
Building Types: Civil / Infrastructure, Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Mixed-Use, Residential: Multi-Unit, Residential: Single-Unit
This panel will explore how psychological safety, mental health, chronic pain, and workplace culture intersect on construction worksites. Drawing on insights and perspectives from industry leaders, the conversation will highlight sector specific approaches and initiatives that help employers build safer, more supportive workplaces. The conversation will touch on the future of psychological safety in the sector with anticipated WorkSafeBC regulatory changes, and a balanced discussion of the challenges the industry is navigating.
Chris Atchison is President of the British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA), the voice of BC’s construction industry. He leads BCCA’s efforts to strengthen the construction sector through workforce development, industry advocacy, innovation, and programs that support the long-term success of construction businesses and workers across the province.
Chris works closely with government, industry, and workforce partners to address complex challenges and advance opportunities for growth and resilience. He represents BC’s construction industry at all levels of government and serves on several key advisory and governance bodies.
Jessica Bonney is Strategic Initiatives Manager at the British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA), where she leads and supports cross-functional projects focused on workforce development, workplace culture, industry engagement, and organizational growth. With a background in project management, stakeholder engagement, and strategic communications, Jessica brings a practical, collaborative lens to conversations about building safer, inclusive, and supportive workplaces.
Maria joined Pain BC in June 2010 as the inaugural CEO. With two decades of experience in community development and systems change, Maria has worked to bring Pain BC from concept to reality. Her work has involved mobilizing communities, engaging patients in organizational decision-making, and advancing progressive agendas through policy change and program development.
Pain BC’s Trades and Pain Program helps tradespeople navigate the complex challenge of chronic pain and the impact that it has on individuals, families, communities, and the economy. Taking a bio-psycho-social stance on pain, Pain BC partners with employers to integrate pain management into the heart of corporate culture.
Rory Kulmala is the Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver Island Construction Association (VICA), bringing more than 30 years of experience in construction, project management, infrastructure development, and organizational leadership. Prior to joining VICA, Rory held senior roles in both the public and private sectors, contributing to the planning and delivery of major infrastructure and capital projects. He holds an MBA and is an Applied Science Technologist (AScT) and certified Project Management Professional (PMP). As CEO of VICA, Rory leads initiatives that strengthen Vancouver Island’s construction sector through advocacy, education, workforce development, and industry collaboration. His work includes supporting The Tailgate Toolkit, a program that connects BC construction employers and workers with practical resources on mental health, overdose prevention, chronic pain, and workplace support through toolbox talks, supervisor training, peer support, and resource guides.
Location: Room 217
Streams: Economics, Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management; Technology, Innovation & Smart Buildings
Building Types: Commercial, Mixed-Use, Residential: Multi-Unit, Residential: Single-Unit
At a time when innovation can help us build faster and more affordably, learn how the International Code Council’s Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) develops building code evaluation criteria based on the National Building Code of Canada to facilitate the approval of innovative building products across Canada. Participants will explore the criteria development process, including public comment period and Canadian evaluation committee approval. Furthermore, attendees will discover how ICC-ES is expanding Canada’s capacity for innovation in construction, the robust process at building officials across Canada trust, and examples of how this process has been applied to a variety of products.
David has over two decades of experience in Canada’s construction sector. He has dedicated his career to advancing building product quality, regulatory compliance, and industry innovation. His experience spans, product testing, certification, code evaluations, and the development of services that help manufacturers demonstrate performance and achieve market acceptance. Bridging technical expertise with strategic insight, David works with stakeholders across the construction ecosystem to address emerging challenges, support innovation, and enhance confidence in the built environment. David is passionate about fostering solutions that improve safety, efficiency, and long-term reliance. Beyond his professional work, he enjoys roadtrips, audiobooks, and lifelong learning through the study of philosophy, psychology, and history.
Location: Room 222
Streams: Sustainability, Decarbonization & High-Performance Buildings
Building Types: Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Mixed-Use, Residential: Multi-Unit, Residential: Single-Unit
The construction industry faces increasing pressure to reduce embodied carbon and minimize waste. While new materials continue to play a role, the greatest opportunity may lie within cities already built. By treating existing buildings as future sources of materials, the industry can unlock significant environmental, economic, and social value. This panel brings together complementary perspectives from across the building lifecycle to demonstrate that circularity is not a future aspiration – it is already being implemented.
In this session, attendees will learn the concept of urban mining and its role in advancing a circular built environment while also identifying strategies for designing buildings that enable future material recovery, reuse, and adaptability. Participants will understand how deconstruction, modular construction, and circular procurement work together to reduce construction waste and embodied carbon. This session will also address how to recognize policy, market, and collaboration opportunities needed to scale material reuse across the building sector.
Deconstruction Dave’ Bennink of the Reuse Innovation Center has trained groups in 45 states and five provinces, helping start 120 circular construction businesses and diverting over 100 million pounds from landfills. He focuses on growing the circular economy, zero waste and energy movements, embodied carbon, and sustainable building. RE-USE has completed more than 5,000 institutional, industrial, commercial, residential, agricultural projects and has helped build over 250 reclaimed-content small structures. Bennink also keeps in practice by running a reuse store and deconstruction contracting firm. His Reuse Innovation Center is a circular business collective, both removing and installing reclaimed materials, designing for disassembly, promoting industrial symbiosis, and reclaiming the past to salvage our future.
As Director of Civic Projects for the City of Burnaby, Mary leads the delivery of more than $1 billion in civic infrastructure. With over 30 years of architectural experience, she brings a collaborative, design-informed approach to public sector innovation, emphasizing integrated project development, stakeholder alignment, and long-term community impact. A LEED BD+C accredited professional and former Passive House Certified Designer, Mary has also completed studies in circularity through BCIT. She is recognized for building strong partnerships across government, industry, and community. Mary recently completed her final term on the Board for the BC Construction Roundtable (BCCR), where she contributed to strategic planning, programming, and industry engagement. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Integrated Project Delivery Alliance (IPDA), championing collaboration, innovation, and value-driven outcomes for the built environment.
Vanny Lim is Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of VEMA Deconstruction, where she oversees the operational side of recovering, processing, and reintegrating reclaimed materials into new construction. She works to solve the practical and logistical challenges that make deconstruction and material reuse viable. Vanny helped deliver Maverick, an award-winning, carbon-negative, Passive House-certified home and the first in Canada to incorporate 70% reclaimed materials into prefabricated wall panels, demonstrating that reclaimed materials can meet the demands of high-performance construction while reducing embodied carbon. Through this work, Vanny has developed a practical understanding of recovering materials from buildings slated for demolition and integrating them into new construction. She is passionate about making deconstruction easier to adopt and believes the most sustainable building materials are often those that already exist.
Brenda Martens (O.B.C., B.Sc., CSBA, TRUE Advisor, LEED FELLOW) is a leading sustainability advocate and early adopter of green building practices and has worked on some of the most environmentally progressive and largest projects in B.C., such as the Vancouver and Whistler Olympic Villages, and some of the most modest, including dozens of social housing projects across the province. Martens’ contributions have been recognized by her election to the board of the Cascadia Green Building Council and selection to the LEED Technical Advisory Group and Steering Committee. She has developed and delivered several courses through UBC and BCIT on the circular built environment and regenerative design. In 2012 she was named a LEED Fellow, one of only 10 Canadians and 226 individuals in the world at that time. She was appointed to the Order of British Columbia in 2018 and received the Carbon Leadership Forum BC’s "Strengthening the Practice" award in 2026.
Location: BUILDEX Main Stage (Booth 843)
Streams: Housing Planning, Development & Supply
Tracks: Prefabrication, Modular & Offsite Construction; WoodWorks at BUILDEX
Building Types: Residential: Multi-Unit
Partners: Canadian Wood Council (CWC)
Join this session for an inside look at Cederhusen, Stockholm’s landmark mass timber housing project. Across four buildings and two city blocks, the 10- to 13-storey development demonstrates how urban wood construction can support housing growth, climate goals, and long-term value. From policy and procurement to design constraints, constructability, and risk management, the presenter will share the developer’s decisions behind the project and the lessons that shaped its delivery. This is a practical session for developers, designers, contractors, and public-sector leaders exploring scalable mid-rise and tall wood housing.
Anna is an architect and developer with over a decade of experience leading large-scale timber housing projects. She studied at KTH in Stockholm, was a research student at the University of Tokyo, and completed her master’s thesis with Columbia University in New York. After seven years as an architect at SandellSandberg and teaching urban planning at KTH, Anna joined Folkhem in 2014, overseeing a portfolio of 1,600 housing units across eleven timber projects. Folkhem has built the world’s largest portfolio of multi-housing timber projects in urban contexts, which includes Cederhusen, where Anna was head project manager. Today, Anna drives Folkhem’s front-runner positioning, advancing the sector through research collaborations like the EU-funded Woodcircles project.
Location: Rooms 208/209
Streams: Project Planning, Procurement, Management & Delivery; Sustainability, Decarbonization & High-Performance Buildings
Building Types: Residential: Single-Unit
As wildfires reshape communities across western North America, rebuilding requires more than replacing what was lost. Recovery starts with acknowledging the needs of wildfire survivors, particularly in communities where rebuilding resources can be difficult to access. This session examines a multi-partner effort in Oregon, where utilities, builders, manufacturers, and local governments coordinated efficient manufactured home replacement, resilient new construction, and targeted retrofits for damaged homes. Attendees will gain practical strategies for aligning funds, engaging partners, and embedding efficiency and resilience into recovery. Designed for practitioners across sectors, the session offers practical lessons to strengthen long-term recovery as well as an honest discussion of the challenges we faced and some barriers that still exist, even years after the fires.
Scott Leonard is a Senior Program Manager at Energy Trust of Oregon, based in Portland, Oregon. He has been with the organization since February 2016, managing multiple residential programs and supporting builders and subcontractors in constructing high-performance, energy-efficient homes that qualify for Energy Trust incentives. Leonard brings over 20 years of experience in new construction programs, retrofit programs, program management, and energy efficiency initiatives. His work includes, developing and implementing new incentive offerings for Energy Trust’s new construction, existing home retrofit, and retail products channels, as well as creating a new offer for those rebuilding after wildfires. Supporting contractors in meeting energy performance standards and accessing renewable energy and efficiency incentives, Scott acts as a bridge between Energy Trust and the construction industry to promote sustainable building practices.
Location: Room 221
Streams: Economics, Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management; Sustainability, Decarbonization & High-Performance Buildings
Building Types: Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Mixed-Use, Residential: Multi-Unit
How far is a code-compliant building from Passive House and which design decisions make the biggest difference? Through real-world case studies, this session compares baseline and Passive House-aligned designs to reveal the changes that deliver the greatest performance gains. Using the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) and whole-building energy modelling, the speakers will examine how improvements to the building enclosure, airtightness, thermal bridge mitigation, glazing, and mechanical systems influence energy use, occupant comfort, constructability, certification, and cost. Rather than presenting Passive House as a fixed target, this session uncovers the step-by-step design decisions, trade-offs, and lessons learned across multiple climates and building types. Attendees will leave with practical benchmarks and a clear roadmap for prioritizing strategies that move projects from code compliance toward Passive House performance.
Parvin Asadi, P.Eng., is a Project Engineer at RJC Engineers specialising in energy modelling, building performance analysis, and low-carbon design for new construction and retrofit projects. Her work connects mechanical systems and building enclosure design to improve energy efficiency, thermal comfort, operational performance, and resilience across residential, commercial, and institutional buildings. She brings strong experience with early-stage energy studies, decarbonisation pathways, and standards including Passive House and EnerPHit.
Parvin holds a master’s degree in High Performance Buildings from the University of British Columbia and is passionate about turning complex modelling results into clear, practical decisions for owners and design teams. Through data-driven analysis and collaboration, she helps bridge the gap between design intent and measured performance outcomes. She also mentors junior engineers and contributes to best practices in sustainable building design.
Location: Room 217
Streams: Economics, Legal, Regulatory & Risk Management
Tracks: Housing Solutions
Building Types: Residential: Multi-Unit
Provincial legislation requires municipalities to permit small-scale multi-unit housing on single-family lots, but local electrical servicing policies were never designed for this level of intensification. Builders pursuing duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes are encountering costly barriers rooted in underground conversion requirements, oversized service connections, and inconsistent utility policies that vary dramatically between municipalities. This session examines the friction between provincial housing mandates and municipal electrical servicing frameworks, and explores how builders, local governments, and utility providers can work toward practical resolution. Attendees will learn how to identify and anticipate common electrical servicing barriers, understand cost-sharing options, and advocate for proportional, right-sized policy at the local level. This session is designed for builders, planners, municipal staff, and housing policy professionals.
Over the past 20 years, Chris has lead or worked on an exciting range of construction, program development, and policy projects. He found his calling in green building while constructing commercial green buildings with what was once Canada’s favorite outdoor retailer cooperative. Chris worked with Canada’s national green building council to develop a program called LEED Canada for Homes, which focused on improving thousands of new and renovated homes. For a decade, Chris worked with the City of Vancouver on better building code and policy to require or encourage deep green buildings, Passive House, CHBA Net Zero, and similar. In 2024, Chris shifted to making electrification easier and with a lower average cost. He works part time at BC Hydro offices and part time at the City of Vancouver offices with a goal to lower average cost, improve time predictability, and improve customer satisfaction to enable load growth.
Draydan Power is the Manager of Energy and Environment for the City of Penticton, responsible for the municipally owned electric utility, climate action, and solid waste groups. Draydan works with the municipal government to continue modernizing the electric utility and demonstrate how small scale systems can play a crucial role in our energy future while balancing growth with sustainability. Prior to working at the City of Penticton, Draydan worked for FortisBC for 10 years, primarily in engineering roles. He was fortunate enough to work in Generation, Transmission, Distribution, System Planning, Substations, AMI deployment, System Control, and more. Before transitioning to the City, Draydan was the Manager of EV Infrastructure and Investment, studying the impact of EV charging in BC, deploying public charging infrastructure, and helping manage provincial rebate programs to accelerate EV adoption.
Dan is a skilled leader, fostering collaboration across multidisciplinary teams. At Small Housing, Dan identifies and convenes interest holders nationwide to promote gentle density housing (GDH), leveraging his extensive experience in building partnerships for equitable housing solutions. Dan has acted as Project Director for initiatives advancing practical housing delivery and industry capacity. He oversees the InfillBuild program, which involves the design and delivery of applied training for more than 200 small-scale builders across the province. Dan oversees the Natural Resources Canada-funded project, which has involved the development of Small Housing’s education portal and creation of a Best Practices Guide to support high-performance GDH. He oversees the Building to Electrification project, which involves the development of implementation-focused industry guidance that addresses real-world utility, coordination, and delivery challenges in GDH projects.
Location: BUILDEX Main Stage (Booth 843)
Streams: Workforce Solutions, Business Strategy & Leadership
Building Types: Civil / Infrastructure, Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Mixed-Use, Residential: Multi-Unit, Residential: Single-Unit
Partners: Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA)
This roundtable will bring together leaders from large and mid-sized general contractor companies for a candid conversation about delayed projects and growing competition. Panelists will share lessons from previous downturns, the difficult decisions that helped their businesses endure, and how they are preparing their companies for whatever comes next. This is an honest conversation about leadership under pressure, riding out the tough times, and emerging stronger on the other side.
Location: BUILDEX Main Stage (Booth 843)
Join us as we recognize and reward our engaged attendees. Participants who collected points throughout the event will be eligible for prizes. Don’t miss this opportunity to see if you are one of our lucky winners!