People

Alex Demisch

Title: Data Analytics & Strategy Manager, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency

NACTO Title: Speaker, Designing Cities conference

Alex Demisch is the Data Analytics and Strategy Manager for the Sustainable Streets Division at the SFMTA. He is working to improve how the division acquires, manages, and uses data to support a range of functions, including managing dockless mobility, digitizing curb and street assets, and optimizing enforcement resources. He builds on ten years of […]

Samantha Leger

Title: Transportation Planner, WSP Canada

NACTO Title: Speaker, Designing Cities Conference

Samantha is a Transportation Planner in WSP Canada’s Planning and Advisory Services Department. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Waterloo in Environmental Studies, majoring in Urban Planning and specializing in Urban Design. Since joining WSP, Samantha pursued opportunities in sustainable mobility and inclusive transportation planning. She is the lead author of WSP’s […]

Hayley Richardson

Hayley Richardson

Title: Senior Communications Associate, TransitCenter

NACTO Title: Speaker, Designing Cities Conference

As Senior Communications Associate at TransitCenter, Hayley translates wonky transportation concepts into compelling and digestible stories. She directs TransitCenter’s video series, designs reports, and writes for the blog. She is an alumna of the George Washington University and Pratt Institute.

Saba Long

Title: Founder, Obelisk Strategies

NACTO Title: Speaker, Designing Cities Conference

Saba Long is the founder of Obelisk Strategies, an Atlanta-based public relations agency with a focus on civic and corporate communications strategy. With more than a decade of experience, she has provided communications expertise to numerous political campaigns and ballot initiatives, counseled tech startups, and served as a liaison for a White House advisory panel […]

Romina Castillo

Romina Castillo

Title: Community Planner, Muse Community + Design

NACTO Title: Speaker, Designing Cities Conference

A Mexico City native, Romina Castillo has always been fascinated by urban communities and their relationship with the built environment. For the last five years, Romina has worked closely with Chicago communities in different capacities. Her focus and experience has primarily been on place-based, community-driven projects in the non-profit sector to advocate for equitable mobility, […]

Brad Ross

Title: Chief Communications Officer, City of Toronto

NACTO Title: Speaker, Designing Cities Conference

Brad Ross is the Chief Communications Officer for the City of Toronto, having rejoined the City in January 2019 (he was with the City from 2000-2008) after almost 11 years at the Toronto Transit Commission where he led public and employee communications, as well as reputation management, which included developing strategies around transparency and accountability, […]

Shagithya Deivendran

Shagithya Deivendran

Title: Project Lead - Automated Vehicles

NACTO Title: Speaker, Designing Cities Conference

Shagithya Deivendran has been working in policy development within the transportation sector since 2014. Her areas of focus have been stakeholder engagement, government relations, research and regulation. Shagithya is currently a Project Lead on Automated Vehicles for the City of Toronto. She has contributed to a number of AV-related initiatives for the City including a review […]

James Pasternak

James Pasternak

Title: Councillor, Ward 6, City of Toronto

NACTO Title: Speaker, Designing Cities Conference

Tien-Tien Chan

Title: Principal, Nelson\Nygaard

NACTO Title: Speaker, Designing Cities Conference

Tien-Tien (“Tim Tim”) Chan is the TDM Program Manager at the City of Austin Transportation Department. As the program manager, Tien-Tien is leading the efforts to develop the City’s TDM policies, planning, and programming to manage congestion and improve mobility by changing how we get around rather than trying to build our way out of […]

Carolyn Kim

Title: Director, Transportation & Urban Solutions, Pembina Institute

NACTO Title: Speaker, Designing Cities Conference

Carolyn Kim is the director of the transportation and urban solutions team with the Pembina Institute, Canada’s leading clean energy think tank. Carolyn leads policy research and engages with stakeholders and partners to advance solutions that respond to the most pressing transportation and planning issues, and that support the sustainable growth of Ontario’s economy and communities. […]