Smart Transit: Unlocking the Smart City
Where does the journey to create a smart city begin? If the goal is to consistently and systematically advance liveability, then our smart city mobility planning should begin with density and design. The most efficient – and sustainable - city is a walkable one. But the 'smart city' movement has often focused on bells and whistles to manage traffic operations, as opposed to moving people. So what role does technology play in advancing mobility in the smart city? If walkable cities are dense, then our smart city planning must be all about advancing transit.
Smart Cities Challenge Update
The event will kick off with a short update from Jessie Adcock on the City of Vancouver and Surrey's joint Smart Cities Challenge bid.
Keynote:
Jennifer Keesmaat
Chief Executive Officer, Creative Housing Society
Former Chief Planner, City of Toronto | Renowned Urbanist
Jennifer Keesmaat is passionate about creating places where people flourish. Named one of the "most powerful people in Canada" by Maclean's, and one of the "most influential" by Toronto Life, she spent five years as Toronto's Chief City Planner, where she was celebrated for her innovative and collaborative approach to city-building. Now a Distinguished Visitor in Residence at the University of Toronto, Keesmaat shares her vision for cities of the future, and her belief in inspired leadership.
Over the past fifteen years, Keesmaat has worked in municipalities across Canada on urban design guidelines, official plan reviews, culture strategies, and university campus master plans. Her planning practice has been characterized by an emphasis on collaborations across sectors, and broad engagement with municipal staff, councils, developers, business leaders, NGO's, and residents associations.
Keesmaat is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario, and has a Master in Environmental Studies from York University. She is a Registered Professional Planner, and her innovative work has been repeatedly recognized by the professional associations, including the Canadian Institute of Planners, OPPI, the Design Exchange, and + EDRA.
Special Remarks:
Jessie Adcock
Chief Technology Officer
City of Vancouver
Jessie Adcock is currently the City of Vancouver's Chief Technology Officer, having stepped into the role after a successful 3 years as the City's first Chief Digital Officer. As one of the first public sector CDO's in Canada, Jessie led the execution of a multi-year digital strategy focused on the growth of direct channels; enhancing citizen services and engagement; improving the City's data and technology infrastructure; enabling a digital more digital workforce; and helping create opportunity for the innovation economy. She is now leading the City's wider technology transformation as it navigates the era of Smart City technologies driven by IoT, Mobility, Data and Cloud. Prior to transitioning into public sector in 2013, she held global roles on IT, marketing and digital teams, working in the FI and Telecom sectors, developing and implementing digital strategies, leading innovation and application development, and managing direct customer channels for consumer and business markets.
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