Jennifer Keesmaat is an urban planner named one of the “most powerful people in Canada” by Macleans, one of the “most influential” by Toronto Life, and one of the top Women of Influence in Canada. She spent half a decade as Toronto’s Chief City Planner, where she was celebrated for her forward thinking and collaborative approach to city-building. Keesmaat is a founding partner of Markee Developments. With veteran developer Jason Marks, she is now developing new communities across the GTA as sustainable, liveable places that prioritize access to high quality, affordable rental housing. A Distinguished Visitor in Residence Emeritus at the University of Toronto, Keesmaat continues to share her vision for cities of the future, through a variety of publications including The Guardian, Foreign Affairs, Macleans, The Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star and on her podcast, Invisible City. Keesmaat is the Chief Architect of the 2020 Declaration for Resilience in Canadian Cities, which is a blueprint for adapting cities post Covid19. Keesmaat is on the Advisory Board of the Urban Land Institute, Toronto, and is appointed to the International Panel of Experts, Singapore Urban Redevelopment Authority.  Jennifer is on the Board of Directors for May Mobility, and is on the President’s Planning and Growth Advisory Board for Ohio State University.