GOOD26 Presenter Bios
Dr. Peter A. Johnson
Associate Professor, Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo
Peter is an Associate Professor in Geography and Environmental Management at the University of Waterloo. First and foremost a dedicated map nerd, his research focuses on how governments, citizens, and private companies share information through geospatial technology, including open data and the process of crowdsourcing. He enjoys hearing about the challenges of adopting new technologies, particularly from those working in municipal government.
Anthony Andreana
Manager, Information Systems & Operations for Land Developemtn at the City of Mississauga
Anthony's path into municipal digital transformation began not in technology, but in the development industry itself. With a background in architectural science, he launched his career managing residential development projects and co-developing parametric design software; a precursor to modern BIM, building a practitioner's understanding of how buildings, communities, and the systems that govern them actually come together. That foundation has shaped everything that followed.
Over a 25+ year career at the City of Mississauga, Anthony has held progressively senior roles across zoning, development planning, building services, and information systems, a trajectory that gives him a rare end-to-end perspective on how land development works, where it breaks down, and what it takes to improve it. He currently serves as Manager, Information Systems & Operations for Land Development, leading the City's Business Digital Transformation across enterprise systems modernization, data strategy and governance, and financial administration, with a focus on turning fragmented, siloed information into trusted, usable data that accelerates approvals and improves public services.
He has been the driving force behind several of Mississauga's most recognized digital initiatives, including the award-winning Interactive Zoning By-law, the city-wide ePlans electronic permitting platform, and the City's first enterprise land development data warehouse; each representing a step toward more transparent, accessible, and efficient development services. A recognized thought leader in municipal open data, Anthony has consistently advanced Mississauga's analytics and transparency capabilities through initiatives that connect policy, people, and information in service of smarter urban growth.
His credentials reflect the full breadth of his experience: an MBA in Business & Technology and professional certifications in analytics, data management, and building code administration, supported by graduate-level study in data science. Together with his architectural and development background, this combination of technical depth, regulatory expertise, and real-world industry experience is uncommon in the municipal digital governance space and it informs how Anthony approaches every challenge at the intersection of data, policy, and city-building.
Arash Shahi
CEO at LandLogic
Azam Khan
CEO & Co-Founder at Trax.co
Fartash Haghani
Director of Enterprise Data & AI, City of Toronto
As the Director of Enterprise Data and AI for the City of Toronto, Fartash is leading the transformation of municipal services through cutting-edge data and AI strategies that aim to enhance operational efficiency and improve citizen services. His work at the City represents an exciting new chapter in his career.
Fartash embodies a unique blend of technical expertise and strategic vision, drawing from a rich background in software engineering, data science, and AI product development. His experience in navigating complex data environments and translating vast datasets into actionable intelligence is now being applied at the City to address urban challenges and improve the quality of life for Toronto's residents.
Since joining in July 2024, Fartash's initial focus is to develop an enterprise data platform strategy that will unify the City's data resources, enabling more effective cross-departmental collaboration and insights. He is also championing the responsible integration of AI technologies to enhance urban planning, optimize the City operations, and create more responsive public services.
Prior to joining the City, Fartash served as an Associate Vice President of Applied AI & Data Products with the Canadian Tire Corporation, where he led initiatives to enhance customer experiences through AI-driven solutions. This experience in the private sector has equipped him with valuable insights that he now applies to public service, bridging the gap between cutting-edge technology and civic improvement.
Rohit Kasbekar
Manager, Business Intelligence at North York General Hospital
Rohit is the Manager of Business Intelligence at North York General Hospital and prior to that the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Lead with the City of Mississauga responsible for developing and implementing the city-wide AI strategy, ensuring compliance with federal, provincial, and municipal regulations including AIDA, PIPEDA, and MFIPPA. He led cross departmental initiatives, established governance structures, and advised senior leadership on risk management, regulatory trends, and ethical AI practices.
With a Master's degree in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science from the University of Liverpool and a background in Biology and Computer Science from Trent University, I focus on aligning innovative AI solutions with compliance and ethical standards. His goal is to foster responsible AI innovation and data driven decision making to enhance public value and service delivery.
Fiona O'Connor
Senior Services Specialist at the Toronto Public Library
Fiona earned her Master’s in Library Science from the University of Western in 2011. Since then, she has held multiple roles within the Toronto Public Library, including Digital Innovation Librarian, Branch Head, and Senior Services Specialist in the Digital Innovation Hubs. In her current role as Senior Services Specialist in Digital Literacy Initiatives, she leads the development and evaluation of programs, services, staff training, and partnerships, focusing on emerging technologies.
Yoojin Kwon
Senior Services Specialist at the Toronto Public Library
Yoojin Kwon is a Senior Services Specialist (AI Upskilling Services) at Toronto Public Library. With a background in digital literacy and innovation services at TPL, she has contributed to the development and implementation of innovative programs and resources that help library users and staff navigate emerging technologies with confidence. Yoojin is passionate about promoting equitable access to digital skills and creating opportunities for lifelong learning in an increasingly AI-driven world.
Dr. Tracey Lauriault
Associate Professor, Carleton Univerity
Dr Lauriault, is a critical data studies scholar who works on open data, big data, open smart cities, open government, data sovereignty, data preservation and data governance. Her ongoing research includes digital twins, intersectional approaches to data governance, data brokers and the history of the census. As a publicly engaged scholar, she mobilizes her research into data and technology policy in all sectors. As a data and technological citizen, she examines large and small complex systems with the hope of making them more just, inclusive, equitable and environmentally sustainable. She also just received the GoGeomatics Canada’s 2025 Thought Leadership Award.
Kyle Browness
As Director of Digital Collections Operations at Library and Archives Canada (LAC), Kyle co-manages LAC’s digital preservation program in collaboration with a diverse range of managers and staff with expertise in digital archiving, digital librarianship, digital conservation, technical solution development, and digital preservation. LAC’s digital preservation program is the steward of over 18 petabytes of collection data of national significance to Canadians. LAC program staff are also active members of the Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC), the International Internet Preservation Consortium (IIPC), as well as the Digital Preservation Working Group of the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL).
En tant que directeur des Opérations des collections numériques à Bibliothèque et Archives Canada (BAC), Kyle cogère le programme de préservation numérique de BAC en collaboration avec une équipe diversifiée de gestionnaires et de personnel spécialisés dans l’archivage numérique, la bibliothéconomie numérique, la conservation numérique, le développement de solutions techniques, et la préservation numérique. Le programme de préservation numérique de BAC est responsable de la gestion de plus de 18 pétaoctets de données de collection d’importance nationale pour les Canadiens. Le personnel du programme de BAC est également membre actif de la Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC), du Consortium international pour la préservation d’Internet (CIPI), ainsi que du Groupe de travail sur la préservation numérique de l’Association des bibliothèques de recherche du Canada (ABRC).
Tarun Rihal
Tarun Rihal is a director in Ontario’s Strategy, Artificial Intelligence and Data Office (SAID) where he is responsible for overseeing implementation of a new OPS-wide data governance program. Tarun has over 15 years of experience across the public and private sectors leading transformational data management, analytics, and data science initiatives. Always afraid of losing his nerd credibility, Tarun is also an enthusiastic contributor to open-source codebases in R and Python data science communities.
Walter Borchenko
Photographic Artist, Published Author, Educator, International Speaker, Cultural Heritage Digitization Specialist, Consultant
Walter Borchenko: The Art of photography is a website dedicated to Walter’s Modernist aesthetic black and white works. In addition, Walter is co-founder of B3K Digital and the author of the influential white paper Recognizing Cultural Heritage Digitization as an Object, Not an Office File. His expertise spans the worlds of photography and digitization, offering a unique perspective on digitization solutions, delivering practical insights to every project.
You can contact Walter at walter@walterborchenko.com or walterb@b3kdigital.com
Mike Carter
Mike Carter is a Toronto historian, storyteller, and interactive map creator who specializes in bringing the past into the present. With over 15 years of experience as a professional tour guide, he has built a reputation for transforming city streets into engaging, story-rich experiences.
Blending historical research with digital tools, Mike creates interactive maps and museum installations that allow audiences to explore history in a more immersive, visual way. A graduate of the Second City Conservatory and ACTRA union actor, he brings humour, performance, and a strong sense of place to everything he builds—whether on the street or on the screen.
Guide | Mapmaker | Actor | Photographer
Kian Nabavi Larijani
Kian Nabavi Larijani is a Medical Sciences student at the University of Western Ontario with a strong interest in research, public health, and community advocacy. Kian is currently conducting research in the Department of Biochemistry at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, as well as the Department of Paediatrics at the London Health Sciences Centre. Kian has experience in community settings, including his time on Planned Parenthood Toronto’s Youth Advisory Committee on Mental Health, and his current role as a director on the board London’s AIDS Service Organization, the Regional HIV/AIDS Connection.
Kiran Duwadi
Kiran Duwadi is a civil engineering graduate and GIS specialist who enjoys transforming data into meaningful, real-world insights. With a background spanning construction coordination, CAD design, and GIS projects, he focuses on bridging the gap between technical analysis and practical application.
From designing layouts to building static and interactive maps, Kiran combines engineering fundamentals with modern GIS tools to create solutions that are both functional and easy to understand.
He is passionate about using technology to support smarter infrastructure, better planning, and more informed decision-making, and is actively seeking opportunities to integrate GIS with civil engineering in a professional role.