Forum Friday: Climate Change Adaptation Practice Guide For Planners

Ryan Des Roches is the Registrar & Director, Special Projects. Ryan is a professional educator by training and has previous experience in public, post-secondary, international and adult learning institutions. Joining OPPI in 2014 as the Education Manager, he took over as Registrar in late 2020 and at the start of 2024 he became Director, Special Projects. In addition to his professional interests, Ryan is an avid Montreal Canadiens fan, cyclist, dad, and Mandalorian. This is the Way.

As Project Manager with the Ontario Resource Centre for Climate Adaptation, Aynsley leads the team on a variety of climate adaptation and resilience initiatives. She is an experienced leader and facilitator who expertly manages projects, and helps to develop partnerships while supporting the resource centre across a range of different adaptation programs and efforts.

Zahra is a Planner and Associate with Dillon Consulting Limited, and the Technical Group Strategist for the company’s national Community Planning and Urban Design team. She has worked on a range of infrastructure, growth and development planning and policy projects Ontario, including land use compatibility analysis, policy reviews, Official Plans, strategic assessments, green design guidelines, and Zoning By-law amendments. She has also had a leading role in the development of municipal climate change adaptation plans for Mississauga and Ajax, as was the People and Communities sector lead on the Provincial Climate Change Impact Assessment for the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP). She also led the development and delivery of training for OPPI membership on Communications and Collaboration for Climate Change Adaptation. She brings a climate resiliency lens to all of her work, both at Dillon and in working with OPPI to advance knowledge for the profession.

Steph is the President of the Climate Risk Institute, and a professional planner in Alberta. Her 25+ year career has focused on sustainability and climate strategies for municipalities. Steph brings a strong focus on community engagement and equity to her practice. She is skilled in multi-party negotiations, consensus decision-making, mediation and arbitration enabling her to effectively engage with diverse parties and seamlessly integrate their ideas into the planning process. 

Robert is a Planner at Dillon Consulting Limited with experience at the intersection of land use and climate adaptation planning. His portfolio includes development planning, policy analysis, and climate adaptation projects that emphasize sustainable growth and resilience.

Robert’s work aims to bridge the gap between land use planning and climate adaptation by highlighting the important role that planners play in identifying climate risk and developing and implementing adaptation strategies, including community engagement, natural asset management and infrastructure, public health, and low-carbon resilience.