People

Our network of contributors

Shawn Townsend

Aug 26, 2019

Shawn Townsend was most recently appointed by Mayor Muriel Bowser as the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Nightlife and Culture in Washington, D.C. Mr. Townsend most recently served as a Supervisory Investigator at the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA), in Washington D.C., where he led a team of six investigators. He has extensive knowledge…

Gaël Charbau

Aug 23, 2019

Born in 1976, France. Gaël Charbau is a writer, art critic and independent curator based in Paris. He founded Particules in 2003, a free and independent art newspaper that he directed until 2010. He is curator for Hermès Foundation and Audi Talents and regularly organises exhibitions in France, Europe and Asia. In 2014, he founded…

Salomé Gueidon

Aug 05, 2019

In her role, Salomé manages NewCities’ initiatives from ideation to completion and supports business development efforts to get projects off the ground. Salomé currently leads the Connected Communities and New Urban Champions projects. She is experienced in virtual and in-person workshop facilitation, managed the 2021 Wellbeing Cities Award, and played a key role in both…

Andrew Snowhite

Jun 13, 2019

Andrew Snowhite focuses on the intersection of urbanization, sustainability, experiences, and storytelling. Through his firm, Snowhite Strategies, and as a Senior Advisor to NewCities, he provides strategic advice, connections, and management services globally to a variety of organizations and initiatives. Andrew was the Chief Innovation Officer at Gale International, the master developer of the Korean…

LoriAnn Girvan

Jun 11, 2019

LoriAnn Girvan joined Artscape in 2016. LoriAnn is an entrepreneurial leader with over 25 years of experience in urban revitalization, affordable housing, community planning and non-profit management in Canada, the United States and Africa. She is known as a problem-solver and bridge-builder, able to test new practices, bring together diverse stakeholders, and scale and sustain…

Karel Mayrand

Jun 11, 2019

Expertise: Climate, energy and transport, eco-citizenship, public policies; chair of the board of directors of the Climate Reality Project Canada, an organization founded by Al Gore. Credentials: Bachelor’s degree in political science, master’s degree in international relations Passions: Politics, writing, biking, hockey and building big Lego creations!

Stéphane Guidoin

Jun 11, 2019

Stéphane Guidoin is Director of the Montreal urban innovation lab (MUIL); Since June 2017, he has been working on the transformation of the smart and digital city office into the urban innovation lab. He has piloted major projects, including the candidacy of the City of Montréal to the Smart Cities Challenge of Canada, which the…

Gerard Peets

Jun 10, 2019

Gerard Peets is a seasoned executive in the Public Service of Canada, with public policy experience spanning cities and communities, manufacturing industry competitiveness, disruptive technology, international trade and the Canada-U.S. border, government agenda-setting, resource development and marketplace framework laws. He is an advocate for innovation and experimentation in public policy, with a view to finding…

Diane Bérard

Jun 06, 2019

If Diane Bérard has one fear, it’s boredom. Fortunately, it doesn’t look as though the esteemed journalist and best-selling co-author of several books will have to confront that fear anytime soon. Her incisive interview style, grasp of complex business and media issues, and ability to find and report on stories that might otherwise have flown…

Michelle Holliday

Jun 06, 2019

Michelle Holliday is a consultant, facilitator, author and researcher. Her work centers around “thrivability” — a set of perspectives and practices based on a view of organizations and communities as dynamic, self-organizing living systems. On this foundation, she designs and hosts transformative processes, conversations and workshops for clients and the public. Her research, perspectives and…

Adam McVey

Jun 06, 2019

Adam is the Leader of City of Edinburgh Council and the SNP Group and represents Leith Ward. Adam has a background in Economics and International Law and has worked for an accountancy firm, social investment charity, the Fringe Festival and for a leading human rights charity. He first got elected in 2012 and served as…

François Pitti

Jun 05, 2019

François Pitti has been appointed Group Director, Strategic Marketing at Bouygues Construction in April 2012. He is leading globally the development of innovative customer offers with a focus on sustainable design and construction, strengthening the Group’s capacity to anticipate changes in its markets. François Pitti trained as an aerospace engineer, graduating from the French School…