Dobrina is a talented designer and project architect with 15 years of experience specializing in master planning, residential design, affordable housing, and commercial design. She holds a Master’s Degree in Architecture, with a focus on public buildings, which she completed in 2014. During her studies, she spent half of her MSc program at Nottingham Trent University on a full scholarship due to her extraordinary performance in both international and local competitions, including an honorable mention from CTBUH. Dobrina graduated top of her class from both programs. She also participated in several international architectural competitions and workshops, including one with Daniel Libeskind, earning multiple prestigious prizes for her innovative work.

After relocating to Canada, Dobrina gained considerable experience in multi-residential, commercial, and hospitality design, becoming a key asset to her team. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a deep commitment to the design process, consistently exploring fresh perspectives and innovative solutions. Her work is characterized by creativity, enthusiasm, and a strong focus on delivering exceptional results. While advocating for better design and sustainable solutions, Dobrina remains mindful of project budgets and constraints, balancing creativity with practicality. Her impeccable attention to detail and passion for architecture make her a standout professional in the field.

Greg is a registered architect in Ontario and British Columbia with a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the University of Waterloo and a Diploma in Building Technology from the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). He was born and raised on the West Coast and draws inspiration from nature, the outdoors, and the relationship between interior and exterior spaces.

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While working in Vancouver, Greg completed many cultural and performing arts renovations, including the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.  He also had the opportunity to learn about heavy timber construction through many projects with Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC), including their LEED Platinum certified head office and flagship Vancouver retail store.

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Greg returned to Ontario in 2017 and is living and working in Kitchener at Martin Simmons Sweers Architects.  He enjoys spending time outdoors with his family, taking advantage of the abundance of local produce at the Kitchener market, and exploring Waterloo Region and beyond.  He is also serving his third term on the City of Kitchener Active Transportation and Trails Advisory Committee and is excited about the expansion of the cycling network throughout the city.

Mike is one of the founding partners of Edge Architects in Waterloo, Ontario.   His portfolio includes residential, commercial, institutional, and healthcare projects.  Michael’s work focusses on accessibility, inclusivity, and human experience.  Michael is an alumnus of the University of Waterloo School of Architecture, a Licenced Architect with the Ontario Association of Architects, and a member of the Grand Valley Society of Architects Executive Committee.

Brian is a graduate of University of Waterloo School of Architecture and is a licensed Architect with the Ontario Association of Architects.  Brian acts as a Project Architect at Edge Architects in Waterloo, Ontario, leading projects from conceptual design through to construction completion.  Prior to joining Edge Brian worked at Architectural practices in Toronto, New York, London UK, and Madrid.

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Bill Birdsell received his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Waterloo in 1984, has practiced in Guelph since 1990, made a Fellow of the Royal Architecture Institute of Canada in 2014 and recognized with the G. Randy Roberts Award in 2017.

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He has designed and been recognized for a diverse range of community based child focused projects, housing, offices and facilities.  His interior design work has been acknowledged for insights on how great places to work can impact the creation of the workplace as a competitive tool.  Currently he has focused his work on the adaptive re-use of structures and through those efforts has created landmark buildings in Brampton and Guelph.

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Throughout his career, Bill has served the profession as a mentor.  He has participated on several provincial and national committees and many design profession’s awards juries.  Bill has been, Chair of the Grand Valley Society of Architects, Chair of the City of Guelph Committee of Adjustment, Chair of the Pro-Demnity Insurance Company Board of Directors, and a past President of the Ontario Association of Architects.  He currently serves as an OAA Council Member, Architectural Society Liaison and a Pro-Demnity Board Member.

David Thompson has a BA from the University of Toronto and a Dipl.Arch. from the RAIC Syllabus. He worked for Architectural firms in Toronto, Vancouver and Kitchener before setting up his own practice in Kitchener Waterloo in 2004, specializing in Institutional and Residential projects. David has previously chaired a number of Juries including the OAA Awards of Excellence, the Ontario WoodWORKS! Design Awards, and Urban Design Awards for both Kitchener and Waterloo.

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Notable projects include the Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery Renovations, numerous renovations to the Centre in the Square, Lazaridis School of Business with Diamond Schmitt Architects, Guelph Police Service Headquarters with CS&P Architects and a number of private residential commissions in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.

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David has been on the GVSA Executive for almost twenty years and was the Chair between 2008 and 2016.

Sulaf joined the new Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) committee at GVSA, to ensure the diversity of voices and perspectives which ,in turn, increases transparency, fairness, and objectivity of OAA registration and regulatory processes.

She completed a B. Arch degree at the University of Technology in Iraq, and gained a graduate certificate in Construction Project Management at Conestoga College. She brings with her both international and Canadian experience.

Sulaf is passionate about architecture as well as helping others and giving back to the community. Part of her volunteering activities include helping with: Tiny House construction, Covid 19 Community inclusion campaigns, Doors Open WR events, and other city events and causes. For Sulaf, architecture design is an integration process that involves a variety of aspects: functional, esthetics, cultural, social, and economical.

Bio

Bio