Brigitte was born in Kingston Jamaica and immigrated to Toronto in 1965. She studied architecture and environmental studies at the University of Waterloo, Canada. In 1994, Shim and her partner A. Howard Sutcliffe founded Shim-Sutcliffe Architects in Toronto, Canada. Their design practice explores the integration and interrelated scales of architecture, landscape, furniture and fittings. Shim-Sutcliffe have realized built work in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia focusing on place-making. 

To date, Shim and Sutcliffe have received sixteen Governor General’s Medals for Architecture from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) and an American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Honor Award along with many other professional accolades for their built work. In January 2013, Brigitte Shim and her partner A. Howard Sutcliffe were both awarded the Order of Canada, “for their contributions as architects designing sophisticated structures that represent the best of Canadian design to the world.” In 2021, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada awarded Brigitte Shim and A. Howard Sutcliffe, the RAIC Gold Medal for their “tireless commitment to advocacy, teaching and mentoring along with their commitment to craft, tectonics, site and ecology in their built work and its lasting impact on Canadian architecture.”

Professor Brigitte Shim has been a faculty member at the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design at the University of Toronto since 1988. In 2019, she was the Louis I. Kahn Professor of Architectural Design at Yale University’s School of Architecture and has been a visiting chair and lecturer at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), The Cooper Union’s Chanin School of Architecture, The University of Auckland, and others. She has served on numerous international, national and local design juries as an unwavering advocate for design excellence.

Jonathan Simmons, FCPA FCA is a seasoned financial services executive with deep expertise in pensions, investment management, and insurance.  He is currently Chief Financial and Strategy Officer at OMERS, one of Canada’s largest pensions plans with approaching $130 billion of net assets as of December 31, 2023. Prior to joining OMERS in 2013, he was a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for more than a decade, where he led the firm’s Canadian insurance practice. 

Jonathan is an experienced director for both profit and not-for-profit organizations.  He currently serves as a director and audit committee chair of Economic Investment Trust (TSX: EVT) and as co-chair and founding member of the Canadian Chapter of the CFO Network of A4S, His Majesty The King’s Accounting for Sustainability project, which aims to inspire finance leaders to drive a fundamental shift towards resilient business models and a sustainable economy.  Past directorships include United Corporations Limited (TSX: UNC), Chair of the Board of The Giles School, and Treasurer of Futurepreneur, which provides start up financing and mentoring to young entrepreneurs across Canada.

Jonathan is avid theatre goer and supporter of the arts.  He believes that inclusion and culture are essential ingredients for building a vibrant and thriving Toronto.

Former president of the Carpenters’ District Council of Ontario, Mr. Yorke has over 25 years of experience in Ontario’s unionized construction industry. As former president, he has extensive knowledge of collective bargaining and arbitration issues and is involved in numerous political, community and training initiatives. Mr. Yorke has a solid background in workplace health and safety issues, from both training and site representation perspectives. He is a strong community supporter of outreach to “youth at risk” training programs with the City of Toronto and the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) highly regarded CHOICE and CRAFT programs and he plays an active role on the Local 27 College of Carpenters and Allied Trades Board of Directors. He sits as an editorial advisory board member of the Daily Commercial News, Toronto. Mr. Yorke is also the recipient of the Wood Works Ontario Wood Champion Award in 2016, and the Harry Jerome Award for Diversity in 2018. He holds certificates in labour studies from George Brown College and human resources management from Ryerson University.