Maya Desai

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Maya Desai, who is the Chair of Environmental Design at OCAD University and a Visiting Professor in the Master of Urban Design program at the University of Toronto, researches the interplay between public health and the built environment. Her work, focusing on the effects of social and cultural practices on ecosystem health, receives support from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Canada's Sustainable Development Goals Funding Program, and the Centre for Aging & Brain Health Innovation Spark Program. Professionally, as a Senior Urban Designer and Planner at Moriyama Teshima Architects, she has led several projects aimed at enhancing community health and sustainability, including serving as a subject matter expert for Waterfront Toronto; developing master plans for Qatar's Education City, Surrey City Development Corporation, and the Town of Whitby; and campus plans for the several educational institutions. Additionally, her involvement in committees such as BEAT (Building Equality Architecture Toronto) and the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s Promoting Equity and Justice Committee (RAIC-PEJ), along with her role as a research partner with the Schroeder Arthritis Institute at University Health Network, underscores her commitment to health equity, disability rights, and the promotion of inclusive, healthy environments.