Simon O’Byrne

Simon O’Byrne

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Vancouver, British Columbia

Urban Planning and Sustainable Development Expert

Simon O’Byrne is senior VP of Stantec’s global Community Development business and an award-winning urban designer and planner based in Edmonton, Alberta. Simon O’Byrne has led multi-disciplinary design teams in the planning and successful delivery of large, complex, and politically charged projects.
  • Expertise In
  • Speaker Types
  • Change Management
  • Leadership
  • Resilience & Adversity
  • Business Management
  • Future Trends
  • Community Engagement Events
  • Conference
  • Economic Development
  • Environment & Climate Change
  • Guest Panelist & Guided Q&A
  • Infrastructure & Urban Planning
  • Inspirational
  • Lifestyle & Health

SIMON O’BRYNE BIOGRAPHY

Simon O’Byrne is an award winning urban designer/planner and is Senior Vice President of Stantec’s 2,000 person Community Development Business Line. As a planning expert, he is frequently quoted in the media and is a sought after global public speaker. Simon has led multi-disciplinary design teams in the planning and successful delivery of large, complex and politically charged projects.

O’Byrne’s experience ranges from intensive urban revitalization redevelopments, to master planned communities, to transit-oriented developments and more. Projects include the Edmonton Downtown Arena and Entertainment District, creating resiliency in Hull, UK, redevelopment of the Alberta Legislature Grounds, the Saskatoon City Centre Plan, Lower Athabasca Regional Plan, Alberta Capital Region Land Use Plans, the Hunts Point Plan, Bronx, New York and more.

As a recognized urban design and planning expert, Simon O’Byrne is frequently quoted in the media in both Canada and the US and is a sought after speaker on both sides of the border to professional, community and leadership groups. He is an experienced speaker who delivers keynotes at major provincial, national and international conferences. Simon is also has a TEDx talk on how to create vibrant communities.

In 2015, Simon O’Byrne was selected to become the Allard Chair in Business for MacEwan University. The Edmonton Journal named Simon as one of the city’s Power 30. Alberta Venture magazine named Simon as one of the 50 Most Influential People in Alberta. In 2009, Avenue magazine named Simon as one of the Top 40 Under 40. Simon O’Byrne is a community leader who currently volunteers with the following: Downtown Vibrancy Task Force (Past Chair), Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation (Honorary Chair), City of Edmonton’s Winter City Advisory Committee (Co-Chair) and Winter City Urban Design (Chair), Canadian Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility and the University of Alberta Planning Program Advisory Committee.

Simon O’Byrne volunteers and leads many different civic, economic, social justice, charity, and professional boards and committees such as; the Habitat for Humanity National Leadership Council, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce (2014 Chair), Edmonton Renewable Energy Task Force, Greater Edmonton Regional Chambers of Commerce (2012 Chair), Community Sustainability Task Force, Edmonton Economic Development Corporation, Hope Mission, Urban Development Institute & the Alberta Professional Planning Association.

Simon has a Master of City Planning Degree from the University of Manitoba. He has also completed a Master of Science in Environmental Planning scholarly exchange at the Pratt Institute in New York City. Simon’s first degree was a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alberta.

Videos

Podcasts

Coming Soon!

Simon O’Byrne Topic Presentations

rapid urbanization

  • Keynote Presentation
  • The world is rapidly urbanizing and doing so both unevenly and unsustainably. Farmers and villagers are moving to cities in search of better opportunities and hope. Throughout North America and Europe, major cities are struggling to balance development pressures, inequity, infrastructure strains, massive immigration and local politics, all whilst trying to reduce their ecological footprint. This session will look at the trends happening around the world in terms of urbanization and what governments, businesses and non-government organizations are doing to meet these challenges. Learn about how cities have begun to transform themselves to better adapt to rapid urban growth caused by migration, climate change, and economic conditions. This session will teach you some tools that urban designers use to approach these complex issues.

build it so they will come, work live and stay - designing for the 21st century demographics

the global future of modern urban living

navigating the future landscape: work, migration, and adaptation in rapidly changing cities

leading in a changing world: the intersection of urbanism and social responsibility

building vibrant communities: a blueprint for urban revitalization

building vibrant communities: a blueprint for urban revitalization

sustainability and eco-friendly design with a focus on community

Testimonials

Coming Soon!

Articles & Media

Coming Soon!

Books

Coming Soon!

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