We are a small team of heritage lovers and professionals with a wide range of skills and experience.
Hayden Bulbrook, Chair
Hayden holds a Master of Arts in History from the University of Waterloo and a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from the University of Ottawa.
He currently works as a Cultural Heritage Project Lead at TMHC Inc. where he is involved in drafting cultural heritage evaluation reports, heritage impact assessments, and other reports. Hayden has actively participated as an executive member for the Stratford-Perth branch of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario and was a jury member for the 2023 ACO Heritage Awards.
With a passion for architectural photography, he works on digital history projects that showcase Ontario’s architectural history and has published historical columns in ACORN Magazine, the Stratford Times, and the Stratford-Perth ACO publication More Than Bricks & Mortar. He is also a general member of the Toronto Society of Architects and the Canadian Business History Association.
Find him on LinkedIn.
Amal Shawar, Vice Chair
Amal holds a Bachelor of Architectural Science from Toronto Metropolitan University and is embarking on her professional career in architecture. Her passion for heritage conservation was ignited during her studies and research on adaptive reuse and the application of technology in preserving historic architecture.
During and after her studies, Amal worked at several architectural firms, where she gained valuable experience on projects ranging from large-scale mixed-use developments to smaller-scale initiatives like airport floor markings and wayfinding systems.
Drawing from her fabrication experience in her studies and internships, Amal enjoys 3D printing in her free time and experimenting with other art forms such as painting and music.
Joshua Chan, Director of Programs & Events
Joshua is a graduate from the Willowbank School of Restoration Arts and has previously held built heritage focused positions at EVOQ Architecture and the Edmonton Heritage Council. His involvement in heritage conservation comes from an interest in historic building materials and the stories associated with historic sites.
Find him on LinkedIn.
Courtney Meagher, Program & Event Coordinator
Courtney holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Toronto, as well as an Honours Bachelor of Arts with a specialist in art history. Her master’s thesis explored topics of heritage preservation and collective memory, focusing on design interventions for the adaptive reuse of large scale heritage buildings in urban centres.
After completing her studies Courtney worked with the Ontario Association of Architects as the Architectural Graduate Intern, where she worked closely with the communications team and acted as the liaison between the OAA and the 14 Local Architectural Societies. Courtney’s love for history and architecture was sparked at an early age, and she has always been fascinated by the narratives embedded in built objects. She is working towards becoming a licensed architect and hopes to align her passion for heritage preservation with her future practice.
Find her on LinkedIn.
Dharshini Mahesh Babu, Director of Social Media
Dharshini holds a Bachelor of Architecture with a specialization in Conservation and Sustainability from Carleton University and is currently pursuing her Master of Architecture at McGill University. Her academic journey has been shaped by a strong focus on conservation and the relationship between cultural narratives and placemaking, which she intends to explore further in her Master’s thesis.
Dharshini has gained valuable experience working on the Centre Block Rehabilitation Project (CBRP) with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) and has previously collaborated with the Architectural Conservancy Ontario (ACO) as an Architectural Research Assistant for the TOBuilt and MuskokaBuilt initiatives. Currently, she serves as the Director of Social Media for ACO NextGen and is an active member of the marketing teams for the Society of South Asian Architects (SOSA) and the Graduate Architecture Student Association (GASA) at McGill University.
Find her on LinkedIn.
Madison Cornwallis, Director of Public Outreach
Madison holds a Combined Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and Geography from McMaster University and works at Archaeological Research Associates as a Cultural Heritage Technician. Prior to her current role, Madison worked as an archaeological field technician and gained vital knowledge of the diverse physical, and cultural landscape within Ontario. Madison, in her spare time, is a museum volunteer in the Waterloo region. Madison’s love and appreciation for cultural and built heritage stemmed from a young age and continued into her studies and professional experiences.
Find her on LinkedIn.
Paige Murray (Milner), Content & Research Coordinator
Find her on LinkedIn.
Mackenzie Campbell, Public Outreach & Content Coordinator
Mackenzie graduated with a Diploma in Heritage Conservation from the Willowbank School of Restoration Arts.
She is the project manager for The Brown Homestead, where she oversees the conservation of the buildings on site and coordinates heritage programming and workshops. In her position, she often works alongside heritage tradespeople and craftsmen, learning as much as she can to expand her skill set.
Mackenzie has a deep appreciation for heritage trades and shares her journey in the field through Campbell Heritage, a platform dedicated to conservation and traditional craftsmanship. She also works on stained and leaded glass on the side, furthering her hands-on experience.
Find her on LinkedIn.
Advisors
Alex Sostar, Former Chair
Alex holds a Bachelor of Design in Environmental Design from OCAD University and has completed two certificates through the G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education in Advanced Architecture, and Architectural Preservation & Conservation. Currently working in the legal industry, she remains passionate about adaptive reuse and heritage preservation. In her free time she often finds herself delving down rabbit holes in the City of Toronto Archives, and wandering the city looking up. Alex is also an avid indoor gardener and a long suffering Blue Jays fan.
Find her on LinkedIn.
Sara Shemirani, Former Vice Chair
Sara holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Ryerson University, and currently works at Giaimo as an architectural designer. Sara previously volunteered with ACO as an Architectural Research Assistant. Now, in addition to liaising between NextGen and ACO’s various committees and branches, she sits on the Ontario Place Sub-Committee advising on the preservation of Ontario’s modernist landmark.
Find her on LinkedIn.
Stephanie Mah, ACO Toronto VP
Stephanie is the Creative Director at Giaimo, an architecture firm integrating design, sustainability, and conservation. Over the last five years she has held several positions at ACO, including her current position as VP of ACO Toronto, and is the recipient of the 2018 Mary Millard Award. She holds an Honours BA in History and Theory of Architecture and is pursuing a certificate in Digital Media at OCAD University.
Find her on LinkedIn.
Want to volunteer with us?
There are always ways to get involved with ACO NextGen in a volunteer capacity: write for our blog, contribute to our social media channels, sit on an ACO committee or lead an event or initiative of your own! Contact us to learn more about these opportunities.
ACO NextGen 