Maya Mahgoub-Desai

Maya Mahgoub-Desai is the current Chair of Environmental Design and an Associate Professor in the Design for Health program at OCAD University. Maya’s current research is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC / CRSH) and the Government of Canada’s Sustainable Development Goals Program and investigates themes related: to human-environment behaviour, public health policy and public realm design, addressing equity in design education (with a focus on disability) and inclusive teaching pedagogies.

As the Senior Urban Designer and Planner for Moriyama Teshima Architects, Maya has led several urban and peri-urban campus, community and municipal plans which focus on sustainable approaches, cultural resilience, and a collaborative community engagement process. Her portfolio includes 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 University of Lethbridge, Wilfrid Laurier University, and Conestoga College.

Maya also remains actively engaged in professional and volunteer activities that focus on health and equity; serving as an executive member of BEAT (Building Equality in Architecture Toronto); a committee member of the RAIC (Royal Architectural Institute of Canada) Promoting Equity and Justice Advisory Committee; and formerly, a committee member of ClimateACT.