JEANHY SHIM, FOUNDER + CEO

Over the past 22 years, Jeanhy has been providing strategic advice and innovative solutions for the real estate development industry, focusing on market research, product development, land acquisitions and sales and marketing with several leading developers, brokers and consultants in the Toronto area.  Currently, Jeanhy is President of Housing Lab Toronto – an independent housing research company that that is rethinking how we grow our city by engaging with residents to understand unmet community and housing needs and aspirations.  Children's Discovery Centre is the first 'city building' initiative of Housing Lab Toronto designed in response to a growing urban baby boom that is transforming our neighbourhoods and creating new demands from a new generation of urban families and kids.  In addition to her passion for city building, Jeanhy is also a full-time mom with a six-year old daughter, who has been a living inspiration for the Children's Discovery Centre and for daring greatly.

LAURA AARON, ROUGE CONSULTING - PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

Laura Aaron is Managing Director of Rouge Strategy Consulting, which focuses mainly on the creation and production of cultural events, debates, and activations designed to bring leading thinkers and industry leaders together to examine ideas, issues, and trends. Prior to launching Rouge Consulting, Laura was Senior Director at Informa Canada. Separate from her professional career, Laura serves on the Board of Directors at Gilda’s Club Greater Toronto, which provides free social and emotional support for adults, teens, and children touched by cancer, along with their family and friends. While living in British Columbia, Laura served on the Board of Directors for the Fernie & District Arts Station; was curator of the Fernie Independent Film Series, and a co-founder of the Reel Canadian Film Festival. Laura received her MBA in Entrepreneurship and Real Estate from the University of Colorado; a Graduate Certificate in Book and Magazine Publishing from Centennial College, and an Honours Degree in Philosophy from the University of Western Ontario.

GERALDINE MABIN, FRIENDSHIP IN ACTION - HEAD OF ADVISORY BOARD

Geraldine Mabin is internationally recognized as a leader in the field of early childhood education. Gerry received her training and taught in the UK before coming to the Institute of Child Study (ICS) in Toronto where she taught and became principal. Founder of The Mabin School in Toronto, she has a wealth of experience in both teacher training and classroom teaching. She helped open the Children’s Own Museum in 1998 and co-founded Words in Motion, a charity providing dramatic programs for the children. Gerry is the founding Executive Director of Friendship in Action, a children’s charity that supports teachers in building positive emotional and social skills of young children.