The ambassadors and provocateurs of Black planning.

Simone Atungo is a visionary executive with over 30 years of proven leadership across the broader public sector and community-based not-for-profit organizations. A master strategist and systems thinker, Simone brings a rare blend of innovation, operational discipline, and transformative insight to every initiative she leads. Her work has consistently driven measurable impact whether through guiding complex change, shaping policy reform, or co-designing inclusive, future-ready programs and services.

As Founder and CEO of Onuera Consulting, Simone advises executive teams and boards on transformational change, systems innovation, leadership transitions, and equitable growth strategies. Her approach is grounded in principles of collective impact, leveraging cross-sector collaboration to address systemic inequities and achieve long-term community outcomes.

Simone previously served as Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) in two key Ontario ministries: Community Services at the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS), and Workforce Policy and Innovation at the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. In both roles, she championed equity-centered transformation in social policy, labour markets, and human service working across sectors to strengthen economic inclusion and workforce resilience.

Her executive leadership spans healthcare, housing, and education, with a strong focus on mental health, community economic development, and affordable housing solutions. She has served as CEO of Vibrant Healthcare Alliance, and held senior leadership roles at Toronto Community Housing, Mount Sinai Hospital, and Parkdale Community Health Centre. In each role, Simone advanced strategies that improved access to care, strengthened community well-being, and supported the economic participation of marginalized populations.

A long-time educator and mentor, Simone was also a faculty member at George Brown College, where she shaped the next generation of leaders in community health and social services for nearly two decades.

Simone holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Studies and a Certificate in Non-Profit Management from York University, as well as an Executive Leadership Certificate from the Rotman School of Management. She also holds the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors, reflecting her deep expertise in governance and board leadership.

I am a retired civil servant with 38 years of experience as a civil servant in Saint Lucia. I retired as Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports. I have worked on sustainable development and environmental conservation issues regionally and internationally. I am passionate about working with vulnerable and marginalized communities.

I hold a BSC (Hons) in International Relations from the University of the West Indies (Mona), MSc in Planning from the University of Toronto as a Canadian Commonwealth Scholar and a Diploma in International Environmental Law from the UNITAR.

As a student of color from a SIDS at the University of Toronto, it was difficult to identify suitable examples. Consequently, the learning experience was not enriched. Being part of BPP allows me to advocate and solicit better opportunities for Black students to help create an enabling environment for them.

Karla is a Civil Engineering graduate from Toronto Metropolitan University with over 20 years experience in regional transit, program management, and infrastructure delivery starting her career at Smart Centres managing construction of Walmart stores, and in her last role as Chief Planning Officer at Metrolinx. 

Karla has been Federally appointed as a Board Director for the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority responsible for building an international bridge and border crossing, and has served as 2017 and 2018 WTS Toronto Chapter President. 

Karla is an advocate for inclusion and has a proven record in giving back to the community. In 2020, she was recognized by TMU with the “Alumni Achievement Award” and featured in publications such as Share Magazine and Women of Influence.

As a human-computer interaction researcher, I’ve witnessed both the systemic barriers that limit opportunities for marginalized groups and the potential of technology to serve as a powerful equalizer. This dual perspective fuels my belief that technology can be a transformative tool for fostering more equitable and sustainable futures. I was drawn to the Black Planning Project for its dedication to amplifying marginalized voices and reimagining urban planning through the lenses of people, place, pedagogy, and practice. BPP aligns perfectly with my conviction that transformative change starts with inclusion, representation, and innovation, enabling me to combine my passion for technology with my commitment to social equity in creating resilient, just communities.

Lena D. Phillips is an urban and spatial practitioner whose work explores the intersections of justice, liberation, land, housing, and law. Her practice is grounded in feminist, anti-colonial, transnational, and anti-racist frameworks.

Through her work, Lena has supported grassroots and systems change initiatives led by and for Black, Indigenous, and African communities in Canada and East Africa. She has also worked on projects that used design, creative technology, and artistic practice as tools of protest.

Her graduate studies in the UK and South Africa focused on urban development and planning, with a particular emphasis on land, housing, and property. She is currently in her final year at McGill University’s Faculty of Law, where she has deepened her commitment to public interest work.

Lena views BPP as a vital space for reshaping planning practices and building more inclusive, resilient communities. She is motivated by the opportunity to contribute to a platform that amplifies a diversity of Black perspectives in urban development and challenges oppressive structures in spatial and city planning.

Moussa joined the Black Planning Project to help integrate Black perspectives into how cities and communities are imagined, planned, and built. He is committed to advancing more inclusive and resilient communities, and sees BPP as a vital space for shaping the future of equitable urban development.

On the board, he contributes expertise in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and cross-sector collaboration. He also brings experience in municipal leadership, having advised the Office of the Mayor of Montreal on strategic initiatives related to sustainability, urban development, and public policy.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in urban planning and a master’s in sociology, and brings over 17 years of experience spanning community organizations, consulting firms, and government.