Victoria Willes Email & Phone Number

Ottawa, On, Ca

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Leading innovation of Canada’s crime prevention through environmental design initiatives with $50M~ expanded funding. Initiated collaboration across levels of government to develop a methodology for hate crime context mapping in Canadian cities. Quantified the economic impact of youth crime and personified disaggregated costs as fictional narrative. Performed cost-effectiveness analysis of select crime prevention interventions.Re-imagined corporate knowledge mobilization practice to include flagship video, animations, and ‘behind the scenes’ analysis shorts for diverse audiences and distribution channels.

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Research: Youth, Urbanism & COVID-19 RecoveryAs part of a Government of Canada, national recovery project team: Assessed urban impact by collecting quantitative & qualitative data using surveying, interviewing & indexing techniques. Developed recommendations for youth-oriented recovery policy and cross-sector initiatives to help cities prosper post-COVID-19. Through a complex and evolving project, collaborated with youth across 27 Canadian cities and facilitated training sessions on topics including research, professional development & life skills.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

In global forums on ‘Resilient Recovery’ & Smart Cities development: Presented recommendations for energy resilience, developing & safeguarding critical infrastructure systems in communities facing humanitarian crisis and environmental disaster recovery. Designed best practices and identified public-private partnership opportunities for integrating digital tools & skills training with social & economic development projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. Advocated for ‘insightful’ development, observing that low-tech innovation does not preclude high-impact, ‘smart’ intervention.

Istanbul, Turkey

At the United Nation’s global policy center for the private sector in development (UNDP IICPSD): Co-authored report on 3D printing in digital development that addresses challenges to inclusive growth in emerging markets. Enhanced digital transformation project by adapting the implementation to better reflect urban & community context. Drafted proposals to national governments & UN agencies that secured resource commitments to SDG Artificial Intelligence Lab. Headed partnership development with technology’s private sector (Microsoft, MasterCard, SAS) to propel knowledge-transfer and establish joint UN-corporate volunteering schemes.

Atlantic Provinces, Canada

Elected by Canadian development leaders to executive term: Co-directed mandate to advance strategic planning interests and professional planners in Atlantic Canada (500,000+ km2). Launched regional & national climate change adaptation & resilient community strategies for economic development. Exported rural development knowledge, forging connections between Canadian practice and global planning practitioners.

Halifax, Ns

Courses: Introduction to Community Design 1 & 2Employed strong leadership and communication skills facilitating dynamic tutorials for 70+ undergraduate students on topics including urban evolution and streetscape functional analysis. Co-established and managed course content and expectations for diverse, multidisciplinary, and intercultural student groups. Encouraged intellectual curiosity and presented content by translating theory into accessible, relatable elements.

Halifax, Ns

Contributing author of multiple recreation & housing plans for Atlantic municipalities: Developed and predicated recommendations for feasible and sustainable initiatives by adopting a regional lens focused on leveraging latent assets. Generated local population and recreation supply/demand forecasts calibrating recommendations to demographic change.Reviewed regional & municipal regulatory frameworks for project implications, orienting and drafting integrative recommendations.Co-facilitated engagement sessions with the public, project stakeholders, and marginalized community groups. Constructed resident and stakeholder surveys and extracted insights towards intelligent recommendations.Researched and drafted best practices on community decision-making and funding prioritization models, gender equity in recreation, volunteer engagement and management, and wayfinding standards.

Vancouver, Bc

Providing relief support to the development team, built & showcased a strong understanding of urban development economics.Successfully developed and co-facilitated training of 200+ employees on a new HR and payroll platform as part of national implementation team.Evaluated and re-negotiated vendor contracts to yearly savings of $50,000+ on national shipping, marketing materials & stationery, secure records storage, and office furnishings. Re-designed and implemented new practices documented by producing an original office services manual.Led 3-person team of office services staff through transition, process, and service improvement while performing a comprehensive audit of office management procedures.

Vancouver, Bc

Reviewed the City's district plan and translated its implications for the BIA’s 300+ commercial members.Drafted communications lobbying for fair property taxation, an initiative that delivered members $1.3M in tax savings.

Herstmonceux, Uk

Assisted in planning and executing conferences, events, and weddings for high profile clients including an HRH Royal visit and Shakespeare’s Globe production of Hamlet. Effectively organized and coordinated logistics across multiple divisions including catering, entertainment, and security etc.. Responsible for promotion and marketing of events which exceeded projected ticket sales by 30%. Developed interpersonal, multitasking, and communication skills in high-pressure, multi-national and cultural environment, and gained experience building long(er)-term client relationships.

Master Of Planning, City/Urban, Community And Regional Planning

Bachelor Of Arts, Political Science