Andy Kenney, Ph.D., Forestry
Dr. Andy Kenney is a Professor Emeritus in urban forestry, agroforestry and tropical forestry. Andy is the past coordinator of the Faculty’s Master of Forest Conservation program. Andy’s professional activities are primarily focused on forestry issues in the inhabited landscape, or urban and peri-urban forests. Andy is currently investigating the relationship between urban design and urban forest structure. He is particularly interested in strategic planning in urban forestry and the involvement of stakeholder groups in the management of this important natural resource. Dr. Kenney served on the Board of Directors at LEAF from 2004 to 2009.
Deborah Martin-Downs, B.Sc., M.Sc.
Deborah Martin-Downs is the Chief Administrative Officer of the Credit Valley Conservation Authority (CVC), a position she began in August of 2013 after 8 years as Director of the Ecology Division of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). Prior to joining TRCA, Deborah spent 16 years as an environmental consultant with Gartner Lee Limited. Over the course of her career she has held progressive roles managing teams of technical specialists in the fields of geoenvironmental, watershed planning, terrestrial and aquatic ecology, flood risk and infrastructure, water resources engineering, source water protection, and environmental monitoring. As CAO she now can add finance, operations, land management and conservation areas to her developing skills. She has a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo (1979) and a Master of Science in Zoology and Environmental Studies from the University of Toronto (1985). Deborah is the past Chair of the Latornell Symposium, vice chair of the Green Infrastructure Ontario Coalition, and a strategic advisor to LEAF.
Sandy Smith, Ph.D., Forestry
Dr. Sandy Smith is a Professor and former Dean of Forestry at the University of Toronto. She specializes in forest entomology, biological control, pest management and biodiversity. Her primary research is on ecological aspects of natural enemies attacking forest pests, and includes parasitoids, field population dynamics and non-target risk assessment. She also works actively in assessing the impacts of forest management on insect biodiversity, communities and guild functioning, as well as the mechanisms and effects of invasive insect species.
Philip van Wassenaer, B.Sc., MFC
Philip van Wassenaer is the principal consulting arborist and founder of Urban Forest Innovations and Urban Forest Innovative Solutions. With over 20 years of experience as a practicing arborist, Philip has been an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist since 1996 and a member of the prestigious American Society of Consulting Arborists since 1999. He has served as both President and a Director of the Ontario Urban Forest Council. Philip holds a Master of Forest Conservation degree with a specialization in Urban Forest Management, from the University of Toronto. In 2009 Philip was one of the first seven recipients of the ISA “True Professionals of Arboriculture” awards in recognition of his commitment to education and the advancement of arboriculture. Philip has worked locally, nationally and internationally on assignments concerning urban forestry and the preservation of significant trees. He served on the Board of Directors at LEAF from 2004 to 2008.
