I’ve been told that I have a knack for creating a buzz around otherwise snoozy topics. For example, appearing on mainstream Breakfast Television to discuss the promise of midrise buildings or Bloomberg Business TV to introduce the concept of the missing middle. I wrestled the dry topic of commercial tax policy into a popular gallery exhibition that ran for four months.
At the core of my work is evidence. My projects begin with rigorous research and policy analysis. The hard part is translating timely, emerging, and complex issues into accessible formats. My most successful work has involved collaborating with unlikely partners to broaden influence and set the policy agenda.
Please explore my topic pages for some examples.
Short Bio
Cherise Burda specializes in relevant policy research, strategic communications and creative engagement to drive impact. Her work has influenced policy change in Ontario and British Columbia on housing, transportation, forestry, climate and energy. She has authored more than fifty policy reports, book chapters and academic publications, as well as dozens of articles and op-eds. Her leadership roles have included Executive Director of the City Building Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University, Ontario Director of the Pembina Institute, Program Director with the David Suzuki Foundation, and Senior Researcher at the University of Victoria’s Eco-Research Chair in Environmental Law and Policy. Currently, she is an active member of the Affordability Action Council and the Task Force for Housing and Climate.