Appointee Biographies

STEPHEN SHUN MUN WONG

Stephen Wong is formerly a part-time member and Vice-Chair of the Building Code Commission. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Ontario with senior management experience in the municipal government in Ontario Building Code administration and Information Technology management. He retired from public service in 2011. He served as Deputy Building Commissioner in the former City of Etobicoke and Director of Applications and Professional Services in the amalgamated City of Toronto. He was a former member of the Ontario Building Officials Association, Municipal Information Systems Association, American Concrete Institute, and the Canadian Standards Association serving on the Technical Committee on Reinforced Concrete Design. He received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Oregon (USA) and his Master of Science degree in Architectural Engineering from the University of Illinois (USA).

MATTHEW GRAHAM

Matthew Graham is a former Manager and Deputy Chief Building Official at City of Ottawa as well as Program Manager of Building Inspections. He is also a former member of the Building Materials Evaluation Commission. His community involvement includes serving as a committee member for the Canadian Standards Association.

CHRISTINA KALT

Christina Kalt is the founding Principal of Kalt Studio, an independent architectural practice in Toronto. She is a registered Architect with the Ontario Association of Architects, certified Project Management Professional with the Project Management Institute, and certified Professional Land Economist with the Association of Ontario Land Economists. She has served on advisory committees for a number of not-for-profit corporations in Ontario. Ms. Kalt holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Toronto and a Master of Architecture degree and an Honours Bachelor of Architectural Studies degree from the University of Waterloo. She is also a member of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.

LESZEK MUNIAK

Leszek Muniak is a specialist in building code and fire protection, and has been a building code and fire protection consultant for over 35 years. He specializes in the development and presentation of building code related seminars and courses. Mr. Muniak has served on Ontario and National Building Code committees developing provisions for fire safety in the renovation of existing buildings. He has developed fire analysis computer techniques, conducted fire investigations, acted as a consultant for legal counsel and developed and presented building code training courses. He holds Bachelor of Science and Mechanical Engineering degrees from the University of Toronto.

ALEX CAMPBELL

Alexander Campbell is the owner of Tekoa Environmental Limited, and the owner of The Septic-Store (Central Ontario). His community involvement includes serving as a member on the board of directors for Smith Haven Service Dogs.

ELEKTRA VRACHAS

Elektra Vrachas is a sole proprietor and Principal of Elektra Vrachas Architect, an independent architectural practice with code consulting services in Toronto. She is a registered Architect with the Ontario Association of Architects and has over 30 years of experience in the field of architectural design and construction. Ms. Vrachas holds a Bachelor of Architecture Degree from the University of Toronto. She has been serving on the OAA Sub-committee on Codes and Regulations for several years and is a member of the International Association of Accessibility Professionals.

MICHAEL EGBERTS

MICHAEL EGBERTS is a Structural Engineer at Egberts Engineering Limited. His community involvement includes role as Secretary for the Ontario Regional Group of the Institute of Structural Engineers. He holds Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.) in Civil Engineering from the University of Toronto and a Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) in Structural Engineering from McGill University

JAMES EDUFUL

James is a Technical Specialist at the Engineering Design Assessment Division of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. He provides technical assessments and reviews buildings, structures, and facilities within the nuclear industry for conformance to fire protection, life safety and regulatory requirements. Prior to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, James worked as a Architectural Designer and Project Consultant in a multidisciplinary environment for different firms in Western Canada where he managed several architectural and engineering projects from pre-design consulting, design through to construction and commissioning. James is also the founder of Konzept Plus Inc., a multidisciplinary design firm that specializes in building design and interiors, building code and fire code consulting. James holds a Master of Applied Science degree in Civil Engineering (Fire Protection) from Carleton University and a Masters of Architecture and bachelor’s from the University of Science and Technology.

DOUG VERGUNST

Doug Vergunst was an inspector and CBO for sewage systems for 33 years in northwestern Ontario before retiring. He is now an installer and registered design consultant for sewage systems. He has facilitated the Part 8 training course since his initial participation in the transition of the legislation from the Environmental Protection Act to the Building Code back in 1998. He is a former Building Materials Evaluation member, former CSA Standards subcommittee member and former Director for the Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association. Past community involvement included volunteering at a local community rink.

KATHERINE RENTSCH

Katherine is the Manager of the Private Services team at C.F. Crozier & Associates Inc. in Guelph, Ontario. She is a professional engineer with over 20 years of experience in consulting engineering, specializing in the design of onsite sewage servicing and disposal for residential, commercial, and industrial developments. She is also a mentor to many women in the workplace through her involvement with the Crozier Women’s Initiative. Since 2005 Katherine has led and facilitated workshops and courses specializing in onsite sewage systems to the members of the Ontario onsite wastewater industry through the Ontario Rural Wastewater Centre at the University of Guelph. She is also a board member of the Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association.

DOUG DURHAM

Doug Durham, of Ottawa, is a former Program Manager for the City of Ottawa. He is also a former Building Code Consultant at Halsall Engineering Consultants. His community involvement includes serving as a volunteer for Ottawa Mission.

BRIAN RAYMOND

Brian Raymond is currently the Director of Risk-based Inspections at Tarion and serves on the Board of Directors for the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT). Prior to this, he was a Chief Building Official and he facilitated Building Code training courses for the OBOA.

MATTEO GILFILLAN

Matteo Gilfillan, of Toronto, is President of Matteo Gilfillan and Associates Inc. He is also a former Senior Consultant at Jensen Hughes Consulting Canada Ltd. and a former Project Manager at Randal Brown and Associates Engineering Ltd. Matteo’s community involvement includes serving as a Committee Member for the ULC Standards Committee on Fire Tests (S100A).

DOMINIC ESPOSITO

Dominic Esposito, of Ottawa, is the Ottawa Office Manager and Senior Project Consultant at Jensen Hughes. He is also a former Technical Advisor at National Research Council Canada. His community involvement includes serving as a committee member for Accessibility Standards Canada.

ALEXANDRA CHOW

Alexandra Chow is currently self-employed. She was a Senior Fire Protection Engineer for the Fire Commissioner of Canada (FCC) Office and has retired after 24 years of service. She provided fire safety advice and alternative solutions to the Government of Canada and First Nations communities in accordance with building codes, fire codes, and applicable standards. She contributed to the analysis and development of FCC standards, policies and guidelines. She is a member of the Professional Engineers of Ontario, National Fire Protection Association and Society of Fire Protection Engineers.

JUDY BEAUCHAMP

is a former Senior Associate and Project manager at Stantec Consulting Ltd, and a former Project Engineer at Paragon Engineering. Her community involvement includes serving as a Member for Iron Ring Camp 15, and as Member and Chair of the Kitchener Waterloo Chapters of Professional Engineers of Ontario and Granite Club.

MICHAEL GOOCH

Michael Gooch is a former Executive Director of Development Service for the Town of Huntsville, as well as Chief Building Official. He has a CBCO (retired) from the Ontario Building Officials Association and C.E.T. from the Ontario association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists. Michael has been involved in the design installation and maintenance of On-Site sewage systems. He continues to facilitate Building Code training courses for the OBOA and previously MMAH.