https://www.linkedin.com/in/kunal-rakshit/ 

Provide a brief summary of your practice experience.;

I am a licensed architect with the Ontario Association of Architects, with approximately 10 years of professional experience specializing in healthcare and institutional architecture. My work has focused on the technical design, coordination, and delivery of large, complex projects, including major hospital developments delivered through public-private partnership (P3) models.;

Currently, I work with Parkin Architects in Ottawa, contributing to the design and technical coordination of a major hospital project. My responsibilities involve interdisciplinary coordination, construction documentation, building systems integration, and resolving complex technical challenges to support safe, functional, and high-quality healthcare environments.;

I hold several professional credentials, including MRAIC, LEED AP (BD+C and O+M), WELL AP, and Evidence-Based Design Accreditation and Certification (EDAC). These qualifications reflect my commitment to sustainable design, occupant well-being, and evidence-informed architectural practice. 

Beyond project delivery, I am actively involved in professional advocacy, mentorship, and community engagement. My experience has reinforced the importance of technical competence, professional accountability, collaboration, and the architect's responsibility to safeguard the public interest. 

Provide a brief summary of your previous governance experience (boards, councils, committees, advisory groups, etc.).;

I have extensive experience in volunteer leadership, organizational governance, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and community building through professional associations and nonprofit organizations. 

As an executive member of the Ottawa Regional Society of Architects (ORSA) and Co-Chair of Ottawa Architecture Week in 2025 and 2026, I have helped lead one of Ottawa's major annual architecture and design initiatives, engaging more than 2,000 participants annually. My responsibilities include strategic programming, sponsorship development, financial planning, communications, and coordinating partnerships with architectural firms, government institutions, cultural organizations, and community stakeholders.;

Through ORSA, I have organized building tours, panel discussions, lectures, exhibitions, and networking events that strengthen professional connections and promote public engagement with architecture. 

I also serve as a Director of the McGill Alumni Association's Ottawa chapter, contributing to chapter programming, alumni engagement, and community outreach. I organize networking socials, professional and entrepreneurial gatherings, cultural events, and a recurring alumni book club. These initiatives bring together alumni across generations and professions, fostering mentorship, professional connections, and lifelong engagement with the university community.;

Additionally, I serve on my condominium corporation's Board of Directors, participating in financial oversight, budget approvals, contract procurement, maintenance planning, and long-term asset management. This role provides direct experience with fiduciary responsibilities, transparent decision-making, and collective governance. 

My candidacy in the 2025 OAA Council election further strengthened my understanding of professional self-governance and my commitment to the OAA's public-interest mandate. 

Why are you interested in serving on Council at this time? 

I believe this is an important time to contribute to the future of architectural practice in Ontario. As the profession responds to increasingly complex project delivery models, technological change, evolving public expectations, and growing pressures on professional practice, effective and forward-looking regulatory governance is essential. 

My experience working on large healthcare projects has given me firsthand insight into the responsibilities architects carry in coordinating complex buildings, exercising professional judgment, and protecting public health, safety, and well-being.;

Through my involvement with ORSA and Ottawa Architecture Week, I have also seen the value of connecting architects with their communities and encouraging meaningful participation in professional affairs. These experiences have motivated me to contribute at the provincial level.;

Having previously stood for election to Council, I have continued reflecting on how I can contribute to the OAA's statutory mandate and governance responsibilities.;

I would bring the perspective of a practicing architect engaged in technical project delivery, together with experience in organizational leadership and community engagement. I am particularly interested in ensuring that regulatory decisions remain practical, transparent, evidence-informed, and responsive to emerging challenges. 

Above all, I recognize that serving on Council is a fiduciary responsibility, not a constituency role. My commitment would be to act in the best interests of the OAA and uphold its responsibility to protect the public. 

What do you believe are the key challenges or priorities for Council over the next one to three years?

I believe Council should focus on four interconnected priorities over the next three years. 

1. Upholding professional competence and public protection: As buildings and project delivery methods become increasingly complex, the OAA must ensure that its standards, continuing education requirements, and regulatory processes support competent, accountable architectural practice. 
   
   
2. Responding to technological change: Artificial intelligence, digital design tools, and increasingly integrated project delivery processes are transforming the profession. Council should consider their implications for professional responsibility, quality assurance, intellectual property, and the architect's duty to protect the public.
   
   
3. Supporting the next generation of architects: The profession faces challenges involving licensure pathways, mentorship, professional development, and the transition from architectural education to practice. Improving accessibility and clarity in these processes, while maintaining rigorous standards, should remain a priority.
   
   
4. Strengthening transparency and regulatory effectiveness: Council should continue promoting clear communication, sound financial oversight, evidence-based decision-making, and meaningful engagement with members and the public. It is important that architects understand their regulatory obligations and that the public can maintain confidence in the profession.

Underlying these priorities is the need to maintain a clear distinction between professional advocacy and statutory regulation. Council's decisions must remain grounded in the Architects Act and the OAA's mandate to serve and protect the public interest.

 

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