Every May, as Ontario honours South Asian Heritage Month, SOSA Canada proudly hosts Spotlight South Asia - a panel discussion that celebrates the stories, contributions, and leadership of South Asian leaders within the architecture and design industry.

Through candid storytelling and thoughtful conversation, our panelists share not just their achievements, but the obstacles they faced, the cultural bridges they built, and the lessons they learned along the way. Through moderated dialogue, speakers offer personal insights alongside industry perspectives, providing valuable guidance to professionals, students, and new immigrants aspiring to grow within the Canadian architecture and design landscape.

At its heart, Spotlight South Asia is more than an event. It’s a reminder: that every journey matters, that every story can spark change, and that together, we are building a more inclusive future for architecture and design in Canada.

GUEST PANELISTS:
Feby Kuriakose, OAA, MRAIC
Principal, Health Sciences at NORR
Feby was raised in Dubai by Malayali parents with strong ties to India, instilling in her a profound cultural awareness from an early age. Growing up at the intersection of her Indian heritage and the multicultural environment of the UAE shaped a unique cultural identity, one that continues to inform her perspective. This blend of influences has played a vital role in guiding her personal and professional journey across diverse global contexts.

With more than two decades of experience, Feby has designed and managed a wide spectrum of large scale, complex projects. Working on award-winning designs in the Middle East, India, North Africa and North America, Feby approaches every project with a keen sensitivity to cultural identities and environmental factors. As the Health Sciences Principal at NORR, Feby is passionate about creating spaces that push design boundaries and provide environments to promote the well-being and healing of the body and mind.

Sustainability is an important facet of Feby’s entire life. One that she is conscious of and applies in her personal ventures and one that naturally percolates into her professional realm. With a strong focus on adaptive reuse projects, Feby actively seeks opportunities to embed sustainable design principles into every phase of her work. Whether it's through the implementation of efficient building systems, the use of recycled or locally sourced materials, or strategies to minimize carbon footprints, she consistently strives to create environmentally responsible and resilient spaces.

Relationship building is a key success factor for Feby. The trust she establishes with clients and project teams runs deep. She is a mentor to young talent internally within NORR and with external organizations, creating equitable working environments that promote diversity and inclusion. Feby is an avid traveler having explored countless destinations around the world. She believes that traveling expands the mind and that being exposed to and understanding other cultures is an extremely important step towards equality.

Jay Deshmukh, OAA, MRAIC
Principal, Education at Arcadis Architects
Jay Deshmukh is a new Canadian; born in Switzerland, raised and educated in Bombay, India. She first came to North America as a graduate student to study Participatory Design and Architecture in North Carolina. She interned at community-engaged practices in Charlotte, NC, and New York, NY, before immigrating to Canada in the early 2000s.

Jay’s 25+ year career has focused primarily in the public sector, with award-winning projects and thought leadership for education, healthcare and civic design in Canada, US and overseas. Now a Principal and Design Research Lead at Arcadis (Architecture and Urbanism), she leads the design, strategic thinking and planning for education and civic projects, and engages meaningfully with clients, stakeholders and authorities to define and implement the strategic vision of the project through place-centric design. Her notable projects include York University Student Centre, Jane Sheppard Library, Western Memorial Hospital (Newfoundland), Thurgood Marshall High School (New York City), University Centre at Aga Khan University (Karachi, Pakistan) Tata Medical Centre (Kolkata), and Amity University Dubai.

Her multi-year design research project on the post-pandemic campus has made her a frequent speaker advancing thought-leadership on future-focused planning and design for post-secondary education. She is deeply engaged in the arts and design community in Toronto, as a guest critic at design schools and Committee and former Board Trustee at the Textile Museum of Canada.