Jake is founder of Smallworks Studios and Laneway Housing Inc., a pioneer of laneway housing design and building in North America, with over 250 small homes built in the last fifteen years. Smallworks develops simple, sustainable homes that blend innovative techniques, modern building science and hand-built finishes and millwork. In 2014 Jake was Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year in Manufacturing. Jake was instrumental in supporting the City of Vancouver to adopt its original laneway house bylaw. In 2012, he co-founded SHBC, and has since assisted several municipalities develop zoning bylaws based on his experience and interaction with hundreds of potential small home clients. He has presented in dozens of communities, and participated in countless housing sector events, raising the profile of small housing among the public and planning professionals.

Michael is a land use and community planner whose work has ranged from neighbourhood planning and visioning projects in New York City neighbourhoods, to managing planning departments in BC communities. As Director of Planning in the City of North Vancouver, Michael championed policies that significantly increased the rental and non-market housing supply, with the City of North Vancouver one of only a small number of municipalities that delivered targeted levels of housing. In his current role, Michael is leading the delivery of 2,000 new affordable homes across the region and advancing policies to help ensure at least 15% of new housing is affordable.

Tamara is a planner and affordable housing specialist, with a background in community-based development. As Associate ED of SHBC, she establishes municipal partnerships, coordinates technical support for gentle density housing initiatives, and leads advocacy efforts with senior government. Tamara has a Master of Planning from UBC School of Community & Regional Planning. She has conducted extensive international research and policy analysis, and has held roles within government housing and planning agencies (Brazil, China, Canada), with work spanning the housing spectrum, from homelessness to affordable home ownership. Tamara’s work in BC focuses on scaling up and enhancing the impact of the community housing sector. Recent employers and clients include: BC Housing Supportive Housing and Programs group, the Co-op Housing Federation of BC’s Community Land Trust, and New Commons Development’s Small Communities Initiative.