The Regional Advantage: Evidence of Impact in Changing Times
Communities across the Greater Toronto area are facing significant pressures amid rapidly evolving economic, political, and geopolitical landscapes. With rising demand for social services, growing infrastructure needs, evolving workforce environments, and mounting fiscal constraints, regional governments are playing a critical role in delivering coordinated, large-scale solutions. On April 20, the CAOs of Halton, Peel, York, and Durham will reflect on how regional governance enables strategic planning and service delivery across municipalities. They will share evidence of how the regional model is helping communities navigate uncertainty while supporting resilient and sustainable growth.
Please join us for a frank discussion on Monday, April 20 from 4:30 – 6:00 pm at the Campbell Conference Facility, Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto.
Speakers:
Elaine Baxter-Trahair is the Chief Administrative Officer for Durham Region, leading more than 5,000 staff within an efficient and highly collaborative work environment. With a focus on innovation and continuous improvement, Elaine works with other levels of government, public, private, and non-profit sector partners to ensure accountability and transparency in delivering Regional Council’s strategic direction. Located on the east side of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Durham Region is where the excitement of the city and the tranquility of the countryside meet. It is the largest municipal region within Ontario, home to 780,000+ residents within eight cities, towns, and townships. Elaine joined Durham Region in 2018, with more than 30 years of experience complemented by a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Business Administration.
Andrew Farr was appointed Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Halton Region in 2025, bringing over two decades of senior leadership experience in municipal public works and infrastructure. Prior to this role, he served as Commissioner of Public Works for both Halton and Peel Regions, providing strategic leadership and oversight of these departments. A licensed Professional Engineer, he holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Waterloo and a Master’s Certificate in Public Management from York University. He is a past Chair of Ontario’s Regional Public Works Commissioners and recently completed a two-year term as Engineer-in-Residence at the University of Waterloo, contributing to the development of future leaders in the field.
Gary Kent is the Chief Administrative Officer of Peel Region, which delivers essential services and infrastructure to 1.6 million residents and over 200,000 businesses. Reporting directly to Regional Council, he oversees all staff, service delivery and infrastructure investments and has over 30 years of experience in progressively senior municipal roles, including serving as CFO for both Peel and the City of Mississauga. A graduate of Glasgow Caledonian University, he is a CPA, a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) and holds the ICD.D designation from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. Gary was recently appointed second VP for the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA) and sits on the Council of the largest global accounting body (ACCA).
Erin Mahoney is Chief Administrative Officer of The Regional Municipality of York. Erin oversees more than 5,000 staff delivering comprehensive services to York Region’s 1.2 million residents and 55,600 businesses. Prior to her appointment as CAO in 2023, Erin served as York Region’s Commissioner of Public Works and Commissioner of Environmental Services. Erin’s experience spans more than 35 years in operations and executive management in the private and public sectors. Erin holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from Memorial University of Newfoundland and a Master of Engineering from the University of Western Ontario.
Moderator:
Karen Chapple is the Director of the School of Cities at the University of Toronto, where she also serves as Professor in the Department of Geography and Planning. She is Professor Emerita of City & Regional Planning at the University of California, Berkeley, where she served as department chair and held the Carmel P. Friesen Chair in Urban Studies.