PNLT - Key Persons


Anita Prasad - President

Job Titles:
  • President

Ayal Dinner - President

Job Titles:
  • President
Ayal has 20 years experience initiating, developing, and managing, nonprofit and charitable organizations, multi-stakeholder community projects, and social enterprises. An active community leader, he has served on a various non-profits, charities and co-operatives, including Ontario Local Food and Farming Co-ops Network. Mr. Dinner was a Diamond Jubilee Medal winner in 2013 for his community contributions.

Claudia Pedrero

Job Titles:
  • Chairman of Committee
  • Governance & Equity Committee Chair

Daisy McCabe-Lokos

Job Titles:
  • Chairman of the Acquisitions Committee
  • Chairman of Committee

Eric Carrier

Job Titles:
  • Property Manager

james Partanen

Job Titles:
  • Neighbourhood Land Trust Staff Member
  • Community Development Coordinator
james is a long time resident of Parkdale with a background in non-profit governance and community development. In the past james has played major roles on local Boards including PARC, and has worked for organizations including the West End Food Coop and Berry Road Food Coop. In the nineties james worked as a software developer for small startups and large corporations alike. james studied Pure & Applied Mathematics at the University of Waterloo. james spends time riding around on his motorcycle and doing photography in the woods when he's not working.

John Doherty

Job Titles:
  • Chairman of the Finance Committee
  • Chairman of Committee

John Schaffter - Treasurer

Job Titles:
  • Treasurer
  • Chairman of Committee
  • Fundraising Committee Chair
John Schaffter served on PNLT's Board of Directors before being appointed to the NLT Board.

Joshua Barndt

Job Titles:
  • Executive Director
  • Neighbourhood Land Trust Staff Member
  • Urban Ecology - Executive Director
Joshua holds a Master of Science in Urban Ecology from The New School (NYC), and is a Community Land Trust specialist who has acted as the Executive Director of Parkdale's Neighborhood Land Trust since 2015. In this capacity Barndt has led the organization through its early development, charitable registration, as well as the implementation of the Land Trust's first four acquisition projects. This included the acquisition of 87 Milky Way as an Urban Agriculture Space for Parkdale and 26 Maynard Avenue as a Rooming House Acquisition Pilot project. As ED of the Land Trust, Barndt has raised $4.5mm in grants and investment to date. Outside of his work with the Land Trust, Barndt has worked as an Affordable Housing Consultant for several organizations including Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre and the Cooperative Housing Federation of Canada aiding value aligned partners to realize over 400 units of affordable housing.

Kate Miller

Job Titles:
  • Tenancy Suport Manager

Monica Hutton

Job Titles:
  • Neighbourhood Land Trust Staff Member
  • Property Asset Manager
Monica is an architect with a background in urbanism and environmental design. She holds a Master of Science in Architecture Studies from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a Master of Architecture and Bachelor of Environmental Design from University of Manitoba. Prior to joining the Neighbourhood Land Trust, she taught graduate and undergraduate studios at University of Toronto John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design and worked for Public City Architecture in Winnipeg on projects including public library and school retrofits, and park infrastructure with a focus on supportive amenities, efficient building systems, and accessibility. Monica brings a strong interest in socially sustainable building practices and social procurement to the role of Property Asset Manager.

Monica Melanson

Job Titles:
  • Housing Services Director

Richard Marshall - Treasurer

Job Titles:
  • Treasurer
Richard Marshall served on PNLT's Board of Directors before being appointed to the NLT Board.

Sam Carter-Shamai

Job Titles:
  • Secretary
Sam's approach to urban planning is informed by a liberal arts background in cultural geography, photography, and design. Currently serving as the Under Gardiner Corridor Lead with the Bentway Conservancy, Sam remains engaged within the community and is committed to advancing equity and representation within the planning profession.