Leslie Woo CRE®

City builder and executive leader tackling wicked urban challenges
Summary
Leslie Cre® is a distinguished urban strategist with a strong history of driving change across the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors within the city building domain.
Currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer at CivicAction, Leslie is spearheading initiatives aimed at transforming the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, the largest and fastest-growing metropolitan center in Canada.
Previously, Leslie spent over a decade leading the planning and development of multi-billion dollar transit infrastructure projects at Metrolinx, honing expertise in urban planning and development.
Recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women in the PWC Public Sector category, Leslie has also been acknowledged as a key influencer in city building, winning accolades such as Spacing Toronto's Transit Changemaker.
An avid advocate for gender equality and women empowerment in urban development, Leslie is the visionary behind shebuildscities.org, a blog celebrating female city-builders globally.
With a diverse educational background encompassing studies in Indigenous cultural safety training, corporate performance, leadership development, and urban planning from prestigious institutions like Harvard Business School and University of Waterloo, Leslie brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her roles.
In addition to her current leadership at CivicAction, Leslie has held executive positions in renowned organizations like Infrastructure Ontario, Metrolinx, and the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, showcasing her versatile experience in policy-making, strategic planning, and infrastructure development.
As a board director on various public and not-for-profit organizations, Leslie actively contributes to the advancement of urban agendas and community welfare, embodying a commitment to inclusive and sustainable city growth.
With a strong background in architecture, planning, and environmental studies, Leslie Cre® exemplifies a multifaceted professional dedicated to reshaping urban landscapes and championing diversity in city building.