Council/Directory of Officials

President/APPI Council Chair

Erik Backstrom, RPP

Erik Backstrom is an urban planner with a focus on creating walkable communities and fostering a love of place. As a senior planner at the City of Edmonton, Erik leads complex city-building projects and manages the heritage program. He previously worked in consulting. Erik has degrees from the University of Alberta, where he has since lectured at the School of Urban and Regional Planning, and the University of British Columbia.

Erik has volunteered extensively on behalf of the planning profession. After organizing professional events in Edmonton, he served on APPI Council in 2004-06 and then was an oral examiner, chair of the nominating committee, and returning officer. He led the fundraising to establish the Peter J Smith Medal in Planning at the U of A and represented Alberta on the Canadian Institute of Planner’s centenary committee in 2016-19.

Family, faith, history, and hiking are other important parts of Erik’s life. His best moments are spent in a temple, archive, dinner conversation or on a mountain trail.

President Elect

Margaret Kralt, RPP

Margaret Kralt has been a Registered Professional Planner since 2012, prior to that, she was a provisional member since 2007.  Located in Yellowknife, NT, she is currently a Partner with Dillon Consulting and has held various leadership roles, including senior leadership positions on Dillon’s National Planning team. This has given her a broad understanding of the planning issues in most jurisdictions in Canada.  She has also been a member of the APPI Council for the last four years.  

In her 20 years of practice, she has been involved in community planning in Northern Canada and Alberta, working with most of the small communities in the Northwest Territories and the City of Yellowknife.  She understands how important it is to build relationships, the connection between the community and the natural landscape. Many northern communities are experiencing the impacts of a changing climate, which is threatening physical infrastructure and access to the landscape for traditional activities.  Applying planning approaches that focus on building relationships, a sense of place, and the connection to the landscape have been important and have shaped her professional career. 

Councillor

Debra Hamilton, RPP

Deb Hamilton is the General Manager of Planning & Development Services at The City of Calgary. Her career in public service spans over 25 years in municipal government settings in both Canada and the United States including 14 years in management positions with The City of Calgary. Deb is a Registered Professional Planner (RPP) and a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners (MCIP). She has a Master of Environmental Design (Planning) from The University of Calgary and a Bachelor of Arts (Geography) from The University of Windsor.

Councillor

Lilit Houlder, RPP

Lilit Houlder is an Edmonton-based urban planner with expertise in urban design, community engagement, and development across public and private sectors. She holds a BA in Sociology and Human Geography from the University of Alberta and a Master of Planning from the University of Calgary. Lilit has served as Vice-Chair of Women in Urbanism Canada (WiUC) and President of the Student Association at the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape (SAPLSA). She remains actively involved in professional committees, including recent contributions to the Events and Awards Committees with the Alberta Professional Planners Institute (APPI) and the Infill Development in Edmonton Association (IDEA).

Councillor

Hilary Janzen, RPP

Hilary Janzen is a Registered Professional Planner with more than 20 years of experience in both rural and urban planning environments. She has worked in a variety of municipal contexts, including the City of Edmonton and Lethbridge County, and currently serves as Director of Planning, Development and Economic Development for the Town of Taber. Hilary values open dialogue and transparency in the planning process and is committed to improving municipal plans and processes through inclusive and collaborative decision-making.

Hilary is a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners and holds a Master of Planning degree from Queen’s University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Manitoba.

Councillor

Nabil Malik, RPP

Nabil Malik is a Fort McMurray–based Registered Professional Planner and Land Manager for the Mikisew Cree First Nation, with over a decade of experience in land stewardship, public policy, and community development. He leads initiatives related to land governance, regulatory processes, and strategic engagement, working with Indigenous partners, government, industry, and the non-profit sector to navigate complex planning and development environments. His experience spans major development and infrastructure projects, as well as strategic planning and policy development, where he balances community priorities with the long-term stewardship of land and resources.

Nabil brings extensive volunteer experience within the planning profession across Alberta and Canada, having held roles with the Alberta Professional Planners Institute, the Canadian Institute of Planners, and the Planning Students Board. He also contributes to governance and leadership in the arts and cultural sector at both regional and provincial levels, supporting cultural policy, strategic planning, and public investment in the arts.

Councillor

Connor Smith, RPP

Connor has been a consulting planner for 15 years with Al-Terra Engineering Ltd. and has worked extensively throughout the Edmonton region specializing in Area Structure Plans, subdivision design, public engagement, and transportation planning. With a wide range of public and private clients, Connor expands public support for innovative development, brings policies to life, and confidence to clients.

Educated in Urban Studies at the University of Calgary, Connor broadly embraces opportunities to grow knowledge in all facets of planning and to share through mentorship and involvement with APPI. A committed volunteer with APPI and CIP with extensive further education in design and engagement (IAP2) and numerous industry initiatives, Connor brings high-level policies to the ground and takes pride in thoughtful policy development, forward-thinking design, meaningful collaboration, and effective implementation.  

Councillor

Martino Verhaeghe, RPP

Martino Verhaeghe is a registered professional planner and experienced municipal executive with over 22 years of expertise in planning and development at both municipal and provincial levels in both Alberta and Saskatchewan and more than a decade in senior leadership roles. Having worked within a diversity of urban and rural municipalities, Martino has been the Director of Planning and Economic Development for the Municipal District of Greenview No. 16 for the past 4 years.  Martino has a Bachelor of Science in Geography from the University of Lethbridge and his Certificate in Municipal Management and Leadership from the University of Alberta. His additional training in environmental subdivision design, planning law, and Charrette Development reflects his passion for transformative community planning. Martino is glad to be able to continue his volunteer work with APPI Council, having previously served on SPPI Council in Saskatchewan, over 5 years as the Chair of the Yellowhead County SDAB and his current work with 4 H Alberta and Greenview Search and Rescue.

Public Member

Executive Director/Registrar