Welcome to COMTO Toronto & Region
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Ensuring Transportation Serves All
Our mission is to advance and broaden the transportation industry to more effectively mirror the communities it serves, by creating opportunities for our members through high-level collaborations and partnerships with organizations across various sectors.
Leadership
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MAVARA TURAB
President
Mavara is a dedicated and passionate leader in the transportation industry, serving as the President of the COMTO Toronto and Region Board. With nearly 20 years of global experience within the transportation industry, Mavara brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to this role, currently holding the position of Director of Rail and Transit (Transportation Systems) with WSP Canada.
Mavara has been committed to the advancement of the transportation sector and devoted to creating an inclusive environment where every voice is heard and valued, advocating for equitable practices and policies.
Mavara's extensive industry experience, both nationally and internationally, has honed her skills in strategic planning, leadership, program management, and stakeholder engagement. As President, she aims to grow the chapter, attract new members and sponsors from both the public and private sectors, and foster a vibrant community dedicated to advancing COMTO’s mission.
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James Yu
First Vice President
James is the Senior Project Manager in Transportation Services Division at the City of Toronto. He has almost 20 years of public sector experience managing projects; developing strategy and implementing innovative solutions. James manages the budget development and control of a multi-year operating budget totaling almost $500 million annually for all activities including operations and maintenance for traffic infrastructure, roads, sidewalks, and other multi-modal transportation networks.
In addition to his professional responsibilities, James is active in the transportation community advancing women in the industry as a member of Women Transportation Seminar (WTS) Toronto Area Chapter since 2013. He has served as a board member on WTS in various roles such as the Treasurer and Board Administrator. James also developed the Equity, Division & Inclusion Committee in 2023 including the first Women of the Year Award recognizing women with exemplary achievements in the transportation industry.
James has a Bachelor of Arts and Masters in Public Policy, Administration, and Law both from York University.
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charissa iogna
2nd Vice President
Charissa is a Senior Project Manager in Transportation Services Division at the City of Toronto. She has over 14 years of public sector experience in the transportation industry. She is a transportation planner specializing in transit infrastructure development, social equity, and stakeholder engagement. She has led consultant teams that supported several large-scale transit infrastructure projects in Toronto including the Scarborough Subway Extension, Eglinton East LRT, Eglinton West LRT, Durham Region BRT, Ontario Line, SmartTrack, and fare integration in Toronto. In her current role, she examines the impact of micromobility within Toronto’s complex multi-modal transportation network, with a strong emphasis on equity and safety for vulnerable road users of all ages and abilities. Outside of work, you can find Charissa with her family playing hockey or soccer. Charissa has an Honors Bachelor of Arts and a Masters of Science in Planning both from the University of Toronto.
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nithya vijayakumar
Secretary
Nithya is a Project Manager with TTC’s Fare Policy team, where she leads and supports initiatives that enhance customer experience, advance equity and accessibility, and inform strategic decision making. With more than 15 years of experience working across sectors in the transportation industry in consulting, the public sector, and non-profit organizations, bringing a collaborative and community-centered approach to complex transportation challenges.
Passionate about creating more connected and inclusive communities, Nithya believes transportation infrastructure can be a catalyst to enhancing local communities. She has led grassroot efforts to improve public spaces and active transportation connections in Toronto’s west end, organizing community events, public art initiatives, and even a neighbourhood parade to build support for safer and more accessible routes alongside major transit investments. In recognition of her community leadership, Nithya received an Ontario Community Changemakers grant in 2024. In 2026, she celebrated a significant
milestone when a pedestrian pathway, advocated for by local residents, was approved after years of sustained community engagement and advocacy in the Junction Triangle.
Through both her professional and volunteer work, Nithya is committed to advancing equitable, accessible, and people-focused transportation systems that strengthen communities and improve quality of life.
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Yuval Grinspun
Director at Large
Yuval Grinspun (PMP, P.Eng.) has been working in the public transit industry since 2002. He has supported large-scale transformation projects for agencies across the continent. In 2014 he founded Left Turn Right Turn to support organizations across the country on business strategy, service planning, accessibility, and technology programs. Since, then, LTRT has grown to a 25-strong person consulting firm that’s developed important transportation and accessibility projects for organizations across Canada. Yuval has been on the Board of Directors and enthusiastic support of COMTO Toronto and Region since 2023; he is also on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) and sits on various industry committees. Outside of work, Yuval is obsessed with board game design, curling, beach volleyball, puzzles, interesting food and his family.
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Mustafa Mirza
Director at Large
Mustafa Mirza, P.Eng., PMP, is Vice President of Rail & Transit Ontario at WSP Canada, with nearly 20 years of experience in delivering complex rail and transit projects globally. He leads a team of professionals, overseeing systems integration, assurance, and engineering across major initiatives across Canada, including Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Montreal, and Quebec City. Mustafa is a licensed Professional Engineer and a certified PMP. He is a recognized industry leader, named to Mass Transit Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2019. Mustafa actively supports the transportation community, serving on the Board of Directors for COMTO Toronto and Region Chapter since 2023, and mentoring through WTS Toronto. He has also contributed to policy development as a member of the Toronto Region Board of Trade’s Transportation Policy Committee. His technical leadership, advocacy for high-performing inclusive teams, and dedication to innovation continue to shape the future of transit in Canada and beyond.
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Dwayne Geddes
Director at Large
Dwayne is a 21-year transit professional who spent the first 18 years of his career at the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) before joining Metrolinx in 2022. He began his journey in public transit in 2004 as a Light Rail Vehicle Operator and went on to hold a variety of progressively senior leadership roles across multiple departments at the TTC. His experience includes key positions in streetcar transportation, bus transportation, Employee Relations, the Operations Control Centre, and as Department Head of Wheel-Trans.
Dwayne was a part of the inaugural Toronto chapter of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO). He served as the first vice-president and played a vital role in establishing the first chapter of COMTO in Canada. Dwayne is a strong advocate for employment equity, and for expanding diversity and inclusion opportunities within the transportation industry.
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Lee Caragiale
Director at Large
Lee Caragiale is a transportation professional with 14 years of experience managing complex projects and multidisciplinary teams across industries and countries. She holds an MBA from ESSEC Business School, complemented by continuing education in sustainable planning at Seneca. As HDR's Transportation Equity Lead for Canada, Lee is spearheading a shift in planning and engineering practices to enable HDR’s teams to improve project outcomes for all, and to support clients across Canada with frameworks and methodologies for more equitable decision-making. Prior to joining HDR, Lee spent six years at Metrolinx, where she led major transit infrastructure planning studies, with a proven ability to align conflicting interests toward shared goals.
In addition to advancing industry practices through her collaborations with Mobilizing Justice and TAC’s Equity and Health Working Group, Lee is deeply committed to supporting
her professional peers. Over the years, she has been active in several industry organizations, beginning with Young Professionals in Transportation Toronto, where she chaired the Programs Committee in 2018-2019 before serving as Board Chair in 2020-21 and Deputy Chair in 2023. She is also a member of WTS and co chaired the WTS Toronto Conference Technical Tours Subcommittee in 2024-2025, later joining COMTO Toronto & Region in 2025 as Communications Committee Chair.
Lee believes that an industry that truly reflects the diversity of its communities is essential to achieving more equitable transportation systems and outcomes. This conviction drives her enthusiasm for supporting the growth of the COMTO Toronto & Region chapter and advancing its mission and strategy as a Board director.
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Johana Gimon
Program Committee Chair
Johana Gimon is a Senior Project Manager at WSP with a strong background in rail, transit, and major infrastructure projects. Throughout her career, she has developed extensive experience in project management, multidisciplinary team leadership, project delivery, and business development. She is passionate about bringing people together, supporting professional growth, and creating opportunities for collaboration across the transportation industry.
In addition to her project responsibilities, Johana is actively involved in mentorship and professional development, helping individuals build their skills, expand their networks, and progress in their careers. As Programming Committee Chair for COMTO Toronto, she helps develop meaningful programs that connect professionals, encourage knowledge sharing, and strengthen relationships across the transportation community. Through this role, she supports COMTO’s commitment to advancing equity, representation, and opportunity within the sector. Johana is also committed to supporting the next generation of transportation leaders and contributing to a more inclusive and collaborative industry.
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