Working in community development over the last six years has illustrated that communities are often under-represented in decision making processes that affect their built environment - with results that can greatly impact quality of life. There can be a huge disconnect between how development projects are reviewed, how information is released to the public, and the Council approved outcomes - but there doesn’t have to be. I want to be an ambassador for the IAP2 because I truly believe in participatory processes and the impact they have on creating transparency and better outcomes for cities, decision-makers, stakeholders, and the public.