Contact us 1.800.698.2536
Search by Speaker Name or Topic
Jennifer Keesmaat

Jennifer Keesmaat

Canadian, Revolutionary Urban Planner; Principal of The Keesmaat Group; Former Chief City Planner of Toronto

Travels From Travels From:
Toronto, Canada
Speaking Fee Speaking Fee:
Live Event: $10,000 - $20,000
Virtual Event: $5,000 - $10,000
More Fee Info
Categories Categories:
Categories Categories:
Art & Design, Business, Business Leadership, College, Female Leadership, Innovation, Leadership, Motivational, Professors, Real Estate, Women, Women in Business
REQUEST BOOKING INFORMATION

Jennifer Keesmaat Biography

Jennifer Keesmaat, MES, RPP, MCIP, is an urban planner passionate about creating places where people flourish. Named one of the “most powerful people in Canada” by Macleans, one of the “most influential” by Toronto Life, and one of the top Women of Influence in Canada, she spent five years as Toronto’s Chief City Planner, where she was celebrated for her forward thinking and collaborative approach to city-building.

A Distinguished Visitor in Residence Emeritus at the University of Toronto, Keesmaat continues to share her vision for cities of the future, and her belief in the importance of public sector leadership through a variety of publications including The Guardian, Macleans, Foreign Affairs, The Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star and on her two podcasts, Invisible City and Within Reach.

Keesmaat is on the Advisory Board of the Urban Land Institute, Toronto, and is appointed to the International Panel of Experts, Singapore Urban Redevelopment Authority. Jennifer is on the President's Planning and Growth Advisory Board for Ohio State University.

Jennifer was a member of the National Taskforce on Housing Supply that produced a landmark policy document to inform housing development at all levels of government, The BluePrint for More and Better Housing 2024; and In May of 2024 Keesmaat was appointed to the National Housing Council by The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities.

Over the past fifteen years, as a founding partner of the Office for Urbanism and subsequently Dialog, Keesmaat worked in municipalities across Canada and around the world on urban design guidelines, official plan reviews and strategies for creating dense, walkable cities. Her planning practice is characterized by an emphasis on collaborations across sectors, and broad engagement with municipal staff, councils, developers, business leaders, NGO’s, and residents associations. Keesmaat has been recognized for her expertise in transit planning, heritage preservation, strategy development, communications, sustainable economic development and the creation of walkable, complete communities.

In 2018, Keesmaat ran for Mayor in the City of Toronto on a progressive, visionary platform that included addressing the housing crisis by building at scale on city-owned land and implementing a Rent-to-Own program; neighbourhood-based crime prevention through the development of Community Wellbeing Plans for each neighbourhood in the city; redesigning city streets to prioritize vulnerable users such as children, seniors, pedestrian and cyclists; the development of five Cultural Hubs to instigate renewal outside of the core; and the tearing down of the Gardiner Expressway to build a new walkable, transit-oriented waterfront neighbourhood community.

Keesmaat has a Combined Honours degree in Philosophy and English from the University of Western Ontario, and a Masters in Environmental Studies, Politics and Planning, from York University. As a Registered Professional Planner, her work has been repeatedly recognized by professional associations, including as the recipient of the 2016 President’s Award of Excellence, from the Canadian Institute of Planners; the 2016 Bryden Alumni Award, York University, the 2017 City Builders Award from EDIT/the Design Exchange; the International Placemaking Award, City of Lyon, France 2017; and most recently, the 2019 The Edmund N. Bacon Award from the Center for Architecture and Design, Philadelphia.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Jennifer Keesmaat and other top speakers and celebrities.

BOOK Jennifer Keesmaat

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 07/13/2025.

Jennifer Keesmaat Videos

  • The 2023 Robertson Lecture ~ Our Cities Will Define Our Future
    The 2023 Robertson Lecture ~ Our Cities Will Define Our Future
    Jennifer Keesmaat believes that now is the best possible moment locally nationally and internationally to engage.
  • Canadian Cities with Jennifer Keesmaat | The Herle Burly
    Canadian Cities with Jennifer Keesmaat | The Herle Burly
    renowned urban planner developer lecturer and public speaker … Jennifer Keesmaat ... Canadian Cities with Jennifer Keesmaat | The Herle Burly.
  • Walk to School: Jennifer Keesmaat at TEDxRegina
    Walk to School: Jennifer Keesmaat at TEDxRegina
See All Videos »

Speaker Lists Featuring Jennifer Keesmaat

Browse All Keynote Speaker Lists »

FAQs on booking Jennifer Keesmaat

  • How do I book Jennifer Keesmaat to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Jennifer Keesmaat for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Jennifer Keesmaat, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Jennifer Keesmaat or any other speaker of your choice.

  • What are the speaker fees for Jennifer Keesmaat

    Speaking fees for Jennifer Keesmaat, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Jennifer Keesmaat are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Jennifer Keesmaat, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

  • What topics does Jennifer Keesmaat speak about?

    Jennifer Keesmaat is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Art & Design, Business, Business Leadership, College, Female Leadership, Innovation, Leadership, Motivational, Professors, Real Estate, Women, Women in Business.

  • Where does Jennifer Keesmaat travel from?

    Jennifer Keesmaat generally travels from Toronto, Canada, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

  • Who is Jennifer Keesmaat’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Jennifer Keesmaat for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Jennifer Keesmaat for your next private or corporate function.

  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Jennifer Keesmaat or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Jennifer Keesmaat is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Jennifer Keesmaat for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Jennifer Keesmaat generally travels from TorontoCanada and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Libby Gill, Mary Kelly, Majora Carter, Mia Birdsong and Polly LaBarre. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Jennifer Keesmaat for an upcoming live or virtual event.

BOOK Jennifer Keesmaat

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.

  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

Need Quick Answers?

We are happy to help! Call us to speak with a booking agent about your event or specific speaker request.

Sarah Miller
phone   1.800.698.2536
Our celebrity booking agents can:

  • Gauge interest and check availability for speaking engagements, appearances or corporate events

  • Provide you with the speaking fee to book Jennifer Keesmaat or other celebrity appearance fees

  • Give you personal recommendations for the best keynote speakers or celebrities

  • Assist you with any questions you have throughout the talent booking process

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP