Our People
Executive Chair
Murtaza Haider
Murtaza Haider is a professor and the Radhe Krishna Gupta Executive Chair in Cities and Communities in the Alberta School of Business at the 海角社区.
As the executive director of the Cities Institute at the 海角社区, his work helps bridge the gap between data-driven insights and real-world city-building strategies, shaping the future of urban development in Canada and globally. In his position as executive chair of the institute, Haider will serve as a convenor of 海角社区 expertise around industry-identified challenges, positioning Alberta as a leader in creating real-world solutions that make our cities more vibrant, sustainable and inclusive.
A professor in the department of marketing, business economics, and law at the Alberta School of Business, Haider’s research interests include business analytics, data science, housing market dynamics, transportation, infrastructure, urban planning and human development in Canada and South Asia.
Previously, Haider has held positions as the associate dean of graduate programs in the Ted Rogers School of Management at Toronto Metropolitan University and served as the research director of the Urban Analytics Institute. He has also served as associate dean of research and graduate programs, director of internationalization, interim director of the School of Health Services Management, and chair of the Department of Real Estate Management at Toronto Metropolitan University.
He began his academic career at McGill University as an assistant professor in the Faculty of Engineering, where he founded and directed the Urban Systems Lab, funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation.
Murtaza Haider holds a master's degree in transport engineering and a Ph.D. in civil engineering from the University of Toronto.
Research Fellows
David Dale-Johnson
Professor David Dale-Johnson is the Stan Melton Executive Professor in Real Estate at the Alberta School of Business. He holds a PhD in economics from the University of California at Berkeley and has taught at UBC, Cal Berkeley, USC and Peking University. An expert in real estate economics, finance and city-building, he teaches real estate economics, investment, finance and development. David is committed to using his expertise to build collaboration in the business of city building.
Tianran Dai
Dai's research encompasses urban economics, labor economics, and development economics, with a particular interest in neighborhoods.
James Macek
Macek studies the economics of housing affordability and regulation. His current work assesses the costs and benefits of minimum lot size restrictions and the taxation of building teardowns. These works share a common theme: how housing regulations affect neighborhoods’ social composition and value.
John Pracejus
Professor John Pracejus’ research focuses on consumers' emotional responses to marketing, visual communications and brand associations. He holds a Ph.D. in Marketing from the University of Florida and an M.A. in Communications from the University of Illinois. He has published work in numerous reputable journals and has presented research findings in over 20 countries. Additionally, he has taught at universities in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Hong Kong, Russia and the United States.
Nathan Schiff
Schiff's research spans urban economics, public economics, and industrial organization, with a focus on how geography affects the characteristics of markets and economic outcomes.
STAFF
Diana Ton
Diana Ton is the Centre Director for the Cities Institute. She earned her Bachelor of Commerce degree from MacEwan University in 2016 and later completed a Master of Business Administration in Community Economic Development from Cape Breton University.
Diana brings a wealth of experience from diverse roles and industries, including human resources in non-profit organizations, media consultation in an advertising agency, and project management in both construction and higher education. Her multifaceted background equips her with a unique perspective in leading community-focused initiatives and fostering innovative urban development strategies.
Outside of her professional endeavours, Diana is passionate about travelling, health and fitness and cherishing quality time with her family.
Will Alloway
Will Alloway is the growth coordinator for the Cities Institute. He graduated from the Alberta School of Business' Bachelor of Commerce program in 2017 and has worked in business banking, communications and as an analyst in law enforcement. Will enjoys being at the intersection of commerce and creativity, using practicality and business to facilitate artistic endeavours in the community. He has worked in the city-building space for a number of years and is a self-published fiction author. Outside of work, Will enjoys going on river valley hikes, kayaking and trying new food.