When it comes to building better cities, Jonathan Lampman doesn’t just talk about it - he’s lived every layer of it.
From his earliest days on construction sites in Southern Ontario to consulting on housing supply strategy for major municipalities, Jonathan has developed a uniquely well-rounded perspective on the systems that shape our communities. His journey reveals a professional who understands not only how our infrastructure is built, but also how it's funded, managed, and too often, neglected.
After earning his Civil Engineering Technology diploma from Fanshawe College, Jonathan dove headfirst into real estate development. His hands-on experience began with constructing seniors’ homes and commercial centres, a foundational chapter that grounded him in practical project delivery.
But it was his shift into heavy civil infrastructure with North America Construction that added depth to his technical expertise. Overseeing ethanol plant builds and major water and wastewater facilities, Jonathan became intimately familiar with the mechanics and complexities of large-scale infrastructure projects.
A move into municipal leadership followed, where Jonathan became Director of Infrastructure & Operations. It was here that his perspective shifted from building infrastructure to owning and maintaining it. “What I saw,” he explains, “was how deeply misunderstood the sustainability requirements of our public infrastructure systems are by stakeholders from all sectors - especially water systems. They’re chronically underfunded, held together by temporary cash injections from higher levels of government, and slowly deteriorating underground.”
This revelation sparked a passion for sustainable systems and efficient service delivery. It also shaped his move into the world of infrastructure consulting with Colliers Project Leaders. Today, Jonathan helps clients navigate complex capital projects, from Net-Zero seniors’ housing developments to strategic advisory projects like urban boundary analysis in London, Ontario.
Beyond his work with Colliers, Jonathan is expanding his influence through academic and industry involvement. He recently completed a Graduate Diploma in Public Administration at Western University and is now pursuing an MBA in Digital Transformation at McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business. It’s a natural next step for someone who believes that Canada’s infrastructure future lies in pairing technical expertise with data-driven innovation.
This belief is also what led him to engage with the Smart Cities Council, where he advocates for cross-municipal knowledge sharing, improved infrastructure resilience, and the need for political systems that support long-term, data-informed planning.
Despite systemic hurdles, Jonathan remains focused on solutions. He sees smart infrastructure and digital transformation as critical tools for solving Canada's most pressing challenges, especially the housing affordability crisis and the strain on municipal systems.
As a professional whose experience spans construction boots to city hall boardrooms to executive consulting tables, Jonathan Lampman offers a grounded yet forward-thinking voice in the smart city conversation. His journey underscores a powerful idea: sustainable cities aren’t just built. They’re carefully managed, continuously improved, and shaped by those who understand every side of the system.
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