The roots of the Bird family are several generations deep in the Ottawa area, instilling in Graham the belief that as a native son he had an obligation to future generations to keep making Ottawa better. As President of GBA, Graham often says that helping to build Ottawa is a great privilege — to imagine what could be, to work with visionary partners, and then together, to build and achieve that vision. “Getting to be creative and help shape the city you were born and raised in really isn’t work – it’s play,” he says.

Graham spends his days — and often many evenings — playing out possibilities to solve complex redevelopment projects to ensure they are completed on time and on budget. Most importantly, he works to ensure they are built so that a community becomes more memorable and more relevant.

With more than 30 years of experience in the development business throughout Canada, Graham has managed a wide variety of multidisciplinary projects for both the public and private sectors. He is particularly respected for understanding the business force of development — the need for building solutions into the design, the construction and the operations of new infrastructure; solutions that are flexible and respond promptly to the requirements of clients or markets.

Graham has a successful track record in leading-edge, complex redevelopment — whether it is institutional, commercial, residential, or mixed-use — through all of the applicable phases including planning, design, construction, financing, approval, communications, and operations. A member of the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario, Graham holds a degree in Applied Science from Queen’s University.

After a 43 year career as an engineering consultant, Carlos Da Silva joined GBA in 2023 as a Senior Technical Advisor for The Ottawa Hospital. Carlos brings a solution-oriented engineering approach which has been well regarded over the years by owners and contractors.  His insight and relaxed approach helps unite project design teams and facilitate a proper working environment for the successful completion of any development.

After graduating from the University of Ottawa with a BASc in Civil Engineering, Carlos started his engineering career in 1980 working with engineering firms in the Ottawa and Gatineau area for both private and public clients as a geotechnical and materials testing engineer. In 1990, he joined an Ottawa firm as a senior geotechnical engineer and established an environmental division, also expanding the materials testing, hydrogeological and archaeological divisions.  In 1998, Carlos transitioned to the role of the President and CEO, establishing the corporate foundation that contributed to the success and growth of that engineering firm.

His practical and sound engineering and design solutions have benefited projects such as the redevelopment of Lansdowne Park, the Ottawa Conference Centre (Shaw Centre), the Ernst and Young Convention Centre, the Ottawa Heart Institute, the Sudbury General Hospital, the West Block retrofit for the House of Commons and Visitors Centre at Parliament Hill, the Ottawa Cancer Centre, the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the CSIS Headquarters, the CSCC complex on Ogilvie Road, the Nortel Complex on Moodie Drive along with most high-rise buildings constructed in the Ottawa downtown core.  He has also been involved in projects nationally and internationally.

John joined GBA Group in 2022 as the Senior Project Manager for The Ottawa Hospital’s New Campus Development project. John holds a degree in Economics from the University of Ottawa, Project Management Professional, and accreditation from LEED.

With over ten years of prior experience in construction project management in the Ottawa region, he brings extensive knowledge in project leadership, oversight and accountability in all aspects of his work.

As a lifelong resident of Ottawa, John brings an authentic dedication to the Ottawa project management sector and is committed to helping to improve and shape the city we live in.

With his bachelor of mechanical engineering, Kushal built on his education and project management experience by completing his masters in mechanical engineering from the University of Ottawa in 2019.

Including his extensive experience with projects in India, Kushal has worked on noteworthy projects including the Light Rail Transit Stage 2 Expansion.

Living in Ottawa since 2018, Kushal is passionate about contributing to the major projects in the nation’s capital and shaping the city that he loves. During his downtime he takes care of Winter, his Siberian Husky.