Bios

Commercial Engineer from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. She has a Postgraduate Degree in Accessibility and Design for All from the School of Arquitecture of the Universidad Internacional de Cataluña; a Master’s Degree in Accessibility from the Global City, Smart Cities from the Universidad de Jaén and Fundación Once, and a Diploma in Sustainable Building from the Universidad de los Hemisferios and the Consejo Ecuatoriano de Edificación Sustentable CEES. She has collaborated with the Global Universal Design Commission (GUDC) since 2009 and made the first certification in Accessibility of a building in Ecuador (Centro de Convenciones Metropolitano de Quito) in 2019. She is Vice President of the Board of the Fundación Reina de Quito and was the one who promoted it since 1985.

John A. Lancaster previously served as the Executive Director of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), which is the oldest disability grassroots organization run by and for people with disabilities. NCIL advances the independent living philosophy and advocates for the full integration and participation of people with disabilities in society.

Rosemarie Rossetti, Ph.D. is an internationally recognized speaker, author, and consultant. Her presentations and consulting help people integrate universal design, accessible design, and green building features and products in home designs. Rossetti is an entrepreneur who is rethinking design and building by spearheading discussions and experiments around re-imagined living spaces.

Michael Perry is the Executive Vice President of Progressive AE, a full-service architectural firm with offices in Grand Rapids MI, and Charlotte NC. Michael served as the Principal Architect on the Mary Free Bed YMCA, the first building to be certified by the Global Universal Design Commission for its implementation of Universal Design standards.

Mr. Houghton’s broad leadership and experience in the disability arena includes presidential and gubernatorial appointments and business consulting for Fortune 500 companies as well as nonprofit organizations. His accomplishments include the development of domestic and international programs that promote full inclusion for people with disabilities through sports and recreation.

Graham Hill provides direct counsel and government affairs services to clients on legislative and regulatory issues. He previously served as the Staff Director and Senior Counsel to the United States House of Representatives’ Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines where he was responsible for managing, drafting and negotiating the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act – a Legacy for Users, “The Highway Bill.”