Farida Abu-Bakare is a highly talented and skilled architect known for delivering innovative and focused solutions in challenging contexts. With a Master of Architecture from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), a Bachelor of Architectural Studies from Carleton University, and registered as an architect in Ontario – Canada, Farida is the Director of Global Practice at the award-winning architecture, urban design, and planning firm WXY based in New York. She has prior experience as an Associate at HOK and Project Director at Adjaye Associates, which has helped her establish an extensive portfolio of community-driven projects across North America, Africa, and the Middle East.
Through her steadfast commitment to excellence and passion for diversity, Farida has made a significant impact on the architecture and design profession in Canada. She is the emeritus Community Affairs Director of NOMA Atlanta Chapter and co-founded BAIDA (Black Architects and Interior Designers Association), a pan-Canadian non-profit organization promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in architecture and interior design. As an elected Council member of the Ontario Association of Architects (2021-2023), and enthusiast of bridging the gap between practice and academia, Farida’s dedication to education and professional development is evident through her stint with Yale University School of Architecture, and work as a Sessional Lecturer at the University of Toronto – John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design – as part of a multi-year initiative with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) based in Kumasi, Ghana. She is passionate about driving disruptive innovation in the architecture and design profession, and her proven track record of successful built-projects, leadership and community service supports this goal.