Leela Viswanathan

Dr. Leela Viswanathan is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Queen's University's School of Urban and Regional Planning, Department of Geography and Planning. She is the Principal and Founder of Viswali Consulting, a firm specializing in planning with purpose and systems change. Her work focuses on equity, inclusion, and Indigenous-municipal relations in land use planning.

Education: B.A. (McGill University), M.E.S. in Planning (York University), Ph.D. (York University), with professional certifications as a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Planners (FCIP) and Registered Professional Planner (RPP).

Research Interests: Dr. Viswanathan prioritizes decolonization, reconciliation, and systemic change in planning practices. She leads the Planning with Indigenous Peoples (PWIP) Research Group, a SSHRC-funded initiative examining Indigenous-municipal relations in Ontario. Her work bridges academic and community-based research to address both technical and adaptive challenges in planning.

Key Projects: The PWIP Group (2014–2022) explored Indigenous rights in land use policies, while her consulting work applies innovative approaches to social inclusion and equity. Recent publications analyze policy reforms, Indigenous-led social innovations, and postcolonial planning frameworks.

Grants & Collaborations: Principal Investigator of the SSHRC-funded PWIP project. Collaborates with First Nations communities and municipal governments to co-create equitable land-use solutions.

Labs/Teams: Director of the PWIP Research Group and Viswali Consulting, fostering interdisciplinary partnerships to advance transformative planning practices.