Allan Cain O.C. is an architect and specialist in project planning, urban land management and is the director of Development Workshop. He has been a Visiting Professor at the University of Ottawa. He was awarded an Order of Canada in 2004 for his work in international development, social housing and contribution to peacebuilding in Angola. He has over 35 years of professional experience in developing countries, has worked as a consultant and lead research projects for the World Bank, UN Habitat and has lectured at universities in China, Angola, Norway, USA, South Africa, UK and Canada. He is on the board of several development institutions and his articles and papers have been published widely in international journals.