Meet the Team
Meet MTSO’s leadership team who coordinate campaigns, partnerships, and advocacy efforts to push for more frequent, reliable, and accessible transit networks.
Join our team!
We are looking to fill our leadership team with new members! If you are interested in representing your region as an MTSO Lead, join us!
Haadhi Faizal
Founder and Co-Executive Director
Haadhi is a civil engineering student at the University of Waterloo and a passionate advocate for transportation and housing issues across the region. He founded More Transit Southern Ontario with the goal of advancing public advocacy for a connected and reliable transit network while addressing service cuts that have impacted communities.
As the leader of MTSO’s advocacy initiatives, Haadhi is responsible for researching and analyzing policy, technical documents, and data related to transit infrastructure and services. His work ensures that MTSO’s positions are grounded in evidence and sound technical understanding. A significant achievement in his role was leading the publication of MTSO’s first-ever technical document—a comprehensive report on the Bowmanville GO Train Extension. The report called for Metrolinx to prioritize transparency and collaboration in accommodating at least six to eight electrified trains per hour, aiming to optimize travel times and improve service frequency.
Haadhi’s leadership at MTSO continues to drive impactful advocacy efforts aimed at reversing service cuts, improving transit infrastructure, and ensuring that the region’s transit network is designed to meet the evolving needs of its riders.
Jonathan Lee How Cheong
Co-Executive Director
Jonathan Lee is the Co-Executive Director and founding member of More Transit Southern Ontario. He is passionate about equitable and reliable transportation and leads MTSO’s efforts to push for better transit policies, service expansions, and infrastructure investments that put riders first.
His leadership is focused on engaging riders to make their voices heard for better transit networks across the province. One of his first advocacy efforts was the More GO Buses campaign started on October 15th during the first Canada-wide “Transit Action Week” led by Environmental Defence, with a goal to enhance regional transit connectivity by providing residents with more reliable bus routes.
Jonathan has also been involved in broader campaigns with TTCriders and the Toronto Youth Cabinet, calling for improved service reliability, expanded transit frequency, and better integration between municipal and regional transit networks. As a frequent transit rider himself, Jonathan brings firsthand experience to his advocacy work, recognizing the daily challenges that commuters face, including frequent subway closures, detours, and standing in the cold waiting for a bus.
His vision is for a transit network that prioritizes riders, fosters sustainable urban mobility, and ensures that public transportation remains a viable and attractive option for all.
Max Cheung
Policy Director
Max is a fourth-year Geography student at the University of Toronto. As one of the organization’s founding members, he played a key role in shaping MTSO’s mission to advocate for transit on a regional scale. His work builds on the efforts of past advocates while expanding the organization’s reach to address transit challenges across a broader geographical area.
In his role as Policy Director, Max focuses on research, policy development, and strategic advocacy to push for better transit planning and investment. His work ensures that MTSO’s recommendations are data-driven and aligned with the needs of riders. Through reports, public engagement, and collaboration with policymakers, he contributes to shaping a transit network that is more efficient, accessible, and responsive to the communities it serves.
Noah Dykstra
Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge & Guelph Lead
Noah is a high school student from Kitchener, who is excited to be a part of the MTSO team. As a former resident of Calgary and a current resident of Waterloo Region, he hopes to make an impact on transit in Kitchener and Waterloo as an MTSO Lead for his region. Within his role, he plans to improve transit accessibility and foster better, more connected communities for the Twin Cities.
In his free time, Noah enjoys exploring ways to design systems that make urban spaces more livable and efficient. He wrote comments to the Guelph City Council in support of a Guelph to Cambridge rail link and requested the council to advance this project, which is currently in its planning stage.
Arushi Nath
Toronto Lead
Arushi Nath is a Foresight Fellow, 2024 Masason Scholar, and a two-time winner of Canada’s Top Young Scientist Award. She is passionate about using science to bridge the gap between data and policy, advocating for evidence-based decision-making in local and global challenges.
As a high school student who navigates downtown Toronto daily, she has firsthand experience with transit issues and the challenges of unreliable public transportation. She has engaged in transit advocacy through deputations and rallies, and she contributes to discussions on transit policy as part of the Toronto Youth Cabinet’s Transit Group. With expertise in astrophysics, AI, and public engagement, she believes in an interdisciplinary approach to tackling societal issues.
Sylvia Menezes Roberts
Brampton Lead
Sylvia is a dedicated transit and housing advocate with over five years of experience shaping municipal governance in Brampton. She is passionate about creating equitable, accessible cities and has a proven track record of turning grassroots advocacy into concrete public policy.
Notably, Sylvia spearheaded the successful initiative to implement transit fare capping in Brampton. Recognizing that service delays during the pandemic were forcing riders into excessively long, multi-fare trips, she successfully lobbied City Council to adopt a “12-ride cap” per week for PRESTO users.
This permanent policy change provides direct financial relief to daily commuters and eliminates the cognitive and financial burden for parents navigating transit costs for their families. Sylvia continues to champion structural changes that make local government work better for the people who rely on its services every day.
Michael Olivier (Mike)
GO Transit Lead
Mike began his career in the aerospace industry as an avionics software engineer, working on commercial airliners before applying his engineering expertise as a research and development consultant. He later transitioned to public transit operations as a bus driver, combining firsthand industry experience with a longstanding passion for transit advocacy.
A respected transportation writer and commentator, Mike has served as a correspondent for Urban Transport International in Paris and the United Kingdom’s Tramways & Urban Transport magazine. He currently serves as Managing Editor of London Reconnections, overseeing the North American, Industry, and Friday Reads desks, while also contributing to the publication’s Pneumatic Railway, Marine, and Airship desks.
Drawing on decades of experience across engineering, transportation operations, and journalism, Mike brings a unique perspective to discussions on transit policy, technology, and urban mobility.