Annual Conference & Trade Show

Douglas Porter has over 30 years of experience analyzing global economies and financial markets. As Chief Economist at BMO Financial Group and author of the popular Talking Points, he oversees the macroeconomic and financial market forecasts and co-writes the firm’s weekly flagship publication, Focus. Mr. Porter manages the team that has won numerous forecasting awards. Most recently, Douglas led the team to a #1 ranking for Top U.S. Forecaster among 60 global firms in the 2023 Focus Economics Survey, and #1 for Top Canadian Inflation Forecaster among 28 firms. Also, his team took the #1 spot in the StarMine Awards for Most Accurate Forecasters for Canada in 2022.

 As a respected commentator on economic and financial trends, he is regularly quoted in the national press and often interviewed on radio and television. Douglas’ career began at the Bank of Canada; then, before joining BMO, he held the positions of Economist and Country Risk Analyst with other Canadian financial institutions. He has been a member of C.D. Howe’s Monetary Policy Council since 2008 and serves on the Investment Management Committees of the Bank of Montreal’s Canada Pension Plan and Western’s Endowment Fund.

Kevin Hamdan is an award winning Mentalist & Psychological Illusionist. He has become Toronto’s Top Mentalist and Canada’s Top Mentalist. His style of magic creates the illusion of Mind Reading and influence. Using psychology and suggestion, he will make you believe that he is really in your head. At the age of 6, Kevin’s father showed him his first Magic trick. This is what inspired Kevin to devote his life to learning the art. He has spent his life refining his craft by focusing on creating unbelievable moments of astonishment and intrigue. He focuses on connecting with his audience to ensure they have an unforgettable experience.  

Kevin has also created a very strong social media presence and has been viewed over 100 million times online! This has led Kevin to becoming one of the go to performers for celebrity parties, private events and corporate events.  His goal is to connect with his audiences and provide them with an unforgettable experience.” 

John has over 35 years of experience in mortgage lending. John is recognized as one of the most influential figures in the Canadian mortgage industry and a leading commentator on Canadian housing.

Between 2006-2023, John was the President & CEO of Scotiabank Mortgage Corporation and Head of the Real Estate Secured Lending Unit at Scotiabank. His oversight included Scotia Mortgage Authority (mortgage broker channel) and Home Financing Solutions (internal mortgage salesforce). Leading the bank’s Real Estate Secured Lending team for over 15 years, John built its broker business into the #1 lender in Canada by market share, to a point where it originated more mortgages than Scotiabank’s 940+ branches and 1200 Mortgage Salesforce Staff combined.

John was previously the President & CEO of Maple Trust, which was purchased by Scotiabank in 2006. Starting Maple Trust in 1999 as a broker-only origination business, he built Maple Trust into Canada’s fastest-growing lender before its acquisition. At the time of its acquisition, it was the country’s largest independent lender and a pioneer in the mortgage-backed securitization and Canada Mortgage Bond markets. John was inducted into the Canadian Mortgage Hall of Fame in 2009.

Tanya Woods leads Government and Regulatory Affairs at Questrade Financial Group, a successful private Canadian company with $45B+ AUA and a portfolio of leading companies offering innovative financial, home, lending, and insurance services online to help clients become more financially successful. She is a dynamic and specialized technology, regulatory, and trade lawyer, former trade negotiator, and technology policy expert who advises governments and companies on issues such as intellectual property, open finance, emerging technologies and digital trade.  She has served in advisory, board and C-suite legal and executive roles for over 20 years, successfully advancing the commercial and regulatory agendas of technology companies, including Microsoft, Nintendo, Interac, and BCE Inc. Woods also launched and led Canada’s first blockchain and digital assets trade association, was General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for the listing of Canada’s first digital asset miner on NASDAQ, advised on the development of the first global charity-led algorithmic (AI) literacy program, and sat on the Board of Canada’s first publicly traded 4D “metaverse” studio. Tanya’s leadership and contributions have been published and recognized as leader in technology and global impact by the Government of Canada, IT World, the Obama Foundation, Toastmasters International, and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, amongst others.  Woods studied law at the London School of Economics, American University, and Ottawa University and received her ICD.D from Rotman School of Business at the University of Toronto.

Andrew Gilmour is Senior Vice President, Residential at CMLS.  In this role he provides strategic direction and leadership for the residential division as well as oversight of all residential operations including sales, credit, investor relations and mortgage funding. Prior to this role, Andrew was the Managing Director of Capital Markets which included managing interest rate risk, trading, securitization and loan sales. Andrew joined CMLS in 2011 and has more than 15 years of experience in the mortgage industry. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto with a degree in Economics. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. 

Elena was part of the First National team as their first Business Development Manager during its early years in the industry.  She rejoined in 2018 to help launch the Excalibur program, First National’s alternative lending division.  Elena brings numerous years of industry expertise to her role as Vice President, Residential Sales.  Throughout her three decades in the industry, Elena has mastered her sales, business development, management and training skills.  Elena was recognized as CMP’s Women of Influence in 2021, 2022 and 2023 and listed as an Elite Women in the Global Best in Mortgage 2022.