Ottawa Symposium 

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. 

Chris started his mortgage career in 1999 at RDM Financial (The Mortgage Centre) after spending four years moving through the corporate ladder at Levi Strauss & Company’s Canadian head office. He quickly put his sales and customer service skills to good use and grew his mortgage practice to become one of the largest in Canada. After 15 years in the mortgage industry, Chris went back to school on a part-time basis to obtain an MBA, where he received Notre Dame’s highest award (The Dean’s Award) for his class, as chosen by administration, faculty, and his peers.  

He led a small group of classmates through a research project on the Appraisal Management Industry in North America, which was based on his experience in the mortgage industry. The research was the genesis for Value Connect, a new appraisal solution with the highest Google Reviews rating in the industry. Chris devotes 100% of his time to changing the way everybody feels about property appraisals by making them ridiculously simple and efficient for the betterment of loan originators, appraisers, and lenders.   

Ian Lee is a professor at Carleton University in the Sprott School of Business teaching and researching business strategy and public policy, since 1988. Previously, he was employed in banking as a Loan Manager, Mortgage Manager and Commercial Credit Officer for 9 years, lending millions in personal loans, mortgages and lines of credit to SMEs and non profits, in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario.

After the 1991 collapse of USSR, he taught extensively in EMBA programs in universities across Central and Eastern Europe in Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Latvia, Croatia, Czech.  Since 1995, he has taught frequently in China, Poland, Romania, Cuba, Iran. He is a frequent media analyst concerning the impact of federal economic policies on CTV, Global, CBC and talk radio including weekly appearances on Sirius National Radio with Matt Gurney and Arlene Bynon and Rob Snow on Rogers and Bell Media stations. He has published over 25 Op-Eds and appeared over 50 times before House of Commons & Senate committees since 1995. He published the definitive empirical analysis of the Chretien Government downsizing 1995-98 and the Harper Government downsizing 2012-13.

Leo Maiorino, a highly experienced mortgage broker in Ottawa, brings over 30 years of expertise in the financial services industry. His career includes a 20-year tenure with RBC Financial Group, where he held leadership roles such as Branch Manager, Regional Sales Manager, and Vice President at RBC Investments, and Vice President Private Banking. This background gives him extensive knowledge in financial products and customer service, which is a key asset in his current role at Mortgage Brokers Ottawa. Clients consistently praise Leo for his reliable, personalized service and deep industry insight. Many highlight his ability to simplify complex financial concepts, making them feel confident in their mortgage decisions. His calm demeanor, attention to detail, and dedication to securing the best rates for his clients have earned him a stellar reputation. First-time homebuyers especially appreciate his patience and thorough explanations, which help them navigate the overwhelming process of purchasing a home.

His team is known for being responsive, supportive, and informative throughout the mortgage process. Clients often mention that Leo and his team made their experiences smooth and stress-free, with some saying they were surprised by how good the mortgage rates were. His approachable and knowledgeable style has led to long-lasting relationships with clients, many of whom return for mortgage renewals or refer him to friends and family.

Matt Yakabuski is a local to Ottawa and has been a dedicated professional in the mortgage industry for over 15 years, including 13+ years as a Mortgage Agent. He’s committed to helping clients achieve their homeownership dreams. Outside of work, Matt enjoys spending time with his wife, Erinn, and their children, Whitney and Weston. You can often find him on the golf course, at the cottage, or cheering from the rinks (quietly).