Ottawa Symposium 

16 years working for General Electric Canada as a Credit Manager for businesses as varied as Lighting to Aircraft Engines working on projects from turbines for the Yangzi River Dams in China to plastic car parts in Windsor.

Since 2004 with Sagen Canada in the roles of Leader of our Audit Team, Head of our Special Investigation and now as Regional Risk Manager.

Nicole Christy is a recognized leader in Canadian real estate and has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) since June 2024. With expertise in stakeholder and government relations, she has strengthened OREB’s influence by advancing housing policy, building strategic partnerships, and championing the value of REALTORS®.

 Her experience spans national organizations including the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and the Canadian Home Builders’ Association, where she worked with elected officials and industry leaders to advance housing solutions across the continuum.

 A respected thought leader and speaker, Nicole is known for her collaborative approach and her commitment to addressing the opportunities and challenges shaping Canada’s housing landscape.

A confident homeowner is a happy homeowner! For over nine years, Elyse de Varennes has used her experience in the financial services industry to empower client confidence and knowledge in their financial homeownership decisions. It’s a skill that runs in the family, in fact. She is the third generation to enter into the real estate and mortgage industries. As a licensed mortgage broker, Elyse not only helps guide her clients during the purchase of a new home, but continues to serve them through the life of the mortgage term. She has extensive experience in budgeting, refinancing and renewals, as well as purchasing properties for investment purposes. Prior to becoming a mortgage broker, Elyse spent five successful years working in real estate. She maintains her interest in the industry by investing in and managing properties of her own. Her career is built on a foundation of education in Psychology and Communications from the University of Ottawa. Born and raised in Ottawa, Elyse is fluently bilingual and happy to serve her clients in English and French.

With 18 years of leadership experience, Doug Adlam helps mortgage professionals rethink what they’re really building. In a market where most brokers are stuck chasing the next deal, Doug shifts the focus toward creating a business that actually works for you—not one that depends entirely on you.

As the founder of Adlam Innovations and Best-Selling Author of The Business of Brokering, he has developed practical frameworks that help brokers move beyond the constant grind and start building something more stable, more profitable, and more transferable over time.

In this session, Doug breaks down how to protect your income, regain lost margins, and begin structuring your business so it has value beyond your day-to-day production. Whether you plan to grow, scale, or simply create more control in your business, this conversation will change how you think about what you’re building.

Listen to this keynote to start building a business that lasts!