2024 Canadian Lenders Summit:
Welcome to The Future of Lending™.
From banks and alternative lenders to best-of-breed vendor from the fintech ecosystem, the Summit is the hub for innovation across all consumer and commercial sectors. On November 6th, 2024, network with over 600 industry executives.
(See last year’s sold out event.)
2024 Speakers
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Jason Mullins CLA Vice Chair | CEO -
Michael Fox CRO -
Bob Dugan Chief Economist -
Michael McGhee SVP & Head, TD Auto Finance Canada -
Sue Noble VP, Commercial Financial Services Strategy -
Mona Afzal Global Director | Head Enterprise Growth -
Scott Morrison President & Managing Director -
William Tsutsumida Chief Credit Risk Officer -
Amir Tehrani Head of BMO Home Financing -
Michael Garrity Chairperson -
Kevin Carmichael Editor-at-Large -
Martin Nel EVP & CRO -
Hamed Arbabi CEO | Founder -
Wayne Pommen Chief Revenue Officer -
Jessica Moffat General Manager -
Lauren Thompson VP Specialty Finance -
Hamid Akbari CEO -
Misha Esipov CEO -
Akash Goyal Managing Director, Debt Capital Markets -
Ryan Brinkhurst CEO | Founder -
Lora Paglia SVP, Chief Risk Officer -
Tal Schwartz General Partner -
Casper Wong CEO -
Brent Reynolds CEO | Founder -
Jason Appel CRO -
Zack Fuerstenberg SVP, President Credit Union -
Rasha Katabi CEO | Founder -
Nicky Senyard Founder -
Thomas Becher Head of SME Banking -
Arina Eremina SVP Portfolio Risk -
Noah Buchman President | Co-Founder -
Amit Sadhu SVP, Risk -
Bill Johnston SVP Product & Innovation -
Mickey Mingov Managing Director -
Pamela Dodaro VP | Chief Product Officer -
Matt Connors Financial Services -
Sumit Sarkar Head, Customer Growth, Segment & Value Prop -
Scott Satov CEO | Founder -
Cindy Zhang Payments | Cards | FinTech -
Matthew Browning President -
Naga Parvatharajan CEO -
Paul Edwards Director, Risk Decision Sciences -
Thomas Oddie Vice President, Data and Analytics -
Vaishali Mohan-Hollands VP Product and Support -
Richard Valade President -
Karim Nanji CEO -
Gary Schwartz- President | CEO -
Holly Heglin Head of AI Product & Strategy -
Christopher Zaki SVP, Head of Capital Markets -
Adeline Cheng Partner, Risk Consulting -
Collin Galster COO
Sponsors
2024 Agenda
8:00 am - 5:40 pm
Setting the Stage
Gary Schwartz sets the stage for the day highlighting key themes.
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Gary SchwartzPresident | CEO
Canadian Lenders Association
Breakfast Meetup
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Sponsored by Securian Canada
Network App
Use the Finance Events Network App to setup meetings in the Securian Networking Hall throughout the day. Schedule time in the network hall. Numbers in the app correspond with numbers on the networking area high tops.
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Sponsored by Naehas
Easy Does It: Jason Mullins Shares Lessons Learned
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Gary Schwartz
President | CEO
Canadian Lenders Association
Moderator -
Jason Mullins
CLA Vice Chair | CEO
goeasy
Speaker
Rate Expectations: Balancing Risk When Interest Dips
Analyze the delicate balance between risk and reward in a declining interest rate environment. This panel will explore strategies for maintaining profitability while managing credit risk, and offer insights into adapting lending practices to new market conditions.
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Kevin Carmichael
Editor-at-Large
The Logic
Moderator -
Bob Dugan
Chief Economist
CMHC
Speaker -
Bill Johnston
SVP Product & Innovation
Equifax
Speaker -
Naga Parvatharajan
CEO
Ratehub
Speaker
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About AI* (*But Were Afraid to Ask)
Workshop: What is an AI-driven credit journey and how can “trustworthy AI” help get us there faster? Join the head of AI Product & Strategy at Layer 6 AI a TD Bank Company, cut through the AI hype to deliver tactical strategies and real-world applications that are reshaping lending today. Unlike the high-level AI overviews seen at other events, this workshop dives into actionable insights, exploring how data-driven algorithms, predictive analytics, and automation can streamline underwriting, enhance risk assessment, and improve customer experience. Join Holly and Jesse to workshop how lenders can strategically implement AI to drive measurable results, mitigate risks, and gain a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.
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Holly Heglin
Head of AI Product & Strategy
Layer 6 AI at TD Bank
Speaker -
Jesse Cresswell
Senior Machine Learning Scientist
Layer 6 AI at TD Bank
Speaker
Next-Gen SMB Lending: Why ‘Business as Usual’ Won’t Cut It
Stay ahead with the latest innovations in business lending. This panel will showcase cutting-edge technologies and strategies that are transforming the sector.
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Adeline Cheng
Partner, Risk Consulting
Ernst & Young LLP
Moderator -
Thomas Becher
Head of SME Banking
SAP Fioneer
Speaker -
Sue Noble
VP, Commercial Financial Services Strategy
RBC
Speaker -
Arina Eremina
SVP Portfolio Risk
Driven Financial
Speaker -
Robin Stewart
Head, Business Banking Operations
BMO
Speaker
Cover Your Assets: A New Look at Creditor Insurance
Discover the benefits of creditor insurance and how it can be leveraged to mitigate risks. This panel will cover best practices and innovative uses of this financial tool.
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Daniel Resnick
Partner, Customer Strategy Financial Services Lead
KPMG
Moderator -
Rasha Katabi
CEO | Founder
Brim Financial
Speaker -
Zack Fuerstenberg
SVP, President Credit Union
Co-operators
Speaker -
Vaishali Mohan-Hollands
VP Product and Support
Meridian Credit Union
Speaker
Network Break
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Sponsored by Kapcharge
The Innovator’s Dilemma: Risk on the Edge
For lenders, launching new products and technology is a balancing act, where the risk of not innovating must outweigh the risk of poor implementation. On this panel we hear from a major bank, a MFC, and an alternative lender on how to undergo transformation the right way.
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Hamid Akbari
CEO
Blanc Labs
Moderator -
Amir Tehrani
Head of BMO Home Financing
BMO
Speaker -
Jason Appel
CRO
goeasy
Speaker -
Martin Nel
EVP & CRO
MCAP
Speaker
Regulatory Rundown: RPAA, Open Banking, Rate Cap, AML
Workshop: Join industry leaders as they unpack the latest developments in Canada’s regulatory landscape, including the Retail Payments Activities Act (RPAA), Open Banking initiatives, rate cap regulations, and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) requirements. This panel will provide insights into how these evolving policies impact lenders and offer strategies for compliance and growth in a shifting regulatory environment.
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Matt Connors
Financial Services
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Speaker
Borrowing in the Background: The Age of Embedded Credit
Embedded lending integrates credit directly into non-lending platforms, allowing businesses to offer financing options seamlessly within their ecosystems. This panel will explore how companies across industries are embedding lending into their customer experiences, the benefits of this approach, and the technology driving it.
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Kris Hansen
CTO
Sagard
Moderator -
Michael Fox
CRO
KOHO
Speaker -
Noah Buchman
President | Co-Founder
Propel Holdings
Speaker
Credit Modelling 101: Credit where Credit’s Due
How has traditional credit scoring evolved in the age of alternative data? We will delve into the practical aspects of implementing new score and underwriting workflows, and compare it with traditional decisioning processes. We will examine everything from infrastructure to best practices.
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Brent Reynolds
CEO | Founder
Payson
Moderator -
Thomas Oddie
Vice President, Data and Analytics
TD Bank
Speaker -
Matthew Browning
President
Trust Science
Speaker -
Samantha Simpson
Analytics Lead
Payson
Speaker -
Paul Edwards
Director, Risk Decision Sciences
Wealthsimple
Speaker
Lunch
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Sponsored by Loanstreet
How to Exit in the North: Discussing Fintech Funding in Canada
Join us for a conversation with Michael Garrity, Partner at Exit North Ventures, an early stage Canadian fintech VC fund. We’ll unpack how he raised venture capital for one of Canada’s largest alternative lenders and then later sold his company. We’ll also discuss what Canada needs right now in order to build successful global businesses.
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Tal Schwartz
General Partner
North Exit Ventures
Moderator -
Michael Garrity
Chairperson
Financeit
Speaker
Auto Correct: Where should Automotive Lenders be Investing in 2025?
Discover the cutting-edge technologies and strategies transforming automotive finance. This panel will cover advancements in digital lending, AI-driven credit assessments, and evolving consumer preferences, reshaping how vehicles are financed and purchased. Sponsored by our February 2025 Auto Summit: Automotive Finance Canada
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Jonathan Fleisher
Partner, Financial Service
Cassels
Moderator -
Michael McGhee
SVP & Head, TD Auto Finance Canada
TD
Speaker -
Scott Morrison
President & Managing Director
Nissan Canada Finance | Infiniti | Mitsubishi Motors F.S.
Speaker -
Richard Valade
President
CanCap Group
Speaker
How to Compete for and Win High-Quality Leads
Workshop: Explore strategies for attracting and securing high-quality leads in the competitive lending market. Learn from industry leaders about effective marketing and acquisition techniques.
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Karim Nanji
CEO
Inverite
Moderator -
Nicky Senyard
Founder
Fintel Connect
Speaker -
Mona Afzal
Global Director | Head Enterprise Growth
Scotiabank
Speaker -
Scott Satov
CEO | Founder
Loans Canada
Speaker
Clicks to Commerce: The Future of POS Lending
Discuss the trends and technologies shaping the future of Point-of-Sale (POS) lending. Understand how this space is evolving and what it means for merchants and consumers alike.
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Cindy Zhang
Payments | Cards | FinTech
McCarthy Tétrault
Moderator -
Jessica Moffat
General Manager
Flexiti
Speaker -
Wayne Pommen
Chief Revenue Officer
Affirm
Speaker -
Casper Wong
CEO
Financeit
Speaker -
Jeff Schwartz
CEO
Go Lime
Speaker
Raising Credit Facilities as Rates are in Flux
Gain insights into strategies for raising credit facilities amidst fluctuating interest rates. Experts will share their experiences and best practices for navigating these challenges.
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Akash Goyal
Managing Director, Debt Capital Markets
Ventum Financial
Moderator -
Lauren Thompson
VP Specialty Finance
Peoples Group
Speaker -
Ryan Brinkhurst
CEO | Founder
Beautifi
Speaker -
Mickey Mingov
Managing Director
CaseMark Financial
Speaker
Afternoon Schmooze
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Sponsored by CWB Maxium
Award of Industry Excellence & Leadership
Join us in celebrating excellence and leadership in our community.
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Sponsored by Vopay
Credit Beyond Borders: How to Underwrite Newcomers to Canada
Learn how lenders are using international credit bureau data to underwrite new-Canadians. This panel will explore innovative ways to assess creditworthiness for newcomers, helping them access credit faster and more effectively.
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Christopher Zaki
SVP, Head of Capital Markets
MPOWER
Moderator -
Amit Sadhu
SVP, Risk
RBC
Speaker -
Sumit Sarkar
Head, Customer Growth, Segment & Value Prop
BMO
Speaker -
Collin Galster
COO
Nova Credit
Speaker
Risk and Reward: The Growth of Card Programs
This panel will explore best practices in card program design, customer engagement, and leveraging new technologies, while balancing risks in the sector. Learn how to enhance user experience, increase card adoption, mitigate fraud and credit risk, and maximize profitability in a competitive market.
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Pamela Dodaro
VP | Chief Product Officer
TransUnion
Moderator -
Lora Paglia
SVP & CRO
Tangerine
Speaker -
Cato Pastoll
CEO | Founder
Loop
Speaker -
William Tsutsumida
Chief Credit Risk Officer
Neo Financial
Speaker
Can I buy you a drink?
After-Summit drinks.
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Sponsored by Defi Solutions
Details
Date
November 11th, 2024
Time
8:00 AM - 5:40 PM
Venue
The Quay, 100 Queens Quay E 3rd Floor, Toronto, Ontario
