2026 Keynote Speakers

Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe

Multi-Award-Winning Scholar, Author and Speaker

Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe isn’t just a globally recognized speaker and scholar—she’s your friendly neighborhood scientist who makes life make sense! With a treasure trove of awards and a worldwide following, she’s on a mission to empower audiences everywhere with practical strategies for fostering resiliency and making stress your ally, not the enemy.

From packed auditoriums to classrooms, to stages, and boardrooms, Dr. Robyne brings research to life with boundless enthusiasm and an uncommon gift for bridging theory with action. Her approachability and relatability shine through, inspiring individuals and organizations alike to tackle life’s challenges with confidence. Dr. Robyne crafts experiences that integrate scientific research with inspirational narratives filled with practical tools and strategies that are instantly actionable.

As a mother of three teenagers, Dr. Robyne embodies her teachings by seamlessly blending real-world realities, rigorous research, and profound wisdom with her own personal journey.

Dr. Greg Wells

Physiologist | 5X Best Selling Author | Peak Performance Expert

Dr. Greg Wells is a scientist, human physiologist, and best-selling author who translates complex science into practical strategies for health and peak performance.

After breaking his neck at age 15 and returning to elite level swimming, he completed endurance events like the Nanisivik Marathon 600 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Ironman Canada, and the Tour d’Afrique, an 11,000 km cycling race that is the longest in the world.

Dr. Wells earned a Ph.D. in Human Physiology, was a tenured professor at the University of Toronto, and is now a Senior Scientist at SickKids Hospital.

He has written 5 best-selling books and hosted the award-winning Superbodies series which aired on Olympic broadcasts worldwide in 2010 and 2012.

Wells’ moonshot is to solve the billion-person problem of sleeplessness, metabolic syndrome, inactivity, and mental health so everyone can live a limitless life.

Dr. Greg lives and works with his family in Toronto.

Brendon Ogmundson

Chief Economist for the BC Real Estate Association

Brendon Ogmundson is the Chief Economist for the BC Real Estate Association.

He holds an MA in Economics from Simon Fraser University and is a CFA Charterholder. Brendon specializes in housing market analysis and macroeconomic forecasting and is a member of the BC Ministry of Finance’s Economic Forecast Council, a contributor to the Philadelphia Federal Reserve’s Survey of Professional Forecasters. Brendon was also recently named one of the most influential economists in BC by Business in Vancouver.

Renée Huse

Leadership AI in Mortgage Brokering

Renée Huse, founder of Spire Mortgage Team, has spent the last eight years building a business designed for scale, and she’s aiming to fund 1,000 deals by the end of 2027. But in her own words, that’s probably the least interesting thing about her.

Renée is here because she’s obsessed with designing businesses that run themselves. She believes the real win in entrepreneurship isn’t just growth, it’s building systems that let you focus on what you do best. That’s the philosophy she’s built her own team around, and it’s what she now teaches other brokers to do. Over the past year, Renée has coached and mentored mortgage professionals across Canada to stop drowning in the day-to-day, get clear on their strengths, and scale with intention and control. Her straight-talk approach cuts through the noise, showing brokers exactly how to create structure that unlocks both income and freedom. She shares practical, hard-won lessons with honesty, humour, and zero fluff. If you’re ready to simplify, systemize, and scale, you won’t want to miss her at the CMBA-BC 2026 Conference.

Susan HayesCulleton

Financial & Entrepreneurship Training

Susan HayesCulleton is the Managing Director of the Hayes Culleton Group, with clients across Europe and the USA as well as host “Taking Stock”, the international economics show on Sunday mornings on Newstalk.

Known as “The Positive Economist”. she specialises in economics, the financial markets and entrepreneurship. She loves to speak and MC conferences and has developed a unique style in doing so. Susan has co-authored seven books and the latest one is “Economics in Our World”, the Leaving Cert economics textbook. The Hayes Culleton Group includes Active Peers AI which facilitates active peer learning through proprietary tech and Savvy Teens which manages the entire experience of teenage work experiences in corporate organisations. The company values are that “We practise what we preach”, “We focus on what we can do” and “Every interaction with us should be practical and implementable”. Susan holds a Chartered Financial Analyst charter CFA, MSc Executive Leadership, BSc Financial Maths and Economics and a Diploma in Taxation.

Alec Watson

Digital Marketing

Alec Watson is an internationally recognized Director of Photography, visual branding educator, and former Platinum record producer/engineer, whose work spans global advertising campaigns, celebrity projects, and brand strategy for companies including Coca-Cola, Starbucks, Microsoft, and Britney Spears.

Drawing from decades at the intersection of filmmaking, photography, music, psychology, and brand communication, Alec teaches entrepreneurs and organizations how to use visual storytelling to influence perception, build trust, and accelerate business growth. His research-driven approach integrates Harvard-supported studies, eye-tracking insights, and real-world campaign experience to reveal how audiences interpret images long before reading a single word.

Alec’s workshops help leaders and teams simplify their visual messaging, strengthen their on-camera presence, and create brand-aligned content with everyday tools like the iPhone. His practical methods have transformed how businesses communicate online, enabling them to attract the right clients, clarify their message, and show up confidently in a crowded digital landscape.

Alec works mainly in LA and NY, and gratefully lives on Vancouver Island with his wife, Sarah.

Rob McLister

Mortgage Columnist, Financial Post & MortgageLogic.news

Fireside Chat with Rob McLister: The State of the Canadian Mortgage Market and What Brokers Need to Know Now

Join us for a candid and engaging fireside chat with Rob McLister, one of Canada’s most respected commentators on mortgage markets, lender behaviour, and industry trends. This session is designed for mortgage brokers who want to step back from the day-to-day and gain a clearer view of where the market is heading and what it means for their businesses.
This conversation will explore how the Canadian mortgage market is evolving and where brokers continue to play a critical role. Rob will share insight on key trends shaping the broker channel, the growing role of technology/AI, and what brokers should be watching as the market rebalances. He will also share a playbook for positioning clients amid ongoing rate uncertainty.
The discussion will also touch on client retention, evolving home equity solutions, and the forces shaping mortgage products and distribution, with a focus on practical insights brokers can apply.
The session will wrap up with a dedicated Q&A portion, giving brokers the opportunity to ask questions and engage directly on the issues most relevant to their businesses.
Insightful, timely, and refreshingly direct, this fireside chat is designed to help brokers cut through the noise, understand what’s changing beneath the surface, and leave with greater clarity and confidence about what comes next.