SPEAKER BIOS
Premier Doug Ford
Premier Doug Ford is the Member of Provincial Parliament for Etobicoke North, elected in 2018. A lifelong resident of Etobicoke, Doug is a dedicated public servant, community leader, and successful businessman with Deco Labels. He previously served as a Toronto City Councillor (2010–2014), where he helped deliver significant taxpayer savings and held roles on key committees and boards, including Build Toronto and the Canadian National Exhibition. With over 20 years of community service through the Toronto West Rotary Club and as a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Doug continues a proud family legacy of public service in Ontario.
Minister Rob Flack
Rob Flack has served as Ontario's Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing since March 2025, after previously serving as Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness and Associate Minister of Housing. Elected as MPP for Elgin—Middlesex—London in 2022, he was re-elected in 2025. Before entering politics, Minister Flack began his business career with Masterfeeds Inc. as a Sales Trainee, and became it's President and CEO in 1993, retiring 2022 after almost 43 years of service.
Minister John White​
John White is a dedicated public servant, community advocate, and lifelong resident of Cape Breton, shaped by deep commitment to service, resilience and people. Drawing on years of experience in emergency services, education, leadership and public life, John brings a practical, compassionate perspective to every role he undertakes. As the LMA for Glace Bay Dominion, John has focused on advocating for stronger communities, improved access to health care, sustainable housing development and supports for working families.
Ana Bailão
Ana Bailão is a prominent leader in housing policy and public affairs, with extensive experience in municipal government. Ana was the Head of Affordable Housing and Public Affairs for Dream Unlimited Corp. where she was responsible for advancing Dream's affordable housing strategy and development, strengthening partnerships and ensuring development projects integrate long-term affordability and sustainability. From 2010 to 2022, she served on Toronto City Council, including five years as Deputy Mayor.
Daniel Foch
Daniel Foch is the Chief Real Estate Officer at Valery.ca, and Host of Canada's #1 real estate podcast. As co-founder of the Habistat, the onboard date science platform for TRREB and Proptx, he has helped the real estate industry to become more transparent, using real time housing market data to inform decision making for key stakeholders. With over 15 years of experience in the real estate industry, Daniel has advised a broad spectrum of real estate market participants.
Jason Mercer
Jason Mercer is the Chief Market Analyst and Director of Service Channels at the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB). He leads TRREB’s market analysis program and oversees the delivery of MLS® services and data products that support REALTORS® and their clients in understanding GTA housing trends. Jason brings both private and public sector experience from roles at PricewaterhouseCoopers and CMHC. He holds a BA from Simon Fraser University and an MSc in Planning from the University of Toronto. Jason is a Registered Professional Planner and a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners and Lambda Alpha International.
Dr. Paul Smetanin
Dr. Paul Semtanin is President and CEO of thr Canadian Centre for Economic Analysis (CANCEA), a leading socio-economic research firm. With over 35 years of experience spanning economic contribution, social value, health, public policy, and infrastructure, Paul leads CANCEA's development and operation of the largest socio-economic digital twin simulation platform in North America. Paul holds a Doctorate in Business Administration, a Masters in Economics, a Bachelor of Economics, a Bachelor of Law and is a qualified chartered accountant.
Marlon Bray
Marlon Bray, the Executive Vice President is a chartered quantity surveyor by trade, with nearly 30 years of experience in the construction and development industry. He has contributed to over 7,000 projects across sectors including high-rise residential, education, transit, and infrastructure, ranging in scale from $100K renovations to $35B master plans. In recent years, his focus has shifted to residential, office, and industrial developments.
Tony Irwin
Tony Irwin is President & CEO of the Federation of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario (FRPO) and Interim President of the Canadian Federation of Apartment Associations (CFAA). He leads advocacy efforts for Ontario’s rental housing sector and represents over one million rental units nationally through CFAA. Tony previously served as President & CEO of the Canadian Consumer Finance Association and was Executive Director of the Justin Eves Foundation, supporting access to post-secondary education for disadvantaged youth.
Liza Bauer
Liza Bauer is Vice President, Property Management at Concert Properties, where she leads operations across diverse residential and commercial portfolio in Ontario. With almost 20 years at Concert, Liza has helped shape Concerts growth by onboarding new rental housing properties and advancing digital transformation to improve service delivery and operational performance. Liza's leadership extends beyond Concert through service on the City of Toronto's Affordable Rental Housing Access System Advisory Table and the board of Greater Toronto Apartment Association.
John Hickey
John Hickey is the Senior Director, Residential Asset Management at The Daniels Corporation. With over 20 years of experience overseeing large, complex residential portfolios, including mixed-use and mixed-income communities across the GTA. John provides strategic leadership for operational performance of more than 2,000 rental homes across 13 Daniels Gateway Rental Communities, while leading a team of over 30 professionals. John brings a deep expertise in the operational leadership of purpose-built rental and condominium developments.
Carolyn Blommestyn
Carolyn Blommestyn is the President of CaraCo Property Management Ltd. Under her leadership, she oversees an international portfolio of 18 multi-residential communities comprising 2,000 rental homes and 310,000 sq. ft. of commercial and retail properties. Carolyn has been integral to the company's evolution from a local residential builder into an international real estate leader. Carolyn provides decades of cross-border property management insights with a dedicated focus on building sustainable rental communities and moving beyond the "builder grade" concepts.
David Coletto
Named one of Canada's top 100 influential people in Canadian politics by The Hill Times, David Coletto is one of Canada's most recognizable pollsters and commentators on politics, consumer behaviour and the workplace.
He is Chair, CEO and founder of Abacus Data, a full -service market research and strategy firm based in Ottawa, Toronto and Halifax. With almost two decades of experience, David and his partners founded Abacus 15 years ago, and has since grown into one of Canada's most respected firms.
Ian Lee
Ian Lee is an Associate Professor at Carleton University's Sprott School of Business, where he has taught business strategy and economic public policy since 1988. Prior to academia, he spent nine years in banking, managing commercial and mortgage lending across Ottawa and Eastern Ontario. Ian has taught extensively abroad, delivering over 100 Executive MBA courses across Central and Eastern Europe, China, Iran, and Cuba. A regular media commentator on federal economic policy, he appears frequently on CTV, CBC, Global, and national radio.