Toronto Women Leading Real Estate Celebration

Christine Q Xu has been working in the financial industry in Toronto since 1990. She first worked in retail banking, and later moved to become an investment advisor in 1993. In 2000, she became one of the first Mandarin-speaking Mortgage Brokers in Toronto. She was later was a partner and one of the founding members of Lending Direct Corporation, a Toronto mortgage Brokerage Firm. With her knowledge of the Canadian Banking and Investment system, a great local network of Bankers and Lenders, and a wealth of experience in the industry, Christine has helped thousands of clients to obtain mortgages and loans and to achieve their financial dreams. Christine has received many awards from different financial institutions in recent years.

Leslie Woo is Chief Planning and Development Officer at Metrolinx, the regional transportation authority for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. Leslie is the executive lead for planning and portfolio development of the $35B expansion in public transit. Named One of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women in 2017, Spacing Toronto's Transit Change-maker in 2016 and Canada's Women's Infrastructure Network's 2015 Outstanding Leader. Leslie leads the strategic planning from long range transportation planning through to service planning for a full range of mobility services. She heads business areas in benefits management, design excellence, strategic land development and corporate property management. Leslie manages key relationships with municipalities, not-for-profits and the private sector. She is also a champion for driving sustainability and leads Metrolinx’s network for women. Leslie is a passionate and influential leader with ten years of experience at Metrolinx. Prior to Metrolinx Leslie worked in the municipal, private and not-for-profit sectors. She was the key author of the original Greater Golden Horseshoe Growth Plan (2006), which by 2016 had resulted in urban intensification totalling over 18 per cent increase in multi-family residential development, a two-thirds reduction of greenfield lands consumption, and conserved about 800 square kilometres of agricultural and rural land. Leslie holds international responsibilities as a Global Trustee with the Urban Land Institute, and is a retired member of the Ontario Association of Architects. Awarded a 2011/12 Fellowship with International Women’s Forum, Leslie is a Director on the board of Womens’ College Hospital and for eight years was a director on the board of YMCA for the Greater Toronto Area (2009 – 2017). Leslie is the creator of the blog shebuildcities.org celebrating women city builders around the world. Leslie received a Bachelor of Environmental Studies and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Waterloo where she also studied Urban and Regional Planning. She is also the 2015 recipient of the Renison University College Distinguished Alumna Award. Born in Trinidad, Leslie is the mother of two thriving global citizens.

Farrah’s passion and purpose is to be an ambassador in the commercial real estate industry – one that advocates for progress, champions change and challenges the status quo. As the Founder of Futura Funds, Farrah works with both technology start ups and corporate clients to develop strategies and next practices on how best to integrate technology and innovation into the commercial real estate industry using a collaborative approach. She brings a unique lens to the conversation surrounding the intersection of commercial real estate and technology. Having worked in the industry in an investment, development and finance capacity for many years to now working closely with innovative technology companies, Farrah understands both parties and strives to find ways to collaborate and move forward together. She believes that technology and innovation will be instrumental in the industry's ability to continue to drive growth and unlock value from its assets. Farrah also understands the importance of diversity when it comes to innovation for the built world and how diversity of thought, background, ethnicity, age and gender are so integral in building bright, inclusive and prosperous communities globally.

In her almost 20 years in real estate development, Dayna is an expert on leading teams that execute on complex development initiatives that create value through acquisition, design, entitlement, and construction of a variety of asset classes. As the Managing Director of Real Estate Development at Forum Asset Management, Dayna leads the real estate development team at Forum where she is responsible for spearheading project design, project planning, securing approvals and the delivery of Forum’s various development projects. These include residential condominiums, purpose-built student accommodations, multi-family housing and co-living communities. Prior to joining Forum, Dayna was the Director of Development at Canadian Apartment Properties REIT (CAPREIT), Canada, Ireland and the Netherlands largest residential rental asset manager. She led and managed all new development, along with building the department, where she established a short and long-term pipeline for future asset growth on existing land in all portfolios. Prior to CAPREIT, Dayna was the Director of Development at Fieldgate Urban, a new arm of the real estate developer, focused on mid to high-rise development involving the acquisitions and development of various mixed use residential projects. Dayna holds an undergraduate degree from the School of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Waterloo and a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Guelph.

Sabrina Carinci is Director, Real Estate Strategies with Flat Iron Building Group. Sabrina is a registered interior designer, project management professional, and a change management practitioner. Her unique skillset in workplace strategy, design, and pre-construction strengthens her impacts on construction projects, while her project management expertise keeps work on time and on budget. Over the course of her 20+ year career in the design and construction industry she has volunteered extensively with the Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario (ARIDO) in various capacities. Currently, Sabrina is President of the Association’s Board of Management.

Daniella is a dedicated commercial real estate lawyer at Aird & Berlis LLP. She thrives in the fast-paced environment of transactional work and is committed to providing her clients with proactive and effective legal advice. Clients turn to Daniella for her reliable and detail-oriented approach to law, which allows her to advance her clients’ real estate objectives in an efficient manner. Daniella’s practice focuses on a broad range of real estate matters, such as the acquisition, disposition, development and financing of mixed-use, retail, commercial and industrial properties. Daniella represents a variety of clients, including owners, developers, individual and institutional lenders, commercial real estate investment companies and REITs. Daniella received her JD from the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, where she graduated cum laude. Daniella also holds a Master’s Degree in Political Science and Transitional Justice and Post-Conflict Resolution from Western University.

Kennedy is a Senior Sales Representative with Team Murray Faldowski at Colliers International. Kennedy focuses on the Oakville, Burlington and Hamilton markets and works on a wide range of asset classes with a special focus in industrial. She strives to cultivate new business opportunities while maintaining positive relationships with existing clients utilizing her exceptional work ethic and customer service skills. Before joining Colliers 3 years ago, Kennedy graduated from the University of Guelph, Real Estate and Housing Program, Kennedy joined BentallGreenOak in the property management division. During this time she honed her problem-solving skills to find creative solutions for both tenants and landlords.

Lisa Fulford-Roy, SVP Client Strategy is a business executive with over 30 years of experience helping to convert clients' business objectives into smart, executable real estate strategies. By levering all of CBRE's enterprise experts, Lisa provides holistic and actionable advice and solutions on the future of work, helping companies across Canada shape their workforce, streamline occupancy and foster cultural engagement. "My passion is to help solve the increasingly complex challenges of corporate real estate occupancy and explore viable strategies to enhance employee engagement with the client's business priorities and vision in mind." Through these efforts, she has helped organizations attract and retain talent, optimize and right-size occupancy, develop long-term real estate strategies, reposition real estate portfolios and enact change management for effective and sustained change adoption. Lisa's experience leading major Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 organizations through transformational change draws on her design thinking and problem-solving methodology. Within the corporate commercial market, major clients include CPPIB, Google. MMC, EY, Open Text, Manulife, LCBO, CBC as well as Oxford Properties, HSBC, Cisco, CBRE, IBM, Cadillac Fairview, Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), CIBC and BMO Financial Group. As a CBRE executive, Lisa serves on the National Leadership and Management team, contributing to CBRE Canada's business priorities and strategic initiatives. She currently also serves on two boards as CoreNet Global’s Canadian Chapter Past President and DIAC (the Design Industry Advisory Committee). Lisa is a sought-after thinker and industry speaker who offers her support to real estate member organizations, masters students, vocational curriculum development and sessional teaching.

Andrea leads the Cushman & Wakefield Asset Services’ National Leasing team. In this role, she provides leadership to experienced and knowledgeable leasing representatives across Canada. Andrea also provides oversight of, and support to the knowledgeable professionals that make up the Lease Documentation team. Andrea is the Broker of Record in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario as well as being licensed in Alberta, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

As Director of Development at Perimeter Development Corporation, Adrianne Bobechko brings a wealth of expertise in steering complex projects from concept to completion. During Adrianne’s 9 years at Perimeter Development, she spearheads the end-to-end development process for many diverse projects primarily in The Region of Waterloo. Responsible for securing all approvals and permits, she is also heavily involved during the construction stage, manages project budgets, oversees the closeout of the project, and works closely with Construction and Property Management Teams for turnover. Previous projects include Phase 1, 2, & 3 of The Breithaupt Block: Google Canada’s largest Canadian Campus, the retrofit of the historic Walper Hotel, 345 King West, & Homer Watson Business Park. At present, Adrianne is overseeing the development of 97 Victoria “Making Home” in partnership with a Not-For-Profit to bring 44 transitional housing units to those suffering chronic homelessness under the Rapid Housing Initiative Funding program. Adrianne is a Graduate of the University of Waterloo School of Planning program and is an active volunteer with WR Grassroots Response to the Ukrainian Crisis.

As the Director of Interiors, Caitlin’s experience is often leveraged and referenced when clients request avant-garde and creative design solutions. Her knowledge of all facets of the interior design process is highly appreciated and sought after by clients, and she enjoys the collaboration that comes from productive client interface and relationship management. Caitlin’s passion for design extends beyond the workplace and is apparent in her enthusiasm for researching trends, products, and materials, as well as in her commitment to fostering the growth of the design industry. Caitlin’s focus on thought leadership has recently included insights and questions about the future of work. She has been examining the human experience and how workplace design can positively contribute to that experience. As the problems within the traditional paradigm of work are being exposed, Caitlin is exploring how to create more rewarding and healthier spaces for all users.

Katya joined the Toronto Central Office Leasing division at Cushman & Wakefield in 2013. She started her career as a Financial Analyst in the Research and Finance Group, gaining experience in market research, financial evaluations, and statistical analysis of the Toronto Central market. In her current role, Katya specializes in tenant representation, lease renewals, office relocations, national portfolio optimization and strategic acquisitions/dispositions. Her attention to detail, business awareness, and hands-on strategic consulting approach allow her to provide valuable real estate services while building long-term client relationships. Katya has been named one of C&W’s top 50 producers in GTA and across Canada in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 and qualified for the President’s Round Table award in the above years. She was also awarded SIOR Young Professional of the Year award in 2017 based on her transactional experience, industry reputation and community involvement. Major clients include Bank of Montreal, Royal Bank of Canada (global), Deloitte (national), Franklin Templeton Investments, Canaccord, Invesco, ivari, Bell Canada, McCarthy Tetrault, University Pension Plan, Rogers. Katya is an active member on the committees of the following organizations: CoreNet (member of the Programming committee), Junior Achievement (Board of Governors), and a chair of Women Behaving Boldly (annual event in support of Peel Children’s Aid Foundation).

Veronica joined Slate in 2020 and is responsible for the overall project execution of several of Slate’s mixed-use developments in Toronto, Mississauga, and Hamilton. Veronica is involved in all aspects of redevelopment – her expertise pertains to policy and project feasibility, including site specific planning and investment strategy. She has supported deal underwriting and execution across Canada and in the UK. Of note, Veronica has led two significant condominium sale launches and managed rezoning applications for well over 2-million square feet of development, totaling over $250M in Gross Residential Development Value in the Greater Toronto Area. Prior to Slate, Veronica worked in research and consulting and held senior roles in the Ontario Premier’s Office and the Office of the Official Opposition in Ottawa. She actively writes for The Hub, an online policy magazine, and is a Committee Member of Art Gems, a fundraising auction in support of Creative Works Studio / Good Shepherd. She holds a BAH from Queen’s University and a MA from Carleton University.

Since joining Cushman & Wakefield (formerly Ashlar Urban Realty) in 2016, Carmen’s focus has been on the leasing and sales of retail assets in Toronto’s urban markets. Carmen & the urban retail team offer both private and institutional clients a full-service approach in all aspects related to retail assets, including the leasing and sale of retail spaces, consultation on pre-construction plans, merchandising strategies, and location sourcing for both existing and new tenants in the market. Carmen specializes in landlord representation, with a steady portfolio of listings across the most sought after neighbourhoods in the city. In 2020, Carmen was awarded Young Professional Broker of the Year in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) by the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR), a coveted and prestigious title for upcoming broker talent in the industry. In 2022, Carmen was awarded the C&W Canada wide Peter Barnicke award, given to a high performing broker under age 35 with strong revenue growth, active community involvement and demonstrated leadership. Carmen is a member of ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers) and their Next Generation committee and is an active member of NAIOP. Carmen attended the University of Guelph earning a B.Comm in Real Estate & Housing, graduating on the Dean's Honours List as President of the Real Estate & Housing Student Association. She currently sits on the program’s alumni board, most notably chairing the annual alumni golf tournament supporting student scholarships. In her spare time, Carmen loves trying new restaurants & wines, spending time in nature, cooking, travelling, live music, hot pilates and of course - shopping for research purposes.

Julie Phillips, President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Flat Iron Building Group, is a senior executive in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Equipped with an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business, Julie spearheads positive change industry wide. Under her leadership since 2016, Flat Iron has experienced exponential growth, expanding operations fourfold. Julie fosters a culture of growth, empowering her team to execute the company's vision. She actively challenges industry norms, addressing the historical gender disparity in the male-dominated AEC sector through strategic partnerships and internal initiatives. Julie uses collaboration as a means to challenge industry-wide barriers of diversity, equity and inclusion, charting a new path forward. Her inspiration lies in pushing individuals beyond their self-imposed limitations, cultivating a community of trust, honesty, and openness. As part of her dedicated pursuit of innovation and disruption, Julie leads transformative backcountry hiking trips exclusively for executive women, expanding horizons and pushing boundaries. Beyond her professional endeavors, she actively supports women and children who have escaped domestic abuse through fundraising initiatives, demonstrating her commitment to making a positive impact beyond work. Julie's dedication inspires others to embrace change and create a difference in their communities.

Kristy Shortall is the Senior Vice-President of Development at Northcrest, a subsidiary of PSP Investments, with 18 years of experience in securing approvals for a variety of urban and rural development projects. Her experience includes managing and coordinating the professional and technical teams involved in the land development projects, reporting project progress; coordinating, negotiating and communicating with municipal/regional departments and representations; organizing public consultation sessions; assisting with development agreements and aligning development objectives with provincial and municipal regulations and guidelines. Currently working on the redevelopment of Downsview Airport, a 370-acre transformational mixed-use project in the heart of Toronto. Prior to joining Northcrest, Kristy was Vice-President at Metropia, a master-planned developer specializing in mixed-use communities.

Michelle Brown is a Managing Director and has been with BGO for over 23 years. She is responsible for the property management and leasing of over 11 million square feet of office and industrial assets and 465 tenants across her portfolio of 78 properties in the GTA and Winnipeg. Prior to joining BGO, Michelle worked in the property management industry at a number of firms including TrizecHahn and Nexacor Realty Management. Michelle is also a member of BGO's EDI Executive Council, Global Lead for the BGO Women's Network and Co-chair of Partners in Project Green - an internationally recognized community of leaders advancing environmental action and economic prosperity across the Greater Toronto Area.

Michele Walkau is a results oriented senior executive who has a strong passion for people, leadership and community development. Spending over 20 years of her career in the commercial real estate industry, Michele has broad experience in human resources strategy, ESG, business transformation and communications. Michele is the SVP Brand & Culture at First Capital REIT – one of Canada’s leading commercial real estate income trusts. She leads the teams that drive the people & culture agenda as well as the communications and marketing for the $10 billion REIT. Michele is the Co-founder and executive Co-chair of FCR’s Thriving Neighbourhoods Foundation and sponsor of the employee-led Equity Diversity and Inclusion Council. Michele serves on Toronto Metropolitan University's Real Estate Management Advisory Council at the Ted Rogers School of Business and has been the Co-chair of REALpac's People & Culture Committee for many years. She is a former Director and Chair of the Governance Committee of the Canada Green Building Council and served as a Director of the Board of the Royal Canadian Military Institute. In 2021, Michele was profiled as one of Canada’s Top 50 Best Executives in the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business Magazine.

Robyn Brown, MA, MPl, PLE is an Urban Planner and Professional Land Economist with nearly 20 years of planning, economic development and ICI market experience. Ms. Brown, as the Principle of Arcadis’ Canada East Placemaking Group, leads a group of planners, urban designers, economists and GIS specialists, using her extensive knowledge and experience in the real estate market to assist clients with their planning and real estate needs. Robyn is currently the President for Toronto CREW and on the Board of Directors the Association of Ontario Land Economists. Previously she was on the Management Board of ULI and chaired the Women’s Leadership Initiative. As a lifelong learner, Robyn is also currently attending the London School of Economics in pursuit of her MSc (Masters in Cities) with anticipated completion in 2024. Robyn is an avid supporter of diversity in the real estate and development field, and actively mentors and supports DEI initiatives across the industry.

As Vice President of Altree Developments, Jordan DeBrincat is responsible for leading Altree’s team and projects throughout their various stages of development. Jordan oversees all departments at Altree Developments, on a corporate and project level, with a heavy involvement in all operational aspects of the business. Jordan’s focus is working with/advising all internal/external teams throughout the development processing, including Accounting, Planning, Finance, Marketing & Sales and Construction. Jordan is a graduate of Brock University with an Honours degree in Business Administration.

A commercial real estate lawyer by training, in 2019 Natalie joined the leadership team at The Rose Corporation, a boutique real estate developer in Toronto. Her previous experience as in-house counsel with Restaurant Brands International ( where she was responsible for Real Estate and Franchise matters for Tim Hortons, Burger King and Popeyes brands) and with Metrolinx (where helped develop the UP Express City-Airport rail link) helped prepare her for the fast paced entrepreneurial environment of Rose. At The Rose Corporation, she blends legal experience, business savvy and corporate strategy, to grow a company dedicated to building housing solutions throughout the GTAA, while focussing on integrating affordable units at every development. In her spare time, after caring for her three young kids, she gets involved with causes she cares about. She is currently chair of the board of Courage in Action, an organization helping women move forward from difficult circumstances; before that she spent six years, three as chair, on the board of Sojourn House, a refugee resettlement organization in Toronto. When she leaves town, you’re most likely to find her in the mountains.

Remy Caruso is the Director of Credit and Operations at Peakhill Capital focusing on overseeing a variety of functions including loan underwriting, servicing, fund management, and compliance. Prior to joining Peakhill, Remy worked for a non-bank Canadian lender as an Analyst responsible for underwriting and funding over $500 million in commercial mortgage transactions across all property types and major markets in Canada.

Pamela Green is a partner in the Business Law practice with a focus on Commercial Real Estate law. Pamela has over 30 years of legal experience in the real estate industry and provides advice on a comprehensive range of commercial real estate matters, including land development and planning; real estate acquisition, disposition and financing; joint venture, co-ownership and partnership arrangements; mortgage remedies; receiver and insolvency proceedings; expropriation on behalf of affected property owners, tenants, business owners or otherwise; real estate disputes; and general corporate commercial matters. Pamela draws on and works closely with a wide network of planners, surveyors, architects, engineers, and environmental consultants to assist clients in the successful, cost effective, and timely completion of their projects and transactions. Professional and Industry Experience – Represented prominent developers on acquisitions with institutional investors for the development of distribution and logistics facilities across Canada – Lead counsel on takeover and renovation of 3 major entertainment facilities in exchange for mixed-use, high density development lands and unique incentives from municipality – Acted for numerous property developers, providing detailed title analysis and due diligence support throughout the acquisition and development process – Acted on mortgage and asset-based loans, including financings – Advised on ownership structures, including joint ventures, partnership and shareholder arrangements – Advised on leasing and asset management – Advised on construction and development management agreements Technical Skills Legal advisory, commercial real estate, general corporate Publications and Speaking Engagements As a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professional, Pamela frequently writes and speaks on the topic of green building. Over the course of her career, she has moderated and spoken at several annual conferences, conducted seminars on the unique risk and allocation of liability involved in contaminated land transactions and Brownfield developments, conducted seminars on solar rooftop panel leasing, and provided insight on environmental legislation and corporate responsibility to media. Some examples are: – Real Estate Canada Forum – Green Real Estate Conferences – Seminars for Lending Institutions on various real estate lending topics – Presentations to real estate brokerage houses on environmental issues – Brian Crombie Radio Hour discussion on Toronto’s Inclusionary Zoning Other Activities – Director and Honourary Chair of the West-End Women’s Network – Mentor to female lawyers and real estate professionals outside of the Firm

Tracy Macdonald is the Senior Managing Director, Industrial at Colliers for the Toronto area and leads the Toronto team of advisors and operations staff. Tracy has over 25 years of extensive experience in commercial real estate and leadership, she has built a strong foundation in the industry with her past senior roles at Triovest, BentallGreenOak and Slough Estates Canada. Her experience has led her to work with several major real estate advisors while successfully managing groups of leasing professionals across the Greater Toronto Area for numerous institutional clients. Tracy is a licensed real estate professional and is on the Board of Directors for the SIOR Canada Central chapter. Her involvement in SIOR reflects her commitment to the advancement of the real estate profession and her willingness to contribute to the industry’s growth and development.

Leona Savoie joined the Dorsay development corporation in 2021 as the senior vice-president, residential, with over 25 years of experience in development. She is responsible for overseeing the creation and execution of a new medium-density housing division focusing on full project execution from investments to project completion. Prior to Dorsay, Leona has worked for esteemed developers and builders such as Hullmark Developments, Tridel, Daniels and the Rockport Group, and has worked on several recognized buildings such as Hullmark Centre, tiff headquarters and tower, the north Toronto collegiate redevelopment and 60-80 atlantic to name a few. Leona is a member of the following boards: NAIOP (Government Relations Committee Co-chair), sustainable buildings Canada. She has previously sat on bild’s board of directors and executive committee.

Alison is an accomplished, business-minded lawyer and trusted strategic advisor. She is a member of First Capital REIT’s Executive Leadership Team and leads the Legal and ESG teams. As its executive sponsor, Alison co-founded FCR’s employee-led not-for-profit, the FCR Thriving Neighbourhoods Foundation. In addition to leading the REIT’s corporate legal strategy and related execution, ESG and Board matters, Alison also oversees the REIT’s executive compensation program, corporate communications/disclosures, and is a member of the Management Investment Committee which reviews and approves significant property-level transactions and developments. Alison is recognized as an excellent communicator and collaborative leader who effectively manages relationships with a variety of stakeholders, including senior executives, board members, unitholders, regulators, investment bankers, legal counsel and auditors. Throughout her career, Alison has managed a large volume of complex transactions from the initial stages to completion in a fast-paced, high-pressure work environment. Alison is committed to educating, coaching and mentoring other team members.