One day. Two thousand peers. The conversations Canada's mortgage women are actually having
Canada's mortgage industry has a dedicated day set aside for the women driving it forward — and if you haven't registered yet, here are ten reasons to do it before September 24.
Women in Mortgage Summit Canada (WIMS) returns to the International Center in Toronto this fall as part of MortgageFest Canada, the country's largest mortgage industry event.
The one-day summit, pre-approved by Mortgage Professionals Canada (MPC) for 3.25 continuing education (CE) units in the Professional Development Category for 2026, is independently programmed for brokers, lenders, executives, and emerging leaders who want more than generic advice.
Here is what makes it worth your time.
1. The opening keynote is something different
Rola Dagher — former President and Chief Executive Officer of Cisco Canada and Global Channel Chief at Dell Technologies, where she managed a $50-billion business — delivers the opening address.
Her story, from a young refugee who arrived in Canada without English to a C-suite executive appointed to the Order of Canada in 2023, is not a motivational detour. It is a framework.
She presents a three-part leadership approach drawn from three decades of building world-class teams.
2. The speakers are operators, not observers
The full speaker lineup includes Leah Zlatkin, Chief Operating Officer of Mortgage Outlet Inc., who oversees more than 200 mortgage professionals and more than $1 billion in annual originations; Dr. Sherry Cooper, Chief Economist of Dominion Lending Centres; and Tracy Valko, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of DLC AIMI Mortgage Collective Group.
These are practitioners with active books, client conversations happening right now, and a track record that can be verified.
3. The market panel is built for this moment
The morning power panel — "What's Actually Happening in This Market — and What the Women Winning in It Are Doing Differently" — addresses rate uncertainty, tariffs, and a renewal wave that is reshaping client books.
Michele Steko, VP National Broker Relations at Sherwood Mortgage Group, joins Dr. Cooper and a legal advisor on regulatory affairs to give brokers a ground-level read on what is actually moving deals right now.
4. There is a session entirely about client conversations
The afternoon panel addresses what to say when clients are waiting. Not in theory — from top-performing brokers including Jamie Doolittle, Head of BMO BrokerEdge, and Suzy Fernandes-Arruda, District Vice President of the Broker Channel at HomeEquity Bank.
The session focuses on practical communication and the approaches that are working in the current environment.
5. The AI session skips the hype
Dalia Barsoum, founder of Streetwise Mortgages and co-founder of Wisely AI Technologies leads a workshop on AI tools mortgage professionals are already using in client communication, file preparation, and marketing. No vendor pitch, no jargon.
Barsoum's brokerage has funded more than $2 billion in real estate mortgages.
Expect candid insights, practical takeaways, meaningful connections, and a community that understands the challenges and opportunities you're navigating right now at Women in Mortgage Summit Canada 2026!
— Canadian Mortgage Professional Magazine (@CMPmagazine) August 27, 2026
Register: https://t.co/9XHJPNoTtc pic.twitter.com/P5idA6aNc2
6. The burnout conversation is finally on the agenda
The leadership panel explores what happens after the hustle. Ruvani Henriques, VP of Strategy and Marketing at Glasslake Funding; Sofia Hondrogiannis, Associate Vice President of National Distribution at TD Bank; and Elena Robinson, Vice President of Residential Sales at First National Financial LP, address delegation, boundaries, and what sustainable high performance actually looks like.
For brokers managing growing teams, this session addresses a pressure point that rarely gets formal airtime.
7. Succession and business-building get a real conversation
Zamina Walji, an executive at EQ Bank who leads its Reverse Mortgage and Insurance Lending businesses, joins Sabeena Bubber, Mortgage Broker of the Year (Canada) 2025, in a fireside chat on building businesses that outlast their owners.
The session covers systems, succession planning, and navigating personal disruptions without losing a client base, issues that brokers building for the long term cannot afford to defer.
8. Mentorship goes in both directions
The reverse mentorship session pairs a rising mortgage professional with a senior industry leader for a candid exchange that runs in both directions.
Cecilia Carbonelli, Chief Information Officer at Haventree Bank, and Sandy Pandolfi, Regional Director of Business Development at Haventree Bank, co-lead the conversation.
Attendees can submit questions throughout the day to shape the closing discussion.
9. Your pass covers both days of MortgageFest Canada
Every Women in Mortgage Summit pass includes full access to MortgageFest Canada on September 23 and 24 — two content stages and more than 2,000 mortgage professionals in one venue.
Sponsors include Equitable Bank, First National, MCAN, Haventree Bank, BMO, Glasslake Funding, Home Equity Bank, Home Trust, and TD Insurance, among others.
10. The networking is structured, not accidental
A themed breakfast prompt card at the door ensures Day 1 starts with a real conversation. There is a seated lunch, a professional headshot station, and informal drinks to close the day. The design is intentional, so that every attendee leaves with more than notes.
Registration and the full agenda are available at womeninmortgage.ca.
Make sure to get all the latest news to your inbox on Canada’s mortgage and housing markets by signing up for our free daily newsletter here.
