Dr. Kiana Basiri is an Assistant Professor at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Toronto Metropolitan University. Her research focuses on using econometrics tools to understand the relationship between housing and credit markets. Her research centers around Real Estate Economics, Housing Policy, Household Finance, Consumer Bankruptcies, and Default. Her work has been published in leading academic journals such as Real Estate Economics and Housing Studies, and she has consulted with government and other organizations on issues related to residential mortgages. She has 4 years of industry experience working at the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation as a Senior Specialist. Dr. Basiri received her Ph.D. in Applied Economics from HEC Montreal.  

Samantha Gale is currently the CEO of BC’s newest trust company, Veracite Trust Company Ltd. and the Canadian Private Lenders Association. Samantha is a highly qualified regulatory expert with extensive knowledge in mortgage and real estate issues, lending practices, and finance law and regulation. With a Master of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School, specializing in banking and financial law, and a law degree from the University of British Columbia, Samantha has a deep understanding of Financial Transactions, Trusts and Estates. As the former CEO of the Canadian Mortgage Brokers Association – BC and the Mortgage Brokers Institute of BC, she has a wealth of experience in the Canadian mortgage and finance industry. Samantha’s expertise shines through in every conversation, making her one of the most knowledgeable figures in the field. She also played a prominent role in the Cullen Commission, advocating for modernized legislation with balanced rules that serve their intended purpose. Much of Samantha’s expertise stems from her 15-year stint with the BC Financial Institutions Commission (FICOM, now BCFSA), a regulatory agency of the province’s Ministry of Finance, which gave her the opportunity to take a “deep dive” into various statutes and legal issues.  

Steven Ranson retired as President and CEO of HomeEquity Bank on June 30, 2024 after almost 25 years as CEO.

In 1997, when he joined the bank’s predecessor, Canadian Home Income Plan, reverse mortgages were a virtually unknown and misunderstood product.

Steve foresaw the coming demographic wave of Canadians reaching retirement and he believed that reverse mortgages offered unique features and benefits to assist older Canadians.

Today, the reverse mortgage industry exists in Canada because of Steve’s passion and perseverance. His leadership transformed this product into a trusted and invaluable tool for helping older Canadians enjoy a more rewarding retirement. Steve didn’t just build a company—he revolutionized an entire industry, giving reverse mortgages the credibility and value they hold today, with an impact that will last for generations.

Steve was a well-known TV and print commentator on reverse mortgages and topics such as the residential real estate market, interest rate trends, and the financial health of Canadians.  He is the co-author of HomeRun: The Reverse Mortgage Advantage which covers real estate, aging in place, and financial options for retirees.

Tonight, we celebrate a visionary and pioneer whose bold decisions paved the way for innovation and trust in our market. It’s an honour to introduce Steve Ranson, winner of the Haventree Bank Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Mortgage Industry.

Andrey D. Pavlov specializes in risk management for real estate investment, mortgage lending, financial derivatives and digital assets at the Beedie School of Business, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC, where he is professor of finance. He has also worked on the modelling of aggressive lending practices, risk management for publicly traded real estate companies, and mortgage and equity securitization. He earned his Ph.D. from the Anderson School at the University of California, Los Angeles (1999) and was a visiting Associate Professor at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania during the 2006 – 2008 period and taught real estate finance for the Wharton Executive Education program during the 2008 - 2020 period. He is a fellow of the Penn Institute for Urban Research, the Ziman Real Estate Center at UCLA, a winner of the Homer Hoyt Advanced Studies Institute Best Dissertation Award (2000), and a post-doctoral honoree of the Homer Hoyt Advanced Studies Institute (2005). Professor Pavlov has a wide range of academic and industry-oriented papers, published most recently in the Review of Financial Studies, the Journal of Urban Economics, Real Estate Economics, and the Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics. He serves on the editorial board of Real Estate Economics, the Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, and the Journal of Real Estate Research. He has consulted for the United States Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), the United States Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Government of Canada, the Government of British Columbia, the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and private sector insurers, mortgage lenders and hedge funds. 

Caroline Sanfaçon leads the delivery of CMHC’s commercial products, including mortgage loan insurance and securitization. Together, these help Canadians realize their dream of home ownership and ensure the stability of Canada’s housing market and financial system.

A strategic and innovative thinker, Caroline brings to her role over 20 years of experience in public and private real estate, including extensive experience in retail and commercial real estate credit risk and lending. She also brings a strong understanding of regional housing issues, having worked at CMHC’s Montreal, Ottawa, and Vancouver offices.

Caroline joined CMHC in 1997, where she held a variety of positions in information technology and insurance. From 2005 to 2010, she worked at VanCity as an Associate Director and Director in retail risk and credit. She returned to CMHC in 2011, and through increasingly senior roles, has worked to improve the client experience. Most recently, she served as Senior Vice-President, Client Operations.

Caroline has a Bachelor of Business Management from the University of Sherbrooke.