As a former managing broker and REALTOR®, Trevor Koot’s nearly two decades in organized real estate gives him hands-on expertise in understanding the profession’s needs.   

Before stepping in as CEO at the BC Real Estate Association, he served as CEO of Kamloops and District Real Estate Association for four years and Kootenay Association of REALTORS® for three before successfully merging the two into the Association of Interior REALTORS®.  

Trevor’s leadership in the real estate sector began long before his CEO career when he was Chair of the Saskatchewan Real Estate Commission for five years. He played a key role in redrafting provincial real estate regulations during his tenure. Trevor also served two years as Chair of the Governance Committee at the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials.   

He holds multiple degrees, from a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and a minor in Mathematics through the University of Saskatchewan to a Master of Business Administration degree through Royal Roads University. Trevor is adding to his extensive education through his current pursuit of completing a Master of Laws degree at York University.   

His daughter, Abby, attends the University of Victoria while he and his wife, Jill, live in Vancouver’s Chinatown. 

Ross Cadastre is the founder and CEO of Innovative Talent Solutions Inc. a leading talent company with two distinct brands ITS Global & Kontingence Recruitment, which address recruitment challenges for organizations throughout Canada. His passion is people, their elevation, their development, and ultimately helping people find their true purpose and power.  

He also founded Lyenn Dous — a near-shore Knowledge Process Outsourcing operation located in Saint Lucia, providing back-office services to North American technology start-ups and high growth companies. 

Ross is a known champion of the advancement of the work of under-represented people. His establishment of www.bipocjobs.ca, the leading job board for BIPOC talent across North America, has provided BIPOC professionals with the avenue necessary to break barriers in their various fields.  

A believer in building generational wealth within the black community, Ross serves as the Board Chair of the Black Business Professional Association (BBPA), an organization that addresses equity and builds programming to support black-owned businesses across Canada.  

Ross’s impact on the business community has earned him many awards and recognition from both a corporate and community work perspective. In 2017, Ross was recognized at the Black Business Awards and inducted into the Black Canadian. In 2020 he was recognised as one of Canada’s Top 100 Professionals and then accepted as a member of the prestigious Forbes Business Council in 2022, the foremost growth and networking organization for successful business owners and leaders worldwide. 

His hard work and dedication to social responsibility and the upliftment of black owned businesses and entrepreneurs has earned him a spot as a “Top Staffing Leader” to watch in 2023. His role as President of the Canada Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA) puts him in a unique position to directly influence and create opportunities for growth and development not only for business owners and entrepreneurs in his community but across Canada by extension.  

As a nominee for Canada’s Black Entrepreneur of the Year, Ross remains commitment to his mission of being the voice of underrepresented, black businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs across Canada looking for equal access to resources and opportunities. 

As he journeys on his quest to develop the next generation of black professionals, Ross continues to positively influence the world of recruitment by imparting knowledge at every opportunity.   

Chad Mooney is the SR VP of Mortgage Operations at MCF Mortgage Investment Corp. Mr. Mooney’s career in the mortgage industry began in 2006 when he co-founded a successful mortgage brokerage firm.  It grew rapidly and became one of the preeminent brokerages in the industry.  After working closely with MCF as one of their primary lenders, Mr. Mooney made the transition to the lending side of the business in 2012, joining MCF as their Business Development Manager. His considerable experience and passion for private mortgages has helped MCF to become a household name in the industry today. Mr. Mooney currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Mortgage Brokers Association (CMBA) and is an active volunteer in his community.  

In this role, Scott has spearheaded a series of strategic initiatives aimed at revitalizing OHBA’s position as the leading voice for the home construction industry in Canada. A cornerstone of this effort has been the development and execution of a comprehensive business plan focused on advancing a robust advocacy agenda, enhancing the delivery of training and events, and deepening collaboration with local home builder associations across Ontario to strengthen their capacity to offer exceptional member services.
With a career spanning the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors, Scott has cultivated deep expertise in government advocacy, policy analysis, and local government finance. His work on complex economic and social policy initiatives—ranging from health care reform and economic development to municipal governance and housing affordability—has earned him a reputation for delivering effective solutions in even the most challenging environments. Additionally, his experience as a political chief of staff and in executive roles within the Ontario Public Service has given him a nuanced understanding of the intersections between the public and private sectors, enabling him to forge impactful solutions where they converge.
Scott’s proven track record in leadership and team building is complemented by his ability to dismantle barriers and build partnerships that yield positive outcomes and business solutions.
Scott holds an undergraduate degree in Management and Business Administration from Laurentian University. He has also earned Executive Certificates from Harvard Law School (Negotiation), the MIT Sloan School of Management (Management & Leadership), and Queen’s University (Governance). Additionally, he completed the Certified Association