RICS Toronto Conference 2026: Unlocking Canada

Alexandra Faciu, MA, MRICS.

President, Alexandra Capital and Founder, SAM Curated

Alexandra is a purpose-driven leader and entrepreneur with a focus on maintaining a high level of expertise in sustainability and real estate asset and portfolio strategies. Her objective is to assist as many real estate owners as possible in integrating the latest best practices, including around sustainability, into their real estate activities and in future-proofing their portfolios. Alexandra has over 25 years of professional experience, during which time she has occupied a number of senior roles, spending approximately half of her time as an advisor and half as a principal. She is currently serving as President of Alexandra Capital Inc., a boutique practice specialising in sustainable investing strategy, change management and transformations. She is also the Founder and Curator SAM Curated, an online library and platform established to provide access to the latest best practices related to climate risks, sustainability and ESG for use primarily in asset management and portfolio strategies, but not only. Throughout her career, Alexandra has been involved in projects in Canada, the US, Europe, and internationally, which has allowed her to gain experience in all asset classes (commercial property and infrastructure). Prior to establishing Alexandra Capital, Alexandra was the head of asset and portfolio management for Cominar REIT, with a portfolio valued at CA$6 billion during her tenure with the company. She had overall responsibility for the newly established asset and portfolio management functions, with a mandate to develop the practice and implement ongoing asset management processes in line with the 2019 Strategic Plan. Reporting to the president and working closely with the CFO, main achievements included establishing asset value creation strategies and action plans, creating a portfolio optimization strategy, and monitoring the market and sectors. Alexandra has held a number of principal positions in her career, including roles at Bombardier, Ivanhoe Cambridge and Fonds immobilier de solidarité FTQ. In each of these roles, she has been tasked with transforming various teams, practices, portfolios or companies, with a focus on value creation and risk mitigation. In addition to her work with RICS, Alexandra is involved with a number of organisations and projects, such as the OECD, where she is a member of the OECD Task Force on Sustainable Real Estate Investment. The objective of the initiative is to analyze risk, practices, and prospects in order to ensure the future-proofing of real estate investments. The output of this initiative is a policy paper, which will be presented at COP30. Most recently, Alexandra co-authored a research study on the "Impact of Climate Risks and Sustainability Factors on Commercial Real Estate Values". This subject is of particular importance to her, as she believes it is crucial in making the business case for decarbonizing the built environment. Alexandra has shared her passion for sustainability with RICS by serving as the Sustainability Lead on the RICS Americas World Regional Board for several years. She has subsequently remained part of the RICS Americas Sustainability Working Group after the end of her term on the Board.

Greg Martino, M.I.M.A, PLE

Chief Assessor and Data Officer, MPAC

As Chief Assessor and Data Officer, Greg Martino provides strategic leadership and direction for province-wide assessment, valuation policy and enterprise data governance practices supporting the assessment of more than 5.8 million properties. Greg leads a team of recognized industry experts responsible for all property types including complex sectors such as large office, retail, manufacturing and resource. Greg’s portfolio extends to include mass appraisal valuations and standards, research and MPAC’s data science valuation practice. Greg is a member of the Canadian Directors of Assessment, International Associations of Assessing Officers and the International Property Tax Institute. With more than 30 years’ experience in the industry, Greg holds a M.I.M.A. designation from the Institute of Municipal Assessors and served as association President for the 2022-23 term.

Maged Abdelsayed

Partner, HKA

Maged Abdelsayed is a professional engineer with 40 years of construction industry experience. He has been appointed as an expert on more than 100 occasions for matters relating to delay, quantum and government contracting. Maged has been cross-examined in both litigation and arbitration appearing before various courts and panels. His has acted as an expert witness in North America and internationally on disputed projects ranging from transport infrastructure, power generation and utilities to buildings and industrial plants. Maged specialises in disputes related to project delays, labor productivity losses, the impact of changes on construction work, and damages assessment. He also provides consulting and advisory services including developing and implementing project management plans and audits, reviewing project practices and control systems, assessing costs and schedules, cost recovery, and preparing and defending construction claims. Maged has held various project and site management positions for consulting and engineering firms and for major contractors. He has been responsible for project execution, planning, scheduling, cost control as well as claims analysis on industrial, commercial, and civil work projects. Maged is a member of Quebec’s Order of Engineers (Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec), the American Association of Cost Engineers International, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the American Bar Association. He holds a master’s in engineering project management and is a frequent speaker on the subjects of delay analysis, productivity analysis, quantification of damages, claims avoidance practices, and data management practices and has developed and delivered various training programs on these topics.

Phil Tyas AACI, MRICS

Vice President, Valuations , Cadillac Fairview

Phil Tyas, AACI, MRICS, is Vice President of Valuations at Cadillac Fairview (CF), where he oversees valuation strategy across a multi-billion-dollar portfolio of premier North American office, retail, and mixed-use assets, including iconic landmarks like the Toronto Eaton Centre. Over his 20-year career, Phil has appraised properties nationwide across all asset classes and served as an expert advisor on high-stakes rental arbitrations. Prior to CF, he held senior roles at JLL and CBRE and key roles in finance, valuations, acquisitions, and development at First Capital REIT, and began his career performing real estate valuations and audit consulting at Deloitte.

Matthew Picken

Managing Director, Head of Capital Markets, Canada, JLL

Matt Picken is Managing Director and the Head of Capital Markets for Canada, overseeing all local Capital Markets teams and responsible for the origination and execution of investment transactions in every major market and asset class. Since joining JLL in 2015, JLL Canada’s Capital Markets platform has grown tremendously under Matt’s strategic leadership, cementing its position as one of the country’s leading Advisors. During his history in the business, Matt has been at the forefront of some of the most high-profile transactions across Canada, providing thoughtful advice and hands-on service to ensure a seamless process and maximum proceeds. With over 25 years of experience in commercial real estate brokerage and investment banking, Matt has worked on behalf of North America’s leading investors, comprising pension funds, REITs, corporations and institutions. Over his career, Matt has been involved in more than $20.0 billion in transactions.

Jessica Rockwood

CTO, IBM Canada

Jessica Rockwood is CTO of IBM Canada and a technology executive with more than 25 years of experience leading organizations across engineering, product development, client engineering, and executive technology leadership. She helps organizations harness AI, automation, data, and hybrid cloud technologies to drive innovation and business transformation. Jessica is a recognized voice on responsible AI adoption, sovereign AI, and the future of enterprise technology. She works with senior leaders to explore how emerging technologies can create competitive advantage while balancing trust, governance, security, and business outcomes.

Michael Lindsay

President and CEO, Metrolinx

Ben Haythornthwaite

Director, Market Analytics at CoStar

Ben Haythornthwaite joined CoStar in early 2024 as Director of Market Analytics, focusing on the Greater Toronto Area and the Greater Golden Horseshoe. He has over a decade of experience spanning residential and commercial brokerage, appraisal, investment management, advisory, and analytics. Before joining CoStar, Ben managed the global real estate analytics team at a large institutional investment manager, overseeing reporting and providing insights on over $20 billion in real estate assets worldwide. He is a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, holds a degree in Property Economics from the Dublin Institute of Technology, and a Data Science in Real Estate certification from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Amedeo Prete AACI, P,App, MRICS

Head of Valuation & Investment Analytics, BGO

As Head of Canadian Valuation & Investment Analytics at BGO, I lead the function that informs investment, portfolio, and fund management decisions across one of Canada's largest real estate investment managers. I combine valuation expertise, investment judgment, analytical rigor, and practical technology adoption to help shape capital allocation, portfolio strategy, risk management, and performance communication. I bring a portfolio lens to valuation and analytics, helping assess relative value, hold and sell decisions, risk-adjusted return potential, and the key drivers of long-term performance. A significant part of my role has been building BGO's national valuation and investment analytics platform from the ground up. The platform has strengthened consistency, transparency, governance, and operating efficiency across a diversified Canadian portfolio, while improving insight into value creation, risk, and investment performance. I am focused on using data, automation, and emerging artificial intelligence tools to improve how real estate investment teams analyze opportunities, evaluate scenarios, manage recurring processes, and make decisions. My approach is practical and outcome oriented: better judgment, faster execution, stronger controls, and clearer communication. As an AACI designated appraiser and RICS Chartered Surveyor, I bring experience across office, industrial, retail, multifamily, and development assets. I lead teams that connect valuation, analytics, portfolio management, technology, and long-term investment strategy. Focus areas include portfolio strategy, capital allocation, investment analytics, valuation governance, relative value analysis, performance attribution, scenario modelling, risk management, fund valuation, process automation, artificial intelligence applications in investment management, and leadership development.

Jenny Daly

VP Investments, Oxford Properties

Jenny is a leader within Oxford Properties investments team with a focus on Oxford's investment activities in Canada. Oxford is a leading global real estate investor, developer and manager. Established in 1960, Oxford and its portfolio companies manage approximately C$86 billion of assets across four continents on behalf of their investment partners. Owned by OMERS, the defined benefit pension plan for Ontario's municipal employees, Oxford invests across logistics, office, retail, multifamily residential, life sciences, credit and hotels in global gateway cities and high-growth hubs.

Sarah Esler

Managing Director, Head of Mortgage Investments, AIMCo

Sarah Esler is a seasoned real estate investment executive and Chartered Financial Analyst with more than 20 years of experience driving growth, innovation, and disciplined risk management across global commercial real estate credit and equity portfolios. She is currently Managing Director and Global Head of Mortgage Investments at AIMCo, where she is responsible for the strategy and performance of a C$7.5 billion plus global commercial mortgage portfolio. In her role at AIMCo, Sarah has led approximately 18% year over year portfolio growth through diversification, strategic partnerships, and the expansion of specialty lending strategies. She has overseen the evolution of the platform from traditional core lending to a more diversified, globally oriented credit business, including the execution of a landmark C$2 billion Master Participation Agreement. As a voting member of AIMCo’s Investment Committee, she regularly briefs the CEO, CIO, senior leadership, and clients on portfolio composition, performance, and risk, and represents the organization at industry conferences and forums. Previously, Sarah served as Senior Portfolio Manager at AIMCo, where she directed the origination and underwriting of complex commercial mortgage investments and helped grow assets under management at a compound annual rate of 7.4%. Earlier in her career, she was Vice President at Brookfield Financial, leading underwriting, valuation, and due diligence across office, retail, industrial, CMHC, and mixed use assets, and structuring more than C$2.5 billion in debt, equity, joint venture, and fund investments. Beyond her investment leadership, Sarah is recognized for her commitment to mentorship, diversity, and ESG integration. She has served as AIMCo’s representative on the Investor Leadership Network’s Diversity Committee, is a frequent speaker at industry events including the Women in Private Markets Summit and NAIOP Speaker Series, and mentors emerging professionals through various industry programs. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Urban Land Economics from the University of British Columbia and earned her CFA charter in 2023. She is based in Toronto, Ontario.

Tsang Wong

Senior Director, FTI Consulting

Tsang Wong is a construction expert with over 20 years of experience in construction management and dispute resolution on major capital projects. He specializes in forensic planning, delay and disruption analysis, and construction claims. His experience includes claims preparation and assessment, as well as independent expert work on contentious matters and complex construction disputes, including those arising in arbitration. He has worked across major infrastructure, transportation, energy, oil and gas, industrial, and commercial developments in Canada, the Americas, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific.

Vin Madan

Senior Vice President, Portfolio Management, QuadReal Property Group

Vin Madan, CFA, is a Senior Vice President at QuadReal Property Group, with experience across global real estate investment, portfolio management, acquisitions, asset management, development and institutional partnerships. His career has included work across Canadian and international markets, major property sectors and a range of investment structures. Vin focuses on portfolio strategy, investment execution and long-term value creation for institutional partners and their real estate portfolios.

Joanne Baily

Existing Dwellings Trainer, Elmhurst Energy