Inside Track 2023

Douglas Porter has over 30 years of experience analyzing global economies and financial markets. As Chief Economist at BMO Financial Group, he oversees the macroeconomic and financial market forecasts and co-authors the firm’s weekly flagship publication, Focus. Mr. Porter manages the team that has won numerous forecasting awards. Most recently, his team took the #1 spot in the StarMine Awards for Most Accurate Forecasters for Canada in 2022. Also, Douglas led the team to a #2 ranking for Top U.S. Forecaster among 53 global firms in the 2022 Focus Economics Survey.

As a respected commentator on economic and financial trends, he is regularly quoted in the national press and often interviewed on radio and television.

Douglas’ career began at the Bank of Canada; then, before joining BMO, he held the positions of Economist and Country Risk Analyst with other Canadian financial institutions.

He has been a member of C.D. Howe’s Monetary Policy Council since 2008 and serves on the Investment Management Committees of the Bank of Montreal’s Canada Pension Plan and Western’s Endowment Fund.

Douglas Porter, CFA, earned a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Western Ontario.

Mike Beg as Head, Real Estate Finance, Canada is responsible for management of BMO’s Commercial Real Estate Finance group and its client relationships across Canada. He brings over 30 years of banking experience, including commercial and real estate lending in Ontario and British Columbia, risk management and strategic investment roles supporting the bank’s Canadian and U.S. businesses, and diversified industries corporate finance with a focus in acquisition and cross-border financing. In addition to founding BMO’s industry leading and global award-winning commercial construction and income property securitization programs, Mike is an advocate for housing policies that support sustainable supply and affordability of residential housing, and is a board member of Toronto’s BILD homebuilders’ association. Mike holds both a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and a Diploma in Urban Land Economics from the University of British Columbia. He also holds an MBA from Dalhousie University and is a Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers (FICB).

Sam Crignano is the President of Cityzen Group. He has over 40 years of experience in real estate development, with emphasis on large urban and suburban mixed-use high-rise developments. Sam has extensive expertise in many disciplines including sales and marketing, commercial and investment land assembly, acquisition, planning and development of residential and mixed-use sites.

Sam has been at the forefront of innovative design and was instrumental in bringing to market such noted successes as The Madison Centre, Signatures on Bloor, Monaco, Elev’n21, Hemingway, 88 on Broadway, The Essence, London on the Esplanade, Pier 27, L Tower, Backstage, Garrison Point, The St. Lawrence, and the Absolute community, affectionately known as ‘the Marilyn’. Sam’s remarkable diversity of experience makes him unique amongst his peers and a valued leader in the industry.

Sam serves on the board of the Blu Genes Foundation, a charity he founded with his wife to advance gene therapy research for rare genetic diseases.

Hunter Milborne is a Canadian real estate entrepreneur and philanthropist known for founding The Milborne Real Estate Group and investing in and operating Sotheby’s International Realty master franchises.

Hunter Milborne named the “dean of condos” by Canadian Business Magazine, Milborne is recognized as a world leader in the design, marketing and sale of new condominium projects having sold more than 150,000 condominiums representing more than 900 developers for the sale value of over $50 billion with projects located in Canada, United States, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. His expertise spans all areas of residential and mixed-use real estate developments, including luxury hi rise, mixed use residential, destination resort villages, master planned golf communities, branded hotel-condominiums, condominium conversions and large scale, mixed use, multi-phased urban master plans.

As the CEO of Greybrook Securities Inc. and along with his partners, Sasha is responsible for leading the firm’s capital markets and real estate investment strategies. Under his leadership and on behalf of it’s L.P.’s in over 30 countries, Greybrook’s portfolio has grown to include more than 100 multi-family and residential development projects and over $35 billion worth of estimated completion value.

Sasha co-chair’s Greybrook’s Investment and Project Advisory Committees that are responsible for approving new acquisitions and actively managing all existing project partnerships.

Peter is a partner at Greybrook and CEO of Greybrook Realty Partners. A private equity professional with extensive experience structuring, financing and managing investments, he oversees the strategic growth of Greybrook Realty Partners, a leading Toronto-based real estate private equity firm.

He leads the firm’s deal origination and asset management practice and is the co-chair of Greybrook Realty’s Investment Committee, responsible for providing oversight and approval of the company’s investments. Greybrook has invested in over 100 developments in the Greater Golden Horseshoe region and South Florida markets that represent in aggregate 65+ million square feet of residential and commercial density with an estimated gross completion value of over $35 billion.