Atlantic Credit Unions

2026 Fall Summit Agenda

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Daily Schedule

7:30 am

8:30 am

8:35 am

9:25 am

10:15 am

10:25 am

11:25 am

12:30 pm

1:15 pm

2:05 pm

2:55 pm

3:10 pm

4:15 pm

4:25 pm

4:30 pm

Breakfast

7:30 am - 8:30 am (60 min)

Welcome Remarks

8:30 am - 8:35 am (5 min)
Cory Munden, Chair of the CEO Executive Committee, will open the session by welcoming participants, reviewing session goals and introducing the facilitator.
Cory Munden
CEO, Atlantic Edge Credit Union

Using Research to Inform Growth

8:35 am - 9:25 am (50 min)
Ipsos and Thinkwell will share key insights drawn from their organizations’ latest research.   The Ipsos research will highlight national findings on Canadians’ and Atlantic Canadians’ attitudes, perceptions, and emerging trends related to financial services and broader economic issues.   The Thinkwell research will highlight findings from research conducted with Atlantic Canadians who are not currently credit […]
Michael Hsu
Vice President, Ipsos Financial Syndicated
David Dudka
Director of Insights and Innovations, Thinkwell Research + Strategy

The Evolving Risk Environment 

9:25 am - 10:15 am (50 min)
The discussion will examine the evolving risk landscape facing credit unions and the leadership, governance, and operational capabilities needed to navigate it successfully.  The conversation will explore emerging regulatory and compliance requirements, including AML and FINTRAC expectations, as well as fraud prevention, operational risk management, and other evolving challenges affecting the sector. Drawing on their […]
Shanti Samaroo
Chief Financial Officer, Atlantic Edge Credit Union
Kathy McReynolds
Vice President, Support Services & Risk, East Coast Credit Union
Corina Farbacher
Chief Risk Officer, Affinity Credit Union
Brenda Roberts-Harmon
Vice-President, General Counsel, and Chief Risk Officer, Atlantic Central and League Savings and Mortgage Company

Break

10:15 am - 10:25 am (10 min)

Scale, Strategy and the Future of Atlantic Credit Unions

10:25 am - 11:25 am (60 min)
This session will bring credit union leaders together to examine the priorities, pressures, and opportunities shaping the sector’s future. The discussion will focus on how credit unions can pursue sustainable growth while preserving their cooperative purpose, member focus, and community relevance in an increasingly competitive financial services landscape. Panelists will explore how business models are […]
Oscar Roque
Chief Product & Innovation Officer, Beem Credit Union
Lisa Colangelo
President & CEO, Your Neighbourhood Credit Union
Ken Shea
President & CEO, East Coast Credit Union
Eric St-Pierre
CEO, UNI Financial Cooperation

Strategic Opportunities for Growth for a Credit Union Outside its Provincial Border

11:25 am - 12:30 pm (65 min)
As credit unions consider their long-term growth and sustainability, many are exploring opportunities beyond their current provincial boundaries. These opportunities may include mergers that support future growth, competitiveness, and member value.  In this session, Blair Keefe (Torys) will share his perspective on federal continuance and interprovincial mergers. A leading expert in the financial services industry, […]
Blair W. Keefe
Partner, Torys LLP

Lunch

12:30 pm - 1:15 pm (45 min)
Presented by:
Torys LLP

AI Strategy and Practical Use Cases

1:15 pm - 2:05 pm (50 min)
AI is creating new opportunities for credit unions to enhance efficiency, improve member experiences, and support decision-making. As organizations explore how best to adopt AI, many are focused on balancing strategic ambition with practical, achievable use cases.  In this session, Rakesh Kochhar (Sydney Credit Union), Anthony McQuaid (Sydney Credit Union/Heliolab), and Michael Flynn (Public Service […]
Anthony McQuaid
Founder, Heliolab
Rakesh Kochhar
Chief Operating Officer, Sydney Credit Union
Michael Flynn
Manager of Finance, Public Service Credit Union

Payments Modernization and Real-Time Rail

2:05 pm - 2:55 pm (50 min)
Canada’s payments landscape is undergoing a significant transformation with the introduction of Real-Time Rail (RTR), a new payments system designed to enable faster, data-rich, and near-instant payment experiences. As implementation progresses across the financial services sector, credit unions must understand what RTR means for their organizations, their members, and their future payments strategies.  In this […]
Sunny Soin
Interim Head of Payments, Central 1
Scott Robertson
Product Director, Payment Applications, Central 1
Naimish Kakkad
Head of Technology and Innovation, League Data
Bobbi MacEachern
Director, Payment Services, Atlantic Central
Chad Griffin
CEO, League Data

Break

2:55 pm - 3:10 pm (15 min)

Credit Union Challenges and Solutions: Revenue Growth and The Evolving Role of Credit Union Branches 

3:10 pm - 4:15 pm (65 min)
Revenue GrowthAs interest-rate cycles, margin pressures, and increasing operating costs continue to reshape the financial services landscape, many credit unions are exploring how to diversify revenue sources and reduce reliance on traditional lending income.   This interactive facilitated table discussion will provide an opportunity for leaders to discuss practical strategies for growing non-interest income while continuing […]
Rick Doucette
CEO, Coastal Financial Credit Union
Kate Calnan
Vice President, Strategy, Thinkwell Research + Strategy

Recap Day 1

4:15 pm - 4:25 pm (10 min)
Kate Calnan
Vice President, Strategy, Thinkwell Research + Strategy

CUMIS – Co-operators Sponsor Remarks

4:25 pm - 4:30 pm (5 min)
Kirsten Holt
VP, National Client Success and CUMIS Distribution, CUMIS - Co-operators

Welcome Reception

4:30 pm - 6:30 pm (120 min)
Presented by:
CUMIS – Co-operators

Special Session

Chairing for the Future: The Chair’s Role in Board Readiness

Wednesday, Oct 14
1:15 pm – 4:15 pm (180 min)
Empress Room