Canada is in the midst of a transformative and crucial period for real estate and development. We're battling a stubborn housing crisis with far-reaching impacts in all facets of the industry, but we're also at the helm of exciting technological advancements that are revolutionizing the way real estate and development businesses, as well as governments and municipalities, deliver services and meet goals.
During revolutionary times like these, diverse perspectives from experienced professionals who have proven they are willing to break barriers and strive for success for the betterment of communities and individuals alike are essential — and women have a key role to play in that journey.
From city builders to construction managers to master brokers, here are some of the many stand-out women making the real estate and development world(s) turn.
Jennifer Keesmaat — Collecdev Markee
Wearer of many hats, Keesmat is not only the President and CEO of Toronto development company Collecdev Markee, which is working to develop affordable housing alongside CreateTO, but is the Founder of The Keesmat Group, a group of senior-level urbanists working to solve the most pressing issues in urban development, from climate change to the housing crisis.
Other roles include sitting on the Urban Design Review Board at the University of Ohio, serving as a member of the National Housing Council, and being part of the International Panel of Experts for the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore.
Keesmat has also pontificated on urban planning solutions (and problems) for the Globe & Mail, co-founded design firms DIALOG and Office for Urbanism, oh, and she ran for Mayor of Toronto in 2018 on a progressive approach to addressing the housing crisis and was the City's Chief City Planner from 2012 to 2017.
In recognition of her impressively entrepreneurial career in urban planning and development, Keesmat has been named one of the “most powerful people in Canada” by Maclean's, one of the “most influential” by Toronto Life, and one of the top Women of Influence in Canada.
Elechia Barry-Sproule — TRREB, Red Apple Real Estate Inc.
If you're an avid reader of TRREB's monthly Market Watch reports, like we are, you'd know Barry-Sproule from her informative and eloquent insights into the state of Toronto and the GTA's real estate markets.
But the recently-appointed president of the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) is also a seasoned real estate vet. Starting as a sales representative at Royal LePage in 2002 and working her way up to Broker of Record at Red Apple Real Estate Inc. in Newmarket, she's amassed 23 years of experience and has been in brokerage management for 15 years.
Her appointment as President of TRREB for 2025 is a reflection of the expertise and authority that comes with over two decades of on-the-ground experience, but Barry-Sproule has long been involved with the real estate board, having served as the Chair of the Professional Development Committee and Vice-Chair of the Communications and Member Engagement Committee.
Jennifer Podmore Russell — Nch’ḵay̓ Development Corporation
Cheryll Case — CP Planning
Case is a Toronto-based urban planner with a social justice edge who leverages her talents to champion the economic, social, and cultural rights of communities across Central-Southern Ontario. She got her start as a Planning Associate at R.E. Millward & Associates Ltd. and Gladki Planning Associates before working as an Assistant Policy Planner for the City of Brampton and eventually lecturing and professing at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management and the University of Waterloo's School of Architecture.
In 2017, she founded CP Planning, a non-profit dedicated to working with public, non-profit, and private sector organizations to provide more affordable housing and community spaces. While she remains Founder and Executive Director at CP, Case recently also became a fellow at Social Capital Partners, a charity aimed at expanding economic and political opportunity for minority groups in Canada.
Case has also shared her knowledge and expertise while serving as Co-Chair of the BSH Knowledge Mobilization Committee at the Canadian Housing Evidence Collaborative, as a member of the Urban Land Institute's Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee, and as a member of the City of Toronto’s External Advisory Committee for the production of their 2020-30 Affordable Housing Plan.
Regina Marklund — Turner Construction Company
Marklund, a long-time figure in the construction industry, recently became the second female Chair in the Vancouver Regional Construction Associations' (VRCA) history — an impressive feat in a male-dominated space, but no surprise given her over 20 years of experience working in construction.
Marklund has spent the majority of her career working her way up at Turner Construction Company, from Project Intern all the way to Construction Manager, moving from the Nassau office to Philadelphia, and finally, to Vancouver.
In addition to her current position as Construction Manager at Turner Canada, Marklund serves as a member of the Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Network Construction Council and is the former-President of CREW Vancouver, not to mention she's a recipient of the Woman of Influence Award.
Leigh Rosar — BGO
Another CREW Member, Leigh Rosar, also boats an impressive and varied career in the real estate sphere. Most recently, the marketing and business development executive was promoted to National Vice President of Marketing for Retail, Office, and Industrial Assets at BGO after joining the company in March 2020.
Before that, Rosar held various marketing and business development leadership roles with real estate companies such as Oxford Properties and Ivanhoe Cambridge. Outside of the real estate sphere, she's held similar roles at Richmond Hill software company A1 Innovation Group and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Canada, and she taught as a Business Professor at George Brown College.
On top of that, Rosar is President of Toronto CREW and, in a fun twist, the Director of Socials Committee for the North Toronto Ski Club, thank you very much.
Beatrice Cosentini — Sutton Group
Cosentini has had a career in media, real estate, and as a managing broker for some of BC's largest brokerage offices. Most recently, she was promoted to Regional Vice-President West at Sutton Group, but before that, Cosentini worked her way up at Sutton Group-West Coast Realty, where she served clients for over 11 years.
No one trick pony, Cosentini cut her teeth as an industry professional working for Corus Entertainment as a Media Account Executive for Classic Rock 101, a Digital Media Consultant for automotive advertising firm Trader Corporation, and Account Executive at CALYX Transportation Group Inc., a third party logistics and transportation services provider.
With experience in both real estate and communications, Cosentini is sure to drive Sutton Group's growth in Western Canada while continuing to break barriers along the way.
Kathy Yu — PCI Developments
Director of Leasing at PCI Developments, Kathy Yu, was recently appointed President of the board of directors at CREW Vancouver, a role in which she has said she will continue to connect and empower women, providing opportunities for professional and personal growth.
Alongside her new role at CREW Vancouver, Yu also serves as a member of the Commercial Real Estate Development Associations' (NAIOP) Developing Leaders Committee and has over 10 years of experience in property management roles.
Yu got her start as a Property Manager for SDM Realty Advisors Ltd. in 2014, where she worked her way up to Leasing Manager before moving on to senior leasing roles at Warrington PCI Management, QuadReal, and finally, Director of Leasing at PCI Developments.
Yu has also shared her knowledge and expertise with a number of publications on topics including the future of office work in downtown Vancouver and the development of PCI's King George development in Surrey.
Ornella Richichi — Resident
Caroline Baile — Royal LePage
This West Vancouver broker started as Vice President of Network Success and Support at Royal LePage last November, but has been in sales (both real estate and luxury retail) for over 30 years.
Baile first got into real estate in 2007 when she became a broker for Royal LePage in Aurora, ON, where she earned the highly acclaimed National Chairman’s Club Designation (Top 1% in Canada). Over the years, she held the role of Vice President of Recruitment, Coaching & Business Development at Royal LePage and became a registered broker in both Ontario and BC, so from the Great Lakes to Grouse Mountain, she's got you covered.
A champion of women's empowerment in the industry, Baile also serves as a board member of Canadian Women in Real Estate and has shared her expertise with publications like the Globe & Mail and the Toronto Star.
If that wasn't enough, Baile also has a strong philanthropic drive, which she's exercised with the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation, a charity that supports Canadian women's shelters and domestic violence prevention programs, by trekking across the Sahara Desert to raise money and awareness. Plus, she donates a portion of every sale to help women and children escape domestic violence.
Teresa Goldstein — City of Calgary, University of Calgary
Another jack of all trades, Goldstein currently juggles two positions as Director of Community Planning at the City of Calgary and Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Calgary's School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape where she shares her expertise with students on topics like urban infrastructure, land use, and municipal planning tools.
In her over 15 years with the City of Calgary, Goldstein held numerous positions and board memberships, all oriented towards facilitating the development of more housing, especially affordable housing. While Manager of Community Planning in 2022, Goldstein was asked to be on Calgary's Housing and Affordability Task Force to make recommendations for the City’s Housing Strategy for 2024-2030, including 98 actions to improve housing affordability.
The community planning expert got her start as Planner for IBI Group in 2003, before taking on various planning positions at the Town of Okotoks, Stantec, and the Canada Lands Company. All told, she has over 20 years of planning experience.
Alongside Jennifer Keesmat, Goldstein recently joined the National Housing Council, and she serves as the Chair of Calgary Planning Commission and as a member of the City's Housing Affordability Task Force.
Valesa Faria — City of Toronto
A city-builder, problem-solver, and advocate for affordable housing, it's fitting that Faria has spent the bulk of her career in the public sector.
After getting her foot in the development door as a Leasing Assistant at Oxford Properties from 2004 to 2006, she quickly transitioned to public service as Supervisor of Leasing and Administration at Toronto Community Housing where she worked her way up to Director of Asset Management over 12 years. After that, Faria began an impressive seven-year career at the City of Toronto, starting as Manager of Housing Development before taking on the role of Director of the Housing Secretariat.
Then, last April Faria took on the daunting task of heading the City of Toronto's newly-formed Development Review division, which has been tasked with the challenging job of improving the way applications for new housing, and especially affordable housing, move from submission through to approval.
Under her leadership as Executive Director of the 400+ staff team, the City has reduced application review timelines by 80% on average. And in 2025, Faria will be heading a complete re-engineering of the Site Plan process to make it more efficient and streamlined.
