By Adrian Moise, CEO & at Aequilibrium
This week in Whistler, Central 1’s Momentum 2025 brought together over 400 credit union leaders, fintech partners, and innovators to confront one shared challenge — how to modernize without losing the movement’s most valuable currency: trust.
Across three days of data, dialogue, and purpose, the event painted a clear picture: digital transformation isn’t just about systems. It’s about people — their security, transparency, and belief in the institutions that serve them.
Building Alignment Before Acceleration
Momentum opened with community and clarity.
A Traditional Welcome from the Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh) and Lil’wat (Lil’wat7ul) Nations, followed by remarks from Sheila Vokey (President & CEO, Central 1), grounded attendees in shared values before turning to the week’s theme — “Momentum begins with alignment.”
A Mindset for Reinvention
Joe Jackman (Founder & Chairman, Jackman Reinvents) set the tone with a challenge to credit unions and financial leaders alike:
“Real change happens when partners co-design the roadmap, not when it’s handed to them.”
His call for collaborative transformation echoed throughout the day as Jason Daw (Head of North America Interest Rate Strategy, RBC Capital Markets), Dan Iwachiw (VP & Head of Product, Visa Canada), and Tolga Yalkin (CEO, BCFSA) unpacked how cooperative models, payments innovation, and shifting market forces are redefining competitiveness.
Purpose in Practice
Central 1 ended the day with humility and heart, donating to the Canadian Red Cross, Indigenous Youth Ambassador Program, and Parkland Development Foundation instead of offering speaker gifts.
A small act with a big message: modernization means little without compassion.
The Ethics of Acceleration: Keeping AI Accountable in a Digital Age
If alignment shaped the foundation, accountability defined the momentum.
Keynote: AI and the Future of Fraud
Ritesh Kotak, cybersecurity strategist, pulled no punches in his keynote:
“Innovation without governance is exposure.”
He showed how AI now fuels both fraud and defense and why credit unions must lead the charge in ethical, transparent adoption.
From Ideas to Infrastructure
Day 2’s sessions turned insight into application:
- Kris Zanuldin, Head of KONEK at Interac, demonstrated how real-time payments can marry speed with security, proving that convenience doesn’t have to come at the cost of trust.
- In “Fraud on the Frontline,” Ron Kaine, AVP, Fraud and Compliance at Central 1, and Idan Itskovich, Strategic Intelligence Analyst at NC3’s BC Financial Crimes Division, went beyond theory sharing real-world prevention frameworks built on current national case data.
- J.D. (John David) Penner, Treasury Management and Payments Expert at Intellect Design Arena reframed ISO 20022 not as a technical upgrade but as the next frontier in liquidity and treasury modernization — connecting efficiency with strategic foresight.
- And in “Navigating Canada’s AML Landscape,” Ron Kaine and Holly Phillippi, CEO of Alessa, cut through complexity to demystify evolving regulatory expectations, emphasizing that collaboration is now a compliance advantage.
Progress as a Mindset
If alignment shaped the foundation and accountability set the tone, progress defined the rhythm.
Momentum’s mid-day sessions expanded the conversation from compliance frameworks to culture change.
Aaron Walker, Director at Payments Canada; Geoff Rice, RTR Industry Readiness Lead; and Janet Lalonde, VP Payments Canada, broke down how Real-Time Rail (RTR) will transform payments by combining speed, trust, and real-time oversight.
As Lalonde noted,
“RTR isn’t just faster payments, it’s a faster path to confidence.”
In “Adapt or Vanish,” industry leaders Jeff Adamson (Co-Founder & CCO, Neo Financial), Rob Wesseling (President & CEO, The Co-operators), Wellington Holbrook (President & CEO, Vancity), Julie Breuer (Chief Experience Officer, Central 1), and Brian Harris (CEO, Beem Credit Union) delivered an urgent message: “Continuous transformation isn’t optional, it’s existential”
“Adaptation isn’t the endgame; it’s the entry ticket to relevance"
“Partnerships don’t dilute our value, they multiply it"
The afternoon turned reflective with Darrell Jaggers (CIO & CTO, First West Credit Union) and Jamie Kruspel (CTO, Mainstreet Credit Union) in “Moving Forward from Forge.” Their candid migration lessons echoed a truth many felt in the room:
“Technology fails when culture lags behind. Get people aligned first, the code will follow"
Bryan Yu, Chief Economist at Central 1, closed the day with an economic reality check, reminding leaders that agility, not scale, defines resilience.
“Headwinds are inevitable; what matters is the shape of your wings.”
Where Collaboration Becomes Connection
Between sessions, the spirit of collaboration carried on in hallways and over coffee. Conversations with Cornel Dixon (Head of Growth, Plumery) and João Lima Pinto (Board Member, ebankIT) sparked ideas for how Canadian credit unions can partner globally while keeping member trust at the centre.
As the sun dipped behind Whistler’s peaks, desserts, laughter, and shared vision wrapped the day, a perfect reminder that progress isn’t a project or platform; it’s a mindset built together.
Trust, Transparency, and the Next Generation
Whistler’s final day fused data with direction.
Rob Grein (CEO, PMG Intelligence) opened with a data-driven truth:
“Transformation begins when data meets purpose.”
By 2027, Millennials and Gen Z will make up half of Canada’s population , redefining trust as a blend of transparency, self-direction, and human connection.
The Glass Ceiling of Advice
Grein revealed a systemic challenge: the “glass ceiling” in financial advice.
With traditional banks often requiring $250,000+ in assets for personalized attention, younger Canadians are left to self-navigate their finances. Credit unions, he argued, can bridge this divide through accessible, advice-driven engagement.
Transparency as the New Currency
Trust now outperforms convenience as the core loyalty driver.
“Three meaningful touchpoints a year, that’s the sweet spot,” Grein shared, underscoring that quality human interaction still drives growth in a digital-first era.
The Power of Partnerships
Moderated by Buffy (Elizabeth) Duke, the panel featuring Sukhman Dulay (Cyder), Tony Dunham (Bulkley Valley Credit Union), James Grosskopf (Innovation Federal Credit Union), and Kevin Clark (FundMore.ai) explored how collaboration fuels momentum:
“Fintechs will provide you scale and speed.”
“The longevity of the partnership between credit unions and fintechs is crucial to success.”
“Credit Unions are Canada’s best-kept secret.”
Resilience Through Risk
Jenn MacDonald (Vancity) showcased Vancity’s Enterprise Fraud Management (EFM) system, a model for proactive defense and member trust.
Ron Kaine and Carol Ann Northcott (CRO, Central 1) reinforced that agility without governance is fragility.
The conference closed with a fireside chat between Barclay Hancock (Central 1) and Todd Roberts (Deloitte Canada) — a fitting conclusion on how modernization, payments, and trust must evolve together.
Five Lessons from Whistler
- Trust is the new growth strategy.
Transparency, empathy, and communication drive loyalty beyond convenience. - AI demands accountability.
Governance and ethics are the foundation of sustainable innovation. - Composable beats complex.
Platform ecosystems, not point solutions, define financial agility. - RTR readiness starts now.
Payments modernization is as much cultural as it is technical. - Partnership is the multiplier.
Collaboration between credit unions, fintechs, and regulators fuels resilience.
Momentum Is a Mindset
Momentum 2025 wasn’t just a conference. It was a collective realization that the future of financial services will be built not on speed alone but on trust, transparency, and togetherness.
At Aequilibrium, we’re proud to support Canada’s credit unions as they navigate this transformation bringing local expertise in UX, compliance, and delivery to turn innovation into measurable impact.
Because the future of banking isn’t just digital, it’s deeply human.
Carrying the Momentum Forward
Modernization doesn’t pause, and neither do we.
If your credit union is navigating post-Forge transitions, RTR adoption, or AI-driven innovation, our team can help you move forward with confidence.
Reach out to our team to turn your next challenge into measurable progress!
