Risk Management Conference
Aug. 14-16, 2024 | Fairmont Chateau Laurier, Ottawa, Ontario
August 14, 2024
6:30 – 7:15 AM: Breakfast for pre-registered golfers (Burgundy Room)
7:15 AM: Bus transfer from hotel to Hautes Plaines Golf Club
8:30 AM: Tee off
12:45 – 1:45 PM: Lunch for golfers (Hautes Plaines Golf Club)
1:45 – 2:30 PM: Bus transfer back to hotel
4:30 – 5:30 PM: Speaker rehearsal (Adam Room)
6:00 – 9:00 PM: Opening cocktail reception and dinner (Laurier Room and Alcove)
August 15, 2024
7:30 – 8:30 AM: Breakfast (Drawing Room)
8:30 – 9:00 AM: Opening remarks and icebreaker activity (Adam Room)
9:00 – 10:00 AM: Ramifications of the 2024 U.S. election cycle
As the U.S. prepares for a rematch of the 2020 presidential election, with both Joe Biden and Donald Trump again at the top of the ticket in 2024, how each candidate will steer policy will have lasting effects on the U.S. electorate and, indeed, much of the world. This session will explore what’s at stake for institutional investors in Canada and beyond.
Speaker:
David Frum, writer, The Atlantic
10:00 – 10:30 AM: Becoming a ‘risk whisperer’: Mastering unintended risks to an investment portfolio
As soon as an institutional investor allocates capital to more than one manager, an ‘interaction risk effect’ exists. This session will explore the real-world strategies and case studies that institutional investors can draw from to recognize these unintended risks from the outset and manage any resulting fallout from unexpected gaps or overlaps. These strategies can help ensure that different investments within the portfolio are complementing, aligning and ultimately guiding the total portfolio in the desired investment policy direction.
Speaker:
Nick Zylkowski, managing director, Russell Investments Canada Ltd.
10:30 – 11:00 AM: Networking break (Drawing Room Foyer)
11:00 – 11:30 AM: Optimizing risk-adjusted returns in real estate with exposure to multi-family
This session will explore why exposure to the multi-residential sector can add value to overall real estate allocation, given the current market and economic environment, and where to find the most attractive opportunities from a risk-adjusted perspective.
Speaker:
Michael Tsourounis, managing partner and head of real estate, Hazelview Investments
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Real assets debt or equity?
After being in the shadow of equity for many years, the hiking cycle and higher-for-longer rate environment means debt is offering compelling risk-adjusted returns. However, equity has turned a corner and, after two challenging years, is making a comeback. Both strategies are now on the table for many investors. As such, assessing the relative value and risks of each strategy is critical. This session will explore these dynamics within the UK and European real assets market.
Speaker:
Tom Graham, senior investment director, head of real asset equity specialists, Aviva Investors
12:00 – 1:00 PM: Lunch (Drawing Room)
1:00 – 1:30 PM: Navigating global investment trends with the IMCO’s World View 2024
This session will explore the potential investment opportunities and risks posed by fraying U.S.-China relations, the passage of the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act and CHIPS Act, U.S. regional banking crises and artificial intelligence.
Speakers:
Nick Chamie, chief strategist and senior managing director of total portfolio and capital markets, the Investment Management Corp. of Ontario
Gareth Witten, vice-president of investment risk, Investment Management Corp. of Ontario
1:30 – 2:00 PM: The evolution of risk factors and portfolio construction pitfalls
This session will explore how risk factors have evolved within quantitative equity investing and what allocators should keep in mind as they build equity portfolios, including taking a close look at generic versus proprietary risk models and how structural changes in the marketplace have impacted portfolio construction from the perspective of an active systematic manager.
Speaker:
Boris Kovtunenko, senior vice-president, head of implementation research, Acadian Asset Management
2:00 – 2:30 PM: Roundtable interactive activity
This interactive session will do a deep dive into two key topics:
- Politics
- Private assets
6:00 – 9:00 PM: Formal cocktail reception and dinner (La Terrasse)
August 16, 2024
8:00 – 9:00 AM: Breakfast (Drawing Room)
9:00 – 10:00 AM: Enhancing analyst forecasts and investment strategies with AI (Adam Room)
By leveraging advanced artificial intelligence techniques, financial professionals can achieve greater accuracy and efficiency in identifying investment opportunities and managing risk. This session will focus on the importance of purpose-built AI to ensure the responsible and effective use of this technology in the financial sector.
Speaker:
Russ Goyenko, associate professor of finance, McGill University
10:00 – 10:30 AM: Decoding pension plan risks: Strategies for effective analysis and management
This session will explore the complexities of managing pension plan risks, while delving into practical strategies that medium-sized defined benefit pension plans can use to effectively tackle uncertainties. Attendees will gain valuable information about the nuanced process of risk monitoring, analysis and management through real-life examples and insightful discussions.
Speaker:
Danny Ip, director, investment risk and analytics, TTC Pension Plan
10:30 – 11:00 AM: Networking break (Drawing Room Foyer)
11:00 – 11:30 AM: The evolution of WISE Trust: Navigating the shift from single employer to jointly sponsored pension plan
WISE Trust, the pension plan for employees of Ontario’s workplace safety and insurance board and several safe workplace associations, transitioned to a jointly sponsored pension plan from a single-employer pension plan in the midst of the pandemic. This session will share insights into the pragmatic, risk-mitigating strategies the plan employed for overcoming challenges and pitfalls during the transformation.
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Panel: De-risking in focus for DB leaders
Defined benefit pension plan sponsors are contending with market volatility, rising administrative costs and increased longevity among plan members. Plan sponsors that have effective risk mitigation strategies in place will be primed to successfully navigate this period of uncertainty. In this session, industry leaders will discuss the de-risking strategies helping them meet their objective in providing pension benefits to current and future retirees.
Panellists:
Darwin Bozek, president and chief pension officer, Ontario Pension Board
Asif Haque, chief investment officer, CAAT Pension Plan
Natasha Trainor, assistant vice-president, pension investments, NAV CANADA
12:00 – 1:00 PM: Closing lunch (Drawing Room)
INTERESTED IN SPONSORING?
Contact Robert Martins about availability.
SPONSORS
KEYNOTE SPONSOR
ACADEMIC PARTNER
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AGENDA?
Please email Jada Lowe