Agenda at a glance:

Wednesday, April 23: Ski day, speaker rehearsal, opening cocktail reception and dinner

Thursday, April 24: Full day of sessions, formal cocktail reception and dinner

Friday, April 25: Morning sessions, closing lunch, pub night

Confirmed sessions:

U.S. as the drivers of the G-zero world

This session will provide an overview of the U.S. political landscape following President Trump’s victory in the November 2024 election. It will primarily focus on the president’s — and congressional — foreign policy objectives and the expected scenarios for the wars in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. The presentation will also address the U.S.-Canada relationship, broader North American geopolitical dynamics, domestic polarization in the U.S. and the void in global leadership left with the gradual removal of the U.S. from a leadership role in international institutions.

Speaker:

Cliff Kupchan, chairman, Eurasia Group

Trailblazers panel: How are changing market trends impacting plan funding and investment approaches?

Over the past few years, global market trends have taken a rollercoaster ride, with record-breaking inflation, rising (and then dipping) interest rates and geopolitical risks heightened by big election results. Three investment professionals — who have each been featured as a Canadian Investment Review Trailblazer — will discuss how institutional investors can ride these big global shifts in their approaches to plan funding, investment allocations and the sustainability of their pension funds.

Panellists:

Christopher Brown, chief executive officer, WISE Trust

Marc Gauthier, treasurer and chief investment officer, Concordia University

Josee Mondoux, chief investment officer, Canadian Medical Protective Association

Trailblazers panel: How the balance between public and private assets has evolved over the last 30 years

As the Global Investment Conference celebrates its 30th anniversary, three investment professionals — who have each been featured as a Canadian Investment Review Trailblazer — will dig into the evolution of public and private assets over the past three decades. They’ll explore how institutional investors have reorganized their focus on these allocations, the rise of private assets and how to optimize portfolios for consistency.

Panellists:

Duncan Burrill, managing director, chief executive officer, Canadian Broadcasting Corp. Pension Plan

Blair Richards, chief investment officer, Halifax Port ILA/HEA 

Francois Quinty, director, investment management, Via Rail Canada

Panel: Progress on the road to net zero by 2050 and the impact of regulatory developments

As Canada moves closer to its 2050 goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, the urgency surrounding the impacts of climate change continue to be felt around the globe. At the same time, the investment industry has seen a push back against the focus on environmental, social and governance factors, alongside a call for more actionable data and measurements around climate impact. In this panel session, three experts will discuss the role of institutional investors in the progress to net zero, as well as the impact of regulatory developments.

Panellists:

Janice Anderson, board member, Canadian Sustainability Standards Board, senior director, technical accounting, ESG compliance, Nutrien Ltd.

Jennifer Coulson, senior managing director and global head, ESG, British Columbia Investment Management Corp.

Brian Minns, head, responsible investment, University Pension Plan

Fireside chat: Rethinking leverage

OMERS' Brandon Weening will discuss how global term note issuance programs are helping defined benefit plan sponsors optimize their asset allocations, mitigate refinancing risk and boost returns.

Speaker:

Brandon Weening, executive vice-president, corporate and capital markets finance, OMERS

Moderator:

Peter Klein, professor of finance, Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business

Private debt exposed: Separating fact from fiction

Misinformation and myths surround private debt, making it difficult to assess its true potential. This session will provide a clear, data-driven view of the market, uncover emerging opportunities and pinpoint risks investors need to navigate.

Speaker:

Tarik Serri, senior director, hedge funds, alternative investments, Trans-Capital Canada Inc.

Finding equilibrium on the energy transition journey

Electricity demand is accelerating, fossil fuels are dominating the global energy mix and there’s a pressing need for the energy sector to decarbonize, which places conventional energy companies in a crucial transitional role. This session will provide insights on the transition from conventional to renewable energy, explore the role of artificial intelligence and data centre technology in shaping future energy demand and discuss how investors can integrate energy transition assets into their portfolios.

Speaker:

Yashica Reddy, investment director, thematic equities, Schroders

Navigating the evolving landscape of fund finance: Opportunities for Canadian investors

Over the past decade, fund financing has evolved from a simple ancillary service for private equity and credit firms into a major asset class. Driven by fluctuating interest rates, evolving sponsor and investor needs and new regulatory requirements in Europe and the U.S., the sector now attracts diverse capital sources, including banks, non-banks — with pension plans among them — and both general and limited partners. This session will explore this evolution, highlighting the various structures emerging in the global private credit markets and discuss opportunities for Canadian investors.

Speaker:

Nicolas Delisle, managing director, portfolio manager, private fixed income, SLC Management

The AI journey for investors: The promise and peril from strategic considerations and competitive dynamics

This session will explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the investment landscape, revealing both its promise to unlock new efficiencies and revenue streams and the peril of navigating a complex, competitive environment. By examining strategic considerations, from reallocating capital in labour, research and development and software to adapting to evolving market pressures, investors can gain a balanced perspective on capturing AI’s transformative potential while managing inherent risks.

Speaker:

Gurvir Grewal, U.S. specialist, global equity, William Blair

More sessions to be announced.