Institutional Connect West Forum 2023

June 14 - 16, 2023
Fairmont Palliser, Calgary AB


Higher inflation and interest rates, changing geopolitical order, and the denominator effect are reshaping the way institutional investors think about the structure of their portfolios. This June, the Institutional Connect West Forum will gather institutions in western Canada for a series of discussions on the economy and approaches to portfolio construction. Join your peers at the Fairmont Palliser, in downtown Calgary, for these forward-thinking conversations.

We look forward to welcoming you!

Acknowledgement of the Land

In the spirit of respect and truth, we honor and acknowledge Moh’kinsstis and the traditional Treaty 7 territory of the Blackfoot confederacy: Siksika, Kainai, Piikani as well as the Stoney Nakoda and Tsuut’ina nations. We acknowledge the members of the Métis community and specifically, the Métis Nation Region Three. Finally in the spirit of reconciliation and because we are all treaty people, we also acknowledge all Calgarians who make our homes in the traditional Treaty 7 territory of
Southern Alberta.

Keynote Speaker

Todd Hirsch 1

Todd Hirsch

The Modern Economist



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Asset Owner Advisory Board

Lauren Frosst

Lauren Frosst

CFA, MBA

Director, Investments

Calgary Foundation


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Brittany Jones

Brittany Jones

CAIA

Senior Manager of Portfolio Analysis and Research

Government of Alberta | Department of Treasury Board and Finance

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Graham Sheppard

Graham Sheppard

CFA

Associate Director

UBC Investment Management


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Jacky Shen

Jacky Shen

CFA, MBA

Director of Treasury | Financial Services

Simon Fraser University


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Jean David Tremblay Frenette 1

Jean David Tremblay-Frenette

M. Sc.

Chief Economist and Director, Investment Strategy Research

AIMCo

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Samir Ben Tekaya 1 1

Samir Ben Tekaya


Vice President & Head of Investment Risk

British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI)

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The Event Experience

Participate in peer-to-peer discussions addressing forward-looking topics facing institutional investors

Network with institutional investors and your peers through a series of breaks and roundtable exchange discussions

Hear from a vast array of industry experts through interactive discussions

Extend connections at the off-site reception and dinner

Interact with speakers and make connections through use of an event app

Enjoy the luxurious atmosphere at Calgary’s business and financial district

Ways to Participate

Speak

Propose a speaker for a topic aligned with the conference theme

Speak

Attend

Complimentary passes available for qualified institutional investors

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Sponsor

Limited sponsorship opportunities available for provider firms

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Todd Hirsch

The Modern Economist

For more than 25 years, Todd Hirsch worked as an economist for such renowned institutes as ATB Financial, the Canadian Pacific Railway, the Canada West Foundation, and the Bank of Canada. Having had a front row seat to the key issues and trends impacting and transforming our world, Hirsch delivers dynamic, clear-eyed talks on the economy, adaptability, and creativity.

Hirsch served as the vice president and chief economist for ATB Financial for over 15 years. He also previously taught economics at the University of Calgary and for the executive education program at the University of Alberta. In recognition of his work, Hirsch has received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum (2022) and Diamond (2012) Jubilee Medals, the University of Alberta’s Alumni Honour Award, and an honorary degree from Mount Royal University.

The author of four books, Hirsch’s latest, Spiders in COVID Space: Adapting During and After the Pandemic, captures the inspiring and compelling stories of businesses and not-for-profits that reinvented themselves during the pandemic. He was also the host of the award-winning podcast, The Future Of, for three seasons, where he explored what the future might look like for work, communities, art and culture, leadership, and other compelling topics.

A strong advocate of arts and culture, Hirsch currently serves on the board of Calgary’s Glenbow Museum. He previously served on the University of Calgary Board of Governors, was chair of the Calgary Arts Academy, and was a director on the board of the Alberta Ballet.

Lauren Frosst

CFA, MBA

Director, Investments

Calgary Foundation

Lauren Frosst is Director, Investments for Calgary Foundation. Lauren supports the Vice President, Chief Investment Officer with effective oversight of the Primary Endowment Portfolio and management of other financial assets. She conducts investment research, aids in asset allocation and risk management strategies, and supervises investment manager due diligence and monitoring processes. Lauren also developed the Calgary Foundation’s strategy for impact investing as well as processes for deal origination, underwriting, and monitoring of investments. Lauren has a BFA, Printmaking and MBA, Finance from the University of Calgary. She also studied international commerce at the Vienna University of Economics and Business.

Brittany Jones

CAIA

Director, Investment Strategy

Government of Alberta | Department of Treasury Board and Finance

Brittany Jones is Senior Manager of Portfolio Analytics and Research within the Capital Markets Branch of the Government of Alberta. Her branch is responsible for the oversight of more than $40 billion in investable assets, including Government specialty accounts, long-term disability management plans, defined benefit pensions, and endowments. Previously, she was a Trader on the debt and derivatives desk, where one of her main accomplishments was starting a U.S. Commercial Program and growing it to USD $6 billion. Prior to that, she worked in Client Management for a multi-client asset manager with roughly $130 billion in assets under management. Brittany has more than a decade of experience in institutional asset management and government financing. She is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst and has a Bachelor of Business Administration, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology.

Graham Sheppard

CFA

Associate Director

UBC Investment Management

Graham holds several key responsibilities at UBC Investment Management, chief among them being a primary relationship contact for our internal partners to ensure their priorities are well understood and being supported as well as leading our responsible investing priorities. Within the investment team, Graham oversees total portfolio asset allocation, including rebalancing and cash management activities, total portfolio strategy research and investment policy development, and leads oversight of public fixed income investments. Prior to joining UBC Investment Management, Graham was a Portfolio Manager within the Investments Division of the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC), managing the group’s macroeconomic, financial market, and fixed income research efforts for the company’s $20 billion insurance fund and $1.2 billion pension plan for management employees. Prior to joining ICBC, Graham was an Analyst at ERA Research, a boutique investment research firm specializing in equity and high yield investment opportunities in the global Forest Products sector. Graham is a CFA charterholder and a proud alumnus of the UBC Thunderbirds.

Jacky Shen

CFA, MBA

Treasurer and Director of Investment

Simon Fraser University

Jacky Shen is the Director of Treasury at Simon Fraser University, where he provides the treasury, investment and responsible investing leadership by supporting the university’s investment governance
duties, implementing investment decisions and responsible investing initiatives, as well as managing debt and operating cash flows.
Jacky has managed SFU’s endowment portfolio to consistently outperformed its benchmarks for all annualized period on a rolling 10-year basis, and to consistently ranked in the top decile for the ten-year
annualized return within the balanced manager universe, as well to consistently ranked among the top performing Canadian universities in the Canadian University Investment Survey. He also successfully
implemented the university’s investment decarbonization plan and guided the investment portfolios toward the university’s 2025 divestment commitment.
Jacky is a trustee of both SFU Academic Staff Pension Plan and SFU Administrative/Union Staff Pension Plan. He is also a Treasury and Investment Committee member of Canadian Association of University
Business Officers (CAUBO).
Jacky has accumulated more than 30 years of experience of investment management, corporate finance, credit analysis, marketing and product development for various organizations including
managerial roles in leading global firms such as HSBC and AIG. Jacky joined Simon Fraser University in 2007.
Jacky earned an MBA degree from University of Pittsburgh, a Master of Global Assets and Wealth Management from Simon Fraser University, and he is a CFA Charter holder. 

Jean David Tremblay-Frenette

M. Sc

Chief Economist and Director, Investment Strategy Research

AIMCo

Jean David joined AIMCo in December 2010 to lead the Global Tactical Asset Allocation investment activity. He has, since then, transitioned internally in a senior capacity to work on investment strategy research, asset allocation, quantitative research and macroeconomic analysis. He is currently Chief Economist and Director, Investment Strategy Research.

Prior experience includes macroeconomic analysis, tactical asset allocation and global macro portfolio management at Caisse dépôt et placement du Québec – CDPQ. He also worked in strategic investments for National Bank of Canada. Jean David began his career working in mergers and acquisitions at Credit Suisse in Toronto.

He holds an M.Sc. degree in finance from the Henley Business School – ICMA Centre at the University of Reading, United Kingdom and a BCom. – finance major, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Canada.

Samir Ben Tekaya

Vice President & Head of Investment Risk

British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI)

Samir Ben Tekaya joined British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI) in June 2016. As the Head of Investment Risk at BCI, Samir was instrumental in building the investment risk function from the ground up. He oversees the development of multiple frameworks to measure and manage BCI’s investment risks and to enable multiple investment initiatives.

Samir has more than 21 years of experience in investment risk management in both the banking and pension management industries. Prior to joining BCI, Samir was Director, Portfolio Valuations; and before that, Director, Fixed Income and Asset Allocation Risk Management at Caisse de Dépôt et Placement du Québec (CDPQ). He also serves as a Director on the Board of Mount St. Mary Hospital in Victoria.

Samir holds a master’s degree in Financial Engineering, and a master’s degree in Applied Economics from HEC Montréal, as well as an engineering degree in Statistics from INSEA Morocco.

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