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CFA
Anca Drexler is the Executive Vice-President and Head of Treasury at OMERS. She is responsible for leading funding and liquidity management, currency management and economic research for the OMERS investment portfolio.
Anca joined OMERS in 2017 and her previous roles included EVP and Head of Total Portfolio Management and Managing Director, Risk Management for OMERS Capital Markets.
Anca has over 25 years of experience in the financial industry. Before joining OMERS she spent over 15 years with another defined pension plan, OPTrust, in a number of leadership roles, including Chief Risk Officer. She has also spent time in an advisory capacity with the Health Care of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) Board of Trustees and the Global Risk Institute (GRI). Anca started her career as a financial engineer with Algorithmics Inc.
An alumna of the Harvard Business School, Anca also holds a MMath from the University of Waterloo and a B.Sc. from the University of Toronto. She is a CFA charter holder.
Anca is a member of the board of Directors of the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada and sits on their Investment Committee. She is also a member of the Investment Committee for the Sunnybrook Foundation.
MBA, SIPC, FSA
Nawar Alsaadi, is CEO and Founder of Kanata Advisors, a Toronto-based ESG Fintech advisory firm. Prior to founding Kanata, Nawar held several senior ESG-related roles: Chief Impact Officer at ScopeFour Capital, Senior Portfolio Manager ESG Investing at Canada Post Pension Plan, and Director of ESG Insights at ethical investment firm, NEI investments, among other executive and advisory roles.
Nawar holds a BBA in International Business from Schiller International University (Paris) and a Master of Business Administration from the Questrom School of Business (Boston University). He also holds a multitude of sustainable investing certifications: CFA ESG Investing, CFA Climate Investing, the Sustainable Investment Professional Certification (SIPC) from Concordia University, and FSA Credential from the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB).
PhD
Steven joined OMERS Capital Markets in October 2019. His expertise lies in systematic investment and portfolio management, as well as alternative data and investment data science. Steven is helping to lead the Global Diversified Program team to improve and optimize their data-driven decision-making processes and portfolio management.
Steven was previously in the Capital Markets division of Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, working within the Quantitative Strategies and Research team. Prior to that, he was Head of Portfolio Analytics within OMERS Capital Markets. Steven spent over 15 years in London, UK where he held various investment and portfolio management positions in the fund management and investment banking industries.
Steven holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario and has completed two Post-Doctorates at the Tokyo Institute of Technology and Imperial College, London, UK.
Candice Bangsund is Vice President and Portfolio Manager, Global Asset Allocation. She is a member of the Global Asset Allocation Committee, focusing on central banks and fundamental macro analysis, and actively participates in the development and communication of the firm’s asset allocation strategy. Candice also serves as the global spokesperson for Fiera Capital relating to all economic and investment matters and is co-lead Portfolio Manager on the Fiera Diversified Lending, Diversified Real Estate, and Diversified Real Asset Strategies.
Candice has more than 15 years in the investment industry, including several years as an investment research analyst for a global investment management firm where she also served on its Global Asset Allocation Committee. She gained extensive experience in conducting global macroeconomic analysis focusing on asset classes, regions, sectors, commodities, and currencies. She also conducted multi-manager fund research and analysis with a focus on Canadian and Global Equity asset classes.
Candice graduated from the University of Regina with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance. She also obtained her Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
Joseph is Anishinaabe (Ojibway) from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, and has over 15 years of experience working with Indigenous communities and organizations across Canada and internationally, including the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), the British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines, the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC), the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB), and the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCNI). Joseph has also advised municipal, provincial, federal, and foreign governments on stakeholder relations, and economic development strategies.
Joseph has a Bachelor of Social Science in Political Science and Aboriginal Studies from the University of Toronto, and a Master of Art in Political Science from Western University (M.A., Political Science).
CFA
Jeff Chan is Director, ESG Investing at Canada Post Corporate Pension Plan. In this role, Jeff leads all aspects of the plan’s ESG efforts including ESG integration, stewardship efforts and the implementation of the plan’s climate change strategy. Prior to this role, Jeff was Director, ESG at a large Canadian asset management firm where he developed and led the implementation of the firm’s ESG strategy and roadmap, including policy and process creation. Jeff also played an integral role in ESG product development and ESG-related client servicing.
Jeff is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and has completed a Master of Science in Sustainability Management from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Science (Life Sciences) from McMaster University. Jeff also holds the FSA Credential from the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and the Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR) Certificate from the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP).
Milla is President and CEO of Millani Inc., an independent advisory firm helping investors integrate ESG issues into their investment decisions, companies communicate their material ESG issues to investors, boards of directors understand their ESG responsibilities and capital markets participants create their proprietary ESG strategies.
Throughout her career, Milla has worked very closely with senior management and investor relations teams of Canadian publicly-listed companies, as well as financial analysts and investment managers of several Canadian pension and investment funds. Prior to founding Millani in 2008, she worked for more than 15 years in the institutional equity markets for major Canadian financial institutions such as RBC Dominion Securities and Scotia Capital, where she was consistently ranked as a top-tier salesperson. Later, as Deloitte’s Leader – Sustainability, for the Quebec Region, she was actively involved in the development of sustainability strategy, management, stakeholder engagement, and reporting for a variety of Canadian organizations.
Milla is a board member of the Responsible Investment Association (RIA) and is the Chair of its Nomination Committee. She is Co-Chair of the Steering Committee of the Finance and Sustainability Initiative of Finance Montréal. Milla is recipient of the 2017 Clean16 Award, and in 2020 was awarded Montreal’s Y Foundation Women of Distinction Award, in the Business & Entrepreneurship category.
CFA
Noah Funderburk is a Vice President, Portfolio Manager, and member of the Securitized Assets team at Amundi Pioneer that oversees $14 Billion dollars of securitized assets. Based in Boston, he is responsible for managing securitized credit strategies for institutional clients and specializes in mortgage credit sectors such as Non-Agency MBS, Credit Risk Transfer Securities, Reverse Mortgages, and Single Family Rental Securities.
Prior to his current role, Noah developed Amundi Pioneer’s quantitative mortgage credit models and was responsible for security analysis and trade execution. Noah joined the firm’s Quantitative Research Group in 2008 after graduating with high distinction from the University of Colorado, Boulder, where he majored in finance and minored in mathematics and economics as a student in the Quantitative Finance certificate program. He became a CFA® charterholder in July 2012.
Delaney Greig is Director, Investor Stewardship, at University Pension Plan. She supports UPP’s public policy advocacy and leads UPP’s engagement and proxy voting with a focus on advancing the health of the financial, environmental, and social systems on which capital markets rely. In prior roles, Delaney worked across stewardship, ESG integration and product development as Director of Sustainable Investing at Addenda Capital and led the corporate engagement team at the Shareholder Association for Research and Education (SHARE). A lawyer by training, she also has experience in environmental and Indigenous law and policy. Delaney holds a JD and a BCL from McGill University, an MA in Political Economy from the University of Toronto, and a BA in International Development from the University of Guelph. She is co-chair of the Responsible Investment Association Policy Stewardship Group, vice-chair of the Technical Committee of Climate Engagement Canada, and a member of the Board of Living Wage Canada.
CPA, CMA
University Treasurer and Chief Investment Officer – Concordia University
Mr. Gauthier is responsible for the oversight of the University’s and its related entities’ financial position, which are segregated through five distinct portfolios; Benefits (Pension Plan, Group Insurance Plans, Supplementary Retirement Plans and Post Retirement/Employment Benefits), Investments (Pension Fund and Foundations), Corporate Risks (Insurance, self-insurance and ERM programs), Capital Budget (Capital investments and Fixed Assets) and Financing. He has been employed by Concordia University for 31 years; his responsibilities have also included such roles as Executive Director, Finance and Business Operations, Director of Finance and Restricted Funds and prior as a senior financial analyst and accountant. Mr. Gauthier obtained his CMA and graduated from Finance and Accounting at Concordia University as well as from Queen’s Executive Program in General Management.
Trésorier et Chef de Placement – Université Concordia
M. Gauthier a comme mandat la surveillance de la situation financière de l’Université et de ses entités affiliées, répartis en cinq portefeuilles distincts; avantages sociaux (régime de retraite, régimes d’assurances collectives, régimes de retraite supplémentaires et avantages post-retraite/emploi), placements (caisse de retraite et ces fondations), risques corporatifs (programme d’assurance, auto-assurance et GRE), budget des immobilisations (investissements en capitaux et immobilisations) et financement. M. Gauthier est employé à l’Université depuis 31 ans; il a occupé des rôles tels que Directeur exécutif, finances et gestion des affaires, Directeur des finances et fonds avec restrictions, analyste senior et comptable. Il a obtenu son CMA et est diplômé en Finance et Comptabilité de l’Université Concordia.
MBA
Brenda M. Hogan is the Chief Investment Officer at Venture Ontario and has over 15 years’ experience in strategy and execution in venture capital at the co-investment, fund of funds, and fund level investing. She oversees the private equity portfolio, with a focus on origination, execution and portfolio management. Brenda has managed assets across a variety of sectors including IT software and services, life sciences, and cleantech.
Brenda has held senior roles in corporate development, finance, and strategic investing with Bell Canada, EY, the Business Development Bank of Canada, and a software start-up.
She sits on the Board of the Canadian Venture Capital Association, and Chairs the Membership Committee; and serves with the Institutional Limited Partners Association (ILPA) as a member of the Content Committee. Brenda served three terms on the Board of Women in Capital Markets, serving as Chair of the Governance Committee; was Co-Chair of Canadian Women in Private Equity (CWPE); is a past Chair of the Board and President of the Junior League of Toronto; and served on the Board of Governors at Dalhousie University and Chaired the Finance, Audit, Investment, and Risk Committee.
Brenda holds an MBA in finance; is a graduate of the Institute of Corporate Directors SME Board Effectiveness Program; has completed the Private Capital Governance Program (Venture Capital Cohort); and has received leadership training from the Ivey School of Business.
Christian is a seasoned investor, with deep experience developing and leading investment programs. Most recently he was Senior Managing Director of Equities & Credit at the Investment Management Corporation of Ontario (IMCO), an Ontario fund manager with over $70 billion in assets under management. Christian oversaw a $35 billion portfolio that included IMCO’s private equity, public equity, global credit and hedge fund strategies. His direct investing experience and relationships with leading global alternatives platforms contributed to IMCO’s rapid growth and strong financial performance.
Before joining IMCO Christian was Managing Director and Head of Relationship Investments, a global $10+ billion direct equity investment strategy at CPP Investments. Prior to this, he spent 11 years in the private equity and growth capital industry at Charterhouse Group and Planier Capital. Christian has served on the boards of public and private companies in the US and Europe spanning the Industrial, Healthcare, Business Services, Communications and Technology sectors.
Christian began his career in the Investment Banking division of Salomon Brothers in New York City. He graduated from the MBA program at Harvard Business School and holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania. Christian is an active supporter of the United Way, and most recently served as the co-chair of IMCO’s corporate giving effort.
CFA
Jim Hwang is a Co-Founder and the Chief Operating Officer of Firinne Capital, a digital assets investment management company. He also independently consults on various topics including digital asset investing, multi-asset factor modeling, total portfolio allocations, equity factor investing, and organizational design. He previously worked at CPP Investments (CPPIB) as a Managing Director in Capital Markets & Factor Investing, responsible for public markets strategy allocation, and in Total Portfolio Management, heading portfolio design research. Prior to CPPIB, Jim had worked globally, managing portfolio management and research teams at major global institutions including Bosera Asset Management in HK and China, and Barclays Global Investors and UBS Brinson in the US.
Jim holds an MS in Mechanical Engineering from U.C. Berkeley and a BS in Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering from MIT. He is also a CFA charter holder.
Luke started his career in the UK, advising corporations and High-Net-Worth Individuals at a global financial services firm. Since joining Cortland in 2019, Luke has been responsible for key sales and marketing initiatives that have given him a deep understanding of Cortland’s business and client needs.
He is currently completing the CAIA Charter and holds a BA (Hons) from the University of Manchester, where he studied Politics and Economics.
MBA
Raheel joined CPPIB in 2019, and is currently Managing Director, Investment Science at CPP Investments. His focus and expertise is in the use of data-driven, analytical techniques such as machine learning and natural language processing to drive investment decisions and impact. Currently, he leads cross-functional teams that are focused on tackling capital allocation and security selection problems across multiple asset classes by combining empirical research, investment knowledge, increased data usage, and advanced analytical techniques.
He previously led Analytics at Google Canada, where he partnered with Canada’s leading organizations to accelerate their analytics and digital transformation capabilities. Before Google, he worked at The Boston Consulting Group where he advised a broad range of Financial Services, Private Equity and Retail organizations on strategy, M&A and large-scale business transformations. Raheel has also held multiple business and engineering leadership roles at Schlumberger.
Raheel holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, and an undergrad in engineering.
CFA, FRM
Hrvoje Lakota leads the Portfolio Construction and Strategic Asset Allocation advisory group at IMCO. He also leads IMCO’s inhouse economic research team. These group are responsible for, among other things, conducting asset mix and asset-liability analysis, determining strategic asset allocation for clients, conducting economic research, and developing IMCO’s capital market assumptions. Prior to joining IMCO, Hrvoje was a Partner at Mercer Global Investments (Canada) Limited, where he developed and delivered portfolio construction advice for some of that firm’s largest clients. He led various aspects of investment advisory services, including strategic asset allocation, asset-liability modelling, investment strategy and policy formulation, performance monitoring and evaluation.
Hrvoje holds a Bachelor’s in Mathematics from the University of Waterloo and is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries, Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, and a CFA Charterholder.
CFA, CAIA, FSA, FCIA, CERA, FRM
Ju Hui Lee is Head of Market Risk of UNJSPF (United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund), responsible for market risk oversight and asset-lability management. The fund manages assets of US$91.5 billion as of 31 December 2021.
Before joining UNJSPF, Ju Hui worked on the asset-liability analysis of the Canada Pension Plan and the factor studies at Canada Pension Investments (CPP Investments). In addition, she led modelling groups in the Global Risk Management at Scotiabank and ALM consulting, pension investment strategy development and risk management activities for financial institutions, model vetting, and actuarial valuation reporting for clients at KPMG and Mercer and developed the LDI methodology and was responsible for the strategic asset allocation at Manulife Financial.
Ju Hui holds a BSc. Mathematics, an MBA from the Yonsei University in Korea, and an MSc in Financial Mathematics from the University of Chicago. Ju Hui holds the CFA, CAIA, FSA, FCIA, CERA, and FRM designations.
Colin Miller is Head of Sales. In this role, he oversees a team of capability specialists and leads the sourcing of new business with Canadian institutional clients and the management of consultant relationships.
Colin has more than 15 years of industry experience and joined the firm in 2021. Prior to joining Fiera Capital, Colin worked for a Canadian-based global investment management firm developing new business partnerships and spent several years leading the client servicing team in Canada. Colin also worked with a boutique asset manager and spent several years at major consulting firms conducting investment manager searches and advising institutional clients.
Colin has a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Comm.) degree from Memorial University, with a concentration in Finance. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
CFA, FSA, CAIA, PRM
Steve Mahoney was appointed NS Pension’s Chief Investment Officer on April 1, 2022.
Steve was born and raised in Nova Scotia. His career started with the Maritime Life Assurance Company as an Investment and Actuarial Analyst. He then moved on to Keel Capital as a Risk Manager and then to the Halifax Regional Municipality Pension Plan also as a Risk Manager. Steve worked for six years at Morneau Shepell (now LifeWorks) as a Partner in their investment consulting division. He was then with Connor, Clark & Lunn Financial Group in Toronto as Vice President of Institutional Sales prior to joining NSPSC in 2022 as Chief Investment Officer.
Steve’s education includes a Bachelor of Science (Mathematics) degree from Mount Allison University and a Bachelor of Education degree from St. Francis Xavier University. He also holds several professional designations including Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA), Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA), and Professional Risk Manager (PRM).
CPA, CA, CAIA, CFA
Yasir Mallick joined UBC Investment Management in 2020 and plays a lead role in sourcing, monitoring, and evaluating external managers across both public and private markets. His investment management responsibilities include direct oversight of the equity program and absolute return program within UBC Investment Management. In addition to manager selection, monitoring, and portfolio construction, Yasir leads and supports various strategic projects including governance, corporate strategy, investment framework, risk and design and implementation of investment related processes and procedures.
Yasir brings over 15 years of investment and risk related experience having worked at PwC, KPMG, Ontario Power Generation and University of Toronto Asset Management. Yasir holds both a Bachelor of Commerce and a Masters of Finance from the University of Toronto. He is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario (CA, CPA) and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst designations (CAIA).
CFA
Mathias is Head of Public Markets and a member of the firm’s Senior Management Team. He joined bfinance as a Senior Associate in March 2008 focusing on manager research and selection in fixed income. He was named Head of Public Markets in 2014, managing a team of asset class specialists in charge of investment advisory within listed equity and fixed income. Before joining bfinance he worked for RBC Dexia in Luxembourg, most recently as Product Manager for Investment Analytics services. Mathias started his career in the investment fund industry in 2003. He is a CFA Charterholder and holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of St. Gallen (Lic. Oec. HSG) in Switzerland.
CFA
As Senior Director, Global Strategist, Total Fund Investments at PSP Investments, Jean-François is responsible for the strategy stemming from the economic and financial scenario and the dynamic investment activities for the PSP’s Total Fund. Prior to joining PSP, Jean-François was responsible for strategic and tactical asset allocation for one of the largest corporate pension plans in Canada. Before that, he was senior investment strategist for one of the largest public pension plans in Canada, where he was involved in asset allocation decisions and assessing the macroeconomic outlook. He also worked as asset allocation advisor for institutional clients of a large para-public organization. He brings 20 years of experience in the asset/liability management and macroeconomic analysis. Jean-François holds a Bachelor of Actuarial Science from Laval University and a Master of Applied Finance from the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM). He is also a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA), a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (FCIA) as well as a CFA charterholder.
CFA
CFA
Shannon has over 20 years of experience in responsible investment, cooperative development and sustainability with experience working in Canada, South Africa and Latin America. Shannon has helped build SHARE’s investor network to include foundations, Indigenous trusts, universities, pension funds and faith-based investors with over $90 billion in assets under management.
Shannon advises asset owner boards in their implementation of responsible investment policies and practices and oversees strategic projects for SHARE. She is a voluntary board member and treasurer of the First Peoples’ Cultural Foundation.
She has a Master of Arts degree in International Affairs from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Simon Fraser University.
In 2006, Mark became one of three founding members of the National Aboriginal Trust Officers Association. Serving in several roles, including Board Member, Committee Chairman and President, Mark is currently serving as Founding Member and Senior Advisor to NATOA. NATOA is a Charitable organization, dedicated to providing knowledge and capacity building on trust funds and investment for Indigenous communities. Mark is leading the Reconciliation and Responsible Investment Initiative in partnership with Share Canada which is linking Indigenous Values to Indigenous Investing as well as helping Non-Indigenous Investors utilize their portfolios to achieve the goals of Reconciliation in Canada. Mark is an Advisory Board Member of First Peoples Worldwide at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Mark also currently serves as the General Manager of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation Community Trust since 1999. Mark has served as a Branch/Financial Services Manager with the Bank of Montreal opening a branch within the Onyota’aka (Oneida) First Nation near London, Ontario. Mark is a graduate of Mount Allison University (1991) and began his working career within the Federal Government.
Mark is Mohawk and resides in the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. Mark volunteers his time coaching as an Assistant Coach with the McKinnon Park Secondary School Blue Devil Football team in Caledonia, Ontario.
CFA, MBA
Yelena is the Head of Investments at Embark where she oversees more than $6 billion of assets under management. Yelena’s main responsibilities include developing and overseeing investment strategy, monitoring external investment managers, new product design and launch, risk management, and regulatory reporting.
Yelena has an MBA from University of Western Ontario. She is a CFA Charterholder and currently serves as the Chair of the Institutional Asset Management Committee at the CFA Society
Toronto.
M. Sc
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.
Sam Tripuraneni is Head of Sustainable Outcomes with Aviva Investors. His main responsibilities are overseeing the firm’s Stewardship and Sustainable Outcomes franchises, including the climate transition, social transition and natural capital transition suite of products. He leads on enhancing the existing sustainable funds’ philosophy and processes, related data and quantitative research models, and the quantification and delivery of sustainability impacts. Sam is also responsible for overseeing sustainable thematic research and how this is integrated across liquid market asset classes, as well as play a key role in the development of new sustainable and impact strategies. Sam joined Aviva Investors after eight years at BlackRock, most recently as a director in its Sustainable Investing team, where he was the lead product strategist. Sam worked closely with investment and client teams to develop investment solutions to meet environmental, social and financial objectives. Prior to BlackRock Sustainable Investing, he was a relationship manager in the UK Institutional clients business, and led the first Sustainable Investing initiative across EMEA institutional clients.
CFA, MBA
CFA
Kevin Zhu is Senior Managing Director, Head of Portfolio Construction at OPTrust, one of Canada’s largest defined benefit pension funds with net assets of almost C$25 billion.
Kevin has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, including both central banking and total portfolio investment
framework and strategy design for large Canadian defined benefit pension plans.
Kevin joined OPTrust in 2016 where he has been leading Total Fund portfolio management functions, including portfolio construction research and innovation, capital and risk allocation across asset classes and strategies, total portfolio management framework design, and dynamic total portfolio management.
Prior to joining OPTrust, Kevin held the position of Director, Strategy & Asset Mix at Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. Prior to this appointment, Kevin was Senior Economist at the Bank of Canada focusing on monetary policy research and model development. He holds a MA in Economics from Carleton University and is a CFA Charterholder. In 2017, Kevin was named to Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute’s Public Investor 100.