Speaker Spotlight
DARCIE JAMES-MAXWELL
Head of Canadian Operations, Data and Platform Solutions
BNY Mellon and CIBC Mellon
Black History Month Featured Interview with Darcie James-Maxwell, BNY Mellon and CIBC Mellon
During Black History Month, when the investment and financial industries advocate diversity, Institutional Connect had the opportunity to interview Darcie James-Maxwell, Head of Canadian Operations, Data and Platform Solutions with BNY Mellon and CIBC Mellon…
Steve Mahoney
CFA, FSA, CAIA, PRM
Chief Investment Officer
Nova Scotia Pension Services Corporation
Investment Strategies under Challenging Markets
Steve Mahoney was appointed Chief Investment Officer for Nova Scotia Pension Services Corporation on April 1, 2022. In advance of Innovation and Resilience Forum this October, Institutional Connect interviews Steve on how he and the organization work with constituents under the current market volatility, to achieve investment objectives…
Ju Hui Lee
CFA, CAIA, FSA, FCIA, CERA, FRM
Head of Market Risk
United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF)
Ju Hui Lee on Portfolio Construction, Risk Management amidst Rising Inflation and Market Volatility
The rising inflationary environment, coupled with geopolitical risks around the globe, has created a challenging environment for institutional investors. In advance of Innovation and Resilience Forum 2022, Institutional Connect interviews Ju Hui Lee, Head of Market Risk, United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF), who provides comments on portfolio construction, market and climate risks, and how to create a risk culture.
Jason Howard on DEI in Private Market Investing
Institutional investors are increasingly integrating diversity, equity and inclusion in their total portfolios, including private market asset classes. There are questions and misconceptions about investing with diverse managers and how to develop the approach to DEI. In advance of Private Markets Forum 2022, Jason Howard, Managing Director, Co-Head of Private Equity Diverse Managers, GCM Grosvenor, answers questions pertaining to DEI approach in private market investing.
VEENA RAMANI and YASIR MALLICK
Developing a Decarbonizing Roadmap in an Effort to Achieve Net Zero
Climate change continues to have a profound impact on the environment and global economy. With the unique challenges and opportunities presented in moving towards net zero, institutional investors are facing many unique challenges and opportunities in decarbonizing their portfolios.
Josée Mondoux
CFA, CAIA, FMA, FCSI
Chief Investment Officer
Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA)
Josée Mondoux on advancements of women in the world of finance, private market investments and building a sustainable DEI culture
As the private market continues to transform and navigate successfully through the current inflationary environment and COVID-19, how have these events impacted the future of the private markets investing? How do private market investors need to position themselves in order to attain new opportunities, growth and ensure their portfolios meet fiduciary objectives?
Koblavi Fiagbedzi on real estate assets and sustainable DEI workplace
In the rising inflation environment, institutional investors increasingly allocate towards real assets such as real estate for portfolio diversification and yields. How are real estate sectors shifting and what should investors consider when approaching real estate portfolios?
Yield vs. Risk and How Females Pursue Leadership Roles
Christine Tessier, Deputy Chief Investment Officer, Foresters Financial, contributes to the oversight of the company’s general account and pension assets. Building on a successful career in institutional investing industry, Christine shares her suggestions to aspiring female leaders and her views on yield vs. risk in today’s environment.
Matthew Leatherman on managing risks across time horizons and approaches to climate change
Institutional investors are challenged with risks and priorities across time horizons. Meanwhile climate change is impacting on how investors approach their investments and risks. Institutional Connect recently interviews Matt Leatherman, FCLTGlobal’s Head of Programs and co-author of Balancing Act: Managing Investment Risk across Multiple Time Horizons, who provides comments on how to manage risks and achieve climate change goals.
OPTrust's innovation journey, asset mix strategies and approach to address climate risk
OPTrust, with net assets of over C$23 billion, has been on the innovation journey to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Plan, and subsequently, its members’ retirement security. In advance of Portfolio Innovation and Resilience Forum this November, Institutional Connect interviews speaker Kevin Zhu, Managing Director and Head of Portfolio Construction Group, OPTrust, who comments on the Plan’s approach to innovation, how it responds to inflation, manages risks and addresses climate risks in its total portfolio.
Concordia University’s Impact Investing, Governance and Innovation
Concordia University Foundation is a signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment since 2018, which has made Concordia among the first universities to incorporate environmental, social and corporate governance factors into its investment decision-making. The University was also the first, among Canadian universities, to issue a sustainable bond to the capital market…
Jeanett Bergan on KLP’s Responsible Investing
KLP, Norway’s largest pension company, with over US$81 billion in AuM, has conducted ethical filtering of its investments in securities since 2002. In 2019 KLP funds has gone coal free, oil sands-free, as well as divested from almost 90 alcohol & gambling companies. Jeanett Bergan, Head of Responsible Investments, KLP, answers questions on the fund’s approach towards its responsible investing goals…
Deirdre Cooper on Ninety One’s Approach to Sustainable Investing and Decarbonization
Decarbonization remains an urgent issue as the latest research warns that climate change will hit humanity “harder, wider and sooner than previously believed”. Many institutional investors in Canada and around the globe are committed to addressing global climate change. However, questions remain on how to reconcile this effort with fiduciary duties, and structural approaches towards investing in carbon reduction…
Concordia University’s Journey to Impact Investing
As University Treasurer and Chief Investment Officer, Marc Gauthier is responsible for the oversight of the University’s and its related entities’ balance sheet, which includes: investments (pension fund and foundations), corporate risks, capital budget and financing. He also oversees the governance and financial management of the University’s benefits which include the pension plan on the whole and group insurance plans…
Q&A with Andy Greene
COVID-19 has triggered one of the quickest and deepest recessions in recent history. What are challenges and opportunities for a mid-sized pension fund? Andy Greene, Director, Investments, TTC Pension Funds Society, provides insights to questions ranging from challenges, risk management to investment trends.
Winston Ma
CFA & Esq., NYU School of Law Adjunct Professor; former Managing Director of CIC
Q&A with Winston Ma
The COVID-19 global pandemic has sent the global economy into a deep recession. Meanwhile, China and the U.S., the two powerhouses of digital economy, is accelerating the tech decoupling. Winston Wenyan Ma, author of The Hunt of Unicorns and former Managing Director, China Investment Corporation, answers questions on the role of asset owners in economic recovery to implications of China-U.S. decoupling.
Eoin Ó hÓgáin on Investing in China
Slower growth in China. China – U.S. decoupling. Threat of deglobalization. What’s the investment outlook of China for institutions? Eoin Ó hÓgáin, acting CEO/CIO of Power Corporation Investment Management, answers questions on this theme.
Aaron Peck
Managing Director and Portfolio Manager, Monroe Capital,
Sub-advisor to Ninepoint
Monroe U.S. Private Debt Fund
Q&A with Aaron Peck
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted businesses of various sectors unequally. For institutional investors who look for yield in private debt sector, there are similarities and differences from investing in public companies. Aaron Peck, Managing Director and Portfolio Manager, Monroe Capital, Sub-advisor to Ninepoint-Monroe U.S. Private Debt Fund, comments on strategies with private debt sector.
Q&A with Robert Patzelt
Small to medium sized pension funds often face challenges with resources and access to opportunities. How should funds of this range approach vetting investment models? What are the key elements of a good governance model? Robert Patzelt, Chair of Investment Committee, Workers Compensation Board of Nova Scotia, answers questions from their decision on OCIO to fund governance.
Q&A with Kate Roscoe
Many institutional investors in Canada, large or small, have allocations into private markets or real assets. How has the halted travel environment, as a result of COVID-19, changed the way that institutions conduct due diligence for their real asset holdings? Kate Roscoe, Managing Director, Infrastructure Equity, Manulife, answers questions on this plus diversity and inclusion initiatives.
A Conversation with Ray Tanveer on Interest Rates and Inflation
For the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP), investing in Fixed Income has been strategic in its LDI (Liability Driven Investing) approach. “We have been a relatively unique outlier in the use of Fixed Income for pension planning”, says Ray Tanveer, Vice President, Interest Rates and Inflation, who joined HOOPP in mid 2007 as a PM after 15 years in proprietary bond and interest rate derivatives trading at some of the major banks…
Marco Fontana on Emerging Trends in Energy Transition
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity today. Institutional investors in Canada and around the world are increasingly aligning their investments with transition to a lower-carbon future. Marco Fontana, Director, OMERS Infrastructure, comments on investment opportunities, role of investors to emerging trends in the energy transition…
Q&A with Tina Varughese on Unconscious Bias
A culture of diversity and inclusion brings positivity, profits and purpose to an organization. In achieving that, business leaders and industry professionals need to understand what is unconscious bias and how it impacts on their work. Tina Varughese, Diversity and Inclusion Expert, closing keynote speaker at Private Markets Virtual Forum, answers questions on unconscious bias…
Christine Campney And Lorelei Graye
Private Markets Cost Transparency
Pension funds that invest in private markets are increasingly advocating cost transparency from GP community. Cost transparency brings benefits of cost savings, increased efficiency, and enhanced trust among LPs and GPs. The ADS (Adopting Data Standards) Initiative is focused on fostering a collaborative and conflict-free forum to build momentum in private capital for global data standards…
Bernice Miedzinski, Jay A. Yoder and Andrea Gruza
Farmland As A Diversifying And Sustainable Asset Class
Pension funds that invest in private markets are increasingly advocating cost transparency from GP community. Cost transparency brings benefits of cost savings, increased efficiency, and enhanced trust among LPs and GPs. The ADS (Adopting Data Standards) Initiative is focused on fostering a collaborative and conflict-free forum to build momentum in private capital for global data standards…
“Hidden” Risk of FX Exposure in Private Capital Portfolios
Institutional investors are increasingly embracing global strategies in their private market investments, to achieve desired return and diversify portfolios. How they choose to manage the resulting foreign exchange risk can be a key driver of performance. Institutional Connect had a conversation with Haakon Blakstad, Chief Commercial Officer at Validus Risk Management, about the “hidden” risk of FX exposure in private capital portfolios…
Q&A with Jessica Zarzycki on Impact Investing in Fixed Income
Institutional investors are increasingly embracing global strategies in their private market investments, to achieve desired return and diversify portfolios. How they choose to manage the resulting foreign exchange risk can be a key driver of performance. Institutional Connect had a conversation with Haakon Blakstad, Chief Commercial Officer at Validus Risk Management, about the “hidden” risk of FX exposure in private capital portfolios…
