Speaker Spotlight

Bobby Eng

Bobby Eng

Senior Vice President, Head of Platform and Institutional ETF Distribution
Franklin Templeton

Bobby Eng, Senior Vice President, Head of Platform and Institutional ETF Distribution, Franklin Templeton, will speak at Innovation and Resilience Forum 2024, taking place at Québec City on October 16 – 18.

The Global Exchanged Traded Funds market has been evolving and offering institutional investors the opportunity to diversify their portfolios geographically. Bobby Eng, Senior Vice President, Head of Platform and Institutional ETF Distribution, Franklin Templeton, provides comments on ETF and emerging markets trends…
Darcie James Maxwell 1

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 1

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 1

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.
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JASON HOWARD

Managing Director, Co-Head of Private Equity Diverse Managers
GCM Grosvenor

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 and yasir

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.
Josee

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 A. Fiagbedzi

KOBLAVI A. FIAGBEDZI

MBA, CFA, CAIA

Portfolio Manager, Real Assets
CBC Pension Plan

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?

Christine Tessier 3

Christine Tessier

CFA, CAIA

Deputy Chief Investment Officer
Foresters Financial

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

Matthew Leatherman

MBA, CFA, CAIA

Head of Programs
FCLTGlobal

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.

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Kevin Zhu

Managing Director, Head of Portfolio Construction Group
OPTrust

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.

Marc Gauthier

Marc Gauthier

Treasurer & Chief Investment Officer
Concordia University

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

Jeanett Bergan

Head of Responsible Investments
KLP

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

DEIRDRE COOPER

Co-Portfolio Manager, Global Environment Strategy
Ninety One

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…
Marc Gauthier

Marc Gauthier

Treasurer & Chief Investment Officer
Concordia University

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…
Andy Greene

Andy Greene

Director, Investments
TTC Pension Fund Society

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 Wenyan Ma

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

Eoin Ó hÓgáin

CEO / CIO
Power Corporation Investment Management

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

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.
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Robert Patzelt

Chair, Investment Committee
Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia

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.
Kate Roscoe

Kate Roscoe

Managing Director, Infrastructure Equity
Manulife

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.
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Ray Tanveer

Vice President, Interest Rates & Inflation
HOOPP

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

Marco Fontana

Director
OMERS Infrastructure

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…
Tina Varughese

Tina Varughese

Diversity And Inclusion Expert

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

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

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…
Haakon Blakstad 2

Haakon Blakstad

Chief Commercial Officer
Validus

“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…
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JESSICA ZARZYCKI

Co-Portfolio Manager
Nuveen

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…
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Darcie James Maxwell

Head of Canadian Operations, Data & Platform Solutions

CIBC Mellon and BNY Mellon

Darcie James Maxwell is Head of Canadian Operations, Data & Platform Solutions, BNY Mellon. She is also a member of the CIBC Mellon leadership team.
As Head of Canadian Operations, Data & Platform Solutions Darcie works with institutional and wealth investors to assess and analyze their business strategy, business requirements, current state environment and technology choices, bringing forward alternatives that designed to meet their business needs. She works across our Canadian and global organization to translate a client strategy into operational reality.
Darcie has more than 25 years of data, investment technology, performance and attribution experience. Her previous roles across the BNY Mellon global enterprise include project management, implementation consulting, and relationship management. She also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for The Learning Partnership. 

Steve Mahoney

CFA, FSA, CAIA, PRM

Chief Investment Officer

Nova Scotia Pension Services Corporation

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). 

Ju Hui Lee

CFA, CAIA, FSA, FCIA, CERA, FRM

Head of Investment Risk and Performance

United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF)

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.

Jason Howard

Managing Director, Co-Head of Private Equity Diverse Managers

GCM Grosvenor

Mr. Howard is co-head of the firm’s private equity diverse manager practice and also serves on the ESG Committee and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. He focuses on client portfolio management and private equity fund investments and co-investments. Prior to joining GCM Grosvenor, Mr. Howard was an Associate in the Investment Banking Division at Goldman Sachs. Mr. Howard was also a Manager of Deal Analysis at Walt Disney Pictures and Television and a consultant for Turner Broadcasting. He began his career in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group at Goldman Sachs. Mr. Howard graduated with high honors from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University with his Bachelor of Business Administration. Mr. Howard currently serves as a member of the boards of the Salvation Army and Segerstrom Center for the Arts. He also serves on the Investment Committee of the Orange County Community Foundation.

Josée Mondoux

CFA, CAIA, FMA, FCSI

Chief Investment Officer

Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA)

Josée Mondoux is Chief Investment Officer for the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA), responsible for the oversight of a $6.2 billion Reserve for Claims. She is a member of senior management and a primary resource within the Association for providing investment related tactical support and strategic guidance to members of senior management, the Investment Committee and Council, including asset class selection, asset–liability modelling, financial risk identification and management, portfolio design and implementation, and investment performance monitoring and reporting. She provides strategic leadership and management to the CMPA’s front office, namely the public assets and private assets units, as well as the middle office responsible for the performance and risk functions. Josée is a member of the Pension Fund Investment Committee at the University of Ottawa and holds the CFA, CAIA, FMA and FCSI designations.

Koblavi A. Fiagbedzi

MBA, CFA, CAIA

Portfolio Manager, Real Assets

CBC Pension Plan

Koblavi Fiagbedzi joined the CBC Pension Plan in 2018 and is currently Portfolio Manager and Head of Real Assets. The Real Assets portfolio is 14.5% of Plan AUM. In his role, Koblavi leads strategy development, investment activity, ongoing monitoring, and risk management functions of the portfolio. Real asset investment activity is executed via direct, JV/co-investment, secondary and Fund structures globally. In addition, Koblavi provides support to the larger team for private equity and private debt investments.

Koblavi began his career at the Bank of Canada in 2004 where he worked on long term research and model development. Later, he joined Export Development Canada “EDC” as an Economist where he focused on current analysis and transactional guidance for political risk insurance, sovereign, and project finance loans in several key markets. When he joined the International Business Development Group at EDC in 2008, Koblavi led EDC’s corporate strategy for emerging markets and conducted due diligence and sourcing for project finance, corporate debt, political risk, and credit insurance. In 2012, Koblavi joined the CMPA Investment Fund where he focused on transaction and portfolio management for the private market portfolio in private debt, private equity, and real assets.

Koblavi earned his BBA (Honors) from Acadia University and MBA from the University of London. Koblavi is also a CAIA and CFA charter holder.

Christine Tessier

CFA, CAIA

Co-Chief Investment Officer

Foresters Financial

Mrs. Christine Tessier is currently Co-Chief Investment Officer at Foresters Financial, where she contributes to the oversight of the company’s general account and pension assets. She is currently a board member for The One Investment’s Joint Investment Board. Prior to joining Foresters, Mrs. Tessier was head of Investments at CAA Club Group, where she oversaw the company’s corporate, pension and P&C insurance assets. Prior to working in the insurance industry, Mrs. Tessier worked in institutional product development at Invesco Ltd. She was a Principal at Mercer Investments, where she focused on Manager Research. Mrs. Tessier is a CFA charterholder and a CAIA charterholder. She holds an honor bachelor of commerce degree from Laurentian University.

Matthew Leatherman

Managing Director, Research Strategist

FCLTGlobal

Matt Leatherman is Managing Director and Head of Programs at FCLTGlobal, a nonprofit research institution whose mission is to focus capital on the long term to support a sustainable and prosperous economy. Together with our members, a community of leading companies and investors worldwide, we develop actionable research and tools to drive long-term value creation for savers and communities. As Head of Programs, Matt leads FCLTGlobal’s efforts to grow problem-solving communities of member institutions, executives, and staff and to organize them for action. The programming function both informs and implements FCLTGlobal’s research in this way. Previously, Matt served as Policy Director for the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer, an institutional investor responsible for providing retirement security for the state’s educators, civil servants, and first responders. Matt also chairs the board of the John Rex Endowment, a grant-maker whose mission is to strengthen organizations that center racial equity and justice to improve the social emotional health of children living in Wake County (NC), and is an advisor to Ethical Systems, a behavioral economics think tank within NYU Stern’s Business and Society Program.

Kevin Zhu

CFA

Senior Managing Director, Head of Portfolio Construction

OPTrust

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.

Marc Gauthier

CPA, CMA

University Treasurer and Chief Investment Officer

Concordia University

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. 

JEANETT BERGAN – HEAD OF RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENTS AT KLP

Jeanett Bergan (43) is head for responsible investments in KLP. She has more than 20 years of experience working with corporate social responsibility, sustainability and investments. For a number of years, she has helped KLP develop its work as one of the leaders in responsible investment practices on a Norwegian and international scale. Previous employers include KPMG, PwC and Storebrand. Jeanett holds an Executive Master of Management from BI, is married and has three children aged 20, 17 and 13. She has combined a career in finance with part-time education and being the mother of three active children. She is also a training instructor and an active athlete with both Ironman and Norseman on the track record. 

DEIRDRE COOPER – CO-PORTFOLIO MANAGER, GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY AT NINETY ONE

Deirdre Cooper is co-portfolio manager for Ninety One’s Global Environment Strategy in the Natural Resources team. The Global Environment Strategy aims to achieve long-term returns by investing in the equities of companies expected to benefit from the transition to a lower-carbon global economy, including renewable energy, resource efficiency and electrification.

Prior to joining Ninety One in 2018, Deirdre was a Partner, Portfolio Manager and Head of Research at Ecofin. Before that, Deirdre was an investment banker at Morgan Stanley where she headed their European Renewable Energy coverage effort and built an investment banking and principal investing franchise.

Deirdre earned her MBA from Harvard Business School, where she was a Baker Scholar, and her BA with honors from University College Dublin in Actuarial and Financial Studies. She is a busy mother of three children, aged 10, 8 and 6. 

ANDY GREENE
DIRECTOR, INVESTMENTS AT TTC PENSION FUND SOCIETY

Andy has over 25 years of experience in the investment industry in Canada and US. He serves as Director, Investments, overseeing the investment program for the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) Pension Fund Society, a $7.4 bln defined benefit plan. Prior to this Andy was at OPTrust as Director, Public Markets. Previously he was at Northern Trust, the University of Wisconsin Foundation and Willis Towers Watson. He holds an Master’s degree in Applied Economics from Binghamton University and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Ithaca College. Andy is also on the Investment Committees for the United Church of Canada and York University. 

Winston Ma

CFA, Esq

Author of Blockchain and Web3
(ex-Managing Director, China Investment Corp.)

Winston Ma, CFA & Esq., is an investor, attorney, author, and adjunct professor in the global digital economy. He is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of CloudTree Ventures, a seed to early growth stage venture capital firm empowering interactive entertainment companies. He is currently the board Chairman of Nasdaq-listed MCAA, a European tech SPAC, an advisory board member of Capgemini, and an Adjunct Professor at NYU Law School. Most recently for 10 years, he was Managing Director and Head of North America Office for China Investment Corporation (CIC), China’s sovereign wealth fund. Prior to that, Mr. Ma served as the deputy head of equity capital markets at Barclays Capital, a vice president at J.P. Morgan investment banking, and a corporate lawyer at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP. He was selected a 2013 Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum (WEF), and in 2014 he received the NYU Distinguished Alumni Award. Mr. Ma is one of a small number of native Chinese who have worked as investment professionals and practicing capital markets attorneys in both the United States and China. A nationally certified Software Programmer as early as 1994, Mr. Ma is the book author of eight books, including The Digital War: How China’s Tech Power Shapes the Future of AI, Blockchain and Cyberspace (2021) and The Hunt for Unicorns: How Sovereign Funds are Reshaping Investment in the Digital Economy (2020). His new book is “Blockchain and Web3 – Building the Cryptocurrency, Privacy, and Security Foundations of the Metaverse” (Wiley, September 2022).
EOIN Ó HÓGÁIN – CEO / CIO, POWER CORPORATION INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

Mr. Ó hÓgáin is acting CEO/CIO of Power Pacific Investment Management since its inception in 2018. Prior to that, he held senior management positions at Power Corporation, Power Financial and State Street Global Advisors. He serves on the Boards of the Ireland-Canada Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Irish Studies Foundation.

Mr. Ó hÓgáin is a CFA charter holder and has a Master of Business Administration degree with High Distinction from the Harvard Business School.

AARON PECK, MANAGING DIRECTOR AND PORTFOLIO MANAGER, MONROE CAPITAL, SUB-ADVISOR TO NINEPOINT- MONROE U.S. PRIVATE DEBT FUND

Mr. Peck is a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager of Monroe Capital, sub-advisor to the Ninepoint-Monroe U.S Private Debt Fund. He joined the firm in 2012 and is a member of Monroe’s Investment Committee. Mr. Peck has over 25 years of experience in credit, lending, high yield, distressed credit and public company operations and investor relations. Prior to Monroe, Mr. Peck was Chief Investment Officer at Deerfield Capital Management and was responsible for the investment teams at Deerfield including syndicated and middle market loan teams which managed over $5 billion in assets. Mr. Peck was also chief portfolio manager for Deerfield’s publicly traded specialty finance mortgage REIT and in that capacity, was the key point of contact for all institutional and retail investors, investment banking research analysts, lenders, and investment bankers. Prior to Deerfield, he worked in leveraged credit at several investment firms including AEG Investors, Black Diamond Capital, Salomon Smith Barney, and ESL Investments. Mr. Peck earned his M.B.A. with Honors from The University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and his B.S. in Commerce from The University of Virginia, McIntire School of Commerce.

Robert Patzelt

Acting Chair of the Board of Directors

Workers' Compensation Board of Nova Scotia

ROBERT PATZELT, QC, ICD.D is an executive and business lawyer with over 35 years of experience in organizational leadership, operations, mergers and acquisitions and business development. He is also a respected board director for multiple organizations and the leader of a number of major initiatives in corporate, not-for-profit and non-governmental agencies including some undergoing major transformational change. He is an award-winning business leader who has levered his degrees in business, economics and his Masters’ of law to serve many organizations including most recently as CEO of a publicly traded resource company leading it through the latest severe commodity cycle downturn and a proxy battle. 

He is Chair of the Northwood Foundation and he is a member of the Board of Governors of Northwood which is a $100 million not for profit.  He is also Chair of the Friends of Hope Cottage a soup kitchen feeding the less fortunate. He has been awarded both the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee medals for his tremendous service to Canada.  In 2010, he was named co-chair of the Premier’s Council on the Economy.  Recently he was appointed Acting Chair of the Board of Directors for Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia and was also the Chair of the Board’s Investment Committee and overseeing its $2.2 billion portfolio.  He is also Chair of PACE Atlantic, a community interest corporation that provides low-carbon programs for Canadian municipalities that help homeowners invest in energy efficiency and solar.

KATE ROSCOE – MANAGING DIRECTOR, INFRASTRUCTURE EQUITY, MANULIFE
Kate Roscoe is a Managing Director on the infrastructure team at Manulife responsible for investing in infrastructure assets consisting of transportation, renewable power and other infrastructure. The portfolio is comprised of funds, co-investments and direct minority equity positions to support the general account. Kate joined Manulife in 2006 and has 15 years of experience in private investments. Kate graduated from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario and is a CFA Charterholder.
RAY TANVEER – VICE PRESIDENT, INTEREST RATES & INFLATION AT HOOPP

Ray joined HOOPP in 2007 and has been responsible for the active management of the Plan’s $55 Billion fixed income and inflation-linked bond portfolios ever since. He began his HOOPP career as Portfolio Manager, Derivatives & Fixed Income and progressed to his current position as Vice President, Interest Rates & Inflation. He helped expand the Fund’s trading capabilities into international fixed income, interest rate derivatives and inflation bond markets and has been a consistent generator of Alpha over the years.

Ray is also a member of the Asset Mix Committee and has been actively involved in all market-related transitions which successfully evolved the Plan into incorporating a dynamic Liability Driven Investing (LDI) approach for its total portfolio.

Prior to joining HOOPP, Ray was a bond and interest rate derivatives trader in the Capital Markets divisions of BMO Nesbitt Burns, TD Bank and National Bank Financial. He received his MBA and BA (Economics) from York University in Toronto.

MARCO FONTANA
DIRECTOR
OMERS INFRASTRUCTURE

Marco Fontana is currently Director with the OMERS Infrastructure team in London, which he joined in January 2014. Marco is active in both origination and execution of transactions, as well as asset management. He served on the team that successfully completed the acquisition of a stake in Compañía Logística de Hidrocarburos (CLH). He has been actively involved in the asset management of Associated British Ports and OMERS investment in HS1. Prior to joining OMERS Infrastructure, Marco worked as Investment Manager at EISER Infrastructure Partners, where he was responsible for the asset management of the fund’s energy and waste sector assets in Italy, as well as energy and transport assets in the U.K. and Australia. Before that, Marco worked at Société Générale, both in Paris and London, as a member of the acquisition financing and principal investment teams. Marco holds M.Sc. degrees from Università Bocconi Milan and HEC Paris.

TINA VARUGHESE
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION EXPERT

An Indo-Canadian daughter of first generation East Indian parents, Tina Varughese says her cultural background allows her to find “the best of both worlds” and shed light, knowledge, and, most importantly, universal humour into the changing workplace. Her highly entertaining, interactive, and practical keynotes leave attendees inspired to think, behave, act, and communicate with intention. For fifteen years Varughese worked with immigrants in her roles with the Province of Alberta’s immigration office. She also ran her own successful relocation and settlement firm. Varughese draws from her experiences as an entrepreneur, mother, daughter, wife, sister, and friend when delivering keynotes on diversity andinclusion — topics that resonate with her both professionally and personally. Varughese has been named one of “Canada’s Top 10 Notable Speakers” by Ignite Magazine for her ability to break down barriers and create a comfortable, inclusive, and fun space for attendees. She was the face of diversity, literally, having been chosen to participate in Dove’s campaign for Real Beauty, representing beauty in diversity. The past-president of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (Calgary), Varughese is a contributing writer for the Human Resource Institute of Alberta’s Network magazine, Calgary Real Estate News, and Home to Home magazine. She was also profiled in Alberta’s Venture Magazine.

HAAKON BLAKSTAD
CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER
VALIDUS

Haakon is the Chief Commercial Officer at Validus, a leading independent financial services firm advising and providing solutions to LPs and GPs globally. Haakon held various capital markets and banking roles prior to joining Validus in 2014 and has since then been responsible for the continuing expansion of the firm, across geographies, services, and client sectors. He also works closely with clients, industry participants and academic institutions on thought leadership in the private capital space, with a specific focus on risk management.

JESSICA ZARZYCKI
CO-PORTFOLIO MANAGER
NUVEEN

Jessica is a co-portfolio manager and research analyst for Nuveen’s global fixed income team and member of the international and emerging markets debt sector team. She is an integral part of the fixed income responsible investing portfolio management team and co-portfolio manager on the Green Bond and Short Duration Impact strategies. Jessica is also responsible for covering sovereigns and local markets throughout Western Europe and Central Eastern Europe.
Prior to joining the firm in 2008, she worked at Citi Global Wealth Management (GWM) where she helped to manage the liquidity and risk of the GWM balance sheet. Most recently, she covered developed market sovereigns, agencies and agency MBS at TIAA Investments. Jessica graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance from The Ohio State University. She holds the CFA® designation and is a member of the CFA Society New York and the CFA® Institute.
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