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2009 BC Pension Forum
December 10, 2009 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
AGENDA
7:30 – REGISTRATION OPENS
8:00-8:30 – NETWORKING BREAKFAST
8:30-8:45 – OFFICIAL FORUM WELCOME
- Master of Ceremonies: Brooke Sundin Past President, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1518
- Jim Sinclair, President, BC Federation of Labour
- Diane Wood, SHARE Board Member
8:45-9:15 – KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Our morning keynote session will provide a broad overview of the forum themes, including investment and pension fund issues facing trustees today. Dr. Moye will discuss steps to ensure that capital markets failures are addressed and that circumstances that are eroding the quality of pension plans are reversed.
- A. Melissa Moye Deputy Treasurer for Financial Policy, State of Maryland
9:15-10:45 – PLENARY SESSION
Understanding pension fund challenges in challenging financial markets
This plenary session will take a closer examination of the investment and funding implications of recent market turmoil within the last 18 months as well as lessons that we can learn from recent financial events. The speakers will focus on the role of transparency regarding fees and service charges, changes to investment approaches, and the impact of volatility and market drop on plan funding.
- Steven Deutsch Director of Separate Accounts/Collective Investment Trusts and Pensions, Endowments, and Foundations’ Database, Morningstar, Inc.
- Perry Teperson Portfolio Manager, Leith Wheeler
- Shelley Speed Consulting Actuary, Hewitt Associates
11:00-12:30 – MORNING BREAKOUT SESSIONS (select one)
Workshop 1: Economic Update
This session, led by one of the province’s leading economists, will provide an overview of current economic trends as they may affect pension funds.
- Helmut Pastrick Chief Economist, Central 1 Credit Union
Workshop 2: Plan Communications
Good communication with pension plans is essential, especially in times of change and uncertainty. This session will review best practices about when, how and how much to communicate with plan members.
- Gary Johnson Trustee, BC Municipal Pension Plan
- Susan Deller Principal, Eckler Ltd.
Workshop 3: Responsible Investment Update
Responsible investment is becoming more and more mainstream each year. This session will provide an overview of responsible investment utilizing Mercer IC’s extensive research on behalf of the Principles for Responsibility.
- Laura O’Neill Director of Law and Policy, SHARE
- Mark Latham Director, Proxy Democracy
- Jordan Berger Principal, Head of Responsible Investment, Mercer Investment Consulting
Workshop 4: Investing in a Green Economy
Environmental realities are creating opportunities for investors in public and private market equities, fixed income and real estate. Pension funds are among the country’s largest capital pools and are increasingly applying a “green” lens to their investment decisions.
- John Cook Managing Partner, Investeco
- Chuck Swanson Vice-President, Real Estate, bcIMC
- Toni Symonds Chief Consultant, California State Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy
12:30-1:45 SPONSORED LUNCH
1:15-1:45 – KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Canada’s pension system is under intense scrutiny and for good reason. Gaps in pension quality and coverage are growing. The Canadian labour movement is championing them. What are their proposals and what will it take to get there? How do we make sure that pension funds are invested in a way that builds sustainable value?
- Paul Moist President, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
1:45-3:00 – AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Workshop 1: Legal Update
Pension law evolves through law reform and precedents. What are the latest developments? How will these affect our plans?
- John Smith Managing Partner, Lawson-Lundell LLP
Workshop 2: Plan Governance – best practices
Pension trustees who serve on pension boards must be recruited by their appointing bodies. How can a steady supply of suitable candidates be assured? What steps should unions and other appointing bodies take to ensure they have a supply of qualified trustees?
- Vicky Grabb Senior Administrative Officer, BC Municipal Pension Plan
- Gary Yee National Representative, CUPE BC
Workshop 3: Pension Plans of the Future
Many pension plans today face difficult circumstances and proposals for changes to plan designs abound. What are some of the ways pension plans evolving? What will pension plans look like in the future?
- Jay Parker Executive Director, UBC Staff Pension Plan
- Michel Lizee Pension Committee Member, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
- Rosalind Gilbert Senior Actuary and Vice President, Retirement Strategies, AON
Workshop 4: Climate Change – what does it mean for pension trustees?
Will Climate Change disrupt global financial markets? How important is climate change to my fund? How is investment research helping pension funds take climate change into account?
- Karen Campbell Staff Counsel and Director, Strategy, Pembina Institute
- Kevin Ranney Director, Research & Client Services, Jantzi-Sustainalytics
- Don Roberts Managing Director, CIBC World Markets
3:00-3:15 – AFTERNOON BREAK
3:15-4:30 – AFTERNOON PLENARY SESSION
The Great Debate: Forging a Secure Retirement for Canadians
Canada is in the midst of a great pension debate. From calls to double CPP coverage to proposals for government-sponsored defined contribution plans, to ideas about how to fix existing defined benefit plans, we are faced with a growing list of options. What is the state of the debate and what are the implications for Canadian retirement security?
- Andrew Jackson National Director of Social and Economic Policy, Canadian Labour Congress
- Scott Sweatman Associate Counsel, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
4:30-4:45 – CLOSING REMARKS AND DOOR PRIZES
- Brooke Sundin Past President, UFCW 1518