2012 BC Pension Forum

Join the discussion with pension trustees, pension advisory committee members and pension activists along with investment managers, public policy makers, plan sponsors, trade union representatives and leading international thinkers to discuss and debate key issues and challenges surrounding pension plan governance, funding and investment issues.

AGENDA

7:30am – 8:30am – Registration & Full Breakfast served

8:30am – 8:40am – Opening Remarks

Day Host Welcome:

• Tamara Connell, Program Director of Shareholder Association for Research and Education (SHARE)

Welcome Message from Organizers:

• Dennis Blatchford, Trustee, BC Municipal Pension Plan and SHARE Board Member
• Irene Lanzinger, Secretary Treasurer, BC Federation of Labour

8:40am – 9:00am – Opening Keynote Speech

Managing Risks to Pension Funds During Periods of Global Instability – A Union Trustee’s Perspective

• David Blitzstein, Special Assistant for Multiemployer Funds, Collective Bargaining Department, UFCW International Union

9:00am -10:15am – Morning Plenary Panel Presentation

The Future of Retirement Security for British Columbians: Understanding the Challenge

• Equity market returns: Bryan Thomson, Vice President, Equity Investments, bcIMC
• Private v. Public, Voluntary v. Mandatory Pensions: Rhys Kesselman, Professor, SFU School of Public Policy
• Providing Pension Security in an Uncertain World: Shelley Engman, Consulting Actuary, Aon Hewitt
• Growing ESG risks from climate change: Paula Barrios, Senior Research Analyst, SHARE

10:30am -10:50am – Health Break

10:50am – 12:00pm – Morning Breakout Sessions

Breakout Room 1

• Defending Good Pensions: Diane Oakley, Executive Director, The National Institute on Retirement Security

Breakout Room 2

• Legal Update: Murray Campbell, Lawson Lundell LLP
• Last 15 minutes – Securities Litigation: Update on U.S., Canadian & International Opportunities: Mark Solomon, Partner, Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP

Breakout Room 3

• Private Equity & Infrastructure Investing: David Podmore, Chairman & CEO, Concert Properties & TBA

12:00 – 12:45pm – Lunch Break

12:45pm – 1:30pm – Afternoon Plenary

• Investing for Social Impact in the Community: Garth Davis, Vice President of Community Capital, Vancity (10 min)
• The Future of Pensions – Key Issues for Canada: Murray Gold, Partner, Koskie Minsky LLP (30 min)

1:40pm -2:45pm – Afternoon Breakout Sessions

Breakout Room 1:

• Investing in Decent Work: Occupational Health and Safety and Investment Decision-Making: Priya Bala Miller, Program Officer, Global Unions Committee on Workers’ Capital & Noushin Khushrushahi, Research Analyst, SHARE

Breakout Room 2:

• Economic Update: Helmut Pastrick, Chief Economist, Central Credit Union 1

Breakout Room 3:

• Services Canada presentation on CPP/OAS: Nancy Moran, Citizen Services Specialist, Services Canada

2:45-3:05pm – Health Break

3:05pm – 4:15pm – Closing Panel Session

The Future of Retirement Security for British Columbians: Tools for Change

• Pension Plan Policy (an NDP Perspective): Bruce Ralston, MLA for Surrey-Whalley, Critic for Finance and Public Accounts
• SHARE Engagement Programme: Laura O’Neil, Director of Law and Policy, SHARE
• Moving from Defined Contribution to Defined Benefit: Brian Schramm, Staff Representative, BCGEU
• CLC Campaign to Expand the CPP: Ken Georgetti, President, Canadian Labour Congress

4:15pm – 4:30pm – Closing Remarks & Door Prizes