7:30 – 8:30 AM:

Breakfast (Fairview Restaurant)

8:30 AM – 9:30 AM:

U.S. as the driver of the G-zero world (Victoria Ballroom)

This session will provide an overview of the U.S. political landscape following President Trump’s victory in the November 2024 election. It will primarily focus on the president’s — and congressional — foreign policy objectives and the expected scenarios for the wars in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. The presentation will also address the U.S.-Canada relationship, broader North American geopolitical dynamics, domestic polarization in the U.S. and the void in global leadership left with the gradual removal of the U.S. from a leadership role in international institutions.

Speaker:

Cliff Kupchan, chairman, Eurasia Group

9:30 AM – 10:00 AM:

Private debt exposed: Separating fact from fiction

Misinformation and myths surround private debt, making it difficult to assess its true potential. This session will provide a clear, data-driven view of the market, uncover emerging opportunities and pinpoint risks investors need to navigate.

Speaker:

Tarik Serri, senior director, hedge funds, alternative investments, Trans-Canada Capital Inc.

10:00 – 10:30 AM:

Networking break (Victoria Foyer)

10:30 – 11:00 AM:

Finding equilibrium on the energy transition journey

Electricity demand is accelerating, fossil fuels are dominating the global energy mix and there’s a pressing need for the energy sector to decarbonize, which places conventional energy companies in a crucial transitional role. This session will provide insights on the transition from conventional to renewable energy, explore the role of artificial intelligence and data centre technology in shaping future energy demand and discuss how investors can integrate energy transition assets into their portfolios.

Speaker:

Yashica Reddy, investment director, thematic equities, Schroders

11:00 – 11:30 AM:

Private credit: Navigating the market volatility

This session will highlight the interconnectedness of the credit markets where information and dynamics in one market may inform another. These views may help investors understand areas of attractive relative value today, particularly in certain areas of private credit.

Speaker:

Bill Bohnsack, president, senior partner, Oak Hill Advisors

This session has been made possible by T. Rowe Price.

11:30 AM – 12:00 PM:

Long CEOs, short politicians: Has credit become the core?

Should credit play a larger role in portfolio allocation in this uncertain economic environment? Historical returns of government bonds, breakdown of risk parity, inflation stickiness and the future path of interest rates suggest yes. This session will explore these factors in considering the role of credit in today’s climate.

Speaker:

Renato Latini, portfolio manager, senior research analyst, Brandywine Global

This session has been made possible by Franklin Templeton Investments.

12:00 – 1:00 PM:

Lunch (Victoria Ballroom)

1:00 – 1:30 PM:

Trivia interactive activity

1:30 – 2:00 PM:

Navigating the evolving landscape of fund finance: Opportunities for Canadian investors

Over the past decade, fund financing has evolved from a simple ancillary service for private equity and credit firms into a major asset class. Driven by fluctuating interest rates, evolving sponsor and investor needs and new regulatory requirements in Europe and the U.S., the sector now attracts diverse capital sources, including banks, non-banks — with pension plans among them — and both general and limited partners. This session will explore this evolution, highlighting the various structures emerging in the global private credit markets and discuss opportunities for Canadian investors.

Speaker:

Nicolas Delisle, managing director, portfolio manager, private fixed income, SLC Management

2:00 – 2:30 PM:

Global credit amid global uncertainty

Global credit — both investment grade and sub-investment grade — has been growing steadily in popularity among Canadian institutional investors. This session will explore the institutional appeal of the asset class through identifying opportunities within the current investment landscape and discussing pivotal risk factors such as macroeconomic developments, liquidity challenges and market valuations.

Speaker:

Andrzej Skiba, managing director, head, U.S. fixed income, BlueBay fixed income team, RBC Global Asset Management (U.S.) Inc.

2:30 – 3:00 PM:

Networking break (Victoria Foyer)

3:00 – 3:30 PM:

Asset-based credit: Fuel for the real economy

Asset-based credit is a US$6 trillion asset class that’s expected to grow to $10 trillion in the next five years. As U.S. and European banks reduce their lending to consumers, specialist lenders are finding financing solutions for residential and commercial property, cars, credit cards, small business loans and other niche lending areas. This session will explore the risks and rewards of this asset class, as well as discuss credit investing tied to the real economy.

Speaker:

John Withrow, principal, AllianceBernstein CarVal

3:30 – 4:00 PM:

Panel: Progress on the road to net zero by 2050 and the impact of regulatory developments

As Canada moves closer to its 2050 goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, the urgency surrounding the impacts of climate change continue to be felt around the globe. At the same time, the investment industry has seen a push back against the focus on environmental, social and governance factors, alongside a call for more actionable data and measurements around climate impact. In this panel session, three experts will discuss the role of institutional investors in the progress to net zero, as well as the impact of regulatory developments.

Panellists:

Janice Anderson, board member, Canadian Sustainability Standards Board, senior director, technical accounting, ESG compliance, Nutrien Ltd.

Jennifer Coulson, senior managing director, global head, ESG, British Columbia Investment Management Corp.

Brian Minns, head, responsible investment, University Pension Plan

6:00 – 9:30 PM:

Cocktail and dinner reception (Fairview Bar and Restaurant)