Breakfast (Le Comptoir)

Opening remarks and icebreaker activity (Mali Ballrooms I and II)

The maple leaf in the wind: Canada’s place in a turbulent world

In an era marked by geopolitical shifts, climate disruption, technological upheaval and rising polarization, how is Canada positioned — economically, politically and morally? This session will offer a wide-angle view of today’s global challenges through a Canadian lens, reflecting on the risks Canadians face, the values they hold and the role they might play in a world where certainties are in short supply.

Speaker:

Lloyd Axworthy, former minister, foreign affairs and current chair, World Refugee and Migration Council

Private equity on the horizon: Opportunities in an evolving landscape
This session will explore the evolving landscape of private equity, addressing both opportunities and challenges in the current environment. It will also take a deeper dive into the prospects of investing in late-stage venture capital, examine how current market valuations can offer unique entry points for strategic investments and discuss the role of fundamental research in identifying these opportunities.

Speaker:

Orlando González, investment director, private equity, T. Rowe Price Investment Management

Networking break (Mali Foyer)

From friction to fusion: Aligning public and private capital

The most resilient portfolios are those that break down silos. This session will explore the powerful advantages of integrating public and private investments — unlocking diversification, enhancing return potential and potentially improving risk-adjusted outcomes. It will also tackle the common challenges faced by investors, from liquidity constraints to allocation complexity, and will share practical strategies for building a more cohesive, efficient portfolio.

Speaker:

Grace Uniacke, director, alternatives solutions, Russell Investments

Enhancing portfolio resilience through strategic real estate allocation

In an increasingly uncertain market environment, select segments of real estate can offer institutional investors both stability and long-term value. This session will explore how strategic real estate allocations can enhance portfolio resilience. It will focus on two compelling opportunities: Canadian multi-residential assets and real estate debt, both positioned to deliver consistent performance and downside protection in the years ahead.

Speaker:

Michael Tsourounis, managing partner and head of real estate, Hazelview Investments

Lunch (Convention Terrace)

The importance of carbon solutions for institutional investors 

This session will focus on the emerging opportunity in carbon dioxide removal. This is an essential industry for the world to meet its net-zero ambitions and needs to scale rapidly over the next decade to meet global demand. The session will provide an industry overview, including various technologies and processes and their maturity levels, why the industry needs to scale, the current market demand, why private debt will be an essential part of driving scale in the market and the overall opportunity for investors.

Speaker:

Aaron White, executive director, head, sustainable investing, CIBC Global Asset Management

Roundtable interactive activity

This interactive session will do a deep dive into various alternative investment classes and strategies.

Networking break (Mali Foyer)

Navigating private credit uncertainty with asset-based lending strategies

As traditional direct lending strategies encounter increasing pressure from tighter spreads and a more competitive deal environment compounded by the uncertainty of today's investing landscape, asset-based lending strategies stand out. These strategies are compelling because they’re intentionally insulated from macroeconomic shocks, merger and acquistion activities and balance sheet lending cycles.

Speaker:

Alex Preobrazenski, managing director, underwriting and portfolio manager, Cortland Credit

Panel: The evolution of liquidity management in the age of alternatives

Institutional investors’ allocation to alternatives has evolved significantly over the past decade, with various considerations impacting their decisions on specific asset classes. Whether a public sector pension fund, a private DB plan, an endowment fund or a foundation, these considerations overlap, particularly around liquidity challenges. This panel will feature a discussion between three experts on the evolution of alternatives, the challenges and how investors can manage these hurdles.

Panellists:

Eugene Lee, vice-president, investments, Vancouver Foundation

Yannick Menard, managing director, pension investments, BMO Pension Plan

Janet Rabovsky, chair, investment committee, Teachers’ Pension Plan (Newfoundland)

Formal cocktail reception and dinner (La Forge Steakhouse)