2025 Alternative Investment Conference

Coverage of the 2025 Alternative Investment Conference

At the end of a busy summer marked by unprecedented pressures from equity volatility and inflation, defined benefit plan sponsors, money managers and other investment professionals gathered at the Fairmont Tremblant in Mont-Tremblant, Que. for the relaunch of the Canadian Investment Review’s Alternative Investment Conference.

From Aug. 20-22, the packed agenda presented a range of sessions to guide institutional investors through an uncertain landscape, diving back into the world of private assets by exploring opportunities, strategic allocations, their role in sustainability and managing liquidity.

Here’s what you missed!

PHOTO GALLERY

Lloyd Axworthy
World Refugee and Migration Council

Where does Canada fit in a turbulent world?

Being a Canadian carries obligations and responsibilities, the ability to respond to the immediate concerns of self, family and community, but also to take into account the decisions being made for the future.

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Orlando González
T. Rowe Price Investment Management

Innovation driving opportunities in private equity

When looking at private equity, innovation is an important factor driving opportunities for institutional investors.

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Grace Uniacke
Russell Investments

The advantages of integrating public, private investments

As institutional investors navigate complex markets and demanding governance requirements.

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Michael Tsourounis
Hazelview Investments

Enhancing portfolio resilience through strategic real estate allocation

Despite short-term headwinds and headlines, institutional investors must maintain conviction in their long-term strategy, focusing on portfolio construction to build resiliency and generate compelling risk-adjusted returns.

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Aaron White
CIBC Global Asset Management

The importance of carbon solutions for institutional investors and net-zero goals

While voluntary carbon markets are a bit like the Wild West, carbon removals actually pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and sequester it.

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Alex Preobrazenski
Cortland Credit

Navigating private credit uncertainty with asset-based lending strategies

While the role of asset-based lending in an investment portfolio is as a core allocation within the private credit sleeve, it isn’t meant to be opportunistic.

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Eugene Lee
Vancouver Foundation

Janet Rabovsky
Teachers’ Pension Plan (Newfoundland)

Yannick Menard
BMO Pension Plan

Panel: Privately listed assets pushing liquidity challenges to institutional investors

Alternative assets can maintain institutional investors’ liquidity needs if they generate enough income, but this method is getting expensive.

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Dan Ciuriak
Ciuriak Consulting Inc.

Investing at a breakpoint in economic history

The world is riding a shockwave set in motion by the transition to a data-driven economy and into the new age of machine knowledge capital, driven by big data and generative artificial intelligence.

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Paul Smith
Stewart McKelvey

Continuation fund transactions increasing amid volatile market landscape

The continuation fund model is a balanced response to open market uncertainty alongside high interest rates and volatility.

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Errico Cocchi
City of Montreal

City of Montreal finding sweet spot with exposure to alternative assets

A desire to diversify a heavy public equities portfolio led Montreal’s municipal pension plan sponsor to look more closely at alternative assets.

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Bertrand Millot
La Caisse

Colleen Kaiser
Smart Prosperity Institute

 

Panel: Sustainable investment demand based in effective risk management process

The basis of sustainable investing relies on risk management and understanding long-term opportunities.

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