• Helen Bain
As vice-president, pension investments, Helen directs the management and deployment of assets for Air Canada's four pension funds. Her responsibilities include the identification and selection of assets, markets, management style, and investment managers to use in the design of specialized manager structures. She also participates in the development of the fund's tactical asset mix policy, directs the compliance monitoring process and serves as a company appointed trustee of the Air Canada U.K. Pension Plan. back to top

• Ken Bancroft
Ken is director of investments for the Alberta Teachers' Retirement Fund Board. He is responsible for the implementation and management of ATRF’s investment policies, strategies, investment structure, compliance and performance results. He serves on the investment committee at the University of Alberta and is a director of the Pension Investment Association of Canada. Ken holds a CFA designation and graduated from the University of Manitoba with a bachelor of commerce. back to top

• Léon Bitton
Léon presently serves as vice-president of research and development at “Bourse de Montréal Inc.”, the Canadian Financial Derivative Exchange. He has over 21 years of experience in the derivatives industry, mainly with the Montreal Exchange. Léon is member of the board of the CIRANO Research Center and formally was a member of the board of MITACS (Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems) and CDCC (Canadian Derivatives Clearing Corporation).He holds an MBA degree from the University of Quebec in Montreal in association with the Florida International University. back to top

• Steve Bonnar
Steve is a consultant and principal at Towers Perrin. Based in the Toronto office, he is the Canadian practice leader responsible for the financial management of pension and benefits arrangements. He is also a designated CFA. back to top

• Mike Brooks
Mike joined Baillie Gifford in 2000 as head of investment risk and performance analysis. He is also a fellow of the Faculty of Actuaries. Mike graduated with an honours B.Sc. in actuarial mathematics and statistics from Heriot Watt University in 1991. back to top

• Michael Butera
Michael is director, external portfolios for the pension investment division at Canada Post Corporation. His responsibilities include investment policy and asset allocation, manager selection and structure, and monitoring fund performance. Prior to joining Canada Post, Michael was an asset management consultant for over 13 years. He is a graduate of Brock University. back to top

• Michael Campbell
Michael is manager, pension and employee funds for Imperial Oil Limited where he is responsible for investment strategy, plan funding and administration. Prior to joining Imperial Oil’s pension group, Michael worked in the areas of corporate finance, pipeline operations, insurance, cash management, corporate acquisitions and rate regulation. He holds undergraduate and graduate business degrees from the University of Toronto. back to top

• Julie Cays
Julie has been director, external managers at Hospitals of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) since September 2001. Before that she worked at CIBC for 16 years in various corporate treasury roles, most recently as director, pension investments. Julie has a BA in economics from the University of Waterloo and has her CFA designation. She is active in the Pension Investment Association of Canada as a member of both the corporate governance and member services committees. She is also chair of the Girl Guides of Canada’s portfolio review committee. back to top

• Sharon Chandler
Sharon is the director, policy and communications for the CAAT Pension Plan. She is responsible for the plan’s pension policy and communications, and investment and fiduciary governance programs. Prior to joining the CAAT Pension Plan in October 1995, she spent 15 years with the Bank of Nova Scotia in line management, human resources and pensions. She has a BA from the University of Manitoba in addition to a pension fund investment certificate (PFIC) and pension plan administration certificate (PPAC) from Humber College. back to top

• Peter Christoffersen
Peter Christoffersen has been a finance professor at McGill’s faculty of management since 1998. He teaches derivatives and risk management in the undergraduate, MBA, and Ph.D. programs. Prior to joining McGill, he worked as an economist at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) doing research and surveillance work on emerging financial markets. He has just finished writing the book Elements of Financial Risk Management, which is published by Academic Press. His current research interests include risk management, option valuation, financial econometrics and forecasting. back to top

• John Clarke
John is the treasurer and assistant comptroller at Syncrude Canada Ltd. With the company since 1983, he has also held the roles of manager, treasury services and manager, information management. John is currently one of two western representatives on the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants’ board of directors. He has also been actively involved with the Institute of Internal Auditors. John has an MBA from the University of Alberta and is a chartered accountant. back to top

• Jamie Colliver
Jamie is partner at Integra Capital Management where he heads Integra Global Advisors and is responsible for the institutional marketing and business development of that division. Integra Global Advisors is a joint venture between Integra and several world-class investment management firms including Analytic Investors. With over 27 years experience in the financial services industry, Jamie was previously managing director and global head of fixed income sales and marketing for Scotia Capital Markets. He is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario and has numerous industry designations. back to top

• Jean-François Courville
Jean-François is managing director of State Street Global Markets and principal officer at State Street Bank and Trust Company - Canada Branch. He is responsible for the financial intermediation and e-finance activities in Canada, including foreign exchange trading and sales, money-market trading, balance sheet management, as well as currency advisory and the Global Link e-finance activities. Jean-François holds a bachelor of commerce in finance and international business from McGill University and is a CFA. back to top

• Robert Daigneault
Robert is a director, with the institutional client services team of CDP Capital - World Markets. In this role, he is responsible for relationship management in Canada and abroad. Over the last 10 years, he has worked with a diverse institutional client base in areas such as custody services, DC plan administration, shareholder services, and employee stock purchase and stock option plans. Robert holds a B.Sc. in mathematics from the University of Montreal. He is a member of the Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute. back to top

• Harindra de Silva
Harin is president of Analytic Investors where he guides the overall strategic direction for the firm - encompassing the business and investment management dimensions. Over the course of a nearly 20-year investment career, Harin has authored several professional journal articles based on his research and contemporary finance related topics. He has a PhD in finance from the University of California, Irvine, an MBA in finance, an MS in economic forecasting from the University of Rochester, and is a CFA. back to top

• Michael Doran
Michael is managing director, North American equities at University of Toronto Asset Management (UTAM), which he joined in 2000. His responsibilities include selection and monitoring of external North American equity managers, as well as management of some specialized in-house equity portfolios. Prior to joining UTAM, Michael managed a wide range of domestic and global equity portfolios at a quantitative investment firm in Toronto. He holds an MBA in finance from York University and is a CFA. back to top

• John Ellis
John is vice-president, marketing at YMG. He joined YMG in June of 1997 and is directly involved in new client business. Prior to joining the firm, he was the vice-president of finance and treasurer of Kruger Inc. with overall responsibility for the company's investing and financing activities. Previously, John was the managing director of Royal Trust's Caribbean operations, providing a wide array of investment management services to Canadian and international corporations. back to top

• Louis Falardeau
Louis recently moved from Industrial Alliance after 16 years, where he was vice-president investment, segregated funds, and joined Laval University Pension Fund as manager specialized funds. He is graduate of finance from Laval University and is a CFA chartholder. back to top

• Philip Falls
Philip is assistant director, investments for the IWA – Forest Industry Pension Plan and for the IWA – Forest Industry Ltd. Plan. He recently joined the plans following 20 years of corporate treasury, insurance, trust and pension institutional fund management experience. He holds a bachelor of commerce from Concordia University, an MBA from the University of Western Ontario and is a CFA. back to top

• Mario Galizia
Mario is a principal and actuary in the Toronto office of Towers Perrin with over 20 years experience in the pension field. He specializes in the design of retirement programs and assisting plan sponsors in establishing funding, expensing and investment policies. He also has significant experience in supplemental retirement arrangements, and mergers and acquisitions involving pension plans. Mario obtained a bachelor of science in actuarial science from the University of Toronto, and is a fellow of both the Society of Actuaries and the Canadian Institute of Actuaries. back to top

• Jean Gamache
Jean joined Quebec’s Worker’s Compensation Board (Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail) in 1997. Since 2001 he has held the role of managing director, accounting and information. His responsibilities include the financial controls for all the fields of the WCB. Previously, he worked for 19 years for the Auditor General in Quebec, where he spent 11 years as a director. Jean is a graduate from Laval University and is a CFA. back to top

• Harry Gibbs
Harry joined the Workplace Safety Insurance Board as vice-president of investments in 1997, bringing his extensive experience in all aspects of pension fund investment management to the direction of the board's multi-billion dollar investment assets. Prior to this, he had spent a year as a senior consultant in the asset consulting group of Towers Perrin. Harry became part of the Towers Perrin team in October of 1996 upon his retirement from Air Canada following a successful 28-year career as president of the airline's pension investment division. back to top

• Richard Gillingham
Richard is a managing director responsible for Scotia Capital’s credit derivative activities in London. Since joining Bank of America in 1978 he has worked in fixed income, derivatives and structured finance for HSBC, SG Warburg and Bankgesellschaft Berlin before joining Scotia in 2001. He holds a degree in philosophy and psychology from Oxford University. back to top

• Bruce Grantier
Bruce is vice-president, pension assets at Scotiabank where he is responsible for supporting the management of the asset side of Scotiabank's pension funds. Bruce has a BASc from the University of Toronto, an MBA from York University and is a CFA charterholder. He is a member of the Financial Services Commission of Ontario's pension investment advisory committee and the Pension Investment Association of Canada's investment practices committee. He is also on the investment committees of the Wellesley Central Health Corporation and the Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto. back to top

• Peter Greenhough
Peter is a national account manager for Canadian Investment Review and its sister publications Avantages and Benefits Canada. His responsibilities include the management, development and co-ordination of marketing initiatives for the publications' clients, including advertising, sponsorship programs, research and custom publishing products. Peter has been with Rogers Media for 14 years. back to top

• Janet Greenwood
Janet is managing partner and director of investment services at Aurion Capital Management Inc., a firm which manages domestic institutional portfolios and the overall multi-manager investment program for the Shell Canada Pension Fund. She was formerly director, investment research for Shell Canada Pension Fund Management Inc. Areas of responsibility include investment research, asset class management, investment strategies and manager selection/oversight for Shell's DB and DC investment structure. back to top

• Richard Guay
Richard is executive vice-president, risk management and depositors’ accounts management at the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. In this role, he oversees the research team that establishes long-term risk and return forecasts for each portfolio proposed to depositors. He also oversees the performance measurement and analysis team, which monitors the investment portfolios and policies in relation to set objectives. Richard has an MA in economics and a PhD in finance and economics from Queen’s University. He also has an M.Sc. in finance from the École des HEC de Montréal, and is a CFA. back to top

• Paul Halpern
Paul Halpern is a professor of finance and the Toronto Stock Exchange chair in capital markets at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. He is chair of the advisory board of the Canadian Investment Review and the associate director of the Capital Markets Institute at the University of Toronto. He received his PhD from the University of Chicago in finance and has published research and applied papers for both academic and practitioner journals. He has published a corporate finance textbook, Canadian Managerial Finance and is the editor of Financing Growth in Canada, an examination of Canadian capital markets. back to top

• Jim Hinks
Jim is director, pension assets for TransCanada Pipelines. The company’s pension plans include registered and non-registered defined benefit plans and a defined contribution plan. Jim has worked in corporate treasury, finance and investments for over 22 years with NOVA Corporation and TransCanada PipeLines. He is a member of the Association of Canadian Pension Management, Canadian Pension Benefits Institute and the Pension Investment Association of Canada. Jim is a chartered accountant and a CFA. back to top

• Jeff Horbal
Jeff is vice-president, institutional investments at Fidelity Retirement Services, headquartered in Toronto. In this capacity, Jeff oversees sales and marketing, data and fund analysis, and client service for Fidelity’s defined benefit disciplines. He joined Fidelity in 1998 with 15 years of industry experience in institutional equity trading, corporate finance, personal financial planning and mutual funds. He graduated from the University of Toronto with a bachelor of commerce, and has completed several executive and investment management courses. back to top

• Jim Hoult
Jim is the senior financial analyst in Stelco Inc.’s law and pension investments department. His responsibilities related to Stelco’s many defined benefit pension plans include developing plan structure encompassing investment policy, asset allocation and portfolio manager decisions, as well as overall plan monitoring of manager and total fund performance, compliance and governance. Jim joined Stelco in February 1979 after having obtained a bachelor of commerce in accounting at Concordia University in Montreal. back to top

• Eric Innes
Eric is chairman and chief investment officer for YMG Capital Management. The first 20 years of his investment career were spent trading bonds and managing bond portfolios for McLeod Young Weir and Royal Trust. In 1983 Eric and his partner founded YMG, which currently manages over $13 billion in investment portfolios for pension plans, mutual funds and other financial institutions. Eric oversees YMG’s asset allocation and the firm’s fixed income strategies, as well as directing marketing and client service activities. back to top

• Harvinder Kalirai
Harvinder is a senior strategist at State Street Global Markets, where he is involved in formulating foreign exchange and global asset allocation strategies. Prior to joining State Street in 2000, Harvinder spent five years in New York as a senior economist at a Wall Street economic consultancy where he was responsible for forecasting major developed economies, interest rates, and exchange rates. He has a bachelor of commerce in finance and an MA in economics from McGill University and is a CFA charterholder. back to top

• Andrew Kavouras
Andrew is vice-president, institutional client services at CDP Capital – World Markets. In this role, he ensures that all CDP Capital – World Market’s resources and expertise are put to full use in the best interests of all clients. Previously, Andrew was senior vice-president and portfolio manager with Guardian Capital in Toronto and vice-president, partner and portfolio manager, institutional accounts with Phillips, Hager & North. He has a bachelor’s degree in economics from McGill University and a master’s degree in financial economics from the University of London, England. back to top

• Michael Keenan
Michael is the director of policy and research for Bimcor Inc., a Canadian pension investment manager. Prior to joining Bimcor in January 2001, Michael spent 10 years at the federal Department of Finance, principally in the Financial Markets Division where he was involved in government financing, international reserves management, and treasury risk management, as well as domestic debt management. back to top

• Mark Keleher
Mark is head of Mellon Transition Management Services Group where he is responsible for business development, transition strategies and management of staff. His 11 years of investment experience have included managing equity derivative sales in Tokyo for Merrill Lynch Japan, Inc., and hedge funds at Aspen Capital Management LLC and Grizzly Capital Management L.P. He has an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and is a CFA. back to top

• Claire Kyle
Claire is senior manager of the Bank of Montreal’s pension fund. Prior to her current position, she worked in both the United States and Canada in a variety of fields, including private equity investments, mergers and acquisitions, corporate advisory, economics and strategy, and pension fund management. She holds the CFA designation and is a past chair of the Pension Investment Association of Canada. back to top

• Gilles L’Abbé
Gilles is president, pension investments at Air Canada, overseeing the deployment and management of approximately $8 billion of pension assets through a combination of external managers and in-house professional staff. He has been with Air Canada since 1972 during which time he has held various investment-related positions. He is an active member of the Pension Investment Association of Canada. back to top

• Lucie Lebeuf
Lucie joined the Solidarity Fund QFL in 1989 and has been vice-president, marketable securities since 1994. President of the Québec Public Curator’s investment committee, she also sits on the investment committee of the Fonds des Professionels Inc. Beyond that, she is a member of the Montreal Society of Financial Analysts and the Cercle finance et placement du Québec. Lucie is a chartered financial analyst with a bachelor in business administration from the Université du Québec à Montréal. back to top

• Martin Leroux
Martin is vice-president, consultant relations at Fidelity Canada. In this role, he has national responsibility for consultant relationships in Canada. Martin began his career with Fidelity in 1998, holding a variety of positions within the Boston head office, more recently as a member of the institutional portfolio management group. Prior to joining Fidelity, he worked with William M. Mercer in Montreal as an investment consultant. Martin is a fellow of the Society of Actuaries and holds a B.Sc. in mathematics from the University of Montreal. back to top

• Dori Levanoni
Dori is currently the director and currency product strategist at First Quadrant. He joined the firm in February 1991 as a programming intern while pursuing his degree in physics at nearby Caltech. In 1995 he left to join the department of anatomy and neurobiology at Washington University in St. Louis. First Quadrant drew Dori back in 1996, transitioning back into research in mid-1998 with his assignment to several currency research issues. He was promoted to manager of currency research at the end of 1999 and to director at the beginning of 2003. back to top

• James Lewis
James is Canadian Investment Review's associate editor. A graduate of Ryerson University's print journalism program and the Canadian Securities Course, James worked for another Rogers Media publication prior to joining CIR. Before that, he was a senior financial editor for one of Canada's largest online operations. back to top

• David Linds
David is senior vice president, business development and client relationship management at CIBC Mellon. He is a member of the company’s executive committee and through the development, communication and execution of strategic business plans he manages CIBC Mellon’s business development, national marketing activities and client relations for the pension trust and custody services industry. David maintains an active role in many industry associations. He has over 24 years financial services experience, including 16 years with CIBC World Markets and CIBC Mellon. back to top

• Michel Lizée
Michel is the president of the investment committee of the pension plan of the Université du Québec and, since 1982, a trustee of the pension board designated by the employees of the Université du Québec in Montreal. back to top

• Jim MacDonald
Before coming to Canadian Investment Review, Jim was the managing editor of Advisor.ca, part of The ADVISOR Group at Rogers Media. A journalist since 1987, Jim has worked in a variety of editorial positions including reporter/editor of Global Stratagems, the media unit of the mutual fund company Global Strategy, as well as reporter/editor with The Canadian Press-Broadcast News and as wire service editor with Standard Broadcast News. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto and has a broadcasting diploma from Centennial College in Toronto. back to top

• Claude Maheu
Claude joined the Quebec Pension Plan in 1981 and is the chief of evaluation. His responsibilities include the development policy for the Quebec Pension Plan, the supplemental pension plans and the family allowances. He is the secretary for the investment policy committee and develops the financial planning tools for retirement. He graduated from Laval University with degrees in sociology and economics. Claude also received diplomas from the Investment Funds Institute of Canada, the Institut québécois de planification financière and the École nationale d’administration publique. back to top

• Eleanor Marshall
Eleanor is currently director, financial planning and analysis in the treasury department at Aliant Inc. Part of this role is to serve as the senior management person with direct responsibility for Aliant’s pension plans, including pension fund investment, actuarial valuations, fund governance and pension accounting. It also includes long-term financial forecasting, financing planning and valuation support for corporate M&A activities. Eleanor is both a chartered accountant and chartered financial analyst. back to top

• Richard McAloney
Richard is the CEO of the Nova Scotia Association of Health Organizations Pension Plan. He is also director of the Pension Investment Association of Canada, director of the Association of Canadian Pension Management, and he was a founding director of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. Richard holds the chartered financial analyst, certified internal auditor, and chartered accountant designations. back to top

• Gayle McDade
Gayle is manager of debt and investment for the City of Regina where she is responsible for the investment of the City’s assets as well as of the City’s pension plans. The pension plan assets are approximately $700 million in defined benefit plans. Gayle has been in this role and employed with the City for the last five years. Prior to that she worked as an investment manager with Crown Life Investment Management Inc. in Regina. Gayle has a bachelor of administration from the University of Regina and is a CFA. back to top

• Laurie McPhail
Laurie is AVP, marketing communications with MFC Global Investment Management. She is accountable for planning and implementing all marketing and communications strategies and overseeing media and public relations for the firm. Laurie has more than 14 years of investment experience in marketing, sales, and client service with institutional asset management firms operating both in Canada and internationally. She is a member of the Association of Investment Management Sales Executives and the Association of Canadian Pension Management. Laurie holds a BA from Queen's University and an MBA from York University. back to top

• Shawn Menard
Shawn is currently the managing director of Russell/Mellon Analytical Services in Canada. He is responsible for working with plan sponsors and money managers to understand the structural characteristics of their portfolios by providing them with risk management services and investment manager analysis. Shawn is a member of the Global Association of Risk Management Professionals and the Association of Investment Management and Research. He has degrees in economics and management studies from the University Guelph and is a CFA. back to top

• Tricia Moore
Tricia joined Rogers Media in 2001 as conference manager. Currently she oversees conferences within the Financial and Healthcare Services Group. She brings to her position more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality and retail industries with an emphasis on special events planning, marketing and customer service evaluation. She is a graduate of Queen’s University. back to top

• Scott Nisbet
Scott joined Baillie Gifford in 1996 and worked in various investment teams until 2003 when he moved to the institutional clients department as a director with responsibility for North American clients. Scott has an MA in English literature and French from Edinburgh University and post-graduate diploma in translation from the University of Paris. back to top

• Carlo Novati
Carlo has been the director of pension fund services for Ontario Power Generation’s pension plan since April 2001. He is responsible for governance, compliance and the management of the plan’s external investment managers. Previously, he was responsible for the capital market borrowing activities of Ontario Hydro and Farm Credit Corporation. Carlo has also held various corporate finance positions with Gulf Canada Resources and BCE Inc. He has an engineering degree, an MBA and is a chartered financial analyst. back to top

• Paul Owens
Paul is plan manager and chief executive officer for the Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology (CAAT) Pension Plan. He is responsible for the strategy, design and implementation of the plan’s asset and liability functions. Prior to joining the CAAT Pension Plan in 1995, he spent 13 years at The Bank of Nova Scotia where, as director of pensions, he was responsible for the design and administration of the bank’s worldwide pension programs. He has an MBA from Queen’s University. back to top

• Bill Pacula
Bill has 25 years experience working with pension and other tax-exempt fund sponsors in North America. He joined the institutional clients department of Baillie Gifford in 2001 as a director and is part of the firm’s business development team based in New York. Bill graduated with a BA in philosophy from Washington College in 1972. back to top

• Robert Poirier
Robert is director, retirement plans and credit agency, at the Québec’s Ministère des Finances. In this role, he is the principal advisor of the departement regarding pension plans management. He is also a member of many pension plan committees. Previously, he was coordinator of budgetary forecasting and debt service estimates' model in the same department. He has a master’s degree in finance from the Université Laval in Québec. back to top

• Stuart Preston
Stuart is the treasurer at Molson Inc. where he is responsible for cash and debt management, bank and rating agency relations, and risk management and pension investments. He has a BBA from York University and is a CFA charterholder. back to top

• Johnny Quigley
Johnny is director, investment, at the Fondation Lucie et André Chagnon. back to top

• Graham Rennie
Graham is president and managing partner of Integra Capital Management, a firm he founded in 1987. He is active in client account management and responsible for the strategic direction of the firm. He is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario and holds an MBA from McMaster University. back to top

• Dr. Bill Rentz
Dr. Rentz is an associate professor of finance and business economics in the School of Management at the University of Ottawa. He is currently a member of the pension fund investment committee of the Board of Governors of the University of Ottawa. He is co-author of Canadian Financial Management and has published in many different journals. He holds a BS in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an AM and PhD in economics from the University of Rochester. back to top

• William Robson
Bill is senior vice-president and director of research at the C.D. Howe Institute where he specializes in Canadian fiscal and monetary policy. He has written extensively on government budgets, pension and health care financing and on inflation and currency issues. His 1994 book, The Great Canadian Disinflation, won the Canadian Economics Association’s prize for excellence in writing on Canadian economic policy. Before joining the C.D. Howe Institute in 1988, Bill held positions as an economist with Wood Gundy Inc. and the Federal Department of Energy, Mines and Resources. back to top

• David Scoon
David is a director of institutional sales at Fidelity Canada where he is responsible for introducing Canadian pension plans, foundations and endowments to Fidelity’s investment products. David has been in the financial services industry throughout his career. He has worked in senior positions in banking, corporate finance, investment banking and investment management. Prior to joining Fidelity he was with TD Asset Management and Frank Russell. David earned his BA from McMaster University and his MBA from the University of Western Ontario. back to top

• Wayne Scullion
Wayne is an actuarial analyst, investment specialist and investment policy board member at the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec where he is responsible for analyses and recommendations regarding long-term investment strategies, including asset allocation and management performance evaluation. He is also responsible for producing statutory financial projections. Wayne has a degree in actuarial science from Concordia University and is a CFA. back to top

• David Service
David is principal in the Toronto office of Towers Perrin, specializing in asset management consultation. He assists clients in a variety of aspects of asset management, including asset allocation and financial management, pension governance reviews, manager structure analysis, selection of investment managers and monitoring of manager performance. David is a fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries and the Society of Actuaries. back to top

• Yves Slater
With the Commission administrative des régimes de retraite et d’assurances (CARRA) since 1997, Yves is involved in the design, investment and funding issues related to the Quebec public service employees pension plans and acts as coordinator for a number of investment committees. Yves holds a BS from the Actuarial School of Laval University in Quebec and is a fellow at the American Society of Actuaries and the Canadian Institute of Actuaries. back to top

• Tracy Smith
Tracy is assistant editor, conferences for the Financial and Healthcare Services Group, Rogers Publishing. Her responsibilities include the management of conference materials and development of the conference web sites. Tracy has an honours BA in history from McMaster University and a post-graduate diploma in journalism new media from Sheridan College. back to top

• Ross Steeves
Ross is currently the director, investments with IWA – Forest Industry Pension and Long-term Disability Plans, a position he has held for the past nine years. He is responsible for developing and implementing the investment policies and strategies for these plans, including the selection and monitoring of investment managers. Ross has a degree in math from Mount Allison University and a master’s degree in economics from the University of Western Ontario. back to top

• Yves Thériault
Yves is the associate director, pension administration at Assumption Mutual Life. In addition to ensuring compliance with applicable legislation for the pension plans administered by Assumption Life, he is responsible in surveying portfolio management activities for client mandates in regards to asset mix policies and risk and return objectives. Prior to working at Assumption Life, Yves worked at Louisbourg Investments as an equity analyst. He has a master of finance from the Université de Sherbrooke. back to top

• Terri Troy
Terri is director of pension and strategic investments for the Royal Bank of Canada’s multinational pension plans. Her responsibilities include asset mix decisions, investment manager structures and manager monitoring, performance measurement and attribution, risk analytics, compliance monitoring and governance. back to top

• Tom Ulrich
Tom is president and chief executive officer of the Teachers' Retirement Allowances Fund (TRAF) of Manitoba. In this role he is responsible for overseeing the administration of the pension plan for Manitoba's 29,000 current, former and retired teachers and supervising the investments of its assets. Tom currently serves on the board of directors of Greystone Capital Management Inc. and the Association of Canadian Pension Management. He is also a member of the Pension Investment Association of Canada. back to top

• Blake Walker
Blake is the director, pension investments with the Local Authorities Pension Plan (LAPP) in Edmonton. He manages asset mix policy, manager structure and provides ongoing support to the board of trustees on investment issues. He is formerly the vice-president and treasurer of the Farm Credit Corporation in Regina and director, investments and liability management with Saskatchewan Finance. Blake holds the CMA and CFA designations and is currently a director of the Edmonton Society of Financial Analysts, a member of The City of Edmonton Investment Committee and is a trustee of the Saskatchewan Healthcare Employees pension Plan.back to top

• John Walks
John joined State Street in 1997 as head trader after some 12 years experience in foreign exchange markets in both Canada and abroad. He has been the head of State Street’s foreign exchange and money market business in Canada for the past three years overseeing sales and trading personnel in Montreal and Toronto. John is a graduate of the University of Toronto. back to top

• Michael Walsh
Mike joined MFC Global Investment Management in 1998 as vice-president, institutional investments. He has over 20 years of diverse portfolio management experience. Throughout his career, Mike has focused on the investment needs of Canadian pension and endowment funds. At MFC Global his mandate includes client relations, product development and quality control of all portfolio management services. He holds an MBA in finance and a BA in economics from the University of Toronto. back to top

• Alan White
Alan is the Peter L. Mitchelson / SIT Investment Associates Foundation Professor of Investment Strategy at the Rotman School. His research is principally in the area of derivative securities: their pricing and use by financial institutions for risk management. He has published many articles on these topics in practitioner and academic journals. Recently his research has focused on market risk and credit risk issues. He has consulted in these areas for many financial institutions in North America, Europe and Japan. back to top

• Alan Wicks
Alan joined MFC Global Investment Management in 1996 and currently leads the Canadian value team responsible for the value equity and income trust portfolios. Alan began his investment career at AETNA Canada in 1991 as a financial analyst. His education includes a degree in economics from the University of Toronto and he is a CFA. back to top

• Paul Williams
Paul is vice-president, Healthcare and Financial Services Group, Rogers Publishing. He joined Maclean Hunter Publishing in 1989 as editor of Benefits Canada. He is a former editor of the Canadian Investment Review. He now heads the financial media group, which includes Benefits Canada, Canadian Investment Review, Avantages, Advisor's Edge, Objectif Conseiller, Advisor.ca, and Advisor Forum as well as the Canadian Pension Fund and Money Purchase Plan directories. back to top

• Michael Zych
Mike is managing director of Capital Markets Group at Scotia Capital. He is responsible for a team of individuals focused on providing derivative product solutions to investor accounts. He has a bachelor of commerce degree from McMaster University, an MBA from the University of Toronto and is a CFA. back to top