2023 Conference Program
Additional speakers and sponsored sessions will be announced as they are confirmed. Sessions and speakers are subject to change.
Day 1 - Sunday, May 28, 2023
12:00 - 5:30 PM ET Reception is Open
Located on the Convention Level at the Hilton.
1:30 - 2:45 PM ET TMX & CIRI Market Celebration
Kick off Self-Care Sunday at the Conference with a market celebration at the TMX office. Participate in a pre-recording of a market open or close while enjoying refreshments and networking with your peers.
*Location: TMX: 120 Adelaide Street West
3:00 - 4:00 PM ET Mindful Management: Finding Work-Life Balance & Avoiding Burnout
Sponsored by CIRI Ontario
In today's fast-paced and often stressful world it can be difficult to make self-care a priority. Join Dr. Lisa Bélanger, author, behaviour change expert and CEO of ConsciousWorks, as she explains why our mental well-being is our most important asset and equip us with tools to increase our overall sense of happiness and mental health. Lisa will touch on burnout, behaviour change and how to implement habits and strategies to design your day to lead, work and live at your best!
Speaker:
Dr. Lisa Bélanger, Author, Behaviour Change Expert & CEO, ConsciousWorks
4:00 - 5:30 PM ET Creating Connections in Life and Business
Sponsored by CIRI Ontario
Having effective networking skills is essential to building strong relationships in life and in business. Join Jolene Watson, Canada's number one networking expert and President of Clarity Coaching & Development, as she discusses the skills needed to successfully create meaningful connections through communication. Jolene will share how blending and adapting to the communication style of the person in front of you can contribute to your success.
Speaker:
Jolene Watson, Networking Expert & President, Clarity Coaching & Development
5:30 - 7:00 PM ET Kick Off Cocktails with Exhibitors
Sponsored by CIRI Ontario
Join us as we kick off the Conference and welcome you to Toronto! Light hors d'oeuvres and cocktails will be served.
Day 2 - Monday, May 29, 2023
7:00 - 8:30 AM ET Breakfast is Open
Located in Toronto II/III.
8:00 - 8:15 AM ET CIRI Welcome & Opening Remarks
8:15 - 9:15 AM ET What's Ahead for the Economy
Are you curious to know what’s ahead for the economy? Join Eric Lascelles, Chief Economist at RBC Global Asset Management, as he touches on the current state of the economy and his predictions for the year ahead. He will discuss the latest economic and financial trends including inflation, interest rate hikes, and the likelihood of a recession, alongside longer-term themes.
Speaker:
Eric Lascelles, Chief Economist, RBC Global Asset Management
9:20 - 10:20 AM ET Breakout Sessions (select one)
Option #1 Driving Your Company's Engagement with Institutional Investors
Sponsored by Q4 Inc.
In a challenging macro environment, the competition for capital is heating up. This makes the quality of engagement with institutional investors even more critical, calling for companies to take greater control of their outreach programs. Learn about a variety of tactics companies can use to engage with shareholders and prospective investors, whether your objective is to generate interest or build relationships with North American or International investors.
Speakers:
Matt Donohue, Manager, Investor Relations & Capital Markets, Freehold Royalties Ltd.
Ana Raman, Senior Manager, Investor Relations, Shopify Inc.
Jamie Bardell, Vice President, Issuer Events, Q4 Inc. (Moderator)
Option #2 Going Beyond Borders: Navigating Dual Listings
If your company is already dually listed or is considering listing on a new stock exchange, you need to understand the opportunities and challenges an additional listing provides. Hear IROs of dually listed companies discuss how they effectively manage multiple listings with different regulatory requirements and whether these have resulted in increased liquidity, higher valuation and a diversified shareholder base.
Speaker:
Louise Burgess, Senior Director, Investor Relations & Communications, Euro Manganese Inc.
Alison Holditch, Manager, Investor Relations, Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.
Scott K. Parsons, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations, Alamos Gold Inc. (Moderator)
Option #3 Masterclass: Getting to the Other Side of a Crisis
Crises can take many forms but they all have the potential to destroy value. Organizations are often remembered as much for how they handled the crisis as the crisis itself but many organizations’ instincts take them in the wrong direction and make matters worse. Join Peter Hunt who will draw on his decades of experience to address two topics: managing a crisis and rebuilding your reputation afterwards by learning the 'do’s & don’ts' and the principles behind them, illustrated with examples.
Speaker:
Peter Hunt, Certified Executive Leadership Coach & Master Facilitator, 385 Consulting Inc.
Curtis Pelletier, Director, Investor Relations, Graham & Gracorp (Moderator)
10:20 - 10:50 AM ET Break with Exhibitors
10:50 - 11:10 AM ET Sponsored Teach Ins (select one)
Option #1 Expert Insights: Levelling Up Your ESG Reporting Approach
Sponsored by Works Design
Executive leaders and Board members are more engaged than ever in ESG, and expectations from analysts, investors, regulators and others are pushing reporting issuers to show that their house is in order and that their commitments are tied toward creating long-term value. With closer alignments now made to the Annual Report and Proxy Circular, IROs need to play a leading role in ensuring ESG reporting is effectively planned, collaboratively developed and ready for release. Gain practical insights from Works Design and Uranium Energy Corp. on how early-stage and developing ESG reporters can reach their audience, strengthen their approach, and improve their reputation.
Speakers:
Katherine Arblaster, Vice President, ESG & Sustainability for Uranium Energy Corp, GoldMining Inc., Gold Royalty Corp. and Uranium Royalty Corp.
Wesley Gee, Chief Sustainability Officer, Works Design
Option #2 IR is a Competitive Advantage
Sponsored by S&P Global Market Intelligence
Investor relations can be a competitive advantage for a public company like great products, talent or operations. This session focuses on how best-in-class IR programs create a lower cost of capital and are better positioned to maximize valuation. With a focus on international targeting, capital attraction and engagement, our panel discusses trends in capital flows, which Canadian companies are attracting capital, and best practices of highly effective IR programs to create a competitive advantage.
Speakers:
Carmen Lilly, Director, Market Development, S&P Global Market Intelligence
Charles Paine, Senior Research Analyst, S&P Global Market Intelligence
Jason Oury, Head of Strategy & Channels, S&P Global Market Intelligence
11:15 - 12:15 PM ET Breakout Sessions (select one)
Option #1 Bulletproof Your Career
Sponsored by Stifel
Are you looking to position yourself for career success and become indispensable to your company? Branding yourself as a key contributor and impactful employee goes beyond being good at your job. Join three seasoned IROs as they highlight key steps for you to strategically position your career for success. During this session, you will learn about their career growth, impactful steps they took and challenges they overcame.
Speakers:
Chaya Cooperberg, Executive Vice President, Chief of People & Communications Officer, AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.
Greg Dilworth, Vice President & CFO, Group Retirement Services & Client Experience Office, Sun Life Financial
Ann Wilkinson, Vice President, Investor Relations, Generation Mining Limited
Kelly Downie, Director, Head of Corporate Access, Canada, Stifel (Moderator)
Option #2 Maximizing Your Impact During Proxy Season
Sponsored by Olympia Investor Services Inc.
Before you know it, it's proxy season and with it comes the ability for shareholders to put their money where their mouth is signaling any discontent they may have. There’s no doubt that investor concerns have shifted drastically over the past few years amid a global pandemic, supply chain shortages, a focus on sustainable practices and unprecedented interest rate hikes making it more important than ever to stay ahead of the curve on market sentiment. During this session, learn actionable steps, tips and best practices from seasoned IROs on how you can best prepare yourself and your company for a successful proxy season and Annual General Meeting.
Speakers:
Alice Dunning, Senior Director, Investor Relations - ESG, CIBC
Stacey Pavlova, Vice President, Investor Relations & Communications, Faraday Copper Corp.
Quentin Weber, Senior Advisor, WSP Global Inc.
Dean Naugler, President, Olympia Investor Services Inc. (Moderator)
Option #3 Masterclass: Relationship Advice from the Sell-Side
Sponsored by Visible Alpha
Are you an IRO looking to build stronger relationships with the sell-side?
Strong sell-side analyst coverage is essential for helping issuers frame market perception, inform the investment community and ensure fair equity valuation. But as industries and capital markets evolve, it can be harder for IROs to build and maintain strong relationships with the Street. Join Top Gun analyst, Ian Gillies, as he shares best practices to follow and mistakes to avoid as you conduct effective sell-side outreach. Learn how you can create and optimize relationships with analysts that will help you communicate your company’s story and create value in a meaningful way.
Speaker:
Ian Gillies, Managing Director, Institutional Research, Stifel GMP
Nona Murray, Director, U.S. Contributor Relations, Visible Alpha (Moderator)
12:20 - 2:00 PM ET AGM & Awards Lunch
2:00 - 3:00 PM ET Measuring Success: IR Program & Personal Success
Key to the success of any IRO is the ability to effectively communicate the company’s story to the street while delivering value internally. Yet, based on our recent member survey, IROs struggle most with measuring the success of their IR program and their personal performance. Hear from seasoned IROs on how they think about success, what inputs they deem important from quantitative KPIs to qualitative commentary and how these impact how they view their personal success.
Speakers:
Maeghan Albiston, Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer, CPKC
Greg Secord, Vice President, Investor Relations, Open Text Corporation
Adam Borgatti, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations, Aecon Group Inc. (Moderator)
3:00 - 3:30 PM ET Break with Exhibitors
3:35 - 4:35 PM ET Breakout Sessions (select one)
Option #1 Ask Me Anything with CIRI Fellows
Sponsored by CIBC
Are you interested in learning where a role in IR can take you?
Since 2015, CIRI has been recognizing leaders in the investor relations profession who, by their achievements, bring distinction to the profession and serve as role models for others. Hear from three CIRI Fellows, the highest honour for investor relations professionals in Canada.
During this session, you will learn about their career journeys, the importance of IR and where they see the role going in the future. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from these distinguished IROs!
Speakers:
Isabelle Adjahi, F.CIRI, Vice President, Investor Relations & Sustainable Development, The Lion Electric Company
Denis Jasmin, F.CIRI, Vice President, Investor Relations, SNC-Lavalin Group Inc.
Jennifer McCaughey, F.CIRI, Director, Investor Relations, Calian Group Ltd.
Jason Patchett, Senior Director, Investor Relations, CIBC (Moderator)
Option #2 From Global Standards to Canadian Regulations: A Comprehensive Overview of ESG Disclosure
Sponsored by Alliance Advisors
Investors are increasingly recognizing the importance of ESG factors in their investment decisions as global sustainable investment assets reached $35.3 trillion in 2020. To meet investor demand, companies need to effectively communicate their ESG practices and progress. Soon this can be done using one global, voluntary framework developed by the International Financial Reporting Standards. But how will this fit in with pending Canadian regulatory requirements? Get a comprehensive overview of the new ESG framework, General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information, including its purpose, scope and key requirements and how it compares to regulations the Canadian Securities Administrators have in mind.
Speakers:
Jo-Anne Matear, Special Advisor to the Executive on Sustainable Finance & Emerging Regulatory Issues, Ontario Securities Commission
Michael Jantzi, ISSB Member, IFRS
Michael Vogele, Managing Director, Global Advisory Group, Alliance Advisors
Alice Dunning, Senior Director, Investor Relations - ESG, CIBC (Moderator)
Option #3 Masterclass: An Insider's Guide to Quantitative Trading
Interested in understanding what quantitative trading is and how it impacts your stock? The world of trading has changed vastly and is more data-driven and automated. Mark Deriet, Cormark Securities’ Quantitative & Technical Analyst, will explain quantitative trading and how it takes the emotion out of investing. If you want to understand how this type of trading strategy is used to analyze your stock, this session is a must.
Speaker:
Mark Deriet, Quantitative & Technical Analyst, Cormark Securities
Curtis Pelletier, Director, Investor Relations, Graham & Gracorp (Moderator)
4:40 - 5:40 PM ET Unlocking the Value of IR: Becoming a Valued Strategic Partner to the C-Suite and Board
Sponsored by Irwin
The Board and C-Suite are charged with delivering long-term value to their shareholders. How can they leverage IR to do this effectively? As an IRO, you have your ear to the ground and can provide valuable insights from the Street that can inform strategic decisions for the organization. Hear from a Director, CEO and CFO as they share how they view the role of IR and how the IRO can demonstrate value. This session is key to better understanding how IR can align with and support the company's strategy.
Speakers:
Pentti Karkkainen, Board Chair, AltaGas Ltd. & NuVista Energy Ltd.
Jean-Louis Servranckx, President & Chief Executive Officer, Aecon Group Inc.
David Smith, Executive Vice President,
Finance & Chief Financial Officer, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited
David Whyte, CEO, Irwin (Moderator)
5:45 - 7:00 PM ET Cocktails with Exhibitors
Join us for light hors d'oeuvres and cocktails with the Exhibitors before CIRI's Beach Party!
7:00 - 11:00 PM ET CIRI's Beach Party
Sponsored by Notified
Join CIRI and Notified for a Beach Party featuring The Honneyrunners! Put your beachwear on and enjoy live music, a BBQ feast, tropical drinks and interactive games while catching up with old friends and making new ones. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to celebrate everything you do to level up your career and the IR profession!
Day 3 - Tuesday, May 30, 2023
7:30 - 9:00 AM ET Breakfast is Open
Located in Toronto II/III.
8:30 - 9:30 AM ET The Rise of the Retail Investor
Are you interested in learning how to effectively engage with retail investors?
Since 2020, the retail investor community has become highly active and, en masse, these investors are a force to be reckoned with. Hear Genevieve Roch-Dector discuss how retail investor behaviours are changing including where they get their information, how they make their investment decisions and how they expect issuers to engage with them.
Speaker:
Genevieve Roch-Dector, CEO and founder, GRIT
Charlotte Thuot Kucyi, Senior Manager, Investor Relations, Tricon Residential (Moderator)
9:35 - 10:35 AM ET Breakout Sessions (select one)
Option #1 IR Marketing in the Digital Age
Sponsored by Notified
In the digital era, building connections and creating effective content through digital channels can not only help reach and grow your shareholder base, it can provide a more efficient and timely means of communication. Hear from leading IROs who have embraced digital technology, social media platforms and more to gain an edge while engaging with existing and potential shareholders. The internet is talking. How is your company going to participate?
Speaker:
Suzanne Ennis, Vice President, Corporate Development, Hut 8 Mining Corp.
Dan Lotzof, Chief Revenue Officer, Notified
Katie Keita, IR Lead, Kneat Solutions (Moderator)
Option #2 What's Going On with My Stock?
Sponsored by Nasdaq
It can be challenging to navigate market fluctuations and make sense of your trading activity in today's uncertain market. Hear from industry experts as they discuss key market drivers, how to analyze market trends and understand how they may be impacting your stock performance, all of which can be used to inform your communications strategy.
Speakers:
Swanzy Quarshie, Director, Equity Sales, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets
Prabhdeep Sagoo, Senior Director, Head of Canada, Nasdaq
Alex Taylor, Vice President, Equity and Debt Surveillance, IIROC
Rachelle Girard, Vice President, Investor Relations, Cameco Corporate (Moderator)
Option #3 Masterclass: From Dull to Dynamic: Crafting Effective Earnings Call Scripts to Engage Investors
Sponsored by Corbin Advisors
As an IRO, you know how critical it is to effectively communicate your company's story to your stakeholders. However, improving your written communication skills may often be put on the sidelines when juggling your day-to-day tasks, despite its importance. If you are looking to take your quarterly earnings call script from dull to dynamic, join Camilla Bartosiewicz, Chief Communications Officer at Altus Group, as she shares her process for developing a script that captivates, convinces and inspires her investor audience.
Speaker:
Camilla Bartosiewicz, Chief Communications Officer, Altus Group
Dylan Yaworski, Vice President, Strategy & Enterprise Development, Corbin Advisors (Moderator)
10:35 - 11:20 AM ET Break with Exhibitors + Prize Draw
11:20 - 11:40 AM ET Sponsored Teach Ins (select one)
Option #1 Maximizing Your IR Game Through Data-Driven Strategies
Sponsored by TMX Group
Take your IR skill set to the next level by leveraging TMX data to help inform your IR strategy. Whether it’s understanding index constituents or monitoring the competitive landscape, TMX Group will showcase the various data-mining resources available to you and how to effectively gain insight into how that data can be used to support company growth, funding and success.
Speakers:
Roy Wefuan, Manager, Client Success, TMX Group
Option #2: Global Investor Outreach: Effectively Engaging with Institutional Investors Outside of Canada
Sponsored by Rose & Company
Join us for a fireside chat with Brian Christie, Vice President, Investor Relations of Agnico Eagle. Brian will discuss his effective strategies and tools for marketing to global investors. As a recipient of multiple IRO of the Year awards, Brian is experienced on what it takes to successfully and proactively engage with global institutional investors, outside of Canada.
Speakers:
Brian Christie, Vice President, Investor Relations, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited
Simon Rose, Chief Executive Officer, Rose & Company
11:45 - 12:45 PM ET Breakout Sessions (select one)
Option #1 Lights, Camera, AI!
ChatGPT and other AI-based applications have caught the world’s attention with their incredible emulation of human intelligence. But they can do far more including creative tasks. In this interactive session, Malcolm White, an AI expert and Technology Portfolio Manager at BMO Global Asset Management, will demonstrate how generative AI applications can tackle larger projects such as creating an original movie. Attendees will understand the art of the possible with AI and see how this technology can be applied in IR to make day-to-day tasks easier, faster and visually appealing driving higher efficiency.
Speakers:
Malcolm White, Portfolio Manager, Global TMT, BMO Global Asset Management - Canada
Yvette Lokker, President & CEO, CIRI (Moderator)
Option #2 Navigating the Retail Investor Landscape
Sponsored by IR Magazine
Whether it’s a broker network, high-net-worth individuals or the emerging 'Mass Affluent Market', connecting with retail investors is invaluable to your company’s success. Join a panel of IROs to learn more about balancing the time and effort required to engage with this important market segment. It might just be the determining factor to stabilize your company’s liquidity or win that close run proxy fight.
Speaker:
Marc Jasmin, Director, Investor Relations, Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc.
Naomi Nemeth, Vice President, Investor Relations, HighGold Mining Inc.
Tim Human, Senior Reporter, IR Magazine (Moderator)
Option #3 Masterclass: Level Up Your IR Program
Sponsored by Lumi
Whether you are updating your IR program for the 15th or first time, every IRO needs to re-examine their IR strategy and program with today's environment in mind. By drawing on sessions discussed throughout the Conference, Karen Keyes, the Head of Investor Relations at Canadian Tire, will walk through various IR strategies, objectives and tactics. She will provide insight on challenges, successes and tips and tricks that she has learned over her 20+ year career in IR so that you can take your IR program to the next level.
Speaker:
Karen Keyes, Head, Investor Relations, Canadian Tire Corporation
Sylvie Harton, Chief Business Strategy Officer, Lumi (Moderator)
12:50 - 2:20 PM Lunch: Investor Perspective on Integrating ESG into Investment Decisions
Sponsored by TD Bank
Do you want to learn how Investors are factoring ESG into the investment decision-making process? As ESG becomes a core element of more companies’ strategy, it is important to understand how investors view it and how these factors impact their investment decisions. Hear from leading investors as they share their perspective on how ESG considerations affect a company’s reputation, risk profile and long-term financial performance.
Speakers:
Martin Grosskopf, Vice President, Portfolio Manager & Director, Sustainable Investing, AGF Management Limited
Michele Robitaille, Managing Director, Head of Responsible Investing, Guardian Capital Group
Jennifer So, Portfolio Manager, BMO Asset Management
Andrea McCormick, Associate Vice President, Investor Relations, ESG, TD Bank Group (Moderator)
2:20 PM - 2:30 PM ET Closing Remarks