2020 Conference Program

Additional speakers and sponsored sessions will be announced as they are confirmed.

Day 1 - Monday, November 23

12:15 - 12:45 PM ET    CIRI Update & Opening Remarks

12:45 - 1:45 PM ET     Sustainability: BlackRock's New Standard for Investing
BlackRock has strong views on how they can create sustainable value for their clients and, given the size of their AUM at US$7.8 trillion, they have the power to influence others. Hear BlackRock's views on how sustainability, and climate change specifically, will have a lasting impact on economic growth and capital allocation. Learn how the organization is undertaking initiatives to put sustainability at the centre of their investment approach while encouraging issuers to consider their broader stakeholder base to build sustainable businesses. Plus understand their top stewardship issues for 2021 and how you can engage with them.

Speakers:
Michelle Edkins, Managing Director, Investment Stewardship, BlackRock
Ashley Nuell, Vice President, Investor Relations & Stakeholder Communications, Deloitte Canada (Moderator)

1:45 - 2:15 PM ET        Get Sustainable with CIRI - Virtual Networking
Here's your opportunity to build and strengthen your network by connecting with peers from across Canada while enjoying some sustainable goodies.

2:15 - 2:30 PM ET        Personal Break

2:30 - 3:30 PM ET        Breakout Sessions (select one)

Option #1   Capital Market Drivers
Sponsored by Q4 Inc.
It’s becoming clear that 2020 will see its fair share of market transformation. With the continued shift toward technology – data scientists becoming the new quants and investors more readily adopting automated trading tools – capital markets are ever evolving. As IROs, you need to stay on top of what’s on the horizon that could affect your company’s share performance. Hear what top trends could have major implications for your stock from industry experts.

Speakers:
Mike Coffey, Vice President, Strategy, Q4 Inc. (Moderator)
Peter Haynes, Managing Director, Index Products, Institutional Equities, TD Securities Inc.
Chris Heakes, Director, Portfolio Manager, BMO Global Asset Management
Paul O’Hea, Managing Director, Global Head, Equity Sales & Trading, Scotia Capital Inc.

Option #2   Shareholder Activism: Are You Prepared?
Sponsored by Olympia Trust Company
No single company is immune to shareholder activism. Keep current on how to navigate through this ‘crisis’ IR scenario by hearing directly from those who have been through it. They will shed some light on key learnings from recent experiences and discuss the challenges and opportunities.

Speakers:
Shant Madian, Vice President , Investor Relations & Corporate Communications, Crescent Point Energy
Dean Naugler, Vice President, Corporate & Shareholder Services, Olympia Trust Company (Moderator)
Tom Tran, Director, Investor Relations, Aimia Inc.

Option #3   The Long & Short of Hosting a Successful Investor Day
Sponsored by BTV - Business Television
Investor days are high-stake events that require careful planning and an enormous amount of hard work to successfully pull off. More than just presentations, companies use investor days to weave a compelling narrative about corporate health, culture and vision. Given the challenges of the current COVID-19 environment, it is even more critical for IROs to find alternatives to stay connected to investors and stakeholders. Hear from experienced IROs on getting the most out of your investor event, including: virtual investor day practices; how to assess what investors want from the day; and focusing on content that is most relevant to your audience.

Speakers:
Maeghan Albiston, Assistant Vice President, Investor Relations & Pensions, Canadian Pacific Railway
Stephanie Amaimo, Vice President, Investor Relations, Fortis Inc.
Calvin Locke, Manager, Investor Relations, Keyera
Taylor Thoen, CEO & Executive Producer, BTV - Business Television (Moderator)

3:30 - 4:00 PM ET        Break with Exhibitors

4:00 - 5:00 PM ET       The ESG Ecosystem from Different Vantage Points
Sponsored by TD Bank
There are a variety of players involved in the ESG ecosystem. Explore ESG from the perspective of one company that has multiple vantage points - as issuer, asset manager and investment banker. Hear what these different stakeholders expect from one another, how they interact and how they can collectively advance the ESG mandate and their respective performance.

Speakers:
Kyle Brady, Manager, Investor Relations, TD Bank Group (Moderator)
Damian Fernandes, Vice President & Director, TD Asset Management
Rachel Guthrie, Head of Research Reporting & Impact Measurement, TD Bank Group
Courtney Rushford, Sustainable Finance & Corporate Transitions Team, TD Securities

Day 2 - Tuesday, November 24

12:15 - 1:15 PM ET      In Conversation with the Street
Sponsored by IR Magazine
Analysts and institutional investors play a vital role in an IRO's success as your key external stakeholders. Hear from the buy- and sell-side as they share insights on the current state of Canadian capital markets; how they are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and MiFID II; their views on disclosure topics such as guidance and ESG; plus what they expect from IROs. You will leave this session with tips on how you can add value as the link between the Street and management as well as how to maximize your relationships with the buy- and sell-side.

Speakers:
Ben Ashwell, Editor, IR Magazine (Moderator)
Frederic Bastien, Managing Director, Capital Equity Markets, Raymond James Ltd.
Darren Dansereau, Vice President & Portfolio Manager, QV Investors Inc.
Robert Kwan, Managing Director, RBC Capital Markets
Jeff Mo, Portfolio Manager, Small Cap Canadian Equity, Mawer Investment Management Ltd.

1:15 - 1:45 PM ET        Awards Ceremony
Sponsored by Intrado Digital Media
Come celebrate excellence in IR with us! We will recognizing the Award for Excellence and Award for Leadership recipients, the 2020 Fellows and the new CPIRs.

1:45 - 2:00 PM ET        Personal Break

2:00 - 3:00 PM ET        Moderated Roundtables

3:00 - 3:30 PM ET        Break with Exhibitors

3:30 - 4:30 PM ET        Breakout Sessions (select one)

Option #1   Delivering on ESG with Limited Resources & Budgets
Sponsored by TMX Group
As the COVID-19 pandemic has shown, ESG has only grown in importance with social considerations now being as important as environmental and governance ones. As a result, demand for ESG data will only accelerate going forward. Discover how your peers are integrating ESG considerations into their corporate structure and IR programs with limited resources and budgets. Find out which elements to focus on first, how to convey your message effectively and lessons learned.

Speakers:
Nathan Monash, Vice President, Business Sustainability, Lundin Gold Inc.
Monica Moretto, Vice President, Sustainability, Diversity & Inclusion, Pan American Silver Corp.
Mark Sitter, Vice President, Sustainability, Lundin Foundation
Berk Sumen, Head, TSX Company Services, TMX Group (Moderator)

Option #2   Short Selling Reports: A New Avenue for Investor Activism?
Canadian markets are seeing a new trend rising with short-selling campaigns targeting public companies. The consequences for a company can be a plunge in share price; the diversion of valuable time and resources; and the need to rebuild the company’s reputation. Hear from two seasoned IROs who have had first-hand experience with anticipating and responding to short-selling reports.

Speakers:
Mariem Elsayed, Director, Investor Relations, Fiera Capital Corporation
Lisa Greatrix, Senior Vice President, Finance & Investor Relations, Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited
Katie Keita, Senior Director, Investor Relations & Social Impact, Shopify Inc.

Option #3   Building an IR Program from the Ground Up
From reinforcing your corporate strategy to investor targeting, the investor relations program covers it all. During this session, you will get key insights from seasoned IROs in order to develop solid foundations for your IR program. Learn how to remain on the radar of your shareholders — especially in the new virtual era — and how to align your message with your growth strategies to achieve fair valuation.

Speakers:
Karen Keyes, Investor Relations Executive (Moderator)
Jill MacRae, Director, Investor Relations, Home Capital Group Inc.
Dan Dixon, Senior Vice President, Project Finance & Investor Relations, Minto Group of Companies

4:30 - 5:30 PM ET        Celebrate with CIRI! - Virtual Reception
We've got something to celebrate and we want you to be a part of it. Join us to hear news about CIRI and connect with IROs from across Canada. This interactive session will have you talking to friends, old and new, plus opening up a surprise gift as we share a toast.

Day 3 - Monday, November 30

12:15 - 1:15 PM ET     Best Practices for Reaching & Engaging with New Investors
Sponsored by Business Wire
Reaching new investors is crucial, yet difficult during periods of disruption. During this session we examine the best ways to build new relationships remotely, will advise on the alternative methods of engaging with investors, discuss how to revise your messaging and approach to enhance visibility and will cover the tools readily available for IROs to assist in this effort.

Speakers:
Greg Blazina, Head of Canada, Business Wire (Moderator)
Sophia Doulaghsingh, Director, Corporate Access & Equity Marketing, Scotiabank
Mike McAllister, Vice President, Investor Relations, Sierra Metals Inc.
John Nunziati, Investor Relations Partner, Q4
Flora Wood, Director, Investor Relations, Altius Minerals

1:15 - 1:45 PM ET        A Nod to Calgary - Virtual Networking
Here's your opportunity to build and strengthen your network by connecting with peers from across Canada while we give a nod to Calgary, the host city had our Conference been in person, and enjoy some local confectioneries.

1:45 - 2:00 PM ET        Personal Break

2:00 - 3:00 PM ET        Breakout Sessions (select one)

Option #1  Investor Outreach Re-imagined
Sponsored by Rose & Company
As an IRO, one of your key responsibilities is to deliver high-quality investor meetings to management. Given the changing investor landscape and impact of COVID-19, this has become more challenging causing IROs to be more creative with their marketing. Learn how seasoned IROs have approached marketing in new and different ways while still depending on tried-and-true approaches.

Speakers:
Paul Butcher Vice President, Investor Relations, CN Railway
Galina Meleger, Director, Investor Relations, Endeavour Silver Corp
Scott Parsons, Vice President, Investor Relations, Alamos Gold Inc.
Simon Rose, CEO, Rose & Company (Moderator)

Option #2    Managing the Earnings Cycle
Volatile capital markets and pressure to deliver short-term results have made managing quarterly earnings more challenging than ever. For better or for worse, companies are judged by their ability to meet or beat quarterly analysts’ consensus estimates. But this can lead to great pains being taken to ensure quarterly numbers are on target. Hear from senior IROs on how to manage Street expectations and support your CEO and executive team while staying focused on building long-term value.

Speakers:
Greg Martin, Chief Financial Officer, SSR Mining Inc.
Brad Monaco, Director, Capital Markets, Parkland Fuel Corporation
Krista Severson Norlin, Senior Investor Relations Analyst, Enerplus Corporation (Moderator)

Option #3  Strategic IR During M&A
Growth through M&A is a commonly used strategy in every industry and 2020 has presented new pressures for companies to create synergies and savings. M&A can build size and scale, provide access to new sources of capital and eliminate competition. Learn from IROs, who have been through both friendly and hostile situations, about the many ways a transaction can be crafted; how to navigate the organizational changes; and the resulting impact on shareholders, employees and communities.

Speakers:
Rhylin Bailie, Vice President, Investor Relations, Equinox Gold Corp. (Moderator)
Meghan Brown, Vice President, Investor Relations, Great Panther Mining Limited
Todd Coakwell, Senior Director, Sustainability and ESG Disclosure, Nutrien Ltd.
Sandy Noyes, Former Director, Investor Relations, Detour Gold Corporation

3:00 - 3:30 PM ET        Break with Exhibitors

3:30 - 4:30 PM ET        Breakout Sessions (select one)

Option #1   ESG Case Study: Cenovus Energy Inc. – Committed to Sustainability Leadership
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues have been proven to have a clear impact on an organization’s performance. No longer sitting at the fringe of the retail investor radar, ESG is now mainstream and for any company keen to attract capital, sustainability has to become a priority. Hear how a large-cap company – Cenovus – integrates sustainability into its strategy and business plan to help foster long-term resilience.

Speakers:
Rhona DelFrari, Vice President, Sustainability & Engagement, Cenovus Energy Inc.
Nick Kuzyk, Corporate Consultant, Meadowbank Strategic Partners Inc. (Moderator)
Sherry Wendt, Director, Investor Relations, Cenovus Energy Inc.

Option # 2   Regulatory Update: What IROs Should Know
The regulatory environment continues to change and IROs need to know how their companies will be impacted. During this session, we will discuss the ongoing initiatives to reduce the regulatory burden on issuers; potential regulation of non-GAAP financial measures; climate change disclosure; initiatives proposed by the Capital Markets Modernization Taskforce; and more.

Speakers:
Eleanor Fritz, Issues Committee Chair, CIRI (Moderator)
Tom Graham, Director, Corporate Finance, Alberta Securities Commission
Walied Soliman, Chair, Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP & Chair, Capital Markets Modernization Taskforce

4:30 - 5:30 PM ET       The Compelling Case for Diversity & Inclusion
The business case for diversity and inclusion (D&I) is stronger than ever. For diverse companies, the likelihood of outperforming industry peers on profitability has increased over time, while the penalties are getting steeper for those lacking diversity. Progress on representation has been slow, yet a few firms are making real strides. A close look at these diversity winners shows that a systematic, business-led approach and bold, concerted action on inclusion are needed to advance this initiative and build sustainable companies.

Speaker:
Camilla Bartosiewicz, Vice President, Investor Relations, Altus Group (Moderator)
Mukani Moyo, Expert Associate Partner, McKinsey & Company

Day 4 - Tuesday, December 1

12:15 - 1:15 PM ET      TC Energy’s View on the Value of IR
Sponsored by CIBC
With the majority of IROs reporting directly into the C-suite, you have a clear mission to not only help enhance shareholder value but to also add strategic value for Management and Boards. As the IR profession continues to evolve, IROs are increasingly becoming 'trusted advisors' to the C-suite and earning their seat at the table. Hear directly from a large cap CEO, Russ Girling, President & Chief Executive Officer of TC Energy, on how he perceives the value of IR.

Speaker:
Russ Girling, President & Chief Executive Officer, TC Energy Corporation
Robert Catellier, Executive Director, Institutional Equity Research, CIBC Capital Markets (Moderator)

1:15 - 1:45 PM ET        Tea & Talk Tuesday - Virtual Networking
Grab a cup of tea and some cookies for this networking break as you connect with peers from across Canada.

1:45 - 2:00 PM ET        Personal Break

2:00 - 3:00 PM ET        Breakout Sessions (select one)

Option #1   ESG Matters: The Views of the Street
What are those ESG issues that matter most to the sell- and buy-side? How have they evolved over 2020? How are the sell-side analysts integrating ESG into their research reports and how does ESG ultimately impact the buy-side’s investment decisions? Find out what ESG factors are top of mind for the Street as they become more important to the financial health of their coverage and portfolio companies.

Speakers:
Prabh Banga, Director, Sustainability, Aecon Group Inc. (Moderator)
Patrick Bryden, Head, Environmental, Social & Governance Research, Global Banking & Markets, Scotiabank
Adelaide Chiu, Global Equities Portfolio Manager, Capital Markets, Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS)
Hyewon Kong, Vice President, Responsible Investing, Investment Management Corporation of Ontario (IMCO)

Option #2   Managing the Differing Needs of Debt Investors: Building Your Debt IR Capabilities
Tasked with crafting a company’s investment case, IROs have typically focused their communications on their equity holders. However, companies issuing debt in an effort to increase liquidity and funding need to strengthen relations with their debt holders and rating agencies. Learn how issuers engage with the debt market to build a sound and viable debt IR function.

Speakers:
Amanda Hobson, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations & Treasury, Finning International Inc.
Omar Javed, Vice President, Investor Relations, Hydro One
Ryder McRitchie, Vice President, Capital Markets & Public Relations, Jupiter Resources Inc. (Moderator)

Option #3   How to Shape IR in a Post COVID World
Times are changing and IROs are adapting. Hear what IR best practices are emerging as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and discuss the practicalities of a longer-term shift towards virtual engagement with investors and other stakeholders. Learn what technologies have fared well and tips and tricks IROs have used to deliver their program successfully.

Speakers:
Brian Ector, Vice President, Capital Markets, Baytex Energy Corp. (Moderator)
Denis Jasmin, Vice President, Investor Relations, SNC-Lavalin
Meghan MacNicol, Director Corporate Access, TD Securities
Sarah Regan, Head, Corporate Access, U.S. Equity, T. Rowe Price
Greg Secord, Vice President, Investor Relations, Open Text Corporation

3:00 - 3:30 PM ET     Break with Exhibitors

3:30 - 4:30 PM ET     The IRO - A Trusted Advisor
With pressure for increased engagement between Boards and shareholders on the rise, IROs have a crucial role to play in advising the Board on trends and strategies as well as preparing directors for shareholder engagement. There is also growing political pressure from the public, institutional investors and other stakeholders on ESG matters such as diversity and societal impact, carbon emissions and the environment. Boards must determine how best to communicate these issues with shareholders in both a business-as-usual context and when faced with special circumstances, such as investor activism and M&A. In this session, you will hear from seasoned directors on their experience with IROs and the strategic value of IR.

Speakers:
Jill Angevine, Managing Director, Palisade Capital & Corporate Director
Sara Elford, Director, Xebec Adsorption, BioSyent and BQE Water
Pentti Karkkainen, Board Chair, AltaGas Limited & NuVista Energy
Nathalie Megann, Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Affairs, Chorus Aviation Inc. (Moderator)

4:30 - 5:00 PM ET       Exhibitor Draw & Closing Remarks
Join Conference Co-Chairs and the exhibitors for prize draws and event wrap up.