The issues of race, culture and gender equality continue to capture headlines in 2020 and are factoring more strongly into the investment decisions made by portfolio managers as ESG-based criteria help separate the truly great companies from their peers. Canada is known around the world for being a rich melting pot of different perspectives, yet marginalized groups in the workplace continue to be frustrated by double-standards and a lack of access to opportunities. It’s time for IROs to have an important conversation – and hopefully a somewhat uncomfortable one too – about inclusion, prejudice and bias in the C-Suite as well as in the capital markets, while also discussing hope, courage, leadership and best practices across corporate Canada.
Date: October 6, 2020
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM ET
Cost: Free for CIRI members; $25 for non-members.
Speakers
Maryse Bélanger, Chair, Equinox Gold's Environment, Social and Governance Committee
Ms. Bélanger has over 35 years of experience with senior gold companies globally, with proven strengths in operational excellence and efficiency, technical studies and services. She has provided oversight and project management support through some of the mining industry’s key strategic acquisitions. Most recently, Ms. Bélanger was President, COO and Director of Atlantic Gold. From 2011 to 2014, Ms. Bélanger was a senior executive with Goldcorp where she was ultimately appointed Senior Vice President, Technical Services. Prior to joining Goldcorp, Ms. Bélanger was Director, Technical Services for Kinross Gold for Brazil and Chile. Ms. Bélanger is an active Board Member of Sherritt International, Plateau Energy Metals and Pure Gold Mining and has served on the boards of Mirabela, True Gold, Newmarket Gold and Atlantic Gold. She was recently recognized by the Women in Mining UK 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining Project as one the most inspirational Global Women in Mining. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology, a graduate certificate in Geostatistics and is fluent in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese.
Stephen Buffalo, President / CEO, Indian Resource Council
Mr. Buffalo is a proud member of the Samson Cree Nation, located approximately 100 kilometres south of Edmonton, Alberta. He graduated secondary school from Athol Murray College at Notre Dame, Saskatchewan. Mr. Buffalo then went on to complete a Business Administration program at Medicine Hat College, continuing on to the University of Lethbridge, where he completed a Management Degree in 1998. He began working at Peace Hills Trust two days after his convocation. Mr. Buffalo worked for Peace Hills Trust for 15 years. The IRC supports First Nations through working with government and industry.
Heather Campbell, P.Eng., Team Lead – Legal Registry, in the Corporate Compliance group at TC Energy
Heather Campbell has had a diverse 24-year energy career with technical, commercial, energy policy, and business advisory positions in petrochemicals, oil and gas, clean technology and innovation, energy consultancies, and energy industries. Ms. Campbell holds a Bachelor of Engineering Science degree in Biochemical and Chemical Engineering from the University of Western Ontario (Western University) in addition to a Master of Laws in Energy Law and Policy from the University of Dundee. She is a licensed Professional Engineer practicing in Alberta, Canada. Ms. Campbell is an engaged, lifelong community volunteer, actively sharing her talents, resources and time by participating and often leading a purposely diverse range of organizations. Ms. Campbell is the co-chair of Alberta’s Anti-Racism Advisory Council, a board director with Calgary’s performing arts centre Arts Commons, is a member of the Advisory Council for Western Engineering, and the People’s Warden at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church in Calgary.
Wes Hall, Executive Chairman & Founder, Kingsdale Advisors, & Chairman of the BlackNorth Initiative
Wes Hall came from very humble beginnings in Jamaica to become one of the most influential business people in Canada. He has established himself as the preeminent leader in shareholder advisory services and contested investor situations. Canada’s leading newspaper The Globe & Mail has called him one of the nation’s “most influential powerbrokers” and Canadian Business magazine named him one of the “most powerful business people” in 2016. As the Founder of Kingsdale Advisors, Mr. Hall has delivered an unparalleled track record of success for North America’s biggest names and has been sought out to lead some of the highest profile deals and activist campaigns in North America. Mr. Hall is also the owner of QM Environmental, Titan Supply and Harbor Club hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton. In 2020, Wes was one of five individuals appointed to the Ontario government’s Capital Markets Modernization Taskforce, an advisory group of experts tasked to review and modernize the province’s capital markets regulations.
Moderator
Carol Hansell, Senior Partner, Hansell LLP & Hansell McLaughlin Advisory Group
Carol Hansell is the Senior Partner of Hansell LLP, a member of the Hansell McLaughlin Advisory Group. Over her more than 30 years in practice, she has led major transactions for public and private corporations and governments. She now leads an independent firm dedicated to advising boards, management teams, institutional shareholders and regulators in connection with legal and governance challenges. She is regularly engaged in connection with special committee mandates, board investigations, governance design and reviews and shareholder engagement matters. Ms. Hansell is also a principal with Hansell McLaughlin Advisory Inc., which, together with Hansell LLP, delivers integrated legal, governance, government relations and communications advice.
Cancellation Policy: Cancellations must be received 48 hours in advance for reimbursement. Please contact Lora Turner if you need to cancel your registration.
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