PLENARY SESSION

Welcome & Opening Remarks

9:00 – 9:20 a.m. PT

Speakers:

Sxwpilemaát Siyám / Chief Leanne Joe, Hereditary Chief, Squamish Nation

Sxwpilemaát Siyám/Chief Leanne Joe is one of sixteen Hereditary Chiefs of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and the first female Chief of the Lackett Joe Family. Sxwpilemaát Siyám also serves as a Trustee for the Squamish Nation Trust, representing the benefactors in the management of these community Trust funds.

Emcee:

Katie Wheatley, Manager of Responsible Investment Education & Advisory, SHARE

Katherine Wheatley has been a Program Manager with SHARE since 2019, and currently manages education and advisory services. Prior to joining SHARE, Katie worked in intergovernmental affairs with various First Nations to protect their Aboriginal rights and title and enhance environmental conservation.

Reconciliation and Corporate Canada: C-Suite Reflections on Rising from Rhetoric to Real Progress 

9:20 – 10:20 a.m. PT

How did your fund spend Canada’s new national day for Truth & Reconciliation last September? At the Toronto Stock Exchange, leadership from the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business rang the bell to open the TSX, putting Canadian investors and businesses on notice that Indigenous reconciliation is now on the agenda. Creative leadership is bringing together Indigenous organizations, businesses, and governments alongside non-Indigenous business leaders to re-think how we build an economic future together. We’ll bring business leaders together to discuss what’s next and how investors can be part of the solution.  

Speakers:

Tabatha Bull, CEO, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business

Tabatha is an Anishnaabe Kwe from Nipissing First Nation. As CCAB’s president and CEO she is committed to help rebuild and strengthen the path toward reconciliation and a prosperous Indigenous economy to benefit all Canadians.

John McKenzie, CEO, TMX Group

John McKenzie is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TMX Group. Mr. McKenzie is a member of the TMX Group Board of Directors and also a member of the Board of Directors of several TMX Group subsidiaries.

Kevin Thomas, CEO, SHARE

Kevin Thomas has been the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SHARE since 2018. Kevin was previously the Director of Advocacy for the Maquila Solidarity Network, where he advised companies, governments, and public institutions on the development and implementation of policies and practices to improve respect for workers’ rights in global supply chains.

Colette Murphy, CEO, Atkinson Foundation 

Colette Murphy is the CEO of the Atkinson Foundation. Colette and her team focus on strengthening movements for racial justice, decent work, and a fair economy.

SIMULTANEOUS EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PT

SHARE’s educational sessions are designed for individuals who have governing roles on boards of trustees and investment committees as well as relevant institutional staff from foundations, trade unions, universities, religious organizations and Indigenous communities. We kindly ask that service providers NOT participate in these educational sessions.

These events are being offered in addition to the regular summit agenda, and separate registration is required to attend this session. When checking out, you will be given the opportunity to register for just the summit, just an education session, or both.

Pension Trustee Bootcamp:
An Introduction to Pension Investment & Governance

Are you a new trustee, investment committee member or union staff with pension responsibilities? Our annual bootcamp is back, providing a thorough introduction to pension investment and governance. The bootcamp is a four-part series, with the first session on governance and fiduciary duty held during the Summit. Over the course of weekly 90-minute sessions beginning March 1, the Bootcamp will provide an introduction to governance and fiduciary duty, investment 101, pension funding and the role of the actuary, and responsible investment.

Speakers:

Darlene Himick, Associate Professor, University of Ottawa 

Darlene Himick is Associate Professor at the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa. Darlene teaches topics related to accounting, finance, and the ethics and sustainability issues around both. 

Michael Mazzuca, Managing Partner,Koskie Minsky LLP 

Michael Mazzuca is the managing partner at Koskie Minsky LLP in Toronto and counsel at Koskie Glavin Gordon in Vancouver. He has extensive experience in providing legal advice across Canada to multi-employer pension plans (MEPPs), public sector pension plans and other jointly governed plans, including health and welfare plans and training funds.

Pension Trustee Master Class: Improving Responsible Investment Governance & Addressing Challenges

The 2022 SHARE Trustee Master Class will focus on the latest developments in responsible investing with a focus on how trustee boards can adapt and improve their governance of ESG risks and opportunities. The session will explore topics related to labour rights, reconciliation, climate change and affordable housing. The session will use expert facilitated breakout groups to allow trustees to talk through issues and challenges and identify relevant solutions together with their peers.

Speakers:

Vonda Brunsting, Program Manager, Just Transition Project

Vonda is the Program Manager for The Just Transition Project, a partnership between the Grantham Institute and the Initiative for Responsible Investment at the Center for Public Leadership of the Harvard Kennedy School.

Tamara Herman, Program Manager, SHARE and Global Unions Committee on Workers’ Capital 

As the Program Manager of Capital Strategies, Tamara works with the Global Unions Committee on Workers’ Capital (CWC), providing support to trade unions and their pension decision-makers on issues related to worker capital stewardship and responsible investment. She is also a member of SHARE’s Responsible Investment Leadership Team.

Hugues Létourneau, Associate Director, SHARE and Global Unions Committee on Workers’ Capital 

Hugues has worked with SHARE since 2013, and has been an Associate Director since 2021. In this role, he works with trade unions and trade union-nominated pension board members to drive strong, responsible investment policies that have an impact on the ground.

David Wood, Director, Initiative for Responsible Investment, Harvard Kennedy School

David Wood directs the IRI’s research and field-building work on responsible investment across asset classes, and currently manages projects on RI strategy with pension fund trustees, mission investing by foundations, the changing landscape of community investing in the US, and impact investing and public policy.

Net Zero for Foundations and Endowments

Designed to support foundations, university endowments and other small-to mid-sized investors who rely on external asset managers, this tailored workshop will help you identify and establish a net zero strategy.

Speakers:

Colin Baines, Investment Engagement Manager, Friends Provident Foundation

Colin is the Investment Engagement Manager for Friends Provident Foundation, responsible for utilising its endowment for its charitable objectives, including via asset manager engagement, direct shareholder engagement, and impact investing.

Shannon Rohan, Chief Strategy Officer, SHARE

Shannon has over 20 years of experience in responsible investment, cooperative development and sustainability with experience working in Canada, South Africa and Latin America. Shannon has helped build SHARE’s investor network to include foundations, Indigenous trusts, universities, pension funds and faith-based investors with over $90 billion in assets under management.

Jennifer Story, Associate Director (Climate Advocacy), SHARE

Working as part of SHARE’s active ownership team, Jennifer leads climate-focused corporate engagement initiatives on behalf SHARE’s networks of investors. Since 2014, Jennifer has also served as an elected Trustee at the Toronto District School Board.

PLENARY SESSIONS

Keynote Address: Allison Herren Lee

9:00 – 10:05 a.m. PT

Allison Herren Lee, SEC Commissioner

Commissioner Herren-Lee has been a thoughtful and progressive voice in bringing capital markets regulation to bear in addressing complex, systemic challenges like climate change. Her powerful perspectives on some of our biggest investor challenges have been an inspiration for institutional investors looking for regulatory solutions to some of our most pressing problems. 

CAMPAIGN SPOTLIGHT | Transforming Supply Chains: Taking it Global 

10:30 a.m. – 10:55 a.m. PT

In 2013, the devastating Rana Plaza garment factory collapse in Dhaka, Bangladesh resulted in the deaths of over 1,100 garment workers and the injuries of another 2,600 workers. Following the disaster, global brands and trade unions signed the Bangladesh Accord, committing to improve health and safety standards in the textile and garment industry. The Accord set a new path for legally-binding agreements to enforce worker rights along global supply chains and, in 2021, it made plans to expand to new countries. Can this successful model be expanded and replicated worldwide, and will it provide investors with reliable assurance that human rights risks are being addressed?  This campaign spotlight will highlight the work of two new initiatives seeking to further transform accountability in global supply chains.  

Speakers:

Sarah Couturier-Tanoh, Manager (Corporate Engagement & Advocacy), SHARE

Sarah provides analysis and engages on issues such as decent work, human rights, corporate lobbying and supply chain due diligence. With a background in non-financial auditing, she also publishes issue briefs on current shareholder and policy topics.

Christina Hajagos-Clausen, Textile and Garment Industry Director, IndustriALL

Christina Hajagos-Clausen is IndustriALL Global Union’s director for the Textile, Garment, Shoe and Leather Sector. IndustriALL Global Union represents 50 million workers in 140 countries in the mining, energy, and manufacturing sectors, including the garment & textile, leather and shoe sectors.

Ineke Zeldenrust, International Coordinator, Clean Clothes Campaign

Ineke is presently acting as Coordinator of the International Office of the CCC in Amsterdam, where she leads lobby and advocacy work, focusing on corporate accountability, safety and living wages. Under her leadership, the CCC has grown into an expert non-hierarchical network of 237 trade unions, civil society, feminist and activist organizations in 44 countries.

Combating Systemic Risk (Part 1): There’s No Hedge for This 

12:45 – 2:00 p.m. PT

In 2022, the stark realities of climate change, global public health crises, and racial and income inequality are ever-present. The risks that these complex issues pose to markets are systemic;  we can’t just diversify our way out of them. In a fireside chat with Jon Lukomnik, we’ll unpack the problem of systemic risk for investors, highlighting why mainstream approaches to combat systemic risk are falling short. 

Speakers:

Jon Lukomnik, Managing Partner, Sinclair Capital LLC

Forbes calls long-time institutional investor Jon Lukomnik one of the pioneers of modern corporate governance. The managing partner of Sinclair Capital LLC, a strategic consultancy to institutional investors, Jon has been the investment advisor or a trustee for more than $100 billion (including New York City’s pension funds) and has consulted to institutional investors with aggregate assets of $1 trillion dollars.

Shannon Rohan, Chief Strategy Officer, SHARE

Shannon has over 20 years of experience in responsible investment, cooperative development and sustainability with experience working in Canada, South Africa and Latin America. Shannon has helped build SHARE’s investor network to include foundations, Indigenous trusts, universities, pension funds and faith-based investors with over $90 billion in assets under management.

PLENARY SESSIONS

Shareholder Engagement on Climate Change: Is it really the path to decarbonization? 

9:00 – 10:20 a.m. PT

In recent years, we have witnessed an outpouring of new investor-led commitments and coalitions aiming to combat the climate crisis. In this context, we ask: What tangible progress has shareholder engagement on climate achieved to date? How do we know that we are making a difference? And how do we further escalate meaningful engagement to target all climate-critical sectors and decarbonize the economy? 

Speakers:

Beata Bienkowska, Deputy Research Lead & Project Coordinator, Transition Pathway Initiative

Beata is the deputy research lead and project lead for TPI. Beata has over 12 years’ experience working across the public sector on national level and EU institutions, and academia. Most recently, she served as a Programme Manager at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership Accelerator leading the Innovators for Change Acceleration Programme.

Jennifer Coulson, Senior Managing Director (ESG), British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI) 

Jennifer Coulson has worked in the financial services industry for over 19 years. As a senior member of the Public Markets Department at BCI she now oversees Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) risk analysis. Jennifer was recently recognized as one of B.C’s Most Influential Women in Finance by BC Business Magazine.

Éric St-Pierre, Executive Director, Trottier Foundation

Eric St-Pierre is Executive Director of the Trottier Family Foundation, one of the largest private philanthropic foundations in Canada. Much of Eric’s work is focused on strategic philanthropy and creating opportunities for innovation and collaboration that advance Canada towards Net Zero.

Jerome Tagger, CEO, Preventable Surprises

Jérôme explores the intersection of financial markets and society. He joined Preventable Surprises as CEO in 2020 after 15 years of field building in responsible finance. He most recently advised UNEP FI’s Positive Impact Initiative and the World Benchmarking Alliance.

Jennifer Story, Associate Director (Climate Advocacy), SHARE

Working as part of SHARE’s active ownership team, Jennifer leads climate-focused corporate engagement initiatives on behalf SHARE’s networks of investors. Since 2014, Jennifer has also served as an elected Trustee at the Toronto District School Board.

CAMPAIGN SPOTLIGHT | Racial Equity Audits 

10:30 – 10:55 a.m. PT

In Canada and the U.S., companies have made pledges to address historic racial inequities, including at least USD $50 billion in US corporate commitments to addressing racial inequality. But are these companies walking the talk? Last year, shareholders launched successful proposals to find out, asking companies to conduct racial equity audits to analyze whether or not those broad statements are translating into results in their business operations. As we head into another proxy season, we’ll see what’s next in combatting systemic racism.  

Speakers:

Wendy Cooper, Co-CEO (Integrated Capital), Dragonfly Ventures

Wendy Cooper serves as the Co-CEO of Dragonfly Ventures working in partnership with the founder and the rest of the team to advance solutions for a clean, healthy planet and equitable society by creatively using a suite of financial tools grounded in relationship.

Juana Lee, Shareholder Engagement and Policy Analyst, SHARE

As a Shareholder Engagement and Policy Analyst, Juana provides research and analysis on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues with a focus on human rights and decent work.

Renaye Manley, Deputy Director (Strategic Initiatives), Service Employees International Union 

Renaye Manley currently serves as Deputy Director of the Service Employees International Strategic Initiatives department. In this position, she works with pension trustees, investment professionals and union leaders around the engagement of multi-billion-dollar union and public pensions funds, including corporate governance and shareholder work.

Combating Systemic Risk (Part 2): Strategies for Tackling Inequality 

12:45 – 2:00 p.m. PT 

Wealth and income inequality have grown across all major economies in recent decades, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened disparities. The systemic risk that inequality represents may have dramatic implications for economic performance and broad societal outcomes alike. But what can investors do? Join pragmatists with hands-on expertise as they pitch the utmost important strategy that investors can employ to address inequality as a systemic risk.  

Speakers:

Cambria Allen-Ratzlaff, Corporate Governance Director, UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust

Cambria Allen-Ratzlaff helms the corporate governance program at the $61 billion UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust, the largest non-governmental purchaser of retiree health care benefits in the United States. She oversees the Trust’s global proxy voting and engagement programs on behalf of over 500,000 UAW retirees and their families. 

Bea Bruske, President, Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) 

Bea Bruske was elected President of the Canadian Labour Congress at the 29^th Constitutional Convention in 2021. For more than three decades, Bea has served workers and their families as an activist, workers’ advocate, negotiator, community organizer and labour leader.

Anthony Schein, Director of Shareholder Advocacy, SHARE

Anthony Schein’s career has been dedicated to social and political change through civic engagement, community development and trade unionism. Prior to joining SHARE, Anthony spent almost a decade in senior roles at an Ontario public sector trade union.

Matthew Stark Blumin, Deputy General Counsel, Coalition of Immokalee Workers

Matthew Stark Blumin is General Counsel for the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. Matt Blumin has over a decade of experience as an attorney advocating for the rights of working people to achieve dignity, respect, and just compensation.  

Jason Ward, Founder & Principal Analyst, Centre for International Corporate Tax Accountability and Research 

Jason Ward has been a frequent commentator on corporate tax issues as an analyst and spokesperson for the Tax Justice Network – Australia. He is currently a Visiting Fellow at the Faculty of Business at the University of Greenwich, United Kingdom. He has lived in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, the US and UK, campaigned to reform the World Bank and IMF, and has been conducting research and campaigns in or with the global labour movement for 24 years.

NETWORK CAUCUSES

9:00 – 10:20 a.m. PT

A special feature of SHARE’s Summit is the opportunity for particular types of institutions to meet together and consider the implications, actions and collaborations that are unique to their worlds. Our leading investor caucuses – universities, foundations & family offices, pension funds, religious investors, and Indigenous trusts – will discuss the central ideas, calls to action, and commitments that surfaced across the three days of the Summit – and build further momentum together.

This is where investor leaders launch the next wave of practical action for a sustainable, inclusive and productive economy. We kindly ask that service providers NOT participate in caucuses 1 through 4; caucus 5 is open to service providers, students, and other Summit attendees.

Caucus 1 | Religious Investors and the Just Transition: Do we need to choose between climate action and human rights?

What can investors do when fighting climate change and social justice collide? During the religious investor caucus, we will hear about recent research linking the solar sector supply to systemic forced labour risks, explore the implications for religious investors, and discuss meaningful investor actions to support a just transition. Participants will also reflect on broader responsible investment priorities for the coming year.

Caucus 2 | Labour Caucus: Joining the global movement for the responsible investment of workers’ capital 

The Canadian Capital Stewardship Network had a busy year in 2021! Our network of trustees and trade union representatives worked on labour rights campaigns in Canada and internationally, delivering positive outcomes for workers from commercial cleaners to warehouse workers. Join our caucus session to learn about the CCSN’s work, reflect on takeaways and action items from the Summit, and strategize for the year ahead. 

Caucus 3 | Universities Voting for Climate: Enhancing responsible investment through our proxy power 

Universities are significant cultural and economic institutions. Through the University Network for Investor Engagement (UNIE), Canadian universities are also leveraging their power as investors. But how do we take that to the next level? In the runup to proxy season, we’ll explore recent research on proxy voting and climate engagement, hear from others who are putting their proxy power to work, and discuss the implications for university investors. Join us as we also consider new possibilities for collaboration. 

Please note, the University Caucus is a closed conversation for university staff involved in investment and engagement decisions. University students attending the Summit are encouraged to attend the other events on this day, but will not be able to attend the Caucus.

Caucus 4 | Foundations & Family Offices: Innovations in mission-aligned investing 

More and more foundations and family offices are pursuing strategies to steward financial capital in intentional and effective ways. Connect with others that are approaching the stewardship of philanthropic capital through strategies that look beyond returns alone to ensure its effective deployment through investment processes and policies that mirror organizations’ missions, fostering environmental sustainability and inclusiveness. 

Caucus 5 | Reconciliation Action Plans 101: Roadmaps to economic reconciliation 

In response to the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #92, stakeholder interest, and industry trends, a growing movement of Canadian businesses and organizations are announcing Reconciliation Action Plans (RAP). What is a RAP, and why do they matter to institutional investors? In this interarctive session, we will hear from experts and peers on the steps they are taking to move from talk to action in advancing reconciliation.  

PLENARY

Accounts from our Network Rapporteurs & Closing

10:30 – 11:30 a.m. PT

At the Summit’s outset, rapporteurs from each of our leading investor networks – universities, foundations, pension funds, religious investors, and Indigenous trusts – were named. In the final hour of the Summit, we turn to our network rapporteurs to shed light on the central commitments and calls to action that surfaced across the four days of the Summit from their respective investor networks. This all-important session lays the groundwork for the next year of investor action and innovation.

Speakers:

Elizabeth Duff, Chief Financial Officer, Sisters of Mercy of Newfoundland

Elizabeth has held the position of Senior Financial Officer with The Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy of Newfoundland since June of 2017. In her role with the Congregation, Elizabeth has been involved in ensuring that the Congregation is able to carry out its ministry through responsible investing strategies.

Brian Minns, Managing Director of Responsible Investment, University Pension Plan

Brian Minns is the Managing Director of Responsible Investing at University Pension Plan (UPP). He is responsible for integrating responsible investing (RI) into UPP’s total portfolio approach.

Doug Olthuis, Department Leader of Global Affair and Workplace Issues, Canadian National Office of the United Steelworkers

Doug is Department Leader, Global Affair and Workplace Issues at the Canadian National Office of the United Steelworkers, representing workers across the country employed in diverse sectors of the economy. Doug has also been chair of the board of trustees for the multi-employer Steelworkers Pension Plan for over 20 years; a member of the Steering Committee of the Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability (CNCA); and a member of the SHARE Board of Directors.

Mark Sevestre, General Manager, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation & National Aboriginal Trust Officers Association (NATOA) 

In 2006, Mark became one of three founding members of the National Aboriginal Trust Officers Association. Mark is leading the Reconciliation and Responsible Investment Initiative (RRII) in partnership with SHARE, and is also an Advisory Board Member of First Peoples Worldwide at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Yulena Wan, Director of Finance & Operations, Hamilton Community Foundation 

Yulena Wan was born, raised, and continues to live in Hamilton, Ontario. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant and works as Director of Finance and Operations at the Hamilton Community Foundation (HFC), a leader in philanthropy working to create a vibrant and inclusive city.