This breakfast panel (following the Talking Hedge Conference) will provide perspectives from 4 different investor types including institutional, family office, product, and an investment advisor. Following breakfast, there will be 6 fifteen-minute tête-à-tête sessions where managers may hold opt-in meetings with investors.
Current attendees will include those below (some may include more than 1 representative per company).
Managers
Investors & Allocators
Consultants & Others
3iQ
Algonquin Capital
Galileo Global Equity Advisors Inc.
Lyxor Asset Management
Next Edge Capital Corp.
Yield Solutions SA
Aligned Capital Partners Inc.
Northland Wealth Management
Prime Quadrant LP
Raymond James Canada
RBC Dominion Securities
Richardson GMP Limited
Scotiabank
Absolute Climo
Bodhi Research Group
Capitalize for Kids
Castle Hall Dilligence
CIBC Mellon Global Securities Services Company
Fundata Canada
Global Risk Institute
GlobeTax
LOGiQ Global Partners
Join us, dozens of speakers, and scores of fellow IAs and investors for this all-encompassing alts conference specifically designed for retail advisors and the client base they serve.
This forum will be held in person in Toronto, featuring award-winning investment advisors, well-known asset managers, and other distinguished speakers.
We have Advisor-only sessions from 9am – 10:30am on the day. This includes discussions exclusive to IAs and focuses on their interests and requirements. For clarity, asset managers and service providers will not be admitted to these earlier sessions.
General registration begins at 10:30am. Programming starts promptly at 10:45am and includes lunch and a 4:15pm reception for all.
Registration
End Investor means Investment Advisors and those with Single Family Offices. Intermediary investors means Multi-Family Offices, and investment consulting companies and +1 means the first delegate is gratis but each additional delegate attracts a small charge. Manager and service provider delegates must be CAASA members in good standing and pay the requisite per person fee for their appropriate sub-category. Core service providers include prime brokers, fund administrators, and accounting and legal firms.
We are happy to partner with MSC Cruises for a super prize to be awarded to one of our event attendees (must attend and complete a ballot to be eligible).
Draw will occur at our Networking Night on October 7, 2025.
*Subject to travel restrictions, all details provided to the lucky winner upon receipt.
Senior Vice President, Head of Portfolio Construction Consultation Service
Picton Mahoney Asset Management
Josh Benchetrit
Principal and Portfolio Manager
Westcourt Capital
Paul Patterson
National Sales
Spartan Fund Management
James Burron
Founding Partner
CAASA
Guy Côté
Senior Wealth Advisor & Portfolio Manager
Guy Côté Integrated Wealth Management – National Bank Financial
Guy Côté, CFA has 30 years of experience in finance and asset management. He holds a BAA in Finance, he is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA),has taken courses on derivatives (options) and financial planning offered by the investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada.
Guy can count on the complete range of National Bank Financial products, services and specialists as well as on his extensive network of experienced professionals, in meeting all the specific needs of his clients.
He is a director of the Lise Watier Foundation and La Pietà musical ensemble. He is also actively involved with other foundations.
Cam Richards
Chief Investment Officer
Guardian Partners
As Chief Investment Officer at Guardian Partners, Cameron’s mission is to combine the investment strategies and disciplined portfolio construction and risk management utilized by pension funds and endowments, with the customization and client responsiveness required by private clients, to increase the robustness of investment solutions and to enhance the experience of Guardian Partners’ clients. Previously, he served as CIO of the Nova Scotia Health Employees’ Pension Plan, and was the Head of Real Assets at Albourne Partners in London, England. He also served as the Co-Chief Investment Officer of University of Toronto Asset Management (UTAM), and Chair of the Investment Committee for the entirety of the university’s investment assets. Before joining Guardian Partners, he founded Isengard Capital Management, which provided capital markets research to Albourne Partners and also designed a research platform which applied global macro, stock selection and quantitative strategies to generate long and short exposures in stocks.
Cameron is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from Queen’s University, earned an MBA from the Schulich School of Business and is a CFA® Charterholder. He has been called to the Bar in Ontario.
Theresa Shutt
Chief Investment Officer
Harbourfront Wealth Management
In her role as Chief Investment Officer with responsibility over the Portfolio Management Department and overall investment platform, Theresa Shutt is a key member of Harbourfront’s executive team, contributing to the leadership and strategic vision of the firm with a focus on increasing AUM and developing innovative investment strategies.
Theresa brings over 20 years of experience in private and public markets with demonstrated success in leading asset management teams.Prior to joining Harbourfront, Theresa was the Head of Corporate Debt for Fiera Capital, where she was responsible for the overall strategic direction of Fiera’s corporate private debt strategies. In this role, she provided leadership in support of business development, investment approval, fund strategy and portfolio management.Theresa joined Fiera from Integrated Asset Management where she was Chief Investment Officer with responsibility for private market strategies.
Theresa began her career working as an economist for the Conference Board of Canada. She has held a variety of roles at large Canadian financial institutions marketing public fixed income to asset managers as well as structuring bond and equity derivative backed products for retail investors.
Theresa is a Chartered Financial Analyst charterholder and also holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Economics (Honours) from the University of Alberta, a Master of Arts (MA) in Economics from McMaster University, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Rotman School of Management of the University of Toronto.
For over 20 years, Ida has worked closely with Institutions, Family Offices, wealthy entrepreneurs, and high net worth families building trusted relationships and delivering a high level of holistic Wealth Management services.
Ida’s beliefs include the importance of estate planning, tax minimization, capital preservation and evolutionary portfolio construction using alternative strategies to achieve consistent absolute returns with a risk reward-oriented approach.
Ida obtained a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Toronto with specialization in Finance and major in Economics. Ida is a multi award winning Portfolio Manager and obtained her Chartered Alternative Investment Advisor (CAIA®) designation in 2005.
Martin Pelletier
Senior Portfolio Manager
Wellington-Altus Private Counsel
Martin has over 20 years of investment industry experience including senior-level positions in both institutional equity research and portfolio management.
Martin is currently a senior portfolio manager at Wellington-Altus Private Counsel (previously TriVest Wealth), an award-winning portfolio management firm (Wealth Professional 5-Star Asset Manager 2022), where he is the co-manager of the firm’s risk-managed balanced fund and helps oversee custom built, HNW and UHNW private client portfolios.
Prior to co-founding TriVest and its sale to Wellington-Altus in early 2020, Martin’s career was focused on institutional energy equity research and capital markets primarily at two top-ranked boutique investment banks. He provided investment recommendations on energy markets, commodities, and individual security selections to institutional fund managers located in Canada, the U.S. and Europe.
Martin is regularly featured in the media as a market strategist including his weekly column to the Financial Post’s Investment Pro section for the past decade. He was won numerous awards for his passion for financial education and quality of service provided for his clients.
Martin holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a specialization in finance from the University of Alberta, studied international economics and finance at Örebro University in Sweden, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Charterholder.
Martin grew up in a small farming community in Northern Alberta and believes in the power of positive innovative change having lived in Canada’s first Eco-community. He and his family is also passionate about mental-health awareness initiatives focused on youth impacted by ADHD, OCD and Autism. On weekends, his family can be found on a mountain either freestyle/big mountain skiing or downhill mountain biking.
Rafa Silveira
Portfolio Manager
LGT Capital Partners
Rafa Silveira (American/Brazilian) is a Principal at LGT Capital Partners in New York, where he serves as a portfolio manager for the LGT Multi-Alternative Fund and is a member of the U.S. leadership team. Before joining LGT in 2019, he was a portfolio manager at AQR Capital Management. He has also held roles as a solutions strategist at J.P. Morgan Asset Management and a senior quantitative analyst at Bank of America. Mr. Silveira earned a Ph.D. and M.A. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Brasília.
Ash Lawrence
Head of AGF Capital Partners
AGF Capital Partners
Ash Lawrence is Head of AGF Capital Partners, AGF Management Limited’s diversified alternatives business with extensive capabilities across both private assets and alternative strategies. Ash is also a member of AGF’s Executive Management Team where he assists in the development and execution of AGF’s overall business strategy providing insight and vision that promotes AGF’s long-term growth.
Ash is a seasoned leader with over 20 years of experience and a wide breadth of expertise in alternative investments and portfolio management across sectors. As Head of AGF Capital Partners, Ash and his team identify tenured managers with demonstrated investment expertise in their fields, structuring partnerships to offer long-term strategic support, resources and capital to sustain and enhance the partners’ growth. Ash and his team are continually looking to diversify and expand the business’ capabilities and alternatives offerings to meet clients’ evolving needs.
Prior to joining AGF Investments, Ash spent 16 years with Brookfield Asset Management working in real estate investments and portfolio management in North America and Brazil, ultimately leading the Canadian real estate business. Ash also has experience in financing municipal infrastructure projects and developing infrastructure and transportation solutions for private and public sector clients.
Ash earned an MBA from the Rotman School of Management and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Waterloo.
Ash sits on numerous Boards and is a member of the America’s Executive Committee and a Global Governing Trustee for the Urban Land Institute.
Brianne Gardner
Senior Wealth Manager
Velocity Investment Partners – Raymond James
As an Investment Advisor and co-founder of Velocity Investment Partners, Brianne uses her expertise to provide solutions to high-net-worth families who have complex financial needs, anddeliver first-class service to clients who expect the best. Her dedication to understanding and managing the unique financial challenges many families face gives our clients the peace of mind they need.
With the tools provided by the leading independent firm in Canada, Raymond James Ltd., she is continually raising the bar for customized and strategic investment solutions with a focus on risk management. Brianne works closely with successful individuals, medical professionals, corporate executives, business owners and wealthy families across Canada, who have built significant wealth through years of hard work. She takes pride in the opportunity to help them grow, protect, and diversify their wealth, and when the time comes, transfer it to future generations in the most efficient manner.
Brianne and her partner John manage money for families, developing customized wealth management plans and solutions to meet their personal circumstances and goals. Brianne oversees a highly qualified team who help ensure all the clients receive ‘Amazon-like’ efficiency and ‘Four Seasons-like’ service. A disciplined and active risk management strategy allows clients to sleep soundly knowing their money is under prudent stewardship.
Her unwavering passion for being a trusted financial partner and family advisor providing valuable guidance in overseeing their financial affairs is why she has built strong, long-term relationships. Brianne has authored many industry articles over the years and is an expert contributor for Neighbours of Edgemont magazine where she educates clients and investors on financial planning and investments to help them make informed decisions and understand how their money is working for them.
Brianne acts as a mentor to young women in business and has always been an active member of her community. She is a philanthropist through her membership in professional associations and charitable organizations such as Women in Capital Markets, Young Women in Business, SFU Beedie School of Business Mentorship program and ReThink Breast Cancer.
In her free time, Brianne leads an active lifestyle, and you’ll often find her playing golf, tennis, volleyball, skiing or hiking. She and her husband enjoy travelling and they love to spend time with family.
Ted Karon
Portfolio Manager
RBC Dominion Securities
Ted draws on his expert knowledge and more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry to provide access to a comprehensive range of services. For the past two decades, Ted has been working with high net worth individuals and families to help them meet their complex financial goals.
His depth of experience includes investment banking, commercial lending, mergers and acquisitions, equity research and portfolio management. Over the years, Ted has also developed extensive expertise in the alternative investment sector. Ted brings a holistic perspective on investing to his work, ensuring sound advice, expert execution and peace of mind for clients who need solutions for broad and multi-dimensional wealth management needs.
A graduate of Queen’s University, he earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a major in finance. A firm believer in ongoing education, he has acquired the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, and licenses for insurance, derivatives fundamentals and options.
Aled ab Iorwerth
Deputy Chief Economist
CMHC – SCHL
Groundbreaking research by CMHC has revealed that inadequate supply is a key driver behind escalating house prices in cities like Vancouver and Toronto. The lead researcher for that project – Deputy Chief Economist Aled ab Iorwerth – now coordinates a diverse national team of researchers and analysts who are investigating impediments to housing supply and potential solutions.
“Housing markets are local. Broader challenges such as supply are often common, but the drivers and magnitude of these challenges may differ significantly across the country. My goal is to help understand and inform on market dynamics, how they support or hinder housing affordability goals and to provide thought leadership on housing economics across housing industry participants.”
Aled joined CMHC in 2016, bringing his strong analytical and research capabilities to bear on complex housing issues. He previously had a 15-year career at Finance Canada, in various research and analysis roles that included secondments to Environment Canada and the Council of Canadian Academies.
Aled holds a PhD in Economics from Western University and master’s degrees in European and International Relations (University of Amsterdam) and Economics (Carleton University). He speaks three languages: English, French and Welsh.
Colleen Redmond
Vice President, Investment Product Research
Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Canada Inc.
As part of the product team at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Canada (MSWC), Colleen is responsible for conducting initial and ongoing due diligence on various investment products including mutual funds, ETFs, SMAs and alternatives. She works closely with internal and external partners to build out the MSWC product shelf. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2022, Colleen spent over seven years at CI Global Asset Management including four years as the product manager for CI’s suite of liquid alternative products. She also held roles in operations, client services and sales. Colleen holds a BBA from Wilfrid Laurier University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. Colleen is an avid runner. In her spare time, she enjoys training for her next marathon.
Robert Wilson
Senior Vice President, Head of Portfolio Construction Consultation Service
Picton Mahoney Asset Management
Robert Wilson, Senior Vice President, is the Head of Picton Mahoney’s Portfolio Construction Consultation Service (PCCS). He is responsible for leading a multi-disciplinary team of experts in asset allocation, risk management, quantitative research and portfolio management. Robert and his team partner with investment advisors and institutional investors to help them construct more resilient and efficient investment portfolios. Robert is often invited to share his insights on alternative investments, asset allocation and portfolio construction with industry groups and media outlets.
Prior to joining Picton Mahoney in 2019, Robert spent 10 years working in financial services in progressively senior roles. Most recently, Robert was vice president at BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited where he distributed iShares ETFs to Canadian investment advisors. Prior to that, Robert was an associate at PIMCO where he distributed PIMCO funds to Canadian investment advisors.
Robert holds an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. He is a CFA charterholder, and he holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst designation. He is also a member of the Responsible Investment Association of Canada and holds the Responsible Investment Professional Certification designation.
Josh Benchetrit
Principal and Portfolio Manager
Westcourt Capital
As Principal, Asset Management & Client Services, Josh’s responsibilities include the construction and management of diversified investment portfolios and reviewing investment products for Westcourt’s clients. Josh is registered as a Portfolio Manager (Advising Representative) and a Dealing Representative.
Prior to joining Westcourt, Josh was an executive at two of the country’s largest single-family offices, and a member of the Investment Committee. In this role, he was responsible for building the investment framework covering all major asset classes and geographies.
Paul Patterson
National Sales
Spartan Fund Management
Paul has been with Spartan Fund Management since 2015. From 2008 to 2014, Paul was Vice-President, Private Investment at Integrated Asset Management (“IAM”), a $3B Toronto-based multi-strategy alternative asset manager. Prior to that, he was Associate Vice-President, Institutional and Offshore at BluMont Capital, a hedge fund and structured products firm. Before joining BluMont, Paul practiced corporate and securities law with Lang Michener (now McMillan LLP) and served as legal and policy counsel with the Toronto Stock Exchange. Paul has a B.A. from Carleton University, a J.D. from the University of Toronto and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University’s J. L. Kellogg School of Management. He is also CAIA charterholder and is the former Deputy Chair of the Canadian chapter of the Alternative Investment Management Association.
James Burron
Founding Partner
CAASA
James co-founded CAASA in response to industry support for a Canadian alternatives association to serve all aspects including: hedge / alternative strategies; liquid alternatives; private lending; private real estate; private equity; plus emerging areas where Canada is a leader such as digital assets / blockchain and robo-advisors.
Prior to CAASA, James was the Chief Operating Officer of AIMA Canada where his team of three worked with 12 committees to produce 50-60 events per annum across Canada, organized 100+ committee meetings, and increase member numbers over his 7-year tenue from 66 to 164 corporate entities.
James currently sits on the Canadian Investment Funds Standards Committee (CIFSC), which categorizes mutual funds and alternative mutual funds (aka liquid alternatives) for the retail space in Canada. He is also called upon by membership and industry groups to speak to risk ratings and portfolio placement of all types of alternative investments.
James also has experience in research and writing for the CAIA Association (holding the designation since 2006) as well as serving on CAIA’s exam council and as a well as other duties. He had roles in institutional sales and FoHF structuring in Seoul, South Korea, as a Product Manager at ICICI Wealth Management, and as an Investment Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities. James graduated from Simon Fraser University with a BBA (Finance).
2025 Agenda
Please note that 9am – 10:30am is for Advisors (including Investment Advisors, MFOs, and SFOs) ONLY.
Asset managers and service providers are asked to register at 10:30am. None will be admitted before that time.
Day 1
March 27, 2025
9:00 am – 6:00 pm
March 27, 2025
9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Day 1
9:00 am
Advisor registration
Please note that 9am – 10:30am is exclusive to Advisors (including Investment Advisors, MFOs, and SFOs).
Asset managers and service providers are asked to register at 10:30am. None will be admitted before that time.
9:30 am
Advisor-ONLY sessions
This hour is exclusive to IAs and wealth managers who are interested in (i) adding alts to their books, (ii) growing their allocations into the best-performing sectors/assets/strategies, and/or (iii) looking to connect with other high-performing advisors to share best ideas and advice. Topics will be lead by 2-3 ‘instigators’ who will introduce the subject and get the discussions going and all are encouraged to contribute as much as they like.
Asset managers and service providers are welcome to register at this time.
10:45 am
Update on Liquid Alts (6 years)
We love to gather stats on the industry and had done so for years once the Liquid Alts legislation (81-102) was promulgated in 2019 – thankfully Second engine has a dedicated team that amasses the AUM and performance statistics of the Canadian liquid alts industry and produces much better reports than we ever did.
This session will highlight the growth of these ‘hedge strategies in a mutual fund wrapper’ funds and their efficacy in investor portfolios over the last 6 years. You won’t want to miss this!
Robert Wilson, Senior Vice President, Head of Portfolio Construction Consultation Service, Picton Mahoney Asset Management
Moderated by: Colleen Redmond, Vice President, Investment Product Research, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Canada Inc.
11:15 am
Table Talks
Round table discussions hosted by our Sponsors.
This session is aimed at providing all event attendees with the ability to join in genuine knowledge exchange and discussion in a small group setting.
Choose from any of the topics for these 45-minute sessions
12:00 pm
Lunch
Lunch is served prior to our Luncheon Fireside.
12:15 pm
Lunch Keynote – 30 Years in the Business IA & Institutional
We are honored to have two big names in the Canadian wealth and alts industsry for our keynote luncheon fireside.
Guy Côté is in Montréal has been an advisor for 30 years and Cameron Richards has been working in the institutional side – and now MFO – of the business for 30 years as well working in Victoria, Halifax, London (UK), and Toronto.
Their perspectives on how the business of investing has evolved and where it is headed will be insightful for all in the room!
Guy Côté,Senior Wealth Advisor & Portfolio Manager Guy Côté, Family Wealth Management Team, National Bank Financial Cameron Richards, Chief Investment Officer, Guardian Partners
Moderator: James Burron,Founding Partner, CAASA
1:15 pm
1:1 meetings
This is your opportunity to meet with your peers and gather important market intel from all participants.
Meetings can be scheduled via our messaging and meeting app or ad hoc at this time.
This is always fun: we put together experienced pros from a variety of perspectives in alts with an experienced moderator who will guide the conversation around areas such as: what is the most exciting part of their business now; how are their respective strategy/asset specialties performing; and what are the potential hazards in their respective markets over the next 12-18 months? We will have time for audience questions and welcome all to participate.
Rafa Silveira,Portfolio Manager, LGT Capital Partners Paul Patterson, National Sales, Spartan Fund Management Ash Lawrence, Head of AGF Capital Partners, AGF Investments
Moderated by: Brianne Gardner, Senior Wealth Manager,Velocity Investment Partners, Raymond James Ltd
3:30 pm
Advisors’ Best Ideas for the 2020s
Ending the day with a bang – this panel brings together three IAs who have seen a plethora of market moves and a number of market sectors as they have grown, plateaued, and subsided. Let’s hear from them where they see opportunities for advisors and their clients for the balance of 2025 and beyond.
This breakfast panel (following the Talking Hedge Conference) will provide perspectives from 4 different investor types including institutional, family office, product, and an investment advisor. Following breakfast, there will be 6 fifteen-minute tête-à-tête sessions where managers may hold opt-in meetings with investors.
Current attendees will include those below (some may include more than 1 representative per company).
Managers
Investors & Allocators
Consultants & Others
3iQ
Algonquin Capital
Galileo Global Equity Advisors Inc.
Lyxor Asset Management
Next Edge Capital Corp.
Yield Solutions SA
Aligned Capital Partners Inc.
Northland Wealth Management
Prime Quadrant LP
Raymond James Canada
RBC Dominion Securities
Richardson GMP Limited
Scotiabank
Absolute Climo
Bodhi Research Group
Capitalize for Kids
Castle Hall Dilligence
CIBC Mellon Global Securities Services Company
Fundata Canada
Global Risk Institute
GlobeTax
LOGiQ Global Partners
This breakfast panel (following the Talking Hedge Conference) will provide perspectives from 4 different investor types including institutional, family office, product, and an investment advisor. Following breakfast, there will be 6 fifteen-minute tête-à-tête sessions where managers may hold opt-in meetings with investors.
Current attendees will include those below (some may include more than 1 representative per company).
Managers
Investors & Allocators
Consultants & Others
3iQ
Algonquin Capital
Galileo Global Equity Advisors Inc.
Lyxor Asset Management
Next Edge Capital Corp.
Yield Solutions SA
Aligned Capital Partners Inc.
Northland Wealth Management
Prime Quadrant LP
Raymond James Canada
RBC Dominion Securities
Richardson GMP Limited
Scotiabank
Absolute Climo
Bodhi Research Group
Capitalize for Kids
Castle Hall Dilligence
CIBC Mellon Global Securities Services Company
Fundata Canada
Global Risk Institute
GlobeTax
LOGiQ Global Partners
This breakfast panel (following the Talking Hedge Conference) will provide perspectives from 4 different investor types including institutional, family office, product, and an investment advisor. Following breakfast, there will be 6 fifteen-minute tête-à-tête sessions where managers may hold opt-in meetings with investors.
Current attendees will include those below (some may include more than 1 representative per company).
Managers
Investors & Allocators
Consultants & Others
3iQ
Algonquin Capital
Galileo Global Equity Advisors Inc.
Lyxor Asset Management
Next Edge Capital Corp.
Yield Solutions SA
Aligned Capital Partners Inc.
Northland Wealth Management
Prime Quadrant LP
Raymond James Canada
RBC Dominion Securities
Richardson GMP Limited
Scotiabank
Absolute Climo
Bodhi Research Group
Capitalize for Kids
Castle Hall Dilligence
CIBC Mellon Global Securities Services Company
Fundata Canada
Global Risk Institute
GlobeTax
LOGiQ Global Partners
CAASA is pleased to invite you to the 2024 edition of our annual Family Office Summit, where we bring together traditional and multi-family offices, investment dealers, Canadian and global investment management houses and affiliated service providers.
This unique 1-day program (plus special reception on the pre-day + SFO-only sessions on the pre-day) hosted in Toronto at new Toronto Board of Trade offices on Queen’s Quay will highlight investment and intergenerational wealth management topics and issues on the minds of SFOs and their advisors (OCIOs, MFOs, investment consultants, investment bankers, and IAs) and investment managers (PE, VC, hedge, crypto, real estate, alt lending…).
All content is subject to Chatham House Rule.
Registration is now closed.
MSC Cruises Get-away Give-away
We are happy to partner with MSC Cruises for a super prize to be awarded to one of our event attendees (must attend and complete a ballot to be eligible).
The prize is a spectacular MSC Cruises 7-night Caribbean sailing for two in a prestigious Yacht Club cabin*. Prepare to be pampered onboard in the elite MSC Yacht Club with a 24-hour Butler Service, Premium Drink Service, Spa inclusions plus much more! An MSC Cruises Representative will be joining at each event to share all things MSC and the details of the fabulous prize offering. Draw will occur at our Summer Social event on July 17, 2024.
*Subject to travel restrictions, all details provided to the lucky winner upon receipt.
Toronto Region Board of Trade
100 Queens Quay E, 3rd Floor, Toronto, ON M5E 1Y3
2024 Single Family Office Speakers
Drew Colaiezzi
Private Investments
McPike Global Family Office
Ryan Perillo
Head of Investments
KF Matheson Investment Holdings
Enzo Gabrielli
EVP & CFO
Horizon Capital Holdings
Vincent Zhou
Portfolio Manager – External Manager Selection
RedJay Asset Management
Scott Morrison
Chief Investment Officer
Wealhouse Capital Management
Robert Montgomery
Chief Executive Officer
First Maximilian Associates Inc.
Craig D’Cruze
Chief Operating Officer
Inverted Ventures
Richard Heller
Attorney
Cooper Family Office
Vishnu Amble
Founding Director, Investment Committee Member, and Trustee
GreenBear Group LLC
Josh Roach
Managing Director
Meritage Group LLP
Rahim Kassim-Lakha
Founder & Principal
Blue Sail Capital, Inc.
Shael Soberano
Chief Investment Officer
Sharno Group
Prathna Ramesh
VP Operations
FutureSight
Tec Han
Chief Investment Officer
Vibrato Capital LLC
Drew Colaiezzi
Private Investments
McPike Global Family Office
Drew Colaiezzi is a private equity/venture capital specialist & investment manager with a background in capital markets focused on securitizations, specialty credit products, fixed income asset-back warehouses, financing consultancy, investment strategies & management, investment relationship structures, and early-stage venture.
After working in NYC and Miami for various private equity firms, he moved internationally and currently sits on the investment committee for MGFO, a single-family office based out of the Bahamas with a large venture portfolio containing exposure to various industries with a strong focus on early stage opportunities in financials, tech, fintech, life sciences, the carbon economy, venture funds, co investment opportunities, and web3/crypto based assets.
Ryan Perillo
Head of Investments
KF Matheson Investment Holdings
Ryan Perillo is the Head of Investments for KF Matheson (KFM), a private family office for two successful Canadian entrepreneurs and business partners. KFM takes a long-term approach to investing and managing the accumulated wealth and philanthropic assets of the principals.
Prior to his current role, Ryan held progressive finance roles within the principal’s operating company Baylis Medical, culminating in playing a lead role in its successful 2021 cardiology division sale to Boston Scientific (BSX).
Before joining Baylis Medical, Ryan started his career in the financial services group at PwC, and went on to join a newly launched value investment fund as their second employee in a CCO/finance/operations role, which grew to ~$60m of AUM over his time with the firm.
Ryan holds a BBA from Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University, where he graduated With Distinction. He also holds CPA, CA, and CFA designations.
Enzo Gabrielli
EVP & CFO
Horizon Capital Holdings
Enzo leads the family office of the Right Honourable Paul Martin. Enzo is a corporate executive of the holding company, Bromart Holdings Inc. Its main operating company is CSL Group (Canada Steamship Lines) which is the world’s largest commercial manager of self-unloading vessels. Bromart also holds Horizon Capital Holdings, a broad-based investment vehicle and management organization. Horizon’s primarily makes direct investments in private companies, with an intent to buy and hold for expansion and growth. Enzo is President of Horizon Real Estate Ltd, which holds various real estate investments in North America.
Vincent Zhou
Portfolio Manager – External Manager Selection
RedJay Asset Management
Vincent is a portfolio manager at Redjay Asset Management, a spin-out asset management firm from a Toronto based single family office. As a PM, he’s responsible for portfolio construction and manager selection for Redjay’s external funds program. Prior to joining Redjay in 2021, Vincent was a director at Alberta Teachers’ Retirement Fund where he was responsible for manager selection for the $2B absolute return program.
Vincent has a Mathematics degree from University of Waterloo. He’s also a CFA Charter holder.
Scott Morrison
Chief Investment Officer
Wealhouse Capital Management
Scott Morrison is the Chief Investment Officer of Wealhouse Capital Management, a privately-owned investment firm and family office. As the firm’s founder, Scott is responsible for overseeing Wealhouse’s various strategies across asset classes, as well as the firm’s private equity portfolio and real estate holdings.
Outside of Wealhouse, Scott serves on the investment committee of the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), where he advises on investment decisions for CIGI’s endowment fund. Scott has over 25 years of asset management experience. Prior to Wealhouse, Scott spearheaded the portfolio management for notable firms such as Mackenzie Investments, CI Funds, and Investors Group. Scott holds a Bachelor of Finance from Concordia University and is a CFA Charterholder.
Robert Montgomery
Chief Executive Officer
First Maximilian Associates Inc.
Robert Montgomery is an investor and entrepreneur focused on the digital media, entertainment, gaming and technology industries. For many years, Mr. Montgomery has been an executive and advisor for media, communications and technology companies and the investment community. He currently serves as the CEO of First Maximilian Associates Inc., his own family investment and advisory firm. He also serves as Chairman of GameCo Inc., an innovative company serving and gaming industry. Mr. Montgomery was previously owner and CEO of Achilles Media, an events and transaction facilitation company focused on the entertainment, technology and investment industries.
Mr. Montgomery’s prior positions include: Co-Founder and Partner in Achilles Partners, an investment and advisory firm; President, Americas at the Fantastic Corporation, a broadband software company; Co-Founder and Chairman of Media Content plc in London, a media rights company; Managing Director for Europe and Asia Pacific at communications research and consulting firm Kagan World Media; co-founder of Digital Media International; Managing Director at Euromoney plc, and Managing Director at IBC plc. Mr. Montgomery has served as a Director of several public and private companies and is an active investor in emerging companies. Mr. Montgomery is a graduate of the University of Manitoba, Canada. Active in the community, Mr. Montgomery is Past Chair of the Board of Governors of the OCAD University.
Craig D’Cruze
Chief Operating Officer
Inverted Ventures
Craig D’Cruze is a multi-faceted entrepreneur with an outstanding track record analyzing and operating large businesses.
As the Executive Chef of the University of Calgary, Craig oversaw their conferences and multiple restaurant operations. Before the University of Calgary, Craig was the Executive Sous Chef for Marriott Hotels; Craig was flown around North America to lead positive changes in F&B operations in other Marriott properties underperforming in food cost, labour controls, food quality, staff engagement and retention. Craig successfully built, coached, counseled, and maintained teams of over 100 people.
Craig’s exceptional natural skills in mathematics, research, and pattern analysis make him perfect to lead Inverted Group as the Chief Operating Officer. In 2020, Craig joined Inverted Ventures to lead Inverted’s Due Diligence of both public and private market investments.
Craig’s outstanding performance and proven track record of success led to his establishment of Inverted Group’s Venture Capital Business, which he continues to lead with great success to this day.
Richard Heller
Attorney
Cooper Family Office
Richard Heller, Esq, joined the Cooper Family Office following a lengthy career as an eminent attorney specializing in securities and investment alternatives. With his extensive background in investment law, he is a well-known speaker at family office events nationally and knows numerous family office principals and executives personally. Prior to taking his role as advisor to the Cooper Family Office, he was a partner in the New York office of Thompson Hine, a prestigious national law firm, for 17 years. During that time he served in the Investment Management and Family Office Services groups. As the head of the private funds and broker-dealer practices, he advised numerous hedge funds, private equity funds, funds of funds, broker-dealers, investment advisers and their sponsors and principals. Additionally, he represented family offices in diverse issues including their structure, management, and regulatory matters.
In private practice, Mr. Heller drafted hedge fund offering materials including exhibits relating to the transaction. He rendered advice on activist solicitations. He defended clients in SEC and FINRA enforcement matters. He also served as counsel of special committees for public companies as well as providing state securities “Blue Sky” advice.
Richard Heller has served on three consecutive terms on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) Business Forum on Small Company Capital Formation which published recommendations to the White House. In addition, he served for 10 years as a Director of the Hedge Fund Association. He served as a director for several private companies. For the past 20 years Mr. Heller has been honored to serve as an Officer and Director of the NY Council of the Navy League of the United States.
Recognized as a legal authority in his area, Mr. Heller is frequently called upon to participate in prominent Family Office and Investment Management Conferences and has often been called upon by the media to give quotes, opinions and interviews. The author of numerous papers, including “Emerging Developments in Hedge Fund Law,” Richard Heller received his BA with distinction in American Studies from Rutgers University and his law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law. He Is a member of the New York Bar and has Court Admissions to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and the US Supreme Court.
Vishnu Amble
Founding Director, Investment Committee Member, and Trustee
GreenBear Group LLC
Vishnu also serves as a Director of the family office’s foundation focused on funding access to energy, education, healthcare, and climate change solutions in South and SE Asia. Vishnu has built his 20+ year career in investments and capital markets at the intersection of Technology, Infrastructure, Energy, and Sustainability with such companies as Saudi Aramco, E.ON, The Carlyle Group and Lehman Brothers. Vishnu earned his Bachelor’s Degrees in Economics and Computer and Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor.
Josh Roach
Managing Director
Meritage Group LLP
Josh Roach is a trusted peer and long-time member of the SFO (single-family-office) community where, over the last fifteen years, he has created significant social capital through his efforts to build like-minded networks and collaborative models to: (a) merge common interests and objectives, (b) pool and leverage specialized industry knowledge and skill sets, and (c) optimize alignment between asset owners in co-investment vehicles.
Rahim Kassim-Lakha
Founder & Principal
Blue Sail Capital, Inc.
Founder & Principal, Blue Sail Capital, Inc. | Principal, Pyfera Growth Capital Corp. | Strategic Advisor, Max Resource Corporation, Storm Exploration Inc., Workforce Wellness.
Rahim Kassim-Lakha is a respected figure in the realm of financial strategy and investment management, with a distinguished career spanning multiple sectors over +25 years. He is acknowledged for his prudent investment approach, award winning fund manager, insightful advisory roles, and strategic foresight.
Shael Soberano
Chief Investment Officer
Sharno Group
Shael Soberano, CFA, Chief Investment Officer of Sharno Group Inc., brings the most current analytical tools and rigorous discipline to the financial analyses he utilizes in capital allocation decisions. Shael developed and refined his financial expertise as a securities analyst and principal investor across a wide array of alternative investments.
Most recently, Shael Soberano was Vice President, Senior Analyst at Vision Capital Corporation, a leading Toronto-based Hedge Fund manager focused on publicly-traded real estate related securities. Shael first joined Vision Capital as an Analyst in 2009, shortly after its inception. He was promoted to Vice President, Senior Analyst in 2014, and was registered as an Advising Representative with the Ontario Securities Commission in 2017. With a wide range of roles spanning both business development and investment management initiatives, Shael’s contributions and leadership were integral in Vision Capital’s substantial AUM growth and contributed to its award-winning risk-adjusted performance over that period.
Shael is a CFA Charterholder and completed the Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies Honours Degree with a Specialization in Finance at the University of Western Ontario. Shael completed the Partners, Directors, and Senior Officers (PDO) Course in 2019 and the Canadian Securities Course (CSC) in 2010, provided by the Canadian Securities Institute (CSI), and attended the SNL Real Estate REIT School in Chicago, Illinois.
Prathna Ramesh
VP Operations
FutureSight
Prathna is an early-stage investor and operator in B2B SaaS companies. She is currently a VP of Operations at FutureSight, a venture builder fund that backs entrepreneurs as an institutional cofounder with capital. She is the former Managing Director of Maple Leaf Angels in Toronto, one of Canada’s most active angel networks. She served as GP (General Partner) of the MLA48 pre-seed funds and is currently the Chief Compliance Officer. She is active in the founder community as a business advisor and is an advocate for women in venture.
Tec Han
Chief Investment Officer
Vibrato Capital LLC
Tec is the Chief Investment Officer of Vibrato Capital LLC, a single family private investment office that oversees both tax-exempt and taxable portfolios. Prior to Vibrato Capital, Tec was a senior analyst for Clark Enterprises, the National Railroad Retirement Investment Trust, and Cambridge Associates. Mr. Han graduated from Vassar College with a B.A. in Economics and earned his M.B.A from the Johnson School of Management at Cornell University and the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University through the combined EMBA Americas Program.
2024 Distinguished Speakers
Eric Nuttall
Partner, Senior Portfolio Manager
Ninepoint Partners
Matt Zabloski
Fund Manager & Chief Investment Officer
Delbrook Capital Advisors
Greg Moore
Partner & Portfolio Manager
Richter Family Office
Neil Nisker
Co-Founder, CIO & Executive Chairman
Our Family Office
Stephen Harvey
Chief Investment Officer
Grayhawk Wealth
Steve Shepherd
Head of Canada
Capital Fund Management
Priyanka Hindocha
Director – Family Office
Stonehage Fleming
Harry Moore
Senior Client Portfolio Manager
Man AHL
Alison Maschmeyer
Managing Director, Americas
Pinnacle Investment Management Group Limited
Nancy Bertrand
Managing Director and Head of Citi Private Bank, Canada
Citi Private Bank
Philippe Carpentier
Senior Fund Manager
Metori Capital Management
Aaron Stern
Managing Partner & Chief Investment Officer
Converium Capital
Stephanie Hickmott
Principal, Portfolio Manager
Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel Ltd.
Eric Nuttall
Partner, Senior Portfolio Manager
Ninepoint Partners
Eric Nuttall is a Partner and Senior Portfolio Manager with Ninepoint Partners LP. He joined the firm in August 2017 and was previously a Portfolio Manager at Sprott Asset Management LP since February 2003.
Eric’s views on energy are frequently sought after by BNN Bloomberg, CNBC, The Globe and Mail, The National Post, and other media organizations.
Eric graduated with High Honours from Carleton University with an Honours Bachelor of International Business.
Matt Zabloski
Fund Manager & Chief Investment Officer
Delbrook Capital Advisors
Mr. Zabloski is the Founder and Portfolio Manager at Delbrook Capital Advisors, a firm dedicated to alternative strategies in the global materials sector. Mr. Zabloski has capital markets, investment research and portfolio management experience, beginning with Boston-based Fidelity Management and Research Company where he acted as a Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst. In early 2008, he joined CI Investments to launch the CI Cambridge Advisors series of investment funds. While with CI, Mr. Zabloski managed a growth-oriented portfolio and acted as a Senior Research Analyst for various investment funds. Mr. Zabloski received an Honors BA and an MBA, both from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario.
Greg Moore
Partner & Portfolio Manager
Richter Family Office
Accomplished, driven, yet known for his kindness, Greg has big ideas that match the scope of his ambition. A great people connector he loves to build durable, effective business relationships. His enthusiastic nature means that he is ready to jump whole heartedly into every project he takes on.
Greg is a seasoned wealth management professional with almost 30 years’ experience in global financial markets, working with individuals, institutions, and family offices. Greg brings a unique, holistic approach to wealth management and works with professionals in a segment of the market that sees value in working alongside an independent, trusted advisor as part of their overarching wealth management solution.
As a Family Enterprise Advisor (FEA), Greg works with families to help them navigate the complexities of wealth and legacy transmission. Bringing together both a technical skill set, as well as a deep understanding of relational family and enterprise strategy issues, he strives to help families address complex problems through open communication and trust.
In addition to his business development and relationship management roles, Greg is actively involved in ongoing investment manager due diligence and manager selection to ensure that RFO clients continue to receive access to unique, best in class investment solutions. Bringing a thoughtful approach to asset allocation and portfolio construction, Greg works closely with families to help them bridge the gap between a complex investment landscape and their own unique investment goals.
Neil Nisker
Co-Founder, CIO & Executive Chairman
Our Family Office
With investment management and wealth advisory experience dating back to 1972, Our Family Office’s Co-Founder, Executive Chairman and CIO enjoys a well-deserved reputation as a trusted and respected figure in the Canadian financial services industry. His keen intellect and deep expertise make him particularly well-qualified to revolutionize the shared family office segment in Canada and grow Our Family Office into the market-leading service provider and partner to the nation’s wealthiest families. Highlights of Neil’s career to date include:
Fiera Capital Corporation: Neil was active with Fiera Capital Corporation, one of Canada’s largest investment managers, from 2006 to 2014, serving as the President of Fiera Private Wealth and as the company’s Executive Vice Chairman and a member of the company’s board of directors and governance committee.
YMG Capital Management Inc.: Neil served as President of the YMG Private Wealth Management division from 2000 to 2006. Fiera Capital Corporation purchased YMG Capital Management in 2006.
Nisker Associates, Strategic Wealth Management: From 1997 to 2000, Neil was the Chairman of Nisker Associates, Strategic Wealth Management, a Canadian registered investment counselling firm. It was acquired by YMG Capital Management in 2000.
Best Investments International Inc.: In 1990, Sir John Templeton selected Neil to be one of the three managers of Best Investments International Inc., a global equity mutual fund he owned. Neil held this position until the fund was closed in 2000.
Brown Baldwin Nisker Ltd.: For more than 25 years, Neil was a driving force behind Brown Baldwin Nisker. Through his diligence, the firm grew into one of the premier institutional brokerages in Canada. It was sold to HSBC Securities in 1988.
In addition, Neil has been the President of Privatech Investments Inc., an investment company headquartered in Toronto, Canada since 1994.
Volunteerism and Philanthropy Neil has been extensively involved in philanthropy and a range of activities, including acting as:
Co-Chair of the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, Annual Campaign Co-Chair of the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, Campaign
Vice-Chair of the Mount Sinai Hospital Foundation and Chair of the Investment Committee Chairman of The Jewish Foundation of Greater Toronto and Chair of the Investment Committee
Co-Chair of the 2011 JFNA Investment Institute in Palm Beach, Florida
Frequent speaker at Investment Conferences for family offices, and foundations and endowments
Stephen Harvey
Chief Investment Officer
Grayhawk Wealth
Stephen Harvey is the Chief Investment Officer of Grayhawk and manages the investment management functions at the firm. Stephen has over 20 years investing experience with roles in Toronto, London and New York. Most recently Stephen was the Chief Investment Officer of Titan Advisors, where he managed the investment committee and investment team. Prior to that he was a Partner at Saguenay Strathmore Capital, where he focused on risk management and portfolio construction. He started his career at the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan within their risk management group.
Steve Shepherd
Head of Canada
Capital Fund Management
Based in Toronto, Steve is responsible for investors in Canada and East Asia. He joined CFM in 2012 and spent nine years as Head of APAC in Tokyo and Sydney and three subsequent years as Head of APAC with Capstone Investment Advisors.
Prior to CFM, Steve was Senior Portfolio Manager in the hedge fund group at the CPPIB in Toronto, responsible for manager selection, active risk allocation, and portfolio analytics, following a stint as Head of Risk Management at a boutique rates fund, and several years in engineering and technology roles in Canada, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
His academic background includes electrical engineering, finance and generative linguistics, with Masters degrees from McGill University and the University of Toronto. He is also a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).
Priyanka Hindocha
Director – Family Office
Stonehage Fleming
Priyanka is a Director in the London based Family Office department of the multi-family office Stonehage Fleming. She supports high net worth families and entrepreneurs around the world with the strategic coordination of their affairs, with a particular focus on the development of governance and succession plans that give families the best chance of sustainable, intergenerational success. Working closely with Matthew Fleming (a fifth generation Fleming family member), she supports families with a process of articulating a purpose for their wealth as well as identifying risks to the successful preservation of the family and its wealth, ahead of implementing strategies to mitigate against those risks. Her responsibilities also include supporting the next generation of family members manage the responsibilities associated the privilege of significant wealth via mentoring, coaching and bespoke educational sessions
Prior to joining the Group, Priyanka was part of the Private Client Tax practice at Deloitte, focussed on international tax planning for high net worth individuals, families and their offshore structures. She holds a first class BA (Hons) degree in Modern Languages (French & Italian) from University College London and is a qualified Chartered Accountant (ACA) and Tax Adviser (CTA). In 2023 she was the winner of the Future Leader in Private Client Services category at the Spear’s Magazine Awards and was included in Citywealth’s NextGen Leaders Top 40 Under 40 List.
Harry Moore
Senior Client Portfolio Manager
Man AHL
Harry Moore is a Senior Client Portfolio Manager at Man AHL with principal responsibility for investor engagement, new product development, and communication of Man AHL’s strategies to clients.
Prior to joining Man AHL in 2019, Harry worked as a hedge fund analyst at Mercer, constructing fund of hedge fund portfolios across a broad mix of systematic and discretionary investment styles. Prior to that, he was an actuarial analyst focused on liability-driven investments and de-risking strategies for institutional clients. Before moving to focus on investments, Harry worked at Willis Towers Watson as a student actuary, managing liability models for pension schemes.
Harry holds a BSc (hons) in Economics from the University of Birmingham, is a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (‘FIA’) and holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (‘CAIA’) qualification.
Nancy Bertrand
Managing Director and Head of Citi Private Bank, Canada
Citi Private Bank
Nancy Hoi Bertrand is Managing Director and Head of Citi Private Bank, Canada. In this role, she is responsible for the growth of the business in Canada, which serves and advises ultra-high net worth families, foundations and single-family offices on wealth preservation and creation, with a particular focus on alternative and international investments.
Citi Private Bank is dedicated to serving the world’s wealthiest individuals and their families. From 52 locations across 20 countries, the Private Bank offers services to more than 14,000 ultra-high net worth clients from nearly 100 nations. Its Canadian offices are in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.
Having originally joined Citi Private Bank in 2006, Nancy has over 20 years of capital markets experience. Prior to Citi, she practiced U.S. securities law at the global law firm, Shearman & Sterling LLP, specializing in cross-border corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions.
Nancy sits on the board of the Golf Association of Ontario and is Past-President of the Toronto CFA Society and former Chair of its Governance and Nominations Committee. She was a member of the CFA Institute’s Capital Markets Policy Committee and a member of CFA Institute’s Global Corporate Governance Task Force and received her Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 2002.
Nancy is a graduate in Business Administration (Dean’s List) from the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University and a Bachelor of Laws (great distinction) from McGill University. She has been called to the bars of the State of New York, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Province of Ontario. She previously sat on the cabinet of the Royal Ontario Museum’s Young Patrons’ Circle, speaks Mandarin, Cantonese and French, is married and raising a teenage daughter.
Philippe Carpentier
Senior Fund Manager
Metori Capital Management
Philippe has been a quantitative fund manager at Lyxor since 2013, specialized in smart beta and quantitative fixed income. Prior to this, Philippe has been a quantitative researcher for the derivatives division of Société Générale from 2004 to 2013, applying his expertise to various asset classes. He started his career in 2003 at HSBC as a quant analyst in the model validation team. Philippe holds engineering degrees from Ecole Polytechnique and ENSAE, and a Master degree in applied mathematics from the University Paris VI (Jussieu).
Aaron Stern
Managing Partner & Chief Investment Officer
Converium Capital
Aaron Stern is a Managing Partner and the Chief Investment Officer of Converium Capital, a multi-strategy opportunistic investment manager headquartered in Montreal. Converium aims to deliver positive and uncorrelated returns regardless of macroeconomic conditions by investing in distressed and event-driven opportunities globally and across the capital structure. Prior to founding the firm, Aaron was a Partner and Managing Director at Fir Tree Partners, a multi-strategy investment firm founded by Jeffrey Tannenbaum. At Fir Tree, Aaron was responsible for distressed, special situations and event-driven investments globally where he successfully employed his contrarian idea selection in new areas for the firm, including sovereign and municipal debt, emerging markets and engagement opportunities in Europe and Asia. He most recently led an innovative restructuring of Puerto Rico’s Government Development Bank and a campaign to improve governance and shareholder returns at a recently privatized Japanese railway operator.
Prior to Fir Tree, Aaron held investment roles at O.S.S. Capital Management and Millennium Management. Before Millennium, he was an investment banking analyst in Credit Suisse’s Leveraged Finance and Restructuring groups.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in Commerce, with a Major in Accounting from McGill University, where he is a Global Expert and guest lecturer.
Stephanie Hickmott
Principal, Portfolio Manager
Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel Ltd.
Stephanie is a Portfolio Manager in Leith Wheeler’s Private Client Group in Toronto. She manages balanced and specialty asset class portfolios for private clients, family offices, and foundations. She began her post-graduate career in banking and finance with RBC, and later switched to wealth management in 2008. She was an Investment Counsellor with BNY Mellon Wealth Management Advisory Services for eight years prior to joining Leith Wheeler in 2016. Stephanie volunteers as an investment committee member for the Humber River Hospital Foundation and works with the Anishnawbe Health Foundation on fundraising initiatives. She has an MBA from the Schulich School of Business (York University) and a BA Economics from McGill University.
2024 Agenda
Day 1
April 9, 2024
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Day 2
April 10, 2023
8:00 am – 6:00 pm
April 9, 2024
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Pre-day – PLEASE NOTE ATTENDEE TYPES
3:00 pm
Single Family Office Roundtable (Relatives Only)
Life as the principal of a family office can be exciting, inspirational, and busy, while at the same time worrisome, stressful, and draining. We provide this (strictly!) family members only session as an opportunity to meet with your peers and share questions, concerns, solutions, and insights across the table. We have nominated three leaders/instigators to get things going and guarantee that all will find the evening illuminating and fun.
Capacity is limited to 20 SFO Relatives this year.
SFO Relatives Instigators (3 total): Robert Montgomery, First Maximillian Associates Craig D’Cruze, Inverted Ventures Shael Soberano, Sharno Group
3:00 pm
Single Family Office Roundtables (Professionals Only)
Working in a single family office is not your typical investment management job – you gain the benefit of a sometimes extremely flat organizational structure and many find the spectrum of duties and tasks to be (very) intellectually stimulating. On the other hand, it can be isolating and difficult to keep up with the pace of work: each family has its own dynamic and cadence so we created this dinner where (strictly!) full time employees (not relatives) of SFOs can interact with their peers to get the most out of their roles.
This year we have a bumper crop of SFO Pros, so we will have 2 rooms of up to 20.
SFO Professionals Instigators (3 per room): Drew Colaiezzi, McPike Global Family Office Scott Morrison, Wealhouse Asset Management Tec Han, Vibrato Capital LLC Prathna Ramesh, FutureSight
5:00 pm
General Welcome Reception
Everyone welcome to this time to meet. Generally, sponsors and managers arrange private dinners after this time with select conference delegates – either via the messaging & meeting app or off-line.
7:00 pm
End of Pre-day
April 10, 2023
8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Main Day
8:00 am
Registration & Breakfast
8:30 am
Operating Company vs. Portfolio Investments
Family offices come in two basic flavours: ones that continue to hold the operating company that founded it, and ones that are holding other, portfolio, investments subsequent to the sale. Each one has a distinct dynamic based on the legacy investment, relationships, and relationships to the legacy investment. This panel will discuss the pros and cons of having this ‘founding asset’ on the books throughout successive generations vs. a situation where the investment mix is that of a newer, usually more diversified sort. It features three stages of this situation: a family office with its operating company, one transitioning to portfolio investments, and one that has done so for some time. A truly singular experience for our audience!
Enzo Gabrielli, Horizon Capital Holdings Scott Morrison, Wealhouse Capital Management Ryan Perillo, KF Matheson Holdings
9:15 am
Three Shades of Staking GPs
There’s nothing like the focus afforded a new venture – plus the commensurate risk of ruin that might come to pass if the company is not run well or simply doesn’t achieve the scale required to continue as a going concern. As well, hitting one’s stride and capitalizing on hard work is paramount to leaping to the next stage. This panel will impart practical wisdom from three single family offices who invest in more start-up and emerging managers – great information for managers and investors alike.
Richard Heller, Cooper Family Office Vishnu Amble, GreenBear Group LLC Alison Maschmeyer, Pinnacle Investment Management
10:00 am
New Thinking About Commodities: Paths to profit
Inflation and the price of everything has been in the news a great deal for the last many month – or even decades! – as investors have taken note of how asset values can exceed even the most wild predictions. As well, price crashes occur from time to time in all assets; an inevitable consequence of over-valuation and a phenomenon not unique to today’s markets: prices have peaked and troughed for time immemorial. This panel will put forth tangible investment ideas that one can use to make the most of both manic and depressed markets as well as a frame of reference for knowing which phase one might be in.
Rahim Kassim-Lakha, Blue Sail Capital, Inc.
Eric Nuttall, Ninepoint Partners Matt Zabloski, Delbrook Capital Advisors
10:30 am
1:1 meetings & Morning refresher
11:30 am
The Power of Quant: Harnessing data for returns
Hedge funds (aka alternative strategies) have, at their core, mathematical principals such as correlation (shorting reduces a portfolio’s correlation and many strategies have low correlations between each other and among their constituent managers) and optionality (either the trades or instruments employed can produce an advantageous payoff formula). With advances in computational power, many (perhaps all) managers are employing quantitative methods to source trades, model their behaviour in various markets, entering and exiting trades, monitoring risk, and enhancing their understanding of the markets overall. This panel will discuss all this and more!
Vincent Zhou, RedJay Asset Management Harry Moore, Man AHL Steve Shepherd, Capital Fund Management
12:00 pm
Emerging Markets as an Investment Destination
Prior to the turn of the century, emerging markets were the darling of investor portfolios – their potential was unmatched, access was becoming easier, and corporate governance seemed to be (finally) getting up to where investors expected. The deluge of cash into these markets pushed them to stratospheric levels and the subsequent crashes in the late 1990s were the stuff of legend. Investors, once (more) burned turned to TMT for their high-octane fix (with perhaps anticipated results).
Over the last couple of decades, the trends which had begun back then have taken hold in many countries – this provides opportunity to invest with the potential to make money for investors thanks to persistent inefficiencies in some markets that can continue to be exploited. Learn about these benefits during this panel!
Stephanie Hickmott, Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel Ltd.
Philippe Carpentier, Metori Capital Management
Aaron Stern, Converium Capital
12:30 pm
Lunch & Keynote: Being Direct (Speaking begins at 1:00)
Family offices have a multitude of investment opportunities via various vehicles and structures: funds, FoFs, direct, SMAs, and joint ventures to name a few. This fireside will focus on direct investments and how one family office is managing their deal sourcing, transaction process, operational oversight and maintenance, and divesture of a number of situations over the years. Joined by a multi-family office with a dedicated Direct Investment Program, they will speak to how families make use of these types of programs and take a holistic look at managing one’s portfolio – along with constraints that may be present based on the family’s composition. (E.g., having less or more of a leaning toward direct investments and/or certain market sectors based on where they made their money or continue to have legacy assets and expertise.)
This is a rare glimpse at how these speakers make the most of directs and a great opportunity to add your question to the mix!
Nancy Bertrand, Citi Private Bank Josh Roach, Meritage Group LLP
1:45 pm
Table Talks & first afternoon refresher
This session is aimed at providing all event attendees with the ability to join in genuine knowledge exchange and discussion in a small group setting.
Asset Management One – Quantitative Strategies & Dynamic Tilting Wilshire – An introduction to Wilshire Alternatives Capabilities iCapital – Bringing World Class Alternative to Wealth Channels HGC Investment Management – M&A Opportunity Set and Outlook Hazelview Investments – The Real Estate Asset Class & Family Offices: Navigating Structure, Access & Scale MGG Investment Group – MGG Partnering w iCapital to Bring 1st US Non- Sponsor Focused Private Debt Fund to Canadian Market Trans-Canada Capital – Come and visit our table for a chat or an intro!
Choose from 2 x 30-minute round table discussions
2:45 pm
NowTalk – SFO Vignettes
The world of Family Offices is unique. Stonehage Fleming – the multi family office with over 150 years’ experience in supporting families all over the world – undertakes regular research with the families that it serves based on the theme ‘wealth strategies for intergenerational success’. They published their latest report in 2023 with the premise that families and wealth creators should focus on the stewardship of not only their financial capital, but also of their social, cultural and intellectual capital – the Four Pillars of Capital. In the firm’s experience, each pillar is equally important to the successful transition of wealth and reputation and the creation of an impactful legacy.
Priyanka Hindocha, Stonehage Fleming
3:15 pm
Afternoon Coffee Break
3:30 pm
MFO 2.0
Just as each SFO is unique, multi-family offices are each run with their own special emphasis on certain planning techniques, investment selections, and suite of overall services. This panel will showcase three prominent Canadian multi-family offices and get their takes on these areas as well as topical trends in the markets and their client base.
Greg Moore, Richter Family Office Neil Nisker, Our Family Office Stephen Harvey, Grayhawk Wealth
4:00 pm
Table Talks & second afternoon refresher
This session is aimed at providing all event attendees with the ability to join in genuine knowledge exchange and discussion in a small group setting.
Richter Family Office – Family Office Investment Trends Waypoint Investment Partners – Asset-Backed Private Credit Solutions for Canadian Families BMO Global Asset Management – Balancing Act: Navigating Liquidity and Risk in the Era of Alternative Investments for Family Offices AGF Capital Partners – Private Credit – Boom or Bust? Demystifying the headlines as we discuss the next leg of opportunities and risks in private credit. Ninepoint Partners LP – Portfolio Diversification Through Alternatives Amur Capital – Real Estate and Mortgage Market Analysis: Trends and Emerging Opportunities Kirkland Capital Group – Private Credit in Micro-Balance Commercial Real Estate
Choose from 2 x 30-minute round table discussions
5:00 pm
Closing reception
Open to all delegates.
7:00 pm
End of Family Office Summit 2024
Thank you!
Registration
End Investor means pensions, foundations/endowments, sovereign wealth funds, and single family offices. Intermediary investors means Multi-family offices, investment advsiors/dealers, wealth managers, and investment consulting companies and +1 means the first delegate is gratis but each additional delegate attracts a small charge. Manager and service provider delegates must be CAASA members in good standing and pay the requisite per person fee for their appropriate sub-category. Core service providers include prime brokers, fund administrators, and accounting and legal firms.
This breakfast panel (following the Talking Hedge Conference) will provide perspectives from 4 different investor types including institutional, family office, product, and an investment advisor. Following breakfast, there will be 6 fifteen-minute tête-à-tête sessions where managers may hold opt-in meetings with investors.
Current attendees will include those below (some may include more than 1 representative per company).
Managers
Investors & Allocators
Consultants & Others
3iQ
Algonquin Capital
Galileo Global Equity Advisors Inc.
Lyxor Asset Management
Next Edge Capital Corp.
Yield Solutions SA
Aligned Capital Partners Inc.
Northland Wealth Management
Prime Quadrant LP
Raymond James Canada
RBC Dominion Securities
Richardson GMP Limited
Scotiabank
Absolute Climo
Bodhi Research Group
Capitalize for Kids
Castle Hall Dilligence
CIBC Mellon Global Securities Services Company
Fundata Canada
Global Risk Institute
GlobeTax
LOGiQ Global Partners
This breakfast panel (following the Talking Hedge Conference) will provide perspectives from 4 different investor types including institutional, family office, product, and an investment advisor. Following breakfast, there will be 6 fifteen-minute tête-à-tête sessions where managers may hold opt-in meetings with investors.
Current attendees will include those below (some may include more than 1 representative per company).
Managers
Investors & Allocators
Consultants & Others
3iQ
Algonquin Capital
Galileo Global Equity Advisors Inc.
Lyxor Asset Management
Next Edge Capital Corp.
Yield Solutions SA
Aligned Capital Partners Inc.
Northland Wealth Management
Prime Quadrant LP
Raymond James Canada
RBC Dominion Securities
Richardson GMP Limited
Scotiabank
Absolute Climo
Bodhi Research Group
Capitalize for Kids
Castle Hall Dilligence
CIBC Mellon Global Securities Services Company
Fundata Canada
Global Risk Institute
GlobeTax
LOGiQ Global Partners
This breakfast panel (following the Talking Hedge Conference) will provide perspectives from 4 different investor types including institutional, family office, product, and an investment advisor. Following breakfast, there will be 6 fifteen-minute tête-à-tête sessions where managers may hold opt-in meetings with investors.
Current attendees will include those below (some may include more than 1 representative per company).
Managers
Investors & Allocators
Consultants & Others
3iQ
Algonquin Capital
Galileo Global Equity Advisors Inc.
Lyxor Asset Management
Next Edge Capital Corp.
Yield Solutions SA
Aligned Capital Partners Inc.
Northland Wealth Management
Prime Quadrant LP
Raymond James Canada
RBC Dominion Securities
Richardson GMP Limited
Scotiabank
Absolute Climo
Bodhi Research Group
Capitalize for Kids
Castle Hall Dilligence
CIBC Mellon Global Securities Services Company
Fundata Canada
Global Risk Institute
GlobeTax
LOGiQ Global Partners
CAASA Alternative Perspectives 2025: Private Market Focus
Overview
Join us, dozens of speakers, investors, asset managers, and service providers active in the private markets space: real estate, infrastructure, private equity, venture capital, and private/alternative lending.
We are happy to partner with MSC Cruises for a super prize to be awarded to one of our event attendees (must attend and complete a ballot to be eligible).
Draw will occur at our Networking Night on October 7, 2025.
*Subject to travel restrictions, all details provided to the lucky winner upon receipt.
Bay Adelaide Centre, East Tower, 22 Adelaide St W #3400, Toronto, ON M5H 4E3
2024 KEYNOTE
Trevor Maunder
President & Chief Executive Officer
Peerage Capital
Nancy Bertrand
Managing Director and Head of Citi Private Bank, Canada
Citi Private Bank
Trevor Maunder
President & Chief Executive Officer
Peerage Capital
Trevor is President and Chief Executive Officer at Peerage Capital. With a Commerce degree from Queen’s University, Trevor began his professional career at PricewaterhouseCoopers as a CPA. There, he focused on transaction support for the telecom and media sectors before moving to MDC Partners Inc. At MDC, Trevor worked in the corporate development group where he led two restructurings, acted as a partner company CFO, oversaw the successful bidding and implementation of the Multi-Print III stamp contract awarded by the United States Postal Service, and assisted with acquisitions and due diligence. As CEO, Trevor oversees development and execution of the broad corporate strategy for Peerage, including the ongoing growth of all operating platforms including real estate services, asset management and self-storage.
Nancy Bertrand
Managing Director and Head of Citi Private Bank, Canada
Citi Private Bank
Nancy Hoi Bertrand is Managing Director and Head of Citi Private Bank, Canada. In this role, she is responsible for the growth of the business in Canada, which serves and advises ultra-high net worth families, foundations and single-family offices on wealth preservation and creation, with a particular focus on alternative and international investments.
Citi Private Bank is dedicated to serving the world’s wealthiest individuals and their families. From 52 locations across 20 countries, the Private Bank offers services to more than 14,000 ultra-high net worth clients from nearly 100 nations. Its Canadian offices are in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.
Having originally joined Citi Private Bank in 2006, Nancy has over 20 years of capital markets experience. Prior to Citi, she practiced U.S. securities law at the global law firm, Shearman & Sterling LLP, specializing in cross-border corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions.
Nancy sits on the board of the Golf Association of Ontario and is Past-President of the Toronto CFA Society and former Chair of its Governance and Nominations Committee. She was a member of the CFA Institute’s Capital Markets Policy Committee and a member of CFA Institute’s Global Corporate Governance Task Force and received her Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 2002.
Nancy is a graduate in Business Administration (Dean’s List) from the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University and a Bachelor of Laws (great distinction) from McGill University. She has been called to the bars of the State of New York, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Province of Ontario. She previously sat on the cabinet of the Royal Ontario Museum’s Young Patrons’ Circle, speaks Mandarin, Cantonese and French, is married and raising a teenage daughter.
2024 Speakers
Theresa Shutt
Chief Investment Officer
Harbourfront Wealth Management
David Sheng
Managing Director – Portfolio Advisory
Aksia
Craig Machel
Portfolio Manager, Investment Advisor
Richardson Wealth
Mackenzie Shaw
Principal, Research and Analytics
Westcourt Capital
Nima Sanajian
Managing Director, Investments
Wealthsimple
Giovanni Fracchia
Executive Director
LGT Capital Partners
Robb Nelson
Chief Executive Officer
Farm Lending Canada
John Butler
Managing Director
Cohen & Company
Michael Nicks
Deputy CIO
Pepperdine University Endowment
John Davitsky
Co-Founder
Golden Hawk Financial & Goldenhawk Real Estate Advisors
Manager, Private Capital Research North America and LatAm
Preqin
David Sheng
Managing Director – Portfolio Advisory
Aksia
David is a Managing Director on the Portfolio Advisory team and has over 18 years of experience in alternative investments. He is responsible for alternative investment programs in the Americas, including portfolio management and construction, as well as manager evaluation. David leads alternatives coverage for Aksia’s institutional Canadian clients.
Prior to joining Aksia in 2018, David was a Senior Manager Research Analyst at Man FRM focused on sourcing and evaluating alternatives strategies, as well as active portfolio management. Prior to Man FRM, David was a Vice President within the Institutional Sales and Trading business at HSBC, and before that he worked at Morgan Stanley, where he covered institutional clients across the hedge fund, asset management, and sovereign wealth fund universe, with a focus on fixed income and foreign exchange.
David graduated from Princeton University with a BA in Economics and holds an MBA from Columbia University. David was recognized as a 2023 Knowledge Broker by Chief Investment Officer and Institutional Investor’s 2024 Consultant of the Year.
Craig Machel
Portfolio Manager, Investment Advisor
Richardson Wealth
Craig empowers his clients to think differently about investing in order to ensure a positive impact in his clients’ financial circumstances. He works beyond traditional portfolio management in the equity and bond markets alone to include conservative and predictable alternative assets, offering more effective diversification and a benchmark that offers protection and peace of mind regardless of market conditions. Craig is a frequent commentator on alternative asset allocations for various media outlets, and a panelist and speaker at industry events.
Mackenzie Shaw
Principal, Research and Analytics
Westcourt Capital
As Principal, Research and Analytics, Mackenzie works closely with the Research & Analytics team in the sourcing, evaluation, due diligence and on-going monitoring of Westcourt’s recommended private investments. Prior to joining Westcourt, Mackenzie was the Controller at a digital asset trading platform where she was key in building the platform’s accounting team and in developing policies and procedures to meet industry standards and regulatory compliance. Mackenzie’s past experience also includes working at a national accounting, tax and business consulting firm, in the firm’s Toronto public companies accounting practice. At this firm, Mackenzie gained experience in engagement planning, risk assessment, financial analysis, execution, and presentation, providing high-quality services to both regulated private and public clients. Mackenzie earned a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) degree with a Specialty in Accounting from McMaster University and obtained her Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) designation.
Nima Sanajian
Managing Director, Investments
Wealthsimple
Nima Sanajian, with 14+ years of investment experience, is Managing Director of Investments at Wealthsimple. He leads asset allocation, portfolio construction, and manager selection/analysis for Wealthsimple. Prior to Wealthsimple, Nima spent about 7 years at CPP Investments focusing on the fund’s strategic asset allocation and portfolio construction as well as designing/managing systematic macro strategies. Prior to that, he was a senior quantitative analyst at RBC. Nima holds a Ph.D. in Operations Research from the Rotman School of Management (University of Toronto
Giovanni Fracchia
Executive Director
LGT Capital Partners
Giovanni Fracchia (Italian) is an Executive Director at LGT Capital Partners in New York. He focuses on origination, due diligence, execution and monitoring of secondary investments.
Prior to joining the firm in 2014, he was an investment analyst with Synergo, a private equity firm in Milan, where he focused on sourcing, carrying out due diligence on and monitoring private equity investments in Italy. Before that, Mr. Fracchia was ana nalyst with Crédit Agricole Private Equity in Paris and Maybrook Saint James, a private equity firm in London.
He holds an MA in Management from the ESCP EUROPE Business School and a BA in Business and Management from University of Turin. He is fluent in English, Italian and French.
Robb Nelson
Chief Executive Officer
Farm Lending Canada
With more than 35 years of successful business and entrepreneurial experience, including 25 years in the Private Lending space specializing in agriculture, residential development, and residential homes, Robb is a practicing mortgage professional, co-founder, and co-owner of AgriRoots Capital Management Inc., now operating as Farm Lending Canada – Canada’s first National Alternative Lender, specializing in the agricultural sector.
In addition, he is the founding Principal, Broker of Record, and CEO of the National Mortgage brokerage FamilyLending.ca Inc. – a mortgage brokerage providing residential, commercial, and agricultural mortgages – founded in 2001. A founding member with the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals, Robb has grown a reputation for being a leading expert in agricultural lending, finance, investment, and mortgages. He offers deep insight and expertise to agricultural borrowers and investors alike, with the objective of keeping farming families on family farms across Canada.
A goal-driven, collaborative, and insightful professional, Robb focuses on identifying opportunities, building financial solutions, and providing high-quality client service.
John Butler
Managing Director
Cohen & Company
John Butler is Managing Director and Head of Cohen & Company’s U.S. Insurance Asset Management Platform and Global ILS Program. From 2012 to 2017, Mr. Butler worked for Twelve Capital, a European asset manager specializing in investment in the insurance sector where he served in various senior roles including Managing Partner & Head of Investment Management. In this role, he oversaw investments principally in fixed income, insurance linked securities and equity.
Prior to this, Mr. Butler worked as Senior Underwriter managing the International Catastrophe and Terrorism reinsurance portfolios of Hannover Re Bermuda, where he was responsible for managing the company’s position as a lead reinsurer particularly in European and Asia-Pacific markets. Prior to this, Mr. Butler spent seven years with the White Mountains Insurance Group, both in Ireland and Bermuda, managing the underwriting of their international non-marine treaty portfolio. Earlier in his career, he worked for entities in the London reinsurance market, underwriting a broad range of business lines. Mr. Butler has served on a variety of advisory boards and non-executive leadership positions in the insurance industry.
Mr. Butler holds an honors degree in Law from the University of London. He is an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute of the UK, a member of the Insurance Institute of Ireland, is qualified as a Chartered Insurer and is appointed a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Insurers, and a Freeman of the City of London.
Michael Nicks
Deputy CIO
Pepperdine University Endowment
Mr. Nicks is a leader and innovator in the institutional investor community. In over two decades at Pepperdine’s endowment, Mr. Nicks has managed multiple alternative investment portfolios and pioneered new technology and strategies for the investment team. He has run a successful portable alpha strategy for over a decade, and has incorporated machine learning into both the information management and asset allocation processes. He also leads research into new strategies, manager analysis, and portfolio construction. As a former Scuba instructor and dive master, he has a deep appreciation for risk management and a great love of the sea.
Mr. Nicks is a CFA charter holder (2006) and a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (2006). He has a Bachelor of Science in Management degree from Pepperdine University and an MBA with an Emphasis in Finance from Pepperdine’s Graziadio School of Business and Management (2002).
John Davitsky
Co-Founder
Golden Hawk Financial & Goldenhawk Real Estate Advisors
John is Co-Founder of Golden Hawk Financial (GHF) & Goldenhawk Real Estate Advisors (GREA) based in Toronto. The companies help clients by connecting interesting ideas to interesting capital and vice versa. GHF focuses on raising capital for alternative investments in AI, Digital Assets, Battery Technologies, Longevity, Business Aircraft Acquisition as well as Pre-IPO private company shares while GREA focuses on Multi-Family Real Estate Development in Toronto.
John started his career as a Financial Advisor at Caldwell Securities in Toronto in 2009. In this role he was responsible for managing investments for families, corporations and other high net-worth individuals. He progressed through the organization gaining experience in alternative investments, brokering private equity deals, placing shares in late stage pre-IPO companies and investing in digital assets. In recent years John moved into trading, becoming Head Trader, and finally Vice President, where, as a high touch trader he traded $1B-$1.5B daily for the firm’s largest client.
In 2022, he joined Echelon Wealth Partners, where he worked with their Electronic Trading group to help lead a digital asset project with Fidelity Clearing Canada. This project developed a concept to hold digital assets for clients on Fidelity’s balance sheet in a traditional finance model.
Golden Hawk Financial & Goldenhawk Real Estate Advisors were born out of a vision to create exciting and unique opportunities for its clients in the alternative investment & real estate development space.
David Burbach
Partner, CCO
YTM Capital Asset Management
David is a Partner of YTM Capital, a manager based in Oakville that provides better fixed income solutions. He is co-portfolio manager of YTM Capital Mortgage Income Fund, arguably the most defensive mortgage fund in Canada.
During the first 17 years of David’s career he practiced corporate and securities law. Just before he joined YTM Capital 11 years ago, he led the Legal Department at Mackenzie Investments.
David holds a Honours Business Degree from the Ivey Business School, an LL.B from the University of Toronto, and he is an CAIA Charterholder.
Scott Dickenson
Principal
Northwood Family Office
Scott is a Principal in the family office advisory group at Northwood. In this role, he acts as a trusted advisor to a number of Northwood’s client families in Ontario and British Columbia on their integrated financial affairs.
In addition to his work with Northwood’s client families, Scott co-chairs Northwood’s Business Development and Marketing Committees alongside his colleague Brad Jesson. Scott writes frequently on the Northwood Perspective Blog, helped create the Northwood Quarterly Reading List, and has hosted several episodes of the Wealth of Wisdom podcast series.
Beyond his duties at Northwood, Scott is a guest lecturer at the Rotman School of Management. He is also the Vice Chair of CFA Society Toronto’s Private Wealth Management Committee, and on the Steering Committee of the Forum on Multi-Generational Family Wealth and Leadership.
Outside of work, Scott and his wife Ruth are the proud parents of their son Dean. Scott is also an avid traveler (and self-published writer), who has travelled to over 65 countries on five different continents.
Prior to joining Northwood, Scott worked at RBC Capital Markets in Equity Research and Fixed Income Sales and Trading.
Peter Pulkkinen joined LOIM in February 2021. Before joining LOIM, Peter was Portfolio Manager for the Avenue Sustainable Solutions Fund. Peter has over 20 years of relevant industry experience having held senior roles at leading institutions with direct responsibility for sustainable private debt investments across renewable energy, infrastructure and project and asset backed finance at firms including BNP Paribas, Silverpeak, UBS AG, and Deutsche Bank AG. Peter began his career in private credit at Lehman Brothers. Peter earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of New Hampshire (1992) and a Masters in International Affairs from The Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, with a concentration in International Finance/Economics (2004).
Eugene Dimitriou
Founding Partner, Origination
Farsight Partners
A veteran finance professional with over 28 years experience across consulting, asset management and investment banking, Eugene Dimitriou focuses on the nexus of life insurer capital management, actuarial matters and investments. Eugene achieved his Fellowship in the Society of Actuaries, holds an MBA in Finance from New York University, and a Bachelors in Mathematics and Actuarial Science from the University of Waterloo.
His firm, Farsight Partners is a life and insurance receivables specialist investment manager that invests in the many opportunities available within the global life insurance space, targeting actuarial risks such as mortality/longevity, accident and health and policy lapsation. Unlike peer funds, traditional US Life Settlements and catastrophe bonds fall out of scope. The strategy has provided long-term, stable and predictable cash-flow generating returns over time with very low correlation to other asset classes.
Ben Keen
Partner
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Ben’s practice encompasses all aspects of securities and corporate law, with a focus on public and private financings, investment fund formation and distribution, investment management, private equity and regulatory compliance.
He advises underwriters and public and private issuers, as well as investment fund managers, portfolio managers and investment dealers in connection with registration matters and the establishment, operation and administration of publicly offered and privately placed investment funds and private equity products. These include pooled funds, hedge funds, closed-end funds, mutual funds, other alternative investment vehicles and the placement of securities in Canada of foreign issuers.
He also advises Canadian and international private equity firms and private equity investors in connection with structuring, regulatory requirements and advising on the terms of offerings.
Ben also advises on domestic and cross-border M&A.
Ida Khajadourian
Portfolio Manager, Investment Advisor
Richardson Wealth
For over 20 years, Ida has worked closely with Institutions, Family Offices, wealthy entrepreneurs, and high net worth families building trusted relationships and delivering a high level of holistic Wealth Management services.
Ida’s beliefs include the importance of estate planning, tax minimization, capital preservation and evolutionary portfolio construction using alternative strategies to achieve consistent absolute returns with a risk reward-oriented approach.
Ida obtained a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Toronto with specialization in Finance and major in Economics. Ida is a multi award winning Portfolio Manager and obtained her Chartered Alternative Investment Advisor (CAIA®) designation in 2005.
Ben Fox
Chief Investment Officer
Members Capital Management
Ben is Chief Investment Officer at Members Capital Management, a newly incorporated investment manager at the intersection of reinsurance, digital assets and the capital markets. With over 16 years’ experience in reinsurance, insurance-linked securities, investment management, and alternative risk transfer, Ben is responsible for all aspects of the firm’s investment activities, and has previously held senior positions at Hiscox, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, and the World Bank. Ben holds a Doctorate degree in Seismology, and a Master of Science degree in Earth Sciences, both from the University of Oxford.
Sandy Poklar
Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director
Firm Capital Corporation
Sandy Poklar is currently the Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director, Capital Markets & Strategic Developments for Firm Capital Corporation, EVP Finance for Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation (FC : TSX), Chief Financial Officer and a Trustee for Firm Capital Property Trust (FCD.UN : TSX) and President & CEO of Firm Capital Apartment REIT (FCA.U/FCA.UN : TSXV). Sandy is also a Trustee and Chairman of the Audit Committee for True North Commercial REIT (TNT.UN : TSX).
Prior to joining Firm Capital, Sandy was employed at Macquarie Capital and TD Securities where he was a Vice President in their Real Estate Investment Banking Groups. Sandy is a CPA, CA in Canada, a CPA(US) licensed in the State of Illinois and has his ICD.D designation.
Kent Willmore
Founding Partner & President
AGinvest Farmland Properties Canada
Kent is a highly experienced leader in the agriculture industry with over 30 years of expertise. As the President and Founder of AGinvest Farmland Properties Canada Inc., he has established a successful farmland asset management firm in Chatham, Ontario. In 2018, Kent launched the AGinvest Farmland One Fund, providing investors unique access to Ontario’s fertile farmland. Under his leadership, AGinvest has established three more successful funds that have delivered exceptional results for investors and farm families. AGinvest is committed to creating mutually beneficial opportunities for investors and farm families while supporting food security and promoting sustainable farming practices. Kent holds a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Environmental Science from the University of Waterloo, where he was recognized as an all-Canadian academic athlete.
Kent is a member of the Canadian Association of Farm Advisors (CAFA) and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, demonstrating his commitment to advancing the industry.
Greg Kalil
Managing Partner
Glengarry Farm Finance
Greg Kalil is the founder and Managing Partner of Stormont Partners, a Toronto based merchant bank with a strong focus on emerging alternatives in real assets.
One of Stormont’s first investments is Glengarry Farm Finance, an alternative lending business focused on providing transitional funding to Canadian farmers who are temporarily unable to access the mainstream banking system. Greg serves as Glengarry’s CEO, and is a lead investor in the Glengarry Funding LP, an open-ended partnership that provides the capital for Glengarry’s lending activities.
Greg has over 30 years of experience in real estate, infrastructure and renewable power investment and investment banking. Before founding Stormont, Greg spent 12 years as a Managing Partner at Brookfield Financial, the investment banking arm of Brookfield Asset Management. As head of their Canadian platform and a member of the global management committee, Greg created and led the firm’s Structured Transactions, Public Sector Advisory and Healthcare Real Estate practices.
Prior to Brookfield, Greg co-founded Cornerstone Commercial Realty, which was ultimately acquired by TD Securities where Greg subsequently worked in the Real Estate Investment Banking Group.
In the past, Greg has served on the boards of the Federation of Rental Housing Providers of Ontario, Toronto Community Housing (Chair of Investment and Development Committees), Holy Trinity School, and Trellis Housing Initiatives (Chair), a non-for-profit developer of affordable housing for underhoused single parents.
Greg presently sits on the boards of the Innis College Expansion Capital Campaign and Noozhoo Nokiiyan Limited Partnership (Chair of Investment Committee), the economic development arm of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, and Voyageur Services, a construction services company focused on the nuclear power sector in Ontario.
Aleks Karamarkovic
Vice President, Corporate Development
Graywood Developments
As the Vice President of Corporate Development at Graywood Developments, Aleks lead the company’s real estate private equity fundraising program and the origination of real estate partnership opportunities. With more than 12 years of experience in the real estate sector, he has a proven track record of raising capital, sourcing deals, and managing investor relations for a diverse portfolio of projects.
Aleks’ core competencies include financial accounting, audit and tax, financial reporting, and financial modeling, which he developed as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and a CFA Institute Charterholder (CFA). He also have a strong background in real estate development, fundraising and investments, having been involved in over $500 million in equity fundraising and multiple transactions involving land acquisition, dispositions, joint venture formation, and project financing. His mission is to create value for Graywood and its partners by delivering innovative and sustainable real estate solutions that meet the needs of all stakeholders.
Jordan Villarreal
Manager, Private Capital Research North America and LatAm
Preqin
Jordan manages the Canadian and Latin American research teams for Preqin across its Chicago and New York offices. Preqin is a leader in industry data and insights within the alternative assets space. Jordan’s experience includes working with Canada’s market leaders to gather key data and intelligence. He joined Preqin in 2020 and helped spearhead the creation of the dedicated Canadian research team. Jordan studied at the University of Western Ontario and holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Indiana University.
2024 Agenda – FOR REFERENCE ONLY
Day 1
September 25, 2024
8:00 am – 6:00 pm
September 25, 2024
8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Conference Day
8:00 am
Breakfast & Registration
Enjoy breakfast and ready yourself for a content and networking-packed day.
8:30 am
Insurance-Linked Securities – Uber-Diversifiers
Investors are constantly seeking assets and strategies that can reduce volatility in most scenarios and market regimes – especially if their asset base is intended to provide income over the short to moderate term (e.g., mature DB plans and endowments) since volatility is more a friend of accumulation plans. Insurance-Linked Securities (or ILSs) have very few connections to the vagaries of the capital markets, making them well-proven diversifiers. This panel will discuss their efficacy in a portfolio, the various types that can be employed, and how investors should perform diligence on the options presented.
Michael Nicks, Pepperdine University Endowment John Butler, Cohen & Co.
More to be added
9:15 am
Opportunities & Challenges in Real Estate & Infrastructure
Tremendous returns have been made in real estate and infrastructure for many investors over the last many decades – and some would say that this area provides the best opportunity going forward for virtually all investors and especially those whose time horizon is appropriately long. This panel will provide insight into opportunities that might fit many investor portfolios as well as the challenges that might present themselves when investing in them and other similar securities/offerings.
Speakers to be added
10:00 am
Table Talks
Your opportunity to join a table and discuss the topic on offer, lead by one of our sponsoring CAASA members.
Please move to a second topic/table at 10:30am to allow a spot to another attendee for the latter half of this session.
11:00 am
Rates, Recession, and Recoveries: How three Rs affect private credit
Private credit has grown from a cottage industry providing a link between off-market investors and borrowers to being integral parts of some of the largest financial supermarkets/platforms on the planet. As more capital has flowed to this previous backwater, participants’ (borrowers, lenders, and investors/LPs) sophistication has increase commensurately in many cases. As such, macro-economic factors such as the health of the economy can lead to macro-prudential issues: rising rates siphons money from the borrowers (since most are floating rate notes), a recession can crimp revenues and profitability, and recoveries (which have been robust but might be worsened by the aforementioned) might hamper returns to investors. This panel will test the efficacy of private lending portfolios in today’s economy.
Ken Lee, Gentai MIC Peter Pulkkinen, Lombard Odier David Burbach, YTM Capital Asset Management
11:45 am
ESG in a Nutshell
It’s well-known that ESG, sustainable investing, and the plethora of other monikers can be difficult to pin down with a universal meaning or description. While credit ratings of the same name between agencies are about 90% correlated, those on ESG scales are around 60% correlated. This talk will bring together the typical ways one can look at the ‘goodness’ of a company, security, or portfolio and provide pragmatic ways to use this knowledge.
Speaker TBD
12:00 pm
Keynote Fireside: The Role of Private Markets in Economies and Portfolios
Keynote will begin at 12:15PM
This fireside features two major players/investors in private markets as they discuss how private markets – including real estate, private equity and venture, private/alternative lending, infrastructure, and more esoteric areas such as ILS and data centres – have come into their own in the economy and portfolios of investors of all types and sizes. They will brief the audience on how they see the market for these offerings and discuss the potential (known and somewhat unknown) pitfalls that investors should be cognizant of when contemplating these investments.
Speakers TBD
1:00 pm
One-on-one meetings & Refresher
Or one might call it ‘recess’ – a time where all attendees can meet with whomever they like (possibly facilitated by the conference app). CAASA staff are on hand to help folks find one another, but should not be relied upon to ‘book up one’s day’ or provide concierge service at the conference – but we are happy to help members meet/identify folks on an ad hoc basis.
2:00 pm
Have Secondaries Lost their Lustre?
Every once in a while an idea gains great traction and it’s only a matter of time before a segment of the population calls it ‘a bubble’ or ‘ripe for a fall’ – but in a number of cases it is a secular and persistent change that led to its adoption. Have Secondaries, which have been an investor darling for years because of their instant vintage diversification, portfolio approach, and potentially well-priced entry points, reached their zenith? This panel will talk to where these investments will go from here.
Speakers TBD
2:30 pm
Rooting out Value: The why and how of farmland
Perhaps the world’s oldest investment, farmland has proved to be a winner for generations of landed gentry, hard-scrambling pioneers/sod-busters, and today’s family farms. They were the focus of many documentaries and movies in the 1970s when inflation reared its head in earnest last but have been eclipsed by other investments like commodities, condos, and cryptocurrencies of late. Is farmland the next leader in an inflation-hedged portfolio? And if so, how can investors make the most of this exposure? This panel will brief everyone on this and offer a way forward to invest in the space.
Take a stretch, grab a bit/sip, and get ready for more!
3:30 pm
Portfolio snapshots of three MFOs
Where is the ‘smart money’? Pensions oversee sometimes vast pots of money ($100s of billions) and have access to opportunities not available to just any investor. Single Family Offices are as varied as they are numerous (if you’ve met one family office…). Investment dealers usually have a limited line of private markets offerings. In this panel, all will hear from three long-standing multi-family offices who have worked with their clients in many areas of private market investment and have a fiduciary duty to do their level best for their client. This should be an entertaining view of the alts and private markets landscape!
Trevor Hunt, Northwood Family Office
More to be added
4:00 pm
Reception
Time to make a few more connections and chat about the day
6:00 pm
End of conference
See you at our next event!
Registration
End Investor means pensions, foundations/endowments, sovereign wealth funds, and single family offices. Intermediary investors means Multi-family offices, investment advsiors/dealers, wealth managers, and investment consulting companies and +1 means the first delegate is gratis but each additional delegate attracts a small charge. Manager and service provider delegates must be CAASA members in good standing and pay the requisite per person fee ($1,000 + tax).
Sponsorship is an additional $3,500 and does NOT include a delegate pass (those are purchased separately in all cases).
Note : Single Family Office means the those related to the family or full-time members of the investment team. All parties must not have outside commercial interests, as determined by CAASA, such as investment funds seeking external money, investment banking operations, or other activities that would also be performed by our members.
Pension and other institutional investor (e.g., E&F) attendees need to be full-time employees of the investor. Acting as a consultant, board member, or advisor (whether compensated or not) is not sufficient. Individuals who have an outside commercial interest are required to be employed by CAASA members and pay the requisite delegate pass fee.
CAASA Members
Members of CAASA including asset managers, service providers, multi-family offices, and investment advisors/consultants.