This year’s CAASA Annual Conference, also known as CAC26 is our flagship, premier, and most coveted conference.
In partnership with Bodhi Research Group, founding educational partner, in the CAC series, CAASA is delighted to welcome you back to Montréal from November 3-4, 2026.
The CAASA Annual Conference brings together speakers and participants from private and public pension plans, sovereign wealth funds, single and multi-family offices, consulting firms, investment dealers, Canadian and global investment management houses, and affiliated service providers. Panels and break-out sessions will focus on key issues facing investors and managers in Canada and elsewhere including structuring, legal & tax issues, IT and operational areas, and investments – including: hedge funds, CTAs, private equity, private lending, real estate, infrastructure, and crypto-assets/blockchain-related investments.
All content is subject to Chatham House Rule.
TBA
Please note that sessions from 11am to 5:50pm November 3, 2026 are exclusive to Speakers, Sponsors, and Investors. The Welcome Reception from 5:30pm – 6:30pm is open to all registered delegates of the conference. Due to capacity constraints, we are NOT providing a networking-only option – one must have a full-conference pass to attend any of the sessions.
PhD
Associate Professor of Finance, Desautels Faculty of Management – McGill University
Chief Economist and Head of Economics & Investment Research – AIMCo
MBA
Former CIO – State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB) & Co-Chair of AIMA’s Global Investor Board
PhD
Associate Professor of Finance, Desautels Faculty of Management – McGill University
Sebastien Betermier is an Associate Professor of Finance at the Desautels Faculty of Management at McGill University, and the Executive Director of the International Centre for Pension Management. His research focuses on the relationship between risk and return, asset allocation, sustainable finance, and the design of sustainable pension systems. He teaches courses on applied investments and pension funds and retirement systems at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Betermier founded and currently directs the McGill International Portfolio Challenge, the world’s largest buy-side university competition focused on sustainability challenges for pension funds and other institutional investors. He is a member of the Research Policy Network on Household Finance at the Center for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), and he also founded and serves as Advisory Board member of the Sustainable Growth Initiative at McGill. Professor Betermier holds a PhD in Finance from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. He was Head of the Finance Area at the Desautels Faculty of Management from 2020-2022 and an Academic Advisor at the Bank of Canada from 2018-2022. Betermier’s work appears in top finance journals, and it has featured in the Wall Street Journal, The Economist, Financial Times, and Bloomberg, among others. In 2017, he was named one of the World’s Best 40 under 40 Business School Professors by Poets and Quants.
Chief Economist and Head of Economics & Investment Research – AIMCo
Jean David joined AIMCo (Alberta Investment Management Corporation) in December 2010 to lead the Global Tactical Asset Allocation investment activity. He has since then transitioned internally to a senior role, working on investment strategy research, asset allocation, quantitative research, and macroeconomic analysis. He is currently Chief Economist and Head of Economics & Investment Research. In addition, he represents AIMCo as a speaker at external events, conferences, and in the media, and as a member of the Bank of Canada’s Market Participant Survey.
Prior experience includes macroeconomic analysis, tactical asset allocation, and systematic global macro portfolio management at Caisse dépôt et placement du Québec (La Caisse). He also worked in strategic investments for the National Bank of Canada. Jean David began his career working in mergers and acquisitions at Credit Suisse in Toronto.
He is a board member of the AIMCo Foundation for Financial Education, L’Observatoire des erreurs (a Montreal-based think tank known as the “Library of Mistakes”), the Afrodescendant Leadership Alliance’s Black Wealth Club, and L’Hybride, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting internationally-adopted adults.
He holds an M.Sc. degree in finance from the Henley Business School – ICMA Centre at the University of Reading, United Kingdom and a BCom. – finance major, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
______________________________________________________________
Jean David a joint AIMCo en décembre 2010 afin de créer le portefeuille de répartition tactique globale de l’actif. Depuis, il a évolué vers un rôle de membre principal de l’équipe responsable de la répartition stratégique de l’actif et des stratégies d’investissement, et agit présentement à titre d’économiste en chef et leader du groupe Économie et recherche en investissement.
Auparavant, il cumulait une expérience en analyse macroéconomique, en gestion tactique de l’actif et en gestion de portefeuilles de type « global macro » systématique au sein de la Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. Il a aussi travaillé au sein de l’équipe des investissements stratégiques à la Banque Nationale du Canada. Jean David a débuté sa carrière à Toronto, à la banque d’investissement Credit Suisse, au sein de l’équipe de fusions et acquisitions.
Il siège aux conseils d’administration de la AIMCo Foundation for Financial Education, de l’Observatoire des erreurs (l’équivalent montréalais de la « Library of Mistakes »), le Black Wealth Club de l’Afrodescendant Leadership Alliance ainsi que de L’Hybride (un OBNL pour les adultes adoptés à l’international).
Il détient une maîtrise ès sciences (M. Sc.) en finance de la Henley Business School – ICMA Centre de l’Université de Reading, au Royaume-Uni, ainsi qu’un baccalauréat en administration, option finance, de l’Université du Québec à Montréal (Canada).
MBA
Former CIO – State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB) & Co-Chair of AIMA’s Global Investor Board
Anne-Marie Fink currently serves as Co-Chair of AIMA’s Global Investor Board, a group of two dozen asset owners from around the world and different investor types. Most recently, she was the Chief Investment Officer for Private Markets and Funds Alpha at the State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB) for 6+ years. At SWIB she managed a team of 40 professionals and more than $75 billion across private equity, real estate, hedge funds, equities, fixed income, private debt, and venture capital portfolios.
Previously she served as the chief investment officer for the Employees’ Retirement System of Rhode Island and for a large family office. She also worked at State Street Global Advisors as portfolio strategist for alternative investments. Her investment career started at JP Morgan, where she spent more than 16 years in equity and hedge fund research.
Anne-Marie earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University and an MBA from Columbia Business School. She is also the author of The Money Makers: How Extraordinary Managers Win in a World Turned Upside Down, which draws on investors’ insights into best practices in managing companies.
PhD, CFA, CAIA
Founder & CEO – Bodhi Research Group
Managing Director Investment Research – Bodhi Research Group
CAIA
Founding Partner – CAASA
Director of Operations – New York State Nurses Association Pension Plan and Benefits Fund
Ph.D.
Managing Director, Head of Total Portfolio Risk and Analytics, Risk – CPP Investments
CFA
Senior Associate – IMCO
Managing Director, Partnership Portfolios – BCI
Director and Economist – CME Group
CFA
Investment Director – Institute for Advanced Study
PhD
Risk Executive – Bodhi Research Group
CAIA, FRM
Senior Analyst, Active Public Markets – University Pension Plan (UPP)
MBA, CFA, CAIA
Senior Managing Director, Operations, Capital Markets & Credit Investments – BCI
Director, Private Debt Lead – University Pension Plan (UPP)
Senior Advisor to the ED/CIO – New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS)
Director of Investments – Joddes
Managing Director, External management – Alternative Investments – La Caisse
CFA
Senior Investment Analyst – Forthlane Partners
CAIA
Head of Business Development, Canada and Global Head, Sustainability and Impact Solutions – Innocap
CFA, MBA
Senior Director, Investments – Sagard Wealth
Chief Investment Officer – National Public Pension Fund Association (NPPFA)
Vice President, Head of External Market Neutral Strategies – iA Financial Group (Industrial Alliance)
Director, Portfolio Management, FCC Capital – Farm Credit Canada
Senior Portfolio Manager – Mastercard Foundation Asset Management
Executive Vice President – Head of Public Markets, Hedge Funds and Direct Investments Transactions – Richter
CFA, MBA
Senior Director, Liquid Alternative Investments – La Caisse
PhD
Associate Professor of Finance, Academic Director – McGill University
CFA, FRM
Senior Director of Investments – Kansas State University Foundation
PhD, CFA, CAIA
Founder & CEO – Bodhi Research Group
Dr. Ranjan Bhaduri (he/him) is the Founder & CEO of Bodhi Research Group, an advisory and consulting firm dedicated to research and education in the investments industry. Under Dr. Bhaduri’s leadership, Bodhi Research Group has served clients on five continents and worked with over a dozen pension funds.
Dr. Bhaduri is a leading voice and recognized authority in shaping best practices of the alternative investments industry. Dr. Bhaduri has 25 years of experience in manager research, portfolio construction, due diligence, structuring, and implementing managed account solutions. At Morgan Stanley, Dr. Bhaduri performed due diligence and played a crucial role in developing customized portfolios of alternative investments. He also served in an advisory capacity at the East-West Center, an American think tank focused on U.S.-Asia-Pacific relations.
Dr. Bhaduri has been a featured speaker at both industry conferences and prestigious educational institutions, educating both entrants and seasoned professionals in the field. He has addressed diverse topics ranging from entrepreneurship strategies to advanced portfolio and risk management techniques. Dr. Bhaduri’s academic contributions extend to publishing papers on a variety of topics including liquidity, portfolio construction, managed account platforms, hedge fund strategies, and risk management in esteemed publications.
Dr. Bhaduri holds both the CFA and CAIA charters. Previously, he served on the All About Alpha Editorial Board and held roles such as Executive of the CAIA Chicago Chapter and currently serves as Executive of the CAIA Toronto Chapter. He has also contributed to AIMA Canada as a Board Member, co-chair of the Managed Futures Committee, and member of the Global Research Committee.
Dr. Bhaduri has demonstrated a strong track record of leadership and mentorship. Several of his former analysts and interns have achieved notable success, securing positions at renowned organizations.
Managing Director Investment Research – Bodhi Research Group
Pierre‐Philippe Ste‐Marie has 25 years of experience in the financial industry working with fixed income and cross asset absolute returns teams. He has initiated and unwound absolute returns and indexed portfolios and managed Canadian, US and European cross asset exposure levered and unlevered as a team leader (CEO, CIO) as well as a portfolio manager. Pierre-Philippe joined the Bodhi Research Group in 2022.
CAIA
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; 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, organize 100+ committee meetings, and increase member numbers over his 7-year tenure from 66 to 164 corporate entities.
James also has experience in research and writing for the CAIA Association as well as serving on CAIA’s Exam Council and as a grader for the Level II portion of the exam. He also had roles in institutional sales and FoHF structuring in Seoul, South Korea, as a Product Manager at ICICI Wealth Management, and an Investment Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities. He graduated from Simon Fraser University with a BBA (Finance).
Director of Operations – New York State Nurses Association Pension Plan and Benefits Fund
Cordell is the Director of Operations at the New York State Nurses Association (“NYSNA”) Pension Plan and Benefits Fund. He is responsible for leading operational due diligence reviews and broader investment operations functions within NYSNA.
Prior to NYSNA, Cordell served within General Motors Asset Management’s (“GMAM”) Enterprise Risk Management team; and was responsible for leading operational due diligence reviews on both alternative and traditional asset managers within GM’s Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution plans across the US, Canada, Belgium, and the UK.
Prior to GMAM, Cordell worked at Mercer Sentinel, Mercer Investments’ operational due diligence consulting group. While at Mercer Sentinel, Cordell performed operational due diligence on alternative and traditional asset managers for both external and internal clients.
During his over 20 years’ experience in the asset management industry, Cordell has served in various roles within reputable firms including Citco Fund Services, Société Générale and BNY Mellon Wealth Management. He has worked with both alternative and traditional asset managers of various sizes and geographic locations including North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.
Ph.D.
Managing Director, Head of Total Portfolio Risk and Analytics, Risk – CPP Investments
Bill oversees Total Portfolio Risk and Analytics for CPP Investments, with oversight spanning strategic portfolio design through total portfolio implementation. Prior to his current role, he held senior roles at CPP Investments in portfolio construction, quantitative investing, and external fund management. Before joining CPP Investments in 2011, he was an Assistant Professor of Finance at the Sobey School of Business and a Senior Quantitative Analyst at Capula Investment Management. He holds a PhD in Finance from the University of Toronto, an MSc in Financial Mathematics from the University of Warwick, an MSc in Structural Engineering from the University of Manchester (UMIST), and a BSc in Civil Engineering from the University of Calgary.
CFA
Senior Associate – IMCO
Lauretta is a Francophone financial professional who began her career in Paris at BNP Paribas, where she held various roles across public and private markets. She is currently a Senior Associate at IMCO in Toronto, supporting the infrastructure investment team. She holds a Master’s degree in Finance from Leonard de Vinci, a French management school, and is a CFA charterholder.
As an impact-driven professional, she is a member of CFA Society Toronto’s Asset Management Committee, which organizes high-profile industry events. She is also a writer and interviewer for the Analyst, CFA Society Toronto’s Journal, where she explores current and emerging topics in the investment industry and creates space for thoughtful conversations with local and global leaders.
Having lived across three continents from childhood through adulthood, Lauretta is passionate about global and intercultural connections, languages, and philosophy. Known for her quiet influence, she naturally bridges languages, cultures, countries, and organizations.
Managing Director, Partnership Portfolios – BCI
Hazlitt Gill joined BCI’s Partnership Portfolio team in 2022 and leads the group’s absolute return fund program. Prior to joining BCI, Hazlitt spent over 13 years at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, most recently as Senior Vice President and Head of Alternatives Manager Research. Hazlitt also worked as CIO of RLJ Select Investments and Vice President of Alternative Investments at Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management. Hazlitt has more than 25 years of capital markets experience primarily in alternative investments.
Director and Economist – CME Group
Dr. Mark Shore, Director, and Economist at the CME Group. He is responsible for generating economic analysis on global financial markets by identifying emerging trends and evaluating economic factors. He is a well-known alternative investment expert with over 30 years of experience in capital markets.
Dr. Shore is also:
• An adjunct professor at DePaul University in Chicago.
• He is a contributing writer for the Commodity Insights Digest (CID) at Bayes Business School—City University of London, UK.
• On the advisory board for the National Public Pension Fund Association (NPPFA)
He is frequently invited to speak at industry and academic conferences. Mark has contributed macroeconomic research to several global organizations.
Mark received his Doctorate from DePaul University with his dissertation on alternative investments. He received his MBA from the University of Chicago.
CFA
Investment Director – Institute for Advanced Study
Adam Solan is an Investment Director at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS), an endowment supporting a community of scholars in Princeton, NJ. Before joining IAS, Adam held roles at State Street Global Advisors and Ocean Road Advisors. He started his investment career at Tulane University’s investment office. Adam has a BSM in Finance and Economics from Tulane University. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.
PhD
Risk Executive – Bodhi Research Group
Niall Whelan is a risk executive with over twenty years experience implementing new and emerging industry practices and regulations. He is a trusted change agent, experienced at leading complex cross-functional initiatives. Areas of specialisation include climate scenario modelling, enterprise risk, enterprise stress testing, credit modelling for IFRS 9 and CECL, and models for market and counterparty credit risk. Niall is a thought leader who has presented in industry forums, has led training sessions, has published peer-reviewed papers, and teaches the next generation of risk leaders.
He has been a trusted mentor and coach for numerous individuals throughout his career, many of whom are now in senior roles across the industry. Niall coordinates the risk course at the Master’s of Mathematical Finance at the University of Toronto as well as serving on the academic advisory board of the Masters of Quantitative Finance at the University of Waterloo.
Prior to joining forces with Bodhi Research Group, Niall spent over 20 years at the Bank of Nova Scotia leading teams involved in various aspects of risk. Previously he was an academic researcher, investigating the boundary between classical and quantum physics. He is the author of dozens of research papers which have garnered thousands of citations. His research took him to leading research institutes in Copenhagen and Paris.
He holds a PhD in theoretical physics from Yale University.
CAIA, FRM
Senior Analyst, Active Public Markets – University Pension Plan (UPP)
David Dong is a Senior Analyst in the Active Public Markets team at University Pension Plan (UPP), where he focuses on external manager allocation for credit and multi-asset strategies. His responsibilities include investment due diligence, portfolio construction, and portfolio management across a range of hedge fund strategies, including managed futures, systematic macro, quantitative and discretionary multi-strategy, and long-biased credit.
Before his current position, David held several roles at UPP, starting as an intern in Active Public Markets and advancing through various positions focused on both hedge fund and long-biased equity investing. Prior to joining UPP, he completed internships with Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP), OMERS, and BMO Capital Markets, where he developed experience in research, trading, and analytics.
David holds a Master of Financial Economics (MFE) from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management and a Bachelor of Mathematics from the University of Waterloo, with a double major in Actuarial Science and Statistics. He is a CAIA Charterholder and an FRM Certified Professional.
MBA, CFA, CAIA
Senior Managing Director, Operations, Capital Markets & Credit Investments – BCI
Bandhna Mamak is Senior Managing Director, Operations, Capital Markets & Credit Investments at British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI), where she leads the financial, operational, and business functions of a major institutional investment group. With over two decades in capital markets, she has built a reputation as a transformation leader — driving large-scale operating model changes, modernizing trading and investment operations, and partnering closely with investment teams to translate strategy into execution. Her background spans trading, investment operations, risk, and compliance.
Bandhna holds an MBA in Finance from McGill University and is both a CFA and CAIA Charterholder.
Director, Private Debt Lead – University Pension Plan (UPP)
Aiman El-Nahas currently serves as Director, Private Debt at University Pension Plan Ontario (UPP) where he leads all aspects of investment strategy development, new investment execution, and management of portfolio investments. Prior to UPP, Aiman was a senior investment team member within Ontario Power Generation’s Fund Management Group. Aiman directly supported the build out of OPG’s multi-billion credit portfolio, focused predominantly on asset-based and infrastructure fund partnerships, platform investments, co-investments, and direct investments. Before his tenure at Ontario Power Generation, Aiman held various roles at CST Savings Inc. and BNY Wealth, focused on fixed income and multi-asset investments. Aiman holds an MBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University.
Senior Advisor to the ED/CIO – New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS)
Han Yik is Senior Advisor to the Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer of the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS), one of the largest public pension funds in the United States with approximately $160 billion in assets. A member of NYSTRS’ Executive Leadership Team, he oversees strategic asset allocation, investment governance and the integration of responsible investment across the portfolio.
Previously, Han served as Head of Institutional Investors at the World Economic Forum, where he engaged the leadership of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, and endowments and led the WEF’s Retirement Investment Systems Reform initiative, whose recommendations influenced public pension legislation globally.
Earlier in his career, Han managed outsourced-CIO mandates at Bank of America with full investment discretion for foundations, endowments, and pension funds, growing discretionary AUM from $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion. He began his career as an actuarial consultant at Towers Perrin and Mercer.
Han holds a B.S. in Applied Mathematics from Yale University, where he won the Benjamin F. Barge Prize for Excellence in Mathematics. He is a member of the Milken Institute Global Capital Markets Advisory Council, and is an active participant in the PPI, ICPM and AAAIM communities.
Director of Investments – Joddes
Louis-Philippe Roy joined Joddes in August 2021 as Director of Investments. He has spent over 15 years in various roles that span private markets due diligence, portfolio management, risk management and sell-side trading at various Canadian institutions. In his current role, he is responsible for the day-to-day management of the investment portfolio, including asset allocation as well as manager sourcing in both public and private markets.
Prior to joining Joddes, Louis-Philippe worked at TD Asset Management Inc. (TDAM). As part of the Quantitative Equity team, he co-managed TDAM’s quantitative equity portfolios, with a focus on the systematic alpha mandates.
Before joining TDAM, Louis-Philippe worked as an Associate Director of Proprietary Risk & Investments for a large Canadian financial institution, where he was responsible for trading, hedging, and risk management.
Louis-Philippe holds a Master of Financial Economics from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Western Ontario. He also holds the Chartered Investment Manager designation.
Managing Director, External management – Alternative Investments – La Caisse
Nicolas Lefevre-Laumonier is Managing Director of Liquid Alternative Investments within the External Portfolio Management group at La Caisse, where he oversees a CAD 12.5 billion hedge fund overlay program across all alternative strategies. He has been with La Caisse for almost 15 years, following a career in financial markets in Europe with NYSE Euronext, Société Générale, and AXA Re. Nicolas holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Economics and Mathematics from France, as well as a Master of Science in Financial Markets from HEC Montréal, where he has been teaching courses on Finance and Alternative Strategies for the past four years.
CFA
Senior Investment Analyst – Forthlane Partners
Anthony plays a pivotal role in the investment process at Forthlane, spending his time on market analysis, strategic and tactical asset allocation, portfolio construction, manager selection, and other duties. Prior to joining Forthlane, Anthony completed his HBA at the Ivey Business School, where he also completed the Ivey Sustainability Certificate. Anthony is a CFA Charterholder.
CAIA
Head of Business Development, Canada and Global Head, Sustainability and Impact Solutions – Innocap
As Head of Business Development, Canada and Global Head of Sustainability & Impact Solutions, Caroline is responsible for Innocap’s business development activities in Canada as well as its ESG and impact business offering. She leads and develops strategic initiatives targeted to assist Innocap’s clients to invest constructive capital in order to generate growth while contributing to a more sustainable world. Caroline strives to have a meaningful impact on asset owners and asset managers as well as on all stakeholders of the ecosystem.
Caroline was previously Managing Director, Investor Relations and Business Development at Innocap. In that role, she developed powerful partnerships with Innocap’s institutional clients, lead for two years Innocap’s business development efforts in Europe and in the US and was the instigator for our ESG and Impact Solutions product offering. Caroline has over 13 years of experience working in the finance industry. Caroline began her career at Innocap as legal counsel where she helped design and build Dedicated Managed Account Platforms for sophisticated investors around the world. She received her
Bachelor of Laws from the Sherbrooke University, she holds a Master’s degree in International Trade Law (LL.M.) from Cape Town University (South Africa) as well as the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) and Sustainable Investment Professional Certification from Concordia University.
CFA, MBA
Senior Director, Investments – Sagard Wealth
Dennis is a Senior Director, Investments at Sagard Wealth and a member of the firm’s Investment Committee. He has over 15 years of experience across various roles in investments and capital markets. In his current role, he leads manager selection, portfolio construction, and builds multi-asset class investment strategies for ultra-high-net-worth, family office and institutional clients.
Prior to Sagard, Dennis led the public markets investment strategy at BRK Capital, a Montreal-based family office, where he sourced and executed investments across global equities, fixed income, hedge funds, and alternative investments. Dennis previously worked as an equity research analyst at Claret Asset Management and began his career at RBC Phillips, Hager & North.
Dennis holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and an MBA from Concordia University.
Chief Investment Officer – National Public Pension Fund Association (NPPFA)
Since 2016, Gerald has served as principal of GCY Associates LLC. GCY Associates LLC is a small, independent, global institutional advisory and consulting firm with clients that have ranged from an Ivy League university, to a small private HBCU, to a multi-billion euro multilateral, Geneva, Switzerland-based scientific research organisation, to multiple international periodicals. He also serves on various boards, including working as an independent director to an integrated, global insurance fund and as an advisory board member to a related insurance group, including serving as the group’s Chair, Investment Committee. Most recently (2024), he was named Chief Investment Officer of the National Public Pension Funds Association (NPPFA). He has also served as an advisor/consultant to a global securities law firm and to a former Ambassador.
From 2002 – 2016, Gerald served as VP & Chief Investment Officer for the UNCF. where he actively managed three (3) portfolios through a myriad of outside consultants, managers, custodians, etc. At their peak, those 3 portfolios totalled approximately $1 billion. One was a dedicated, fixed-income portfolio for a special scholarship programme created in conjunction with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that was designed to use a dedicated defeasance strategy to immunise programme liabilities via matching cash flows and durations, akin to pension plans; the second was a traditional, fully-diversified, long-term, endowment portfolio; and the third was a short-term portfolio that staggered maturities across various short-term instruments. Prior to UNCF, he worked with UBS as a retail broker and with PaineWebber (1995) as part of a team for institutional fixed income sales covering government issues, corporates, Eurobonds, etc. Lastly, he worked in both the retail and commercial banking divisions of Riggs National Bank of Washington (1990) in multiple capacities.
Gerald holds postgraduate degrees in Economics from the London School of Economics & Political Science and York University and in Law from the University of Miami and the Washington College of Law. His undergraduate degree is in Economics from the American University with honours. Gerald has served on multiple advisory boards1, committees, etc. He was nominated for multiple industry awards and, most recently, won the award from Institutional Investor “Investor Intelligence Awards, Endowments & Foundations, Thought Leadership” (2016) in the endowment and foundation space. He was nominated twice on the “ai-CIO, Power 100 CIOs” (2012 & 2013) global list of chief investment officers and has spoken on many global institutional investor panels all over the world.2 Most recently, Gerald agreed to serve as an Adjunct Professor to teach a class on “Asset Management” at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.
Gerald is a dual Jamaican-American citizen, married, and currently lives in Washington, DC. He is partly bilingual (English & French) and is also an avid, recreational chef de cuisine, sportsman, voracious reader and global traveller. Lastly, his favourite saying & life’s aspiration and motto is: “Stay centred in the Tao and the world comes to you. Comes, and isn’t harmed. Comes, and finds contentment.” – by Lao Tzu (ca. 5th c. BC.)
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1 Various advisory board memberships have included the RF Kennedy Leadership Council, Institutional Investor, Investment Management Institute, Alternative Investment Management Association & US & Latin Markets Group.
2 Featured panel and keynote speaking appearances have been in Europe (UK, Germany, Austria, Holland, Switzerland, etc.), S. America (Brazil, Colombia, etc.), N. America, the Caribbean, the Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia, etc.) and Australia.
Vice President, Head of External Market Neutral Strategies – iA Financial Group (Industrial Alliance)
Christoph Dietrich leads iAGAM’s External Market Neutral Strategies program where he is responsible for the selection and oversight of third-party strategies that are uncorrelated to broad market movements. He has more than 15 years of experience in the finance industry, combining capital markets expertise and institutional investment management. Prior to joining iA in 2026, Christoph worked at BofA Merrill Lynch and at Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. He holds a master’s degree in Finance from Sciences Po Paris.
Director, Portfolio Management, FCC Capital – Farm Credit Canada
Gabrielle joined Farm Credit Canada in 2024 as a founding member of the team and helped build the FCC Capital division. As the Director of Portfolio Management for FCC Capital, she leads the development of portfolio construction, strategy, reporting and policy within FCC Capital. Prior to joining FCC, she worked at PSP Investment within their Natural Resources team, where she spent nearly 10 years building and supporting a portfolio of farmland, timberland and critical mineral assets worth over $20B.
Senior Portfolio Manager – Mastercard Foundation Asset Management
Monica is responsible for the research and development of MFAM’s long-term asset mix, risk budgeting, and capital planning. She works closely with the investment team to evaluate opportunities within a total portfolio framework.
Monica has over a decade of experience in quantitative investing and portfolio design. Before joining MFAM, she worked at OPSEU Pension Plan Trust (OPTrust), where she researched and implemented quantitative strategies with a total-fund focus. Monica began her career on the liquid alternatives team at Northwater Capital Management Inc.
Monica earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Mount Allison University and a Master of Mathematical Finance from the University of Toronto.
Executive Vice President – Head of Public Markets, Hedge Funds and Direct Investments Transactions – Richter
With over 25 years of experience in financial markets, Loïc is known for his strategic thinking, innovative mindset, and ability to bring clarity to complexity. His approach is grounded in a strong institutional foundation and a commitment to delivering thoughtful, high-quality investment solutions. Across his career, he has earned the trust of partners and peers alike by building long-term relationships and consistently aligning investment decisions with each client’s broader vision and values.
At Richter, Loïc oversees public markets, absolute return strategies, and direct investment transactions. Drawing on his extensive institutional background, he takes a comprehensive view of each mandate – working closely with internal teams and business owners to evaluate opportunities, construct portfolios, and deliver meaningful results.
Loïc is valued for his open-mindedness and team-first mindset. He believes the best ideas emerge through collaboration and brings a balanced, people-focused approach to every conversation. Clients and colleagues appreciate his ability to listen deeply, think creatively, and stay focused on what matters most: navigating investments with confidence and clarity.
CFA, MBA
Senior Director, Liquid Alternative Investments – La Caisse
Yves Caron is Senior Director, Liquid Alternative Investments, at CDPQ Funds Management, where he focuses on global macro and emerging markets debt. His investment experience spans liquid and private markets, emerging managers, and GP stakes. Prior to joining La Caisse, he was a portfolio manager at a multi-family office and a fund of hedge funds (FoHF).
He holds an MBA from HEC Montréal and a BSc (Honours) in Biochemistry from McGill University.
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Yves Caron est directeur principal, Stratégies alternatives, chez CDPQ Gestion de fonds, où il se concentre sur les stratégies global macro et la dette des marchés émergents. Son expérience en investissement couvre les marchés liquides et privés, les gestionnaires émergents et les participations dans des sociétés de gestion. Avant de se joindre à La Caisse, il a été gestionnaire de portefeuille au sein d’un bureau multifamilial et d’un fonds de fonds de couverture.
Il est titulaire d’un MBA de HEC Montréal et d’un baccalauréat en sciences, avec distinction en biochimie, de l’Université McGill.
PhD
Associate Professor of Finance, Academic Director – McGill University
Professor Ericsson joined the Desautels Faculty of Management in the autumn of 1999 with a PhD from the Stockholm School of Economics (1997). A former Marie Curie Fellow at the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium, he is now an associate professor, Director of the Master of Management in Finance. Ericsson’s current research focuses on risk premia in corporate bond and credit derivative markets, and has been published in the Journal of Finance, Review of Financial Studies, Journal of Financial Economics, Journal of Business, JFQA and others. At McGill, Professor Ericsson has given derivatives, and fixed income courses at BCOM, MMF, MBA and PhD levels. At the executive level, Ericsson has spearheaded single- and multi-name credit derivative courses, as well as general seminars on derivatives theory in Montreal, Stockholm, and New York. He has also acted as guest speaker at industry conferences in North America and the Caribbean. Furthermore, Professor Ericsson has carried out consulting projects for a Nordic real estate investment firm, the Swedish National Debt Office, acted as advisor / expert witness to a number of law firms on topics related to derivatives and structured products.
CFA, FRM
Senior Director of Investments – Kansas State University Foundation
Matthew Smagacz, CFA, FRM, is Senior Director of Investments for the Kansas State University Foundation, where he helps oversee the $1.4 billion portfolio. With more than 23 years of institutional investment experience, he has led manager research, portfolio construction, asset allocation, risk management, and investment policy development across endowment, foundation, sovereign wealth fund, and family office investment platforms.
Prior to joining the Foundation, Matt served as Senior Investment Officer for the Wyoming State Treasurer’s Office, helping oversee the State’s now $34 billion sovereign wealth fund.
Matt holds a BSBA in Finance from Washington University in Saint Louis. He is a CFA charterholder and a Financial Risk Manager (FRM).
Tentative – Please note this agenda is subject to change.
11:00 am
Sponsors, Investors, & Speakers Only
We welcome all CAASA members who are sponsors of the event as well as all speaker and investors (e.g., those employed by pensions, E&Fs, SWFs, single family offices, and certain wealth managers).
All other registered delegates are welcome to the General Reception in the evening.
11:00 am
Sponsors, Investors, & Speakers Only
This is everyone’s opportunity to meet – either as established via our conference meeting & messaging app or ad hoc. We do not require a minimum number of meetings/interactions and encourage everyone to network at their own pace.
11:45 am
Sponsors, Investors, & Speakers Only
12:00 pm
Sponsors, Investors, & Speakers Only
Welcome to the Eighth CAASA Annual Conference in Montreal!
The growth of CAASA has occurred much because of the success of this event and this is due a great deal to the talent and hard work of Ranjan Bhaduri of Bodhi Research Group who organizes our programming for this (and predecessor events at another organization), our flagship, conference.
James Burron, CAASA
Ranjan Bhaduri, Bodhi Research Group
Lauretta Chame, IMCO (Master of Ceremonies)
12:30 pm
Sponsors, Investors, & Speakers Only
In this keynote address, Professor Betermier presents brand-new research showing that the more a fund departs from its reference portfolio to add value, the less reliably benchmark-relative performance measures skill. Separating skill from luck can require more than 20 years of data, far beyond the usual three- to five-year horizon. The talk proposes ways to interpret that uncertainty, isolate sources of value creation and improve benchmark selection.
Sebastien Betermier, McGill University
1:15 pm
Sponsors, Investors, & Speakers Only
2:15 pm
Sponsors, Investors, & Speakers Only
2:30 pm
Sponsors, Investors, & Speakers Only
Decisions at the top of the house influence every part of the portfolio. As total portfolio approaches gain momentum, this panel examines how institutional investors are integrating asset allocation, portfolio construction and risk management, and what is proving effective in practice.
Han Yik, New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS)
Monica Firminger, Mastercard Foundation Asset Management
Bill Bobey, CPP Investments
3:15 pm
Sponsors, Investors, & Speakers Only
4:00 pm
4:15 pm
Sponsors, Investors, & Speakers Only
This presentation will explore the private-market investment opportunity across Canada’s agriculture sector, with a focus on farmland and agtech. It will highlight key themes shaping investment across the agricultural ecosystem and provide an overview of FCC and FCC Capital’s role in supporting innovation, growth and investment in the sector.
Gabrielle Fangor, Farm Credit Canada
4:45 pm
Sponsors, Investors, & Speakers Only
Family offices invest with a perspective that often spans generations. This panel explores emerging trends across markets, managers and family priorities, and where family offices see opportunities for alpha today.
Louis-Philippe Roy, Joddes
Dennis Bobyk, Sagard Wealth
Loïc Julé, Richter
Anthony Berg, Forthlane Partners
5:00 pm
5:15 pm
All registered delegates are invited to this opportunity to meet and perhaps begin a more fulsome evening.
6:30 pm
We suggest that delegates use the conference messaging app to reach out to fellow conference goers if they wish to arrange other meetings/dinners.
8:00 am
Please arrive during this 30 minutes so we can start on time and keep to our busy schedule.
8:30 am
We’ll give you a brief overview of the day and how we created the curriculum for the day. The growth of CAASA has occurred much because of the success of this event and this is due a great deal to the talent and hard work of Ranjan Bhaduri of Bodhi Research Group who organizes our programming for this (and predecessor events at another organization), our flagship, conference.
James Burron, CAASA
Ranjan Bhaduri, Bodhi Research Group
Lauretta Chame, IMCO
8:45 am
Held the morning after the U.S. midterm elections, this session examines the forces shaping the economic outlook: interest rates, tariffs and trade policy, and market conditions. Two economists offer their perspectives on what lies ahead and the implications for investors.
Mark Shore, CME Group
Jean David Tremblay-Frenette, AIMCo
9:20 am
The search for alpha never stops. Institutional investors share their highest-conviction investment ideas for 2027, from overlooked opportunities to emerging themes, and reveal where they see the most compelling prospects for generating returns in the year ahead.
Gerald Chen-Young, NPPFA – National Public Pension Fund Association
Adam Solan, Institute of Advanced Study
David Dong, University Pension Plan (UPP)
9:50 am
Climate risk is now a financial risk that allocators can model and manage. This session explains how scenario analysis helps investors translate climate uncertainty into measurable portfolio impacts, and what that means for risk management and decision-making.
Niall Whelan, Bodhi Research Group
10:15 am
10:45 am
Private credit has become a core allocation in institutional portfolios. This panel of talented investment professionals examines the critical questions of risk, valuations, liquidity and returns, and how allocators are positioning their portfolios for what lies ahead.
Pierre-Philippe Ste-Marie, Bodhi Research Group
Aiman El-Nahas, University Pension Plan (UPP)
Matt Smagacz, Kansas State University Foundation
11:15 am
Strong investment operations are a source of competitive advantage. This panel examines how operating model transformation, modernized trading and investment operations, and integrated risk and compliance enable investment teams to turn strategy into execution.
James Burron, CAASA
Bandhna Mamak, BCI
Cordell W. Thomas II , New York State Nurses Association Pension Plan and Benefits Fund (NYSNA)
11:45 pm
1:30 pm
In this fireside chat, Hazlitt Gill goes behind the alpha with Yves Caron to explore how a major allocator selects managers, builds its hedge fund portfolio, and views the role of hedge funds in today’s markets.
Hazlitt Gill, BCI
Yves Caron, La Caisse
2:00 pm
3:00 pm
Managed account platforms offer institutional allocators enhanced transparency, control and governance. This panel explores how investors use managed accounts to strengthen risk oversight, customize mandates and access alpha more efficiently, and why the approach is increasingly regarded as best practice.
Caroline Bergeron, Innocap
Nicolas Lefevre-Laumonier, La Caisse
Christoph Dietrich, iA Financial Group (Industrial Alliance)
3:30 pm
An analysis of the potential impact of asset returns smoothing on portfolio performance and volatility profile in up and down markets.
Jan Ericsson, McGill University
Pierre-Philippe Ste-Marie, Bodhi Research Group
4:00 pm
Do hedge funds really diversify? Drawing on 26 years of monthly index data, this research shows that hedge fund strategies vary widely in the benefits they offer. It proposes a framework for allocating to them according to a portfolio’s mandate and its exposure to correlation risk.
Mark Shore, CME Group
4:30 pm
6:00 pm
Until next year!
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.