IR Magazine

IR Magazine Forum – Canada
IR TRENDS AND BEST PRACTICES

Wednesday, April 5, 2023

TD Tower, Toronto

About the forum

The IR Magazine Forum – Canada took place on Wednesday, April 5 in Toronto and aimed to give Canadian IR professionals practical, take away ideas to implement into their IR programs.

For the past few years, attendees joined us to look at running an IR program in the new normal. Throughout these events we heard the latest advice on targeting, including how to respond to the changing nature of the traditional sell-side, how to engage with ETFs and new day traders, and the future for roadshows. As well as this, buy-side, sell side and issuing companies shared advice on post-pandemic strategies, creative best practice, ESG reporting, and the use of new technologies.

Agenda: 2023

Click here to see the 2023 agenda as a PDF

All times displayed are in Eastern Time (ET)

  • 08:30 AM
    Registration, breakfast and morning networking

  • 08:50 AM
    Welcome to the IR Magazine Forum - Canada

    Laurie Havelock, editoratlarge, IR Magazine

  • 09:00 AM
    Setting the scene: Navigating new macroeconomic landscapes

    Last year was a difficult year for Canadian companies, with soaring inflation, high interest rates and a global energy crisis. This year, as the situation starts to stabilize, issuers and investors are looking for guidance on what is coming next.

    To kick off the forum our panelists will discuss lessons learned from managing last year’s volatility, why there is reason to be cautiously optimistic in 2023 and what all this means in practice for public companies.

    • Market outlook: where is the Canadian economy going in 2023?
    • Understand the impact of inflation, supply chain crises and energy scarcity on investor sentiment
    • Learn how other companies are responding to current and expected market volatility
    • Discuss the key drivers of growth on the road to recovery

    Moderator: Laurie Havelock, editoratlarge, IR Magazine
    Leslie Preston, managing director, senior economist, TD 

  • 09:30 AM
    Communicating through the storm: Targeting and engagement in a volatile market

    The evolving economic situation has significantly impacted shareholder bases, and your ‘target investor’ may have changed. Here we’ll be sharing practical advice on how to engage with an increasingly dynamic market, provide reassurance to your existing shareholders and adapt your approach with new investors.

    • Ensure shareholder confidence during periods of economic uncertainty
    • Fine tune your messaging to reflect evolving investor demands
    • Accessing new sources of capital in a difficult market
    • Understand which communication tools and technologies the industry prefers

    Moderator: Steve Wade, head of event content, IR Magazine
    Scott Parsons, SVP, investor relations, Alamos Gold
    Sherry Wendt, VP, investor relations, Cenovus Energy
    David Whyte, CEO, Irwin

  • 10:15 AM
    Networking break and morning refreshments

  • 10:45 AM
    Environmental update: Responding to changing environmental priorities and ‘ESG fatigue’

    The war in Ukraine and resulting energy crisis has had a huge impact on the conversation around environmental issues. Whilst some stakeholders worry it gets too much attention, others are pushing for increased regulations, transparency and action.

    In this session our panellists will discuss how the landscape has changed and how best to communicate your company’s environmental performance in an age of increasing ‘ESG fatigue’.

    • Where is ESG going? Understand how investors are thinking about ESG issues in 2023
    • Set and communicate achievable net zero targets in line with global and market standards
    • Prepare for new expectations and requirements around climate and biodiversity

    Moderator: Laurie Havelock, editor-at-large, IR Magazine
    Mihaela Stefanov, director of corporate social responsibility, Boralex
    Valerie Durand, head of IR & corporate sustainability, Air Canada
    Janet Craig, founding partner, Endeavour IR

  • 11:30 AM
    Managing the new workforce: Communicating social impact in 2023

    Social washing’, like greenwashing, is a growing concern for investors. Unprecedented shifts in the labour market and the scramble for talent have emphasised the importance of communicating your social story effectively and – more importantly – ensuring these commitments are fulfilled.

    • An update on human capital management trends: rising living costs, unemployment and DE&I
    • Discuss how the shift to remote working has changed the conversation around employee wellbeing
    • Learn what social data investors are asking for and what your peers are reporting

    Moderator: Laurence Taylor, senior conference producer, IR Magazine
    Gordana Terkalas, SVP, head of human resources, Aecon

     

  • 12:00 PM
    Roundtables: Exchange ideas with your peers in group discussions

    How the roundtables work:

    • Choose any of the following topics –the power is in your hands!
    • Join the relevant roundtable and discuss with your peers
    • At the end of the session, hear a quick roundup from each table

    Topics:

    • Creating impactful investor events in 2023
    • The impact of AI on investor relations
    • Best practice IR with limited resources
    • Modernising your IR toolbox
    • Growing your retail investor base

    Stephanie Amaimo, VP, investor relations, Fortis
    Sylvie Harton, chief business strategy officer, Lumi
    Greg Secord, VP, investor relations, OpenText
    Laurence Taylor, senior conference producer, IR Magazine
    Steve Wade, head of event content, IR Magazine

     

  • 12:45 PM
    Lunch

  • 13:45 PM
    Back to the ‘new’ normal: Getting the in-person vs virtual balance right

    We know by now that the shift to more remote working is here to stay – but to what extent? Companies are still figuring out the right balance between online and in-person engagement and how best to maximise both efficiency and authenticity.

    • Discuss which aspects of hybrid IR are transitory and which are permanent
    • Learn how other companies are balancing in-person and virtual meetings and responding to different stakeholder pressures
    • Hear best practice case-studies of effective in-person & virtual engagement

    Moderator: Laurence Taylor, senior conference producer, IR Magazine
    Michael Barrett, VP, investor relations and investments, Element Fleet Management

    Omar Javed, VP, investor relations, Hydro One
    Ben Riley, head of business development, Lumi 

  • 14:30 PM
    The evolution of IR talent: Preparing yourself and your team for the future of investor relations

    The role and perception of IR has evolved significantly over the last few years, with many IROs finding themselves increasingly involved in other sides of the business. Not only has the scope of IR broadened, but the expectations put on IROs to fulfil their core responsibilities have grown as well.

    Here we explore what trend towards more diverse and adaptable talent means for the career prospects of IROs, the development of teams and the future of the profession as a whole.

    • Learn how the expectations of IROs are changing as the fight for capital evolves
    • Share career development advice on responding to new challenges and setting yourself up for success
    • Understand how best to build, prepare and develop your IR team in 2023

    Moderator: Yvette Lokker, President and CEO, CIRI
    Maeghan Albiston, VP, capital markets, Canadian Pacific Railway

    Dave Hughes, VP, investor relations, Imperial Oil
    Quentin Weber, senior advisor, investor relations, WSP

  • 15:15 PM
    Investor Q&A: Hear directly from investors on their priorities in 2023

    During this open Q&A session, our panel of investors will address any concerns and questions you may have about what to expect in 2023. This is your chance to engage directly with a range of investors on various topics, including:

    • Opportunities and concerns for the buy side in the context of the post-pandemic recovery
    • Learn which sectors and industries Canadian investors are focussing on in 2023
    • Understand precisely what information investors are looking for, and how best to present it

    Moderator: Steve Wade, head of event content, IR Magazine
    Marc Gagnon, VP, portfolio manager, Industrial Alliance Investment Management
    Erin Greenfield, president and portfolio manager, Greenfield Investment Management
    Andy Huynh, portfolio manager, public equities, Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan

  • 16:00 PM
    Closing remarks and end of conference

    Laurence Taylor, senior conference producer, IR Magazine

Speakers: 2023

To inquire about speaking at a future forum, please contact [email protected] or call +44 20 8004 4818


What our attendees say

"Always good to share experiences with our peers and gain insights from subject matter experts."

Loblaw

"The round table discussions were an excellent way to bring up topics and learn how others are dealing with challenging issues"

DIRTT Environmental Solutions

"Networking was great, and discussion topics and speakers all interesting/topical."

LodeRock Advisors

"Great use of time, great venue, great panelists."

Keyera Corporation

"Good mix of topics and opportunity for networking."

Aecon Group

"Great event with interesting and informative sessions. Really appreciated the macroeconomic session. "

CN

"The IR Magazine Forum was a great opportunity to hear industry insiders and experts' thoughts on the topics most affecting our profession."

ARC Resources

"Diversity of topics, quality of presenters were great."

IMV

Who attends our events

Our attendees are leading IR practitioners with an established track record and strategic IR role within their company.

Below is a sample list of current attendees:

Job title Company Job title Company
Associate, IR Alamos Gold Manager, corporate affairs Aecon
CFO Xtract One Technologies Manager, IR Nutrien
CFO Black Diamond Group Manager, IR Fortis
CFO DIRTT Environmental Solutions Manager, IR Marathon Gold
Corporate communications Troilus Gold Senior advisor, IR TransAlta
Director, capital markets Tidewater Midstream Senior advisor, IR WSP Global
Director, corporate development Pivotree Senior analyst, IR Alimentation Couche-Tard
Director, IR Dialogue Health Technologies Senior Director, IR Boralex
Director, IR BMO Financial Group Senior IR analyst Fortis
Director, IR Nutrien Senior manager, investor, ESG reporting Tricon Residential
Director, IR Taiga Motors Senior manager, IR CN
Director, IR Calian Senior manager, IR Tricon Residential
Director, IR New Gold Sustainability and ESG specialist DIRTT Environmental Solutions
Director, IR Precision Drilling SVP, corporate development and IR Aecon Group
Director, IR Osisko Development Corporation VP, capital markets Black Diamond Group
Director, IR and treasury TC Transcontinental SVP, IR Alamos Gold
EA and IR associate Canadian Tire Corporation VP, head of IR RBC
Senior manager, IR Applied Material VP, IR Sernova
Head of IR Coveo Solutions VP, IR Hudbay Minerals
IR, associate New Gold VP, IR and corporate communications Real Matters

 

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Become a partner

Why partner with us? 

The IR Magazine Forum – Canada brings together some of the most influential people in thIR community.  

The event offers an effective approach to targeting clients when they are exploring how they can improve their IR practice. Through our unrivaled knowledge of the subject matter and commitment to in-depth agenda research, our events are guaranteed to attract a qualified audience. 

The unique buzz we create at our in-person events – a far cry from a traditional conference – makes them multi-faceted and highly interactive with great engagement in particular from heads of IR. This allows our partners to have meaningful conversations with corporates who are deciding which parts of their IR program to invest in, which service providers to engage and which consultants to retain. By partnering with us on an event, you can generate leads, showcase your thought leadership and position yourselves as the partner of choice to the IR community. 

We’d love to have a chat with you about how you can get in front of a truly engaged and motivated audience at the IR Magazine Forum – Canada. Get in touch with Ian Richman or call on +1 212 430 6865. 

Partners

Register your interest

Register your interest for the 2024 forum by filling in the form at the link below. You will be the first to receive important updates about the event and details about how to book your place.

If you have any questions, please contact Thomas Williams at [email protected] or call +44 208 090 2156.

 

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

Dress for Success Toronto

IR Magazine are proud supporters of Dress for Success Toronto. Thank you to all who were able to bring along any of the items on the donation list to be donated to those in need through this scheme.

Founded in 2009, Dress for Success Toronto (DFS Toronto) is a registered charity whose mission is to help build a stronger community where women are financially independent, treated with dignity and respect, and are directly impacting their lives and those of their families.

The charity provides solutions to job seekers of any age, ethnicity and background in need of support during their transition from unemployment to economic independence. DFS Toronto creates an empowering experience for its Clients in an inclusive, non-judgmental and supportive environment where they feel comfortable and safe.

For further information about their work, please visit toronto.dressforsuccess.org

 

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