Staying On Course
There seems to be an ever-growing number of factors and distractions that influence the life of an investor relations practitioner. Whether it’s due to the continual shift from active to passive investment strategies, the increased influence of ESG and sustainable development oriented funds, the emergence of investment options like ETFs and liquid alternative funds, or changing regulations that influence the way we engage with investors (i.e. MiFID) – an IRO’s job is never boring.
As adage goes: change is the only constant in life. What that means for those at the helm of investor relations is quite often some form of bad weather is attempting to blow your company off course and onto the rocks. As a result, it’s a constant challenge for the IRO to navigate the way forward through rough waters and keep the company safely on course to its desired destination.
With CIRI’s 2019 Annual Conference planned for Halifax, and its theme of ‘Staying on Course’, it’s hard not to weave in some nautical terminology as we highlight what the voyage of the Conference will mean for all who jump on board.
There are many more factors an investor relations professional must address in guiding a company than the short list mentioned above. We are very excited about the range of sessions planned for the Conference that will help you keep your IR program shipshape and seaworthy. You will have an opportunity to hear from several keynote speakers, including:
- Scott Balfour, CEO, Emera
- Deborah Fuhr, Managing Partner & Co-founder, ETFGI
- Colleen Johnston, Board of Directors, Shopify and WestJet
You will also hear from Board members, fund managers, research analysts, capital market experts and governance specialists, as well as fellow IROs representing a broad range of industries and market caps. We’re certain it will be a valuable (and educational) use of your time as well as a great opportunity to build your IR network and share in new experiences.
Beyond the Conference program, we’ve organized several optional activities to enrich your experience and help you discover the treasures of Halifax and the surrounding area. These include a trip to Peggy’s Cove, a Segway tour of Halifax and kayaking in the harbour.
We’d like to highlight and thank our fellow 2019 Annual Conference Committee members, who have contributed their time, experience and creativity over the past months to assemble the program and solicit speakers. It’s through their combined efforts that we’re certain you will enjoy your time in Halifax and depart with new insights and tools to navigate your way forward.
We look forward to seeing you at the Conference.
Anchors aweigh!
Conference Co-chairs:
Nathalie Megann, CPIR Ryder McRitchie
Vice President, Investor Relations & Vice President, Capital Markets &
Corporate Affairs Public Relations
Chorus Aviation Inc. Jupiter Resources Ltd.
Conference Program
Sunday, June 9
9:00am Peggy’s Cove Tour
9:30am City Spin Segway Tour
9:30am Halifax Harbour Kayak Tour
12:00pm Registration
4:30pm Perfecting Your Personal Pitch
5:30pm Conference Kick-Off Cocktails
Monday, June 10
7:00am Registration / Breakfast with Exhibitors
8:00am Welcome & Opening Remarks
8:15am Emera: Canada’s Energy Powerhouse
Sponsored by CIBC
9:15am Breakout Sessions (select one)
Option #1: A Deep Dive on Market Structure
Option #2: Evolving Approaches to IR Marketing
Sponsored by Rose & Company
Option #3: Trends in ESG Reporting
Sponsored by TMX Group
10:15am Break with Exhibitors
11:00am Breakout Sessions (select one)
Option #1: M&A Activity & Trends
Option #2: ESG Integration: Views from the Street
Sponsored by Corbin Advisors
Option #3: Strategic IR: Bringing Street Intelligence In House
11:45am CIRI's Annual General Meeting, Awards Ceremony & Lunch
Sponsored by West Corporation
1:30pm In Conversation with the Street
Sponsored by Business Wire
2:30pm Break with Exhibitors
3:00pm Breakout Sessions (select one)
Option #1: Investor Targeting How To
Sponsored by Nasdaq IR Intelligence
Option #2: Proxy Season – What’s IR’s Role?
Sponsored by AST Trust Company (Canada)/D.F. King
Option #3: Pitch Perfect: Creating a Compelling Investment Story
Sponsored by BTV-Business Television
4:00pm ETFs: Challenge, Opportunity or Both?
Sponsored by TD Bank
6:00pm Cocktails with Exhibitors
7:00pm CIRI Kitchen Party
Tuesday, June 11
7:30am Breakfast with Exhibitors
8:30am ESG: Investing with a Purpose
9:30am Breakout Sessions (select one)
Option #1: Model Behaviour: How IROs Track & Maintain Internal Models & Why
Option #2: CIRI’s IR Compensation & Responsibilities Survey
Sponsored by Global Governance Advisors
Option #3: AI: Language Quantified
10:30am Break & Prize Draws with Exhibitors
11:15am Breakout Sessions (select one)
Option #1: Getting Your C-Suite Media Ready
Sponsored by Cision
Option #2: Shareholder Activism: What You Need to Know
Sponsored by AST Trust Company (Canada)/D.F. King
Option #3: MiFID II: What’s New?
Sponsored by IHS Markit
12:15pm IR & The Board: How You Can Be a Trusted Advisor & Lunch
Sponsored by Hansell LLP
1:45pm Closing Remarks
***Sessions, speakers and timing are subject to change