You may not know this, but I started my IR career at MDS Inc. I joined the IR and Communications team in 1997 and very quickly discovered that I had a keen interest in IR. I was fortunate enough to work with Wilma Jacobs and Sharon Mathers, champions of CIRI, and Gary Goertz, the CFO. They taught me about the profession and got me involved with CIRI, where I not only became a member but a volunteer. Over the years, I was on the Annual Conference Program Committee a few times and the CIRI Ontario Board for five years, responsible for workshops (yes, the Chapter organized workshops back in the day), programming and membership. CIRI was critical to developing my IR knowledge in my early career and keeping me current on IR best practices and regulatory changes as my career advanced.
My involvement with CIRI was instrumental in building my network among IR peers. This is where I learned first-hand what an incredible community CIRI is. CIRI cultivates an environment for constant learning, whether that’s through professional development or through discussions with other IROs about their experiences, successes and even their challenges. And the members are passionate about the profession and open to sharing what they’ve learned, even if it was the hard way. I may be biased (just a little), but it truly is a community like no other.
That’s true of the profession as well. IR allows you to tap into your left and right brain. You need to understand the financial drivers of the business and how to effectively tell your company’s story. You need to understand investor sentiment and concerns, sharing those with management and the Board as they consider various strategic directions for the business and their impact on the company’s valuation. One of the exciting things about IR is that, given its broad scope, there’s always something changing, something new to learn. With that evolution, IR responsibilities have expanded, most notably into ESG, and the role has gained importance and stature internally and externally.
After having my second son, I was looking to return to IR at a new company (MDS Inc. was in the process of breaking up into multiple companies) and Sharon Mathers, who was the Chair of CIRI, asked if I would join the CIRI team temporarily as I did my search. Not long after I joined, Tom Enright became President & CEO and I was thrilled to work with him on a permanent basis, responsible for communications and professional development. Tom was a great leader and mentor, and I learned a lot from him and about myself during our time together. I also benefitted from two other mentors – David Carey and Colleen Vancha – who continue to be my mentors and friends today. Thank you for always having my best interests at heart.
When Tom retired in 2012, I became President & CEO. I have had the honour of leading CIRI for 10½ years and it has been an incredible journey. During that time, I have had the support of the Board and its incredible Chairs – George Kesteven, Meg Brown, Brian Ector, Denis Jasmin, Nathalie Megann and Adam Borgatti – as well as countless members and other capital market participants. While I wish I could recognize every one of you, I fear I would miss one or two (the memory isn’t what it used to be). I hope that you know who you are and feel the sincere gratitude I am sending your way. I cannot thank you enough for your passion, commitment and ongoing support because the success of CIRI isn’t a result of any one person – it’s the result of a team. And, as a not-for-profit organization, that team extends beyond the staff to the members and broader CIRI supporters.
You may not know that CIRI is a team of five people, myself included. If you consider not only the quantity but the quality of professional development events, resources, networking events and issues education and advocacy we have delivered consistently each year, it is astounding. While some of this may have been fuelled by volunteer support, a great deal is a testament to the CIRI team. Congratulations to every one of its members, past and present, for doing an incredible job.
I do have to call out a few people who have been instrumental in advancing CIRI and the IR profession from behind the scenes, something I was too emotional to properly articulate at the Conference. Jane Maciel, Malama Musumbulwa, Kaitlin Davis and Lora Turner, you have worked with me for many years (for some it may be too many to count, right Jane?) and you have been true professionals – committed to fulfilling your roles and then some. As a not-for-profit with limited resources, we often need to take on new responsibilities outside of our scope and the three of you have always been willing to roll up your sleeves to get the job done. I appreciate your work ethic, positive attitude, sense of humour, loyalty and most of all, friendship. It has been a privilege to work with you and I will miss you. (Good thing I’m typing this and not writing it, or my sheet of paper would be a soggy mess right now!)
I wish the CIRI team, the incoming President & CEO, our members and CIRI continuing success. I will forever be a champion of the organization.
This isn’t goodbye. I suspect we will meet again. So, this is until we meet again.
Best,
Yvette