Media Advisory - Pension Summit West 2012: De-Risking for Long-Term Success

CALGARY, March 2, 2012 /CNW/ - The word volatility doesn't do justice to the current economic turmoil faced by Canadian pension funds. While the Western Canada pension community faces some distinct challenges, sovereign debt concerns have prompted wild stock market swings across the globe, making the top three priorities risk management, risk management, and risk management.

Hosted by The Conference Board of Canada, Pensions Summit West 2012 is the first such event tailored specifically for Western Canada.

When:	Monday, March 5, 2012
Who:	Pensions Now and in the Future—The Economy, Investment, and Society, 8:30 a.m.
	Leo de Bever, Chief Executive Officer, Alberta Investment Management Corporation, will discuss investment trends being utilized to address some of the issues impacting pensions, including increased implementation of liability-driven investment strategies. Glen Hodgson, Senior Vice-President and Chief Economist, The Conference Board of Canada, will provide his expert perspective on the current uncertain economic environment. David Stewart-Patterson, Vice-President, Public Policy, The Conference Board of Canada, will share the Conference Board's latest thinking on the impact of an aging society.
	De-Risking—International and Canadian Perspectives, 10:15 a.m.
	Christopher Nichols, Investment Director, Absolute Returns and Strategic Solutions Standard Life Investments Ltd., Scotland will discuss the de-risking experience in the United Kingdom. Ken Choi, Director, Investment Consulting, Towers Watson, will focus on how Canadian pension funds can apply some of the U.K. lessons.
	Pension Risk Perceptions: The Ninth Annual Towers Watson Survey of Pension Risk, 11:15 a.m.
	Dan J. Morrison, Retirement Leader, Calgary Office, Towers Watson, will provide results from the survey into pension managers' actions to address short-term challenges, and strategies for improving the long-term sustainability of the Canadian retirement system.
	Luncheon and Presentation: Building a Brighter Future with Financial Literacy, 12 p.m.
	Don A. Stewart, Chair, Federal Task Force on Financial Literacy, and Former Chief Executive Officer, Sun Life Financial Inc., will discuss the key findings of the Federal Task Force on Financial Literacy and its importance to the future prosperity of Canadians.
Where:	Hotel Arts, 119 12 Ave SW, Calgary

For more information, visit: http://www.conferenceboard.ca/conf/12-0069/default.aspx

The conference is sponsored by Towers Watson and The Standard Life Assurance Company of Canada.

 Media must register in advance.

 

or media accreditation, contact:
Brent Dowdall, Manager, Communications
Tel.: [phone], ext. 448. E-mail: [email protected]