Private Markets Forum

Private Markets Virtual Forum

April 20 - 22, 2021

Lead Sponsor

Never let a good crisis go to waste.

- Winston Churchill

In the anticipation of a prolonged low-interest environment, pension funds are increasingly allocating to private markets to create resilience and generate yield in total portfolios, while pursuing investment opportunities aligned with environmental and social mandates.

Driven from leading institutional investors from Canada and beyond, Institutional Connect Private Markets Forum will address structural trends and investment strategies for institutional investors to pursue resilience, sustainability, and yields.

Fireside Chat Speakers

Marlene Puffer​
Marlene Puffer is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the CN Investment Division. Dr. Puffer is accountable for all aspects of the investment management and organizational oversight of the CN Pension Trust Funds, one of the largest corporate pension funds in Canada. She is former vice-chair of the Board of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) and past president of Women in Capital Markets. Marlene has more than 25 years’ experience in investments, pensions and capital markets at world-class financial institutions and in academia. Marlene holds a Ph.D. in Finance and Applied Statistics and a M.Sc. in Business Administration from the Simon Business School at the University of Rochester, and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Economics from the University of Toronto. She holds a CFA charter and the ICD.D designation granted by the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Marlene Puffer

  • President and
    Chief Executive Officer,
  • CN Investment Division
Bio
Marlene Puffer​
Marlene Puffer is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the CN Investment Division. Dr. Puffer is accountable for all aspects of the investment management and organizational oversight of the CN Pension Trust Funds, one of the largest corporate pension funds in Canada. She is former vice-chair of the Board of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) and past president of Women in Capital Markets. Marlene has more than 25 years’ experience in investments, pensions and capital markets at world-class financial institutions and in academia. Marlene holds a Ph.D. in Finance and Applied Statistics and a M.Sc. in Business Administration from the Simon Business School at the University of Rochester, and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Economics from the University of Toronto. She holds a CFA charter and the ICD.D designation granted by the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Guthrie Stewart​

Guthrie Stewart is Vice Chair, Investment Committee at the Public Sector Pension
Investment Board (PSP Investments). In this role, Guthrie uses his considerable experience and insight to act as a spokesperson and senior representative of PSP in facilitating a strong linkage between strategic goals, investment ambitions and partner relationships. Guthrie is a member of PSP Investments’ Executive Committee, Risk and Investment Committee and  Total Fund Management Committee.

Prior to his appointment in June 2020, Guthrie served as Senior Vice President and Head of Private Investments at PSP Investments, where he oversaw a growing portfolio of over $40 billion in Private Equity and Infrastructure.

Prior to joining PSP Investments in September 2015, he was a partner at one of Canada’s largest private equity buy-out and venture capital firms. He also held several executive roles in the telecommunications industry, including CEO, Teleglobe Canada; EVP, Global Development of Teleglobe Inc., and was a founding officer of what is now Bell Mobility. He also acted as a corporate director and advisor for various public and private enterprises and was an Adjunct Professor and member of the Faculty Advisory Board of the McGill Desautels Faculty of Management.

Guthrie holds an MBA from INSEAD and a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. He studied Honours Science at Queen’s University and also completed ICD’s Directors Education certification program through Rotman-McGill.

Guthrie Stewart

  • Vice Chair,
    Investment Committee
  • PSP Investments
Bio
Guthrie Stewart​

Guthrie Stewart is Vice Chair, Investment Committee at the Public Sector Pension
Investment Board (PSP Investments). In this role, Guthrie uses his considerable experience and insight to act as a spokesperson and senior representative of PSP in facilitating a strong linkage between strategic goals, investment ambitions and partner relationships. Guthrie is a member of PSP Investments’ Executive Committee, Risk and Investment Committee and  Total Fund Management Committee.

Prior to his appointment in June 2020, Guthrie served as Senior Vice President and Head of Private Investments at PSP Investments, where he oversaw a growing portfolio of over $40 billion in Private Equity and Infrastructure.

Prior to joining PSP Investments in September 2015, he was a partner at one of Canada’s largest private equity buy-out and venture capital firms. He also held several executive roles in the telecommunications industry, including CEO, Teleglobe Canada; EVP, Global Development of Teleglobe Inc., and was a founding officer of what is now Bell Mobility. He also acted as a corporate director and advisor for various public and private enterprises and was an Adjunct Professor and member of the Faculty Advisory Board of the McGill Desautels Faculty of Management.

Guthrie holds an MBA from INSEAD and a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. He studied Honours Science at Queen’s University and also completed ICD’s Directors Education certification program through Rotman-McGill.

Keynote Speaker: Unconscious Bias

Tina Varughese

An Indo-Canadian daughter of first generation East Indian parents, Varughese says her cultural background allows her to find “the best of both worlds” and shed light, knowledge, and, most importantly, universal humour into the changing workplace. Her highly entertaining, interactive, and practical keynotes leave attendees inspired to think, behave, act, and communicate with intention.

For fifteen years Varughese worked with immigrants in her roles with the Province of Alberta’s immigration office. She also ran her own successful relocation and settlement firm. Varughese draws from her experiences as an entrepreneur, mother, daughter, wife, sister, and friend when delivering keynotes on diversity and inclusion — topics that resonate with her both professionally and personally.

Varughese has been named one of “Canada’s Top 10 Notable Speakers” by Ignite Magazine for her ability to break down barriers and create a comfortable, inclusive, and fun space for attendees. She was the face of diversity, literally, having been chosen to participate in Dove’s campaign for Real Beauty, representing beauty in diversity.

The past-president of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (Calgary), Varughese is a contributing writer for the Human Resource Institute of Alberta’s Network magazine, Calgary Real Estate News, and Home to Home magazine. She was also profiled in Alberta’s Venture Magazine.

Tina Varughese

  • Diversity and Inclusion Expert
Bio
Tina Varughese

An Indo-Canadian daughter of first generation East Indian parents, Varughese says her cultural background allows her to find “the best of both worlds” and shed light, knowledge, and, most importantly, universal humour into the changing workplace. Her highly entertaining, interactive, and practical keynotes leave attendees inspired to think, behave, act, and communicate with intention.

For fifteen years Varughese worked with immigrants in her roles with the Province of Alberta’s immigration office. She also ran her own successful relocation and settlement firm. Varughese draws from her experiences as an entrepreneur, mother, daughter, wife, sister, and friend when delivering keynotes on diversity and inclusion — topics that resonate with her both professionally and personally.

Varughese has been named one of “Canada’s Top 10 Notable Speakers” by Ignite Magazine for her ability to break down barriers and create a comfortable, inclusive, and fun space for attendees. She was the face of diversity, literally, having been chosen to participate in Dove’s campaign for Real Beauty, representing beauty in diversity.

The past-president of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (Calgary), Varughese is a contributing writer for the Human Resource Institute of Alberta’s Network magazine, Calgary Real Estate News, and Home to Home magazine. She was also profiled in Alberta’s Venture Magazine.

View all speakers

Institutional Connect Private Markets Virtual Forum will gather leading institutions in Canada and beyond, for a series of insightful discussions on the topics including:

Private market allocation considerations from lens of total portfolio
Risk oversight in private markets investing
ESG Opportunities In Private Assets​
Portfolio construction and access to opportunities for medium sized institutional investors
Global Real estate outlook and investment strategies post-pandemic
Farmland as a diversifying and sustainable asset class
Private debt opportunities created by market dislocation
And more
View all Agenda

Virtual experience

The All-In-One Platform Enables Attendees To View Presentations And Connect With Each Other And Schedule Meetings, At The Convenience Of Home Or Office.​

Live Content

12+ hours of live sessions in 3 days, curated by industry practitioners

Virtual Networking

Schedule meetings and exchange messages directly on the event platform

Peer discussions

Small group discussions on best practices

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Ways to Participate

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Complimentary passes available for qualified institutional investors

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