Today our societies and economies need immediate and conscious efforts to transition towards a sustainable future for our current and subsequent generations. The global asset management industry has the ability to make real change through the way it allocates capital across firms and industries. Since 2017, McGill students have brought together industry leaders and university students from around the World to find innovative portfolio solutions to complex socio-economic issues such as the rise of social inequalities and protectionist tendencies and the ESG transition.
Now in its 6th edition, the MIPC has evolved into a knowledge forum bridging the gap between academic knowledge and industry practices. Hundreds of investors, actuaries, academics, and university students representing diverse backgrounds come together every year to engage in the case competition, speaker series and various recruitment activities. The MIPC tackles a new grand challenge each year and the dedicated student executive team curates a rich and interactive experience for all our stakeholders.
The MIPC competition is an exceptional opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to a multi-faceted, real-world issue. We award C$50,000 in cash prizes to our winning student teams, a figure that makes us one of the most lucrative university competitions in the World. For industry partners, it is an insightful experience that brings new solutions for timely challenges in their industry, as well as an opportunity to mentor and recruit the next generation of finance leaders.
The MIPC gives students the opportunity to tackle the latest challenges faced by large asset managers. Our cases are centered on solving these complex societal issues through innovative portfolio strategies that satisfy the needs of a broad range of stakeholders.
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“A mistake is assuming that you understand stakeholders and their needs and their requirements. Taking the time to have dialogue, having the right people at the table, giving it the time that it requires, that goes a long way in being genuine and actually getting to the root of the issue.”
“As I look into this room, you are the ones, to whom in the end we are going to turn to help these governments figure out how capitalism needs to work for all of society, and not just the few.”
“A fantastic event that I hope more and more people will subscribe to around the world.”
Former Premier of Quebec and Deputy Prime Minister of Canada
Keynote Speaker, MIPC 2019
Head of Infrastructure, CPP Investments
Panel Speaker, MIPC 2019
Want to know more about the MIPC? The information session on June 22nd from 10 – 11 AM EST is the perfect opportunity to learn more about the competition. Click here to register now.
Mr. Frank has over 10 years of experience in pension law and has sat on two pension investment boards in Canada prior to joining NLPIB. Mr. Frank is concerned that by divesting away from oil & gas may significantly reduce the overall return profile of the fund, amounting to significant underperformance over time. He is worried that the fund may not be able to pay out its liabilities and face legal repercussions from pensioners.
Mr. Butler has led the Trade Union for Seafood Producers since 2012 and has witnessed the adverse impact of the Cod fishing ban on the workforce in NL. While most fear that over-extraction of oil and gas could lead to a recession, Mr. Butler is more concerned with the impact of divestment on workers in the sector and their dependents. He argues that it would be nearly impossible to replace all the lost jobs by creating new ones, and further, believes that the increased cost of unemployment insurance will outweigh the benefits to the province.
As a CFA charterholder and Chief Risk Officer of a Canadian bank, Mr. Rogers brings financial expertise to the Board. He believes that divesting from fossil fuel and O&G stocks would significantly lower the portfolio’s overall return and that there is no existing combination of assets that could replicate this return at the same level of risk. Subsequently, Mr. Rogers asserts that divestment is not consistent with the board’s fiduciary duty to pensioners.
Ms. Ross was appointed by the active beneficiaries of the NLPIB for a 3-year term which began in May 2017. This seat was created in 2005 for Inuit communities in conjunction with the provincial and federal governments to give them a voice in the investment decision process. Ms. Ross has a wealth of experience with the Labrador Inuit Association, and has held the position of President since 2015. As a representative of the Indigenous community with a deep spiritual and ancestral connection to the surrounding lands, she favors divestment to prevent natural heritage in NL from being further exploited.
Mr. Hutchinson has served as Canadian Coast Guard (“CCG”) Commissioner since 2010. Under his leadership, CCG was tasked with marine search and rescue, communication, navigation and transportation issues in Canadian waters, and was also responsible for managing marine pollution issues. Mr. Hutchison has always been in favor of divestment, and since the recent oil spill, he has become concerned that oil & gas companies have become negligent to the environmental impact of their actions.
Mr. Anders is responsible for developing NL’s human capital. He oversees provincial educational activities at all levels. Through his pro-divestment stance, Mr. Anders hopes to publicly display his commitment to sustainable development and ecological protection – particularly to student voters. Mr. Anders intends to run for the position again in the upcoming provincial elections and is trying to garner as much support as possible.
Ms. Michael has over a decade of experience as the Associate Dean of Memorial University’s School of Business. As current Chairwoman of NLPIB, Ms. Michael has been appealed to numerous times by proponents of both sides of the divestment movement. She wants to ensure that all sides of the issue, and the people they affect, are considered ahead of the vote in November. She remains undecided about what should be the optimal investment strategy.