OMERS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice - President and Head of Treasury
- Member of the Board of Directors of the Children 's Aid Foundation of Canada
Anca Drexler is the Executive Vice-President and Head of Treasury at OMERS. She is responsible for leading funding and liquidity management, currency management and economic research for the OMERS investment portfolio.
Anca joined OMERS in 2017 and her previous roles included EVP and Head of Total Portfolio Management and Managing Director, Risk Management for OMERS Capital Markets.
Anca has over 25 years of experience in the financial industry. Before joining OMERS she spent over 15 years with another defined pension plan, OPTrust, in a number of leadership roles, including Chief Risk Officer. She has also spent time in an advisory capacity with the Health Care of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) Board of Trustees and the Global Risk Institute (GRI). Anca started her career as a financial engineer with Algorithmics Inc.
An alumna of the Harvard Business School, Anca also holds a MMath from the University of Waterloo and a B.Sc. from the University of Toronto. She is a CFA charter holder.
Anca is a member of the board of Directors of the Children's Aid Foundation of Canada and sits on their Investment Committee. She is also a member of the Investment Committee for the Sunnybrook Foundation.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, Operations & General Counsel
Audrey Mak is the Executive Director, Operations & General Counsel at the OMERS Sponsors Corporation (SC). In this role, Audrey acts as the Corporate Secretary for the SC Board and serves as the key legal advisor in critical areas such as corporate governance, pension law, Plan design, and risk management from a legal perspective.
Audrey brings over 25 years of pension expertise to the SC. Prior to taking on this position, she held various roles at the OMERS Administration Corporation including Vice-President, Pension Policy, Legal & Strategic Initiatives, and Associate General Counsel & Vice-President, Pension Legal, where she provided leadership, advice and support to both OMERS Boards and senior management on a multitude of issues pertaining to pension administration, OMERS governance and the Plans.
Before joining OMERS in January 2005, Audrey was a partner at a national law firm where she practiced exclusively in the pensions and benefits area. Audrey obtained her LLB and her Honours Bachelor of Arts (Economics) from Western University and was called to the bar in both Ontario and British Columbia. She obtained her ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors in June 2016.
In addition, Audrey was a member of the Financial Services Tribunal from November 2016 until November 2021.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chairman of the Board of the OMERS Sponsors Corporation
Barry Brown is Chair of the Board of the OMERS Sponsors Corporation. He began serving as Chair on January 1, 2023. As Chair, Mr. Brown also serves as ex-officio (non-voting) member on the Corporate Governance Committee, and Audit & Human Resources Committee and also serves as a member of the Plan Design Committee. Mr. Brown is also a member of the AC/SC Joint Council.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Investment Committee
Bill is Chair of the Investment Committee and serves as a member of the Human Resources Committee.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- President
Blake Hutcheson is President and CEO of OMERS. He is responsible for the overall leadership and performance of the OMERS enterprise.
He was appointed OMERS President and Chief Pension Officer in 2018. His mandate included leading OMERS Pension Services, Strategy, Communications & Public Affairs, Legal, Technology and Operations, in addition to Asset Liability Management.
Blake previously served as President and CEO of Oxford Properties Group since 2010, and in 2014 he also became Chief Investment Officer, Real Estate and Strategic Investments and added the OMERS Platform Investments portfolio, an integral part of the OMERS innovative agenda.
Prior to OMERS, Blake was the Head of Global Real Estate with Mount Kellett Capital Management, a New York-based private equity firm with offices in key locations around the globe. Previously, he was Chairman and President of the Canadian, Latin American, and Mexican operations for CB Richard Ellis, the world's largest real estate services company.
An appointee to the Order of Ontario and a former recipient of Canada's Top 40 Under 40, Blake is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario. He also completed a Graduate Diploma in International and Comparative Politics at the London School of Economics (with Distinction) and a Master's Degree in Real Estate Development at Columbia University (where he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award for 2017).
Blake continues to play Masters Lacrosse every summer for his home town of Huntsville, Ontario. He is married and has two children.
Bob Aziz is OMERS Chief Operating Officer. In this role, Bob oversees the connectivity, relationships and resourcing required for the success of our global operations. Bob has additional responsibilities that involve leading and supporting the partnerships integral to our investing success.
Prior to this, for 10 years Bob was with Oxford Properties Group, the real estate arm of OMERS where he held the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel, and was a member of the Oxford Senior Executive team.
Before joining Oxford, Bob was President of Great Gulf Homes and held senior roles at TD Bank Financial Group. Earlier in his career, Bob was a Partner at Torys LLP and Davies Ward Phillips Vineberg LLP. Bob currently sits on the Boards, and several committees, of Bruce Power (Board Chair), Brewers Retail (Lead Director), Woodbine Entertainment Group, Halton Health Care and the Oakville Hospital Foundation Board from 1992 to 2003. He is also a committed fundraiser on behalf of several charities, having served on the boards of the Hospital for Sick Children Foundation and the Lighthouse for Grieving Children (Board Chair). Bob received his Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of Western Ontario. He and his family reside in Oakville, Ontario.
Job Titles:
- Certified Employee Benefits Specialist
- Chief Pension Officer
Celine Chiovitti is the Chief Pension Officer at OMERS. She is responsible for leading a team of 400 employees in the delivery of exceptional services, innovative tools and prudential pension administration for over half a million members. Under her leadership, the team is committed to delivering a world class pension platform, in a complex stakeholder environment with more than 1,000 employers and 30 unions and associations.
She joined OMERS in 2013. Prior to joining OMERS, she spent her career in the public service, including as a Division Head at the City of Toronto where she was responsible for pension, payroll and benefits delivery for over 35,000 unionized and non-unionized employees. Her career has been focused on service, making a positive impact in the lives of Ontarians, and the fundamental belief in the value of well run pension systems and the positive impact they have on society.
Celine is a certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS), Fellowship Status. She is a member of the OMERS Executive Leadership Team and sits on the Benefits and Pensions Monitor Editorial Advisory Board. Across the four seasons in Ontario, she can be found cycling, hiking and walking ‘Chai' her adorable cockapoo-dog.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Government Relations
Chris Morley has led government relations and public policy at OMERS since 2016.
Prior to joining OMERS, Chris was Senior Director of Corporate Affairs at Labatt Breweries of Canada, the Canadian subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev. Chris's expertise in government and public policy is a result of his career as Chief of Staff to the Premier of Ontario (2010-2012), and Director of Communications in the Office of the Premier of Ontario (2007-2010).
Chris has an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, and a BA (Honours) from the University of Guelph. As Vice Chair of the Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Foundation, he volunteers with a leading charitable organization that provides sport opportunities for at-risk youth. Chris is also a member of the Board of the Canada-India Business Council.
Chris lives in Toronto with his family, including three children.
Job Titles:
- President of the Mississauga Fire Fighters Association
Chris Varcoe serves as a member of the Audit & Human Resources Committee and Plan Design Committee.
Chris Varcoe was appointed by the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association (OPFFA) to the OMERS Sponsors Corporation (SC) Board effective January 1, 2024. He serves on the Audit & Human Resources Committee and Plan Design Committee.
Mr. Varcoe is the President of the Mississauga Fire Fighters Association, serves on the Board of Directors of the OPFFA, and serves as a Trustee of the Mississauga Fire Fighters Benevolent Fund. He has extensive experience in labour relations, interest and rights arbitrations and contract negotiations. Prior to becoming the President of the Mississauga Fire Fighters Association in 2010, he was the Vice-President from 2005 to 2010. Mr. Varcoe was previously the Chair of the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association Pension Committee and is regularly called on by Fire Associations across Ontario for assistance in interpretation on pension matters.
Mr. Varcoe started his career in firefighting in 1997 and currently is a District Chief of Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services.
In 2023, Mr. Varcoe completed the Pension Plan Administration Certificate (PPAC) program. He has received a certificate in Labour Relations from Toronto Metropolitan University and is certified as a Command Officer by the Ontario Fire College. Mr. Varcoe holds a certificate from the University of Ottawa/Telfer School of Management Executive Leadership Program and holds several certifications in Conflict Resolution, Health and Safety and member representation.
Job Titles:
- Expert
- President of Polar Star Advisory Services Inc
Cliff Inskip was appointed to the OMERS AC Board, effective January 1, 2015, on the joint nomination of the Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association and the Ontario Public School Boards' Association. He serves as a member of the Governance & Risk Committee and the Investment Committee.
Mr. Inskip is President of Polar Star Advisory Services Inc., a management consulting firm that advises government and large corporate clients on major infrastructure projects. Previously he spent over 30 years in the financial services industry at CIBC and Export Development Canada. He retired from CIBC as Managing Director and Head of the Bank's infrastructure advisory and bond underwriting business, and prior to that he was Deputy Managing Director of CIBC World Markets plc in the UK.
Mr. Inskip has served as an expert witness before the National Energy Board, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Commercial List, the Nova Scotia Utility & Review Board, and the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance. He serves as Board Chair of Ontario Non-Union Education Trust and Past Board Chair of Serenia Life Financial. Previously he served on the Boards of JCM Power Corporation, Oakville Enterprises Corporation, Oakville Hydro, and CIBC World Markets plc. His charitable activities include serving as Board Chair of Kerr Street Mission Foundation and Founder and Executive Director of a charitable foundation active in international education.
Mr. Inskip has an MBA and a B.A.Sc. (civil engineering) from the University of British Columbia. He holds Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Financial Risk Manager (FRM) designations and is a retired fellow of the Association of Corporate Treasurers (FCT) and a retired Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI). He received his Chartered Director (C.Dir.) designation from The Directors College and is a member of Professional Engineers Ontario (P.Eng).
Cliff Inskip serves as a member of the Governance & Risk Committee and the Investment Committee.
Job Titles:
- Vice - Chair
- Vice - Chair of the Board of the OMERS Sponsors Corporation
Dan Axford is Vice-Chair of the Board of the OMERS Sponsors Corporation. He began serving as Vice-Chair on January 1, 2023. As Vice-Chair, Mr. Axford also serves as ex-officio (non-voting) member of the Corporate Governance Committee, and the Audit & Human Resources Committee, and serves as a member of the Plan Design Committee. Mr. Axford is also a member of the AC/SC Joint Council.
Job Titles:
- Dir
- Executive Chair at Oxford Properties
Daniel Fournier is the Executive Chair at Oxford Properties, a leading global real estate investor and asset manager, and Global Head of Real Estate for the OMERS pension plan. Daniel is Chair of Oxford's Executive Committee and Investment Committee - he is responsible for the overall strategic direction of the global team and its $86 billion business. Daniel also sits as a voting member of the OMERS Transaction Approval Committee for major private market investments.
Job Titles:
- Leader
- Member of the Audit & Actuarial Committee
Danielle Harrison was appointed to the OMERS AC Board effective January 1, 2024 on the nomination of the Ontario Association of Police Services Boards (OAPSB). She serves as a member of the Audit & Actuarial Committee and the Governance & Risk Committee.
Ms. Harrison is an accomplished leader with an extensive background in finance, risk and actuarial science. During her 30-year career in insurance, banking and investments, she has thrived in a diverse range of executive roles within prominent Canadian financial services organizations. She has held key senior positions including Head of Corporate Strategy, Chief Risk Officer, Actuary and Vice President Capital Governance representing publicly traded and privately held companies as well as a cooperative, and a crown corporation.
Ms. Harrison holds an Honours Bachelor of Mathematics degree in Actuarial Science and a minor in Statistics from the University of Waterloo. She is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society (FCAS) and a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries (FCIA). Ms. Harrison has been involved with a number of industry and non-for-profit organizations, and is the recipient of an Award of Distinction from the CIA in recognition of her extensive volunteerism.
Danielle Harrison serves as a member of the Audit & Actuarial Committee and the Governance & Risk Committee.
David Tsubouchi David Tsubouchi is Chair of the Member Services Committee and the Appeals Committee. He also serves as a member of the Governance & Risk Committee. Read David Tsubouchi's bio Yung Wu Yung Wu serves as a member of the Investment Committee and the Member Services Committee. Read Yung Wu's bio
Deb Barnes - Chief Risk Officer
Deb was appointed Chief Risk Officer in June 2023. She brings a results-oriented approach to risk management and a dedication to developing diverse teams.
She joined OMERS in 2020 as the Managing Director, Capital Markets Risk. Prior to OMERS, Deb spent 15 years at QIC, an Australian-headquartered asset management firm that specializes in Fixed Income, Infrastructure, Private Equity and Real Estate. Deb began her career in Risk in 2016 after 10 years in QIC's Global Fixed Income team. From 2011 to 2015 Deb led QIC's Global Trading function from London which executed trades across fixed income, currency, equity and commodity markets.
Deb graduated from the University of Queensland (Australia) in 2005 with a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Information Technology. Over the last 8 years, Deb's commitment to learning has led to Executive Education studies at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Harvard Business School (HBS) in the areas of leadership and advanced risk management. Since 2018, Deb has returned to HBS annually to present to their Executive Education cohort on the application of learnings from the Risk Management for Corporate Leaders program.
In 2019 Deb was appointed to the University of Queensland's Advisory Board for the UQ School of Economics and the Advisory Board for Trust, Ethics and Governance.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board of St. Joseph 's Health Centre Foundation
- Member of the Audit & Actuarial Committee
Diane Kazarian was appointed to the OMERS AC Board effective January 1, 2023 on the nomination of the Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies. She serves as a member of the Audit & Actuarial Committee and Human Resources Committee.
Diane was previously Managing Partner of the Greater Toronto Area at PricewaterhouseCoopers Canada (PwC) and led PwC's largest Canadian market, managing more than 4,000 professionals and 300 partners across all key sectors.
Ms. Kazarian is chair of the board of St. Joseph's Health Centre Foundation and sits on the boards of Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust, Gibson Energy Inc., Unity Health Toronto, Bryant University, and MaRS Discovery District.
Ms. Kazarian holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Bryant University. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants (FCPA) of Ontario and Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) of Ontario and a recipient of Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award.
Diane Kazarian serves as a member of the Audit & Actuarial Committee and Human Resources Committee.
Domenic Maugeri serves on the Audit & Human Resources Committee and Plan Design Committee.
Domenic Maugeri was appointed by CUPE Local 79 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees to the OMERS Sponsors Corporation (SC) Board effective August 16, 2022. He serves as a member of the Audit & Human Resources Committee and Plan Design Committee.
Mr. Maugeri is currently the Secretary Treasurer for the Toronto Civic Employees' Union, Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 416, a municipal union representing approximately 8,000 workers in the City of Toronto. In this role, Mr. Maugeri is responsible for overseeing and managing the finances, year to year budgets, payroll, human resources and staffing for the local, as well as being a labour advocate for the membership.
Mr. Maugeri was previously Unit Chair of the Toronto Community Housing group, where he represented over 1,000 social housing workers in the City of Toronto and negotiated several collective agreements for the membership.
Mr. Maugeri has also been a key player, strategic planner and political action activist in many local area campaigns. He holds credentials in Human Rights, WSIB, Health and Safety, Arbitration, Duty to Accommodate, Conflict Resolution, Labour Law and has extensive experience in labour relations and negotiations.
Mr. Maugeri is focused on coalition building and helping to advance the working class and is a strong union activist with considerable labour relations knowledge.
Garry Cubitt serves on the Corporate Governance Committee, Audit & Human Resources Committee and Plan Design Committee.
Garry Cubitt was appointed by the Ontario Association of Police Services Boards (OAPSB) to the OMERS Sponsors Corporation (SC) Board effective January 1, 2023. He serves as a member of the Corporate Governance Committee, Audit & Human Resources Committee and Plan Design Committee.
Mr. Cubitt provides consultation and educational services, primarily to municipal and not-for-profit sectors. He is a member of the Durham Regional Police Services Board, the Durham College Foundation Board of Directors and the Northminster United Church Governing Council. Mr. Cubitt is also involved with the Advisory Committees for Trent University Faculty of Social Work and the Ontario Technical University Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities.
Mr. Cubitt is the former Chief Administrative Officer for the Regional Municipality of Durham. Throughout his career in municipal services, Mr. Cubitt has held many roles, beginning his career as a social worker. He served on numerous boards, including the Board of Governors for Trent University, was a Chair for both the Durham College of Applied Arts and Technology Board, and the Ontario Institute of Technology Board of Governors (now, Ontario Technical University), as well as several other municipal boards and committees.
Mr. Cubitt has also been heavily involved in supporting his community, through his volunteer work with many organizations across Durham Region and at numerous educational institutions. Mr. Cubitt has been bestowed multiple awards of recognition for his contributions and charity work.
Mr. Cubitt holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Trent University, a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto, and an Honourary Doctor of Laws from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. Mr. Cubitt is a member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers and a registered member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board of Directors of OMERS Administration Corporation
- Member of the MaRS Climate Innovation Board
George L. Cooke is Chair of the Board of Directors of OMERS Administration Corporation. He began serving as Chair on October 1, 2013. As Chair, Mr. Cooke also serves as ex officio (non-voting) member on the Board's Audit & Actuarial, Governance & Risk, Human Resources, Investment, Member Services, and Appeals Committees. Mr. Cooke is also a member of the AC/SC Joint Council.
In 2012, Mr. Cooke retired after a tenure of more than 20 years as the CEO and a Director of The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company, one of Canada's oldest and largest general insurance companies. During that time, he served as both an Executive Vice President and Director of E-L Financial Corporation (The Dominion's parent).
Mr. Cooke is a member of the MaRS Climate Innovation Board and has also served as a Director and Chair of The Insurance Bureau of Canada, Director of The Facility Association, and Director and Chair of the Property and Casualty Insurance Corporation. Other past positions include Director of Empire Life Insurance Company, Director of Atomic Energy Canada Limited, Director of Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Director of Hydro One, Board Chair of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, Governor, Curling Canada, and President and Director of Donalda Club.
Mr. Cooke enjoys a profound interest in public policy and, earlier in his career, was a Special Advisor on Policy to the Honourable Robert F. Nixon, Ontario's former Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance. In 2018, he and two colleagues completed a report for Ontario's Minister of Finance on financial services regulation, which led to the creation of The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA).
Mr. Cooke has an MBA and an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from Queen's University. He is the recipient of an Honourary Doctor of Laws Degree (LLD) from Assumption University in Windsor, Ontario. He also was awarded an HCIP (Honourary Chartered Insurance Professional) designation by the Insurance Institute of Canada.
Mr. Cooke is a former Director and President of the Empire Club of Canada. He serves as a mentor for the Queen's University Faculty of Graduate Studies PhD/Community Initiative Program. He also has been involved with a number of not-for-profit organizations including Loran Scholars Foundation and Spinal Cord Injury Ontario (SCI). His work with SCI Ontario helped him earn the Ken Langford Honourary Lifetime Membership. In 2014, he was inducted into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame.
Job Titles:
- Benefits Officer for OPSEU
- Member of the Corporate Governance Committee, Audit & Human Resources Committee
Giulia Volpe serves as a member of the Corporate Governance Committee, Audit & Human Resources Committee, and Plan Design Committee.
Giulia Volpe was appointed by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) to the OMERS Sponsors Corporation (SC) Board effective October 31, 2019. She serves as a member of the Corporate Governance Committee, Audit & Human Resources Committee and Plan Design Committee.
Ms. Volpe currently works as a Benefits Officer for OPSEU and has worked in the pension and benefits department for the last four years. Prior to that, she gained over a decade of experience in public sector pension plan administration, primarily providing frontline client service to Ontario Pension Board's (OPB) members and pensioners. Additionally, Ms. Volpe has served as a Board Trustee for the OPSEU Pension Plan Trust Fund (OPTrust) from 2016 to 2018.
Ms. Volpe is a strong union activist with considerable labour relations knowledge. She has held the roles of Labour Management Committee Co-Chair and Interim Co-Chair, as well as Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee member with OPB. Ms. Volpe was elected in May 2016 to serve as the Vice-President of OPSEU's Local 568 and Unit Steward.
Ms. Volpe holds a General Arts and Science Certificate from Seneca College, a Pension Plan Administration Certificate from Humber College and a Registered Retirement Consultant (RRC®) designation from the Canadian Institute of Financial Planners. In 2017, Ms. Volpe completed a Certificate program in Board Effectiveness for Pensions and Long-Term Investments at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. In 2019, she earned her Chartered Director's designation from the Directors College at McMaster University.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Corporate Governance Committee, Audit & Human Resources Committee
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Human Resources Committee
- Business Leader
John Armstrong was appointed to the OMERS AC Board effective January 1, 2022 on the nomination of the City of Toronto. He is the Chair of the Human Resources Committee and serves as a member of the Investment Committee.
Mr. Armstrong is an accomplished business leader having spent many years with BMO Financial Group. Most recently, he held the position of Deputy Head of Investment Banking, BMO Capital Markets where he was responsible for shaping and executing the firm's investment banking strategy across its various industry verticals, and delivering corporate finance (equity underwriting, debt underwriting and corporate lending) and advisory solutions to clients.
As one of BMO Capital Markets' most senior executives, Mr. Armstrong was a member of its executive committee and various capital commitment committees. He was also a member of BMO Financial Group's Performance Committee and its Leadership Council for Diversity & Inclusion.
Prior to his role as Deputy Head of Investment Banking, Mr. Armstrong was Co-Head of Mergers & Acquisitions, BMO Capital Markets where he was responsible for the firm's full suite of M&A advisory services, including advising on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, buyouts, valuations, fairness opinions, governance and shareholder activism.
Mr. Armstrong holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia and an MBA with Honours from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. He successfully completed the ICD-Rotman Directors Education Program and received his ICD.D designation in March 2023.
John Armstrong is the Chair of the Human Resources Committee and serves as a member of the Investment Committee.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Corporate Governance Committee
John Weatherup serves as a member of the Corporate Governance Committee and Plan Design Committee.
John Weatherup was appointed by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (Ontario) (CUPE) to the OMERS Sponsors Corporation (SC) Board effective January 1, 2017. He serves as a member of the Corporate Governance Committee and Plan Design Committee.
Mr. Weatherup served on the OMERS AC Board starting in November 2005 to 2016.
Mr. Weatherup has been employed by the Toronto District School Board and the former Toronto Board of Education since 1985. He is the former President of CUPE Local 134, representing caretaking, maintenance and food services staff, and was President of CUPE Local 4400, Toronto Education Workers, representing more than 12,000 school board employees (including clerical, secretarial, caretaking/maintenance, educational assistants, adult instructors, etc.) since its formation as a result of the amalgamation of all Metro School Boards in 1997.
Mr. Weatherup also serves on the Board of Directors of the Toronto Educational Opportunity Fund, which raises funds to provide lunch and snacks to Inner City kindergarten students. He previously served on the Board of Governors of Exhibition Place and the Board of Directors of the Toronto Foundation for Student Success. John received his Chartered Director designation from The Directors College in 2009.
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial and Strategy Officer
Jonathan Simmons is OMERS Chief Financial and Strategy Officer. He joined OMERS in January 2014 as CFO, with responsibilities for operating planning, financial reporting, investment valuations, actuarial matters, financing and tax. He became responsible for strategic planning and asset-liability management in 2021. During his time at OMERS, Jonathan's responsibilities have included oversight of OMERS risk function and chair of the management investment and transaction approval committees.
Prior to joining OMERS, Jonathan was a Partner at PwC for more than a decade, where he led the firm's Canadian insurance practice. Born in Bristol, England, Jonathan is a graduate of the University of Warwick, with an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology and Microbial Technology. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants (FCPA) of Ontario.
He is currently a director of Economic Investment Trust, a TSX-listed investment company and a founding member and current co-chair of the Canadian Chapter of The Prince of Wales's Accounting for Sustainability Project (A4S).
Karen Figueiredo serves as a member of the Governance & Risk Committee, the Human Resources Committee and the Appeals Committee.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Audit & Actuarial Committee
Kevin Skerrett was appointed to the OMERS AC Board effective January 1, 2022 on the nomination of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). He serves as a member of the Audit & Actuarial Committee and the Human Resources Committee.
Kevin worked as a Senior Research Officer for CUPE for nearly 30 years, primarily assigned to pension policy, collective bargaining, membership education and governance support work. He retired from that position in July 2023.
Kevin has had the opportunity to pursue projects outside of his work for CUPE. In 2009, he spent a year working as a Research Officer at the International Labour Organization in Geneva. In 2013, he spent an academic term as a Scholar in Residence at the Global Labour Research Centre at York University, and in 2020 he served as a Visiting Professor at the Institute of Political Economy at Carleton University.
In 2018, Kevin was co-editor and contributing author to an 11-chapter volume, "The Contradictions of Pension Fund Capitalism", published by Cornell University Press. His contributions to that work, as well as several other publications, focus on retirement income security, privatization and the involvement of pension funds in processes of 'financialization'. In July 2021, he was appointed as Adjunct Research Professor at Carleton University's Institute of Political Economy. In 2023, he led the establishment of a new Financialization Research Lab at the Institute and he now coordinates its work as a Director.
Kevin Skerrett serves as a member of the Audit & Actuarial Committee and the Human Resources Committee.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Leader
- Chief Executive Officer, OMERS Sponsors Corporation
Laurie Hutchinson was appointed to the position of OMERS Sponsors Corporation (SC) CEO effective April 18, 2022. In this role, she is responsible for providing executive leadership and direction to the employees of the SC and to help the SC Board efficiently and effectively deliver on its key responsibilities. These include making appointments to both the AC and SC Boards, determining OMERS plan benefit levels and setting contribution rates.
Laurie brings an in-depth working knowledge of pension plans, pension governance and pension plan organizations. She has 30+ years of pension experience in joint governance, stakeholder relations, plan design, funding, risk management, regulation, and advocacy.
She is a proven pension plan executive who can achieve meaningful results in a respectful, collaborative, well-informed JSPP environment. She spent more than ten years as a senior executive at one of Ontario's largest defined benefit plans, and brings firsthand knowledge of OMERS governance, strategy and operations from her involvement with the Administration Corporation as a member of the Board of Directors since 2014, including as Chair of its Audit & Actuarial Committee.
Laurie is a successful pension leader who builds strong relationships based on mutual respect, candor and trust. She is well-regarded within the pension industry, and has volunteered across several industry organizations, including IFEBP, ACPM, the CIA Actuarial Foundation and the Actuarial Advisory Committee of Ontario's pension regulator.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Executive Director, Plan Funding & Risk
Manuel Monteiro joined OMERS Sponsors Corporation in January 2021 as Executive Director, Plan Funding & Risk. He leads the Sponsor Corporation's responsibilities with respect to funding strategy, benefit design and risk management, and works closely with Administration Corporation management to coordinate these efforts across OMERS in a holistic manner. Manuel is also involved in our advocacy and thought leadership efforts with our peer plans, industry groups, regulators and governments.
Manuel joined OMERS after a 22-year career at Mercer (Canada) Limited where he was a Partner and leader of their Canadian pension risk management practice. In these roles he provided strategic advice to private sector organizations, public sector plans and social security arrangements both in Canada and internationally on funding policy, asset allocation, risk management, plan design and sustainability.
Manuel has a Bachelor of Mathematics from the University of Waterloo. He is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries and a CFA Charterholder.
Mary McConville serves on the Audit & Human Resources Committee and Plan Design Committee.
Mary McConville was appointed by the Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies (OACAS) to the OMERS Sponsors Corporation (SC) Board effective January 1, 2013. She currently serves on the Audit & Human Resources Committee and Plan Design Committee.
Throughout her child welfare career, Ms. McConville has supported OACAS and advocated for high quality and accountable child protective services in the Province of Ontario. She had led and participated in many provincial committees, projects and leadership groups, which have successfully improved legislation, service standards, professional training and systems development in the sector. Ms. McConville has a Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Toronto and is a member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.
She has participated in a variety of major public policy initiatives, such as Ontario's Civil Justice Task Force, and was a founding member of the Canadian Child Welfare Association as well as the Child Welfare League of Canada. In addition to having served as a Director of the Board of St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, she has extensive board experience, including the establishment of three not-for-profit corporations and the design of attendant governance models. In 2017, she completed a Certificate program in Board Effectiveness for Pensions and Long-Term Investments at the Rotman School of Management, as well as a certificate in Foundations of Trust Management Standards through the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.
Job Titles:
- Global Head of OMERS Private Equity
Michael has served as Global Head of OMERS Private Equity since April 2020. Previous to this role, he was Senior Managing Director and Head of North America for Private Equity. Michael has been with Private Equity since 2003, and he opened the New York office in 2009. Michael is active with several investments for Private Equity and is, or has been, on the board of numerous investments, including Caliber Collision, Premise Health, Kenan Advantage Group, EPIQ, Great Expressions Dental Centers, United States Infrastructure Corporation, Nordco Inc. and CHG Healthcare.
Prior to Private Equity, Michael was with a mid-sized, Toronto-based private equity and venture capital firm, where he made several buyout and growth capital investments.Michael began his career at HSBC Canada.
Michael has an Honours Bachelor of Commerce from Queen's University and an MBA from Schulich School of Business, York University.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President & Global Head of Infrastructure
Michael is Executive Vice President & Global Head of OMERS Infrastructure. He joined OMERS in September 2023 and is based in New York.
Michael is a highly respected investment professional and leader with more than 30 years of broadly diversified, global investment experience. At OMERS he has accountability and oversight for our global infrastructure investment and asset management programs.
Michael joined OMERS from another Canadian pension plan where most recently he was the Americas Head of Sustainable Energies, focused on direct private equity investments across the energy sector. He was also the head of the firm's New York office. Previously, Michael spent over 25 years in investment banking, working across asset classes, in various roles at Nomura Securities, Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley. He has worked globally, and been based out of New York, London and Toronto.
Michael holds an HBA from Ivey Business School, where he is also a Board member, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Michael Kelly oversees OMERS Legal Division and is involved in various matters relating to investment and pension law, regulatory affairs and corporate governance, including working closely with the Board of Directors. Michael leads OMERS approach to sustainable investing and ESG, having developed OMERS Sustainable Investing Framework in 2019, and is Chair of the Sustainable Investing Committee.
Michael also represents OMERS on various domestic and international organizations focused on governance and sustainable investing, including Canada's Sustainable Finance Action Council, the Canadian Coalition for Good Governance and the Investor Leadership Network.
Prior to assuming his current role in 2014, Michael served as Executive Vice President & General Counsel at Borealis Infrastructure (now OMERS Infrastructure), which he joined in 2006. Prior to joining OMERS, he practiced corporate, commercial and regulatory law, both in-house and with firms in Toronto, London, England and Ottawa.
Michael was called to the Bar in Ontario in 1994. He holds a BBA (Hons) from Wilfrid Laurier University (1989), a JD/LLB from the University of Toronto (1992), and an MA (International Relations) from the University of Toronto (2004). He also holds the designation of Chartered Director (C. Dir). Michael is married and has two children.
Job Titles:
- Chief Human Resources Officer
Nancy serves as Chief Human Resources Officer at OMERS and is member of the Executive Leadership Team. With more than 20 years of experience in human-resources transformation, Nancy leads all aspects of human resources for 3,000+ team members globally, including the enterprise's People strategy.
Nancy was named as one of the 2022 Best 50 Executives in Canada and she has led OMERS to achieve numerous awards, including Best Workplaces in Canada, Canada's Most Admired Corporate Cultures, and Greater Toronto's Top 100 Employers. Nancy is Co-Chair of the OMERS Inclusion & Diversity Committee and Executive Sponsor of the OMERS Purpose@Work Committee.
Prior to joining OMERS, Nancy was Senior Vice President, Organization Development with Rogers Communications, where she played an instrumental role in leading the company through successful transformation by focusing on key areas of employee experience. During her tenure at TD Bank, Nancy led several executive roles within HR. Nancy also spent nearly a decade at Bell Canada where she implemented several award-winning programs that focused on talent strategies and HR employee experience transformation.
Nancy sits on the Board of Directors at Teranet and Holy Trinity School. She is a certified coach and holds a Master's degree and a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. Nancy is married with two children.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Member of Governance & Risk Committee
Paul Elliott was appointed to the OMERS AC Board effective January 1, 2017 on the nomination of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation. He is Chair of the Governance & Risk Committee and serves as a member of the Member Services Committee, the Appeals Committee and the AC/SC Joint Council.
Previously, Mr. Elliott had served as President of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) from 2013 to 2017. OSSTF/FEESO, founded in 1919, has 60,000 members across Ontario. They include public high school teachers, occasional teachers, educational assistants, continuing education teachers and instructors, early childhood educators, psychologists, secretaries, speech-language pathologists, social workers, plant support personnel, university support staff, and many others in education. He was first elected to the Provincial Executive as an Executive Officer in 2005 until 2007; he also served as Vice President from 2007 to 2013.
Mr. Elliott has successfully completed the Chartered Director Programme at the DeGroote School of Business through McMaster University and also sits on the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Appeals Committee.
Paul Elliott is Chair of the Governance & Risk Committee and serves as a member of the Member Services Committee, the Appeals Committee and the AC/SC Joint Council.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chairman of the Audit & Actuarial Committee
- Member of Cidel Bank Canada
Penny Somerville is one of the two Directors nominated by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO). She is Chair of the Audit & Actuarial Committee and serves as a member of the Investment Committee and the AC/SC Joint Council.
Ms. Somerville held a number of senior leadership roles during her nearly 30-year career with BMO Financial Group. This experience reflects her strong grasp of the interplay between corporate/financial strategy and risk. Her roles at BMO included the following: Executive Vice President, Technology & Operations Initiatives; Executive Vice President & Senior Market Risk Officer; Executive Vice President & Treasurer; and Senior Vice-President & Corporate Controller. Prior to working at BMO, Ms. Somerville provided accounting and auditing research advice to the Canadian operating offices of a large accounting firm.
Ms. Somerville is a member of Cidel Bank Canada and Cidel Trust Company Board of Directors, Governance & Conduct Review Committee and is Chair of the Audit Committee. Previously, she served on Runnymede Healthcare Centre's Board of Directors and Finance/Audit Committee as well as the University of Toronto's Audit Committee, the Board and Audit Committee of Moneris Solutions Corporation and the Board of Bank of Montreal (Barbados) Limited.
Ms. Somerville holds an Honours Bachelors of Commerce from Queen's University. She is a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors and a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario.
Penny Somerville is Chair of the Audit & Actuarial Committee and serves as a member of the Investment Committee and the AC/SC Joint Council.
Peter Derochie Peter Derochie is Chair of the Audit & Human Resources Committee and serves as a member of the Plan Design Committee. Read Peter Derochie's bio
Pierre Côté serves as a member of the Corporate Governance Committee and Plan Design Committee.
Pierre Côté was appointed by the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) to the OMERS Sponsors Corporation (SC) Board effective January 1, 2024. He serves as a member of the Corporate Governance Committee and Plan Design Committee.
Mr. Côté retired from OMERS SC as Executive Director, Strategy, Stakeholder Relations and Communications in 2022. In that role, he leveraged his extensive experience to provide the SC strategic advice on pension plan governance, stakeholder relations, communications and long-term planning.
Formerly a psychologist, he started his career at the Burritts Rapids Correctional Centre. He then joined the Conseil des écoles publiques d'Ottawa-Carleton and the Ottawa Board of Education where he also assumed leadership and bargaining responsibilities for OSSTF/FEESO bargaining units. In 1997, Mr. Côté joined the OSSTF/FEESO Provincial Office, where he held several leadership roles that were crucial to the Federation's strategic planning, governance, political action, government relations, public relations and communication initiatives. He has extensive pension governance experience having sat on the Ontario Teachers' Federation (OTF) Executive for more than 10 years which, with the Government of Ontario, is a partner to the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP).
Mr. Côté holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology as well as a Doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Ottawa and is a graduate of the Conference Board of Canada/DeGroote School of Business Directors College. He has also served on many Boards in an official or volunteer capacity, including: Centre d'acceuil héritage, Centre francophone de Toronto, Canadian Teachers Federation, Educators Financial Group, Ontario Teachers Federation, Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan and the United Association of Labour Educators.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Audit & Actuarial Committee
- Member of the Board of Trustees of Alignvest Student Housing Trust and of the Board of Directors
Rajiv Silgardo was appointed to the OMERS AC Board effective January 1, 2020 on the nomination of the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association. He serves as a member of the Board's Audit & Actuarial Committee and the Investment Committee.
Mr. Silgardo has over 30 years' experience in the investment industry as a senior executive in the areas of asset and wealth management. He retired in late 2019 as President and CEO of UBC Investment Management Trust, where he spearheaded the allocation and investment of the University's Endowment and Pension portfolios across private and public asset classes. Prior to joining UBC in December 2016, Mr. Silgardo was Co-CEO of BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM), which he helped establish and grow from approximately $50 billion in assets under management in 2009 to over $300 billion by mid-2016, with operations in 14 countries. Earlier, Mr. Silgardo spent 14 years with Barclays Global Investors (BGI). With assets under management having grown to US$2.2 trillion by 2009, BGI was the world's largest and pre-eminent institutional investment firm. Mr. Silgardo served initially as Chief Investment Officer and subsequently led the firm as President and CEO in Canada.
In addition to OMERS, Mr. Silgardo is a member of the Board of Trustees of Alignvest Student Housing Trust and of the Board of Directors of the Mount Pleasant Group as well as Carfin Inc. He also serves on the Investment Committee of the UHN Foundation. Mr. Silgardo is a past member of the Investment Committee of the Vancouver Foundation, the TSX Trading Advisory Committee and of the Board of Governors of the Bishop Strachan School in Toronto.
Mr. Silgardo received his B. Comm (Honours) and M. Com degrees from Delhi University, India, and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a CFA Charterholder.
Rajiv Silgardo serves as a member of the Audit & Actuarial Committee and the Investment Committee.
Ralph Berg - Chief Investment Officer
Ralph Berg is Chief Investment Officer. He is responsible for the global strategy across all of OMERS investment activities.
Ralph, who has more than 25 years of investment industry experience, joined OMERS in 2013. He previously served as Global Head of OMERS Capital Markets, leading a world-class team responsible for public market investments representing nearly half of OMERS net investment assets. Before that, he spent more than eight years with OMERS Infrastructure, including six as Executive Vice President and Global Head of Infrastructure overseeing the growth and management of a portfolio of high-quality assets that now extends across five continents. Under Ralph's leadership, OMERS capital markets and infrastructure portfolios became significantly broader and deeper across sectors and geographies.
Prior to joining OMERS, Ralph was a Managing Director and the Head of the European Energy & Power Team at Credit Suisse, where he spent seven years advising clients in M&A, IPO and structured finance transactions. Before that, he worked in the Energy team at Deutsche Bank in New York and London for almost 12 years.
Ralph holds a Law degree from Universidad de Buenos Aires, and investment strategy, leadership and business qualifications from The Wharton School, IMD Business School and Emory University - Goizueta Business School.
Job Titles:
- Global Head of Technology, Data and Security
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Plan Design Committee
Scott Marks is Chair of the Plan Design Committee and serves as a member of the Corporate Governance Committee.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Global Communications
Job Titles:
- Member of the Audit & Actuarial Committee
Susan Arab serves as a member of the Audit & Actuarial Committee, the Member Services Committee and the Appeals Committee.