Impact Investing Event for Institutional Investors & Asset Owners
We warmly invite institutional investors and asset owners to the seminar taking place in Montreal in 2025 and engage with regional and international impact specialists in a dynamic setting designed to inform, inspire, and connect.
WHY ATTEND
This one-day seminar offers thought-provoking sessions, investor panels, keynote presentations, interactive roundtables, and dedicated networking opportunities - encouraging the open exchange of best practices and the co-creation of actionable solutions tailored to the challenges facing the region and beyond. Participants will also benefit from immersive educational workshops and masterclasses that deliver practical insights through real-world case studies, advanced financial analysis, hands-on tools, and collaborative group work focused on thematic investment topics.
HOSTED BY :
INDUSTRY PARTNERS:
OBJECTIVES
-
INFORMED CONVERSATIONS
-
The Seminar provide institutional investors with a platform to share knowledge and insights through in-depth discussions about the challenges and opportunities associated with impact investments in both public and private markets. It seeks to foster collaboration, encourage the exchange of best practices, and explore innovative strategies that can drive meaningful impact while achieving financial returns.
-
CONNECTING WITH PEERS
-
Investors and a curated group of fund managers will be able to reconnect with the industry peers, exchange best practices, learn from each other’s experiences, and share ideas on creating innovative and scalable solutions to their impact journeys.
-
DISCOVERING & EXPLORING
Thematic roundtable sessions provide institutional investors, asset owners, and a select group of impact fund managers with an opportunity to explore impact themes through table discussions facilitated by expert speakers. Participants can select a few discussions to join, allowing them to ask in-depth questions and exchange ideas.
-
-
BOOK YOUR SEAT AMONGST YOUR LOCAL IMPACT INVESTING PEERS!
A LIMITED NUMBER OF COMPLIMENTARY INVITES ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS AND ASSET OWNERS.
WHO WILL ATTEND
● Public and Corporate Pension Funds and their Fiduciary Managers,
● Insurance Companies,
● Sovereign Wealth Funds,
● Family Offices,
● Foundations and Endowments,
● Wealth Managers/Private Banks,
● Development Finance Institutions,
● Faith-based Organisations.
- THE AGENDA 2025 WAS CREATED WITH INPUT FROM
-
ADVISING COMMITTEE
• Aysha Dawood, Coordinator, Canada Forum for Impact Investment and Development (CAFIID)
• Claire Bisson, Vice-President and Chief Investment Officer, Fondaction
• Graham Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Relèven
• Karolina Iaydjieva, Portfolio Manager, Rally Assets
• Lilya Mincheva, Interim Co-Head, North America RI Ecosystems, Principles for Responsible Investment
• Lindsay Wallace, Senior Vice President, MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates)
• Mari Brossard, Principal Sustainability, Sagard
• Rosalie Vendette, Director, Quinn+Partners
• Temple Fennell, Principal, Keller Family Office
• Yashel Oliva, Senior Associate, Public Policy & Partnerships, FinDev Canada
1-DAY OF LEARNING & INSPIRATION
PRELIMINARY AGENDA 2025
08:30 - 09:00 Registration
09:00 -10:00
Breakfast Workshop | Employee Ownership: Investing in Shared Prosperity
With trillions in business assets expected to change hands in the coming decade, employee ownership offers a timely opportunity for investors to drive long-term value while strengthening communities. This workshop explores how emerging models - like Canada’s new Employee
Ownership Trusts (EOTs) - can preserve local businesses, deliver competitive returns, and create more inclusive economies. Learn how forward-thinking investors are financing ownership transitions and why this growing movement is gaining bipartisan support as a practical solution to
wealth inequality, business continuity, and economic sovereignty.
10:00 -10:40
Round table | IMM for social impact, stakeholder buy-in, and standardization
What does meaningful impact measurement look like in real-world investment decisions? This panel explores emerging methodologies, stakeholder engagement, and the path toward standardizing IMM practices in Canada. Stakeholder buy-in starts with shared language. This session explores the tension between measurement rigor and community relevance in developing IMM systems that work for everyone.
10:40 - 10:55 Coffee Break
10:55 -12:00
Thematic Roundtable Discussions
Following a brief introduction by the Phenix Capital Group team, participants will engage in a series of facilitated roundtable discussions. Each table will be led by two subject-matter experts and will focus on one of the thematic areas outlined below. Each discussion will last for 30 minutes, with participants rotating through three different themes during the session. This format is designed to foster in-depth dialogue and the exchange of diverse perspectives.
12:00 - 13:00 Lunch
13:00 - 13:20
Interactive session | Investing with integrity: indigenous due diligence in practice
Investing in Indigenous communities means rethinking how we assess risk, value, and readiness. This topic breaks down the steps investors can take to engage Indigenous communities effectively—from legal considerations to community consultation. This session provides a candid look at what works and what doesn’t when investing in Indigenous-led projects. Gain insight into governance, trust-building, and how to align
capital with community priorities.
13:20 -14:10
Investor Panel | Geopolitics, resilience & the power of private markets
Amid trade disruptions, shifting regulations, and political volatility, impact investors must future proof their portfolios and partnerships. This session tackles how global shape capital flows and risk perception. We’ll also examine the rising role of private markets in maintaining impact integrity and building long-term resilience in deals, especially within infrastructure, climate, and gender-lens
investing. Learn how Canadian institutions can stay agile, relevant, and resilient.
14:10 - 14:25 Coffee Break
14:20- 15:00
Fireside chat| De-risking emerging markets
For decades, perceived high risk has constrained private capital flows to emerging markets. This discussion will challenge conventional wisdom, highlighting how outdated assumptions can inflate perceived risks and create missed opportunities. It will explore how institutional investors can leverage data-driven insights to redefine risk and unlock emerging market potential.
15:00 - 16:00 Closing & Networking
PLEASE CAREFULLY SELECT YOUR REGISTRATION PATH
This event is catered to C-Suite, Board Members, Portfolio Managers and ESG/Impact Investing officers of: Public and Corporate Pension Funds and their Fiduciary Managers, Insurance Companies, Sovereign Wealth Funds, Family Offices, Foundations and Endowments, Wealth Managers/Private Banks, Development Finance Institutions, Faith-based Organisations. Additionally, a select group of impact fund managers, corporations, service providers, and industry collaborators are invited to participate via sponsorship packages.
Free
- Asset owners may apply for a Complimentary ticket. A maximum of 2 complimentary tickets are available per organisation and are mainly reserved for C-Suite, Board Members, Portfolio Managers and ESG/Impact Investing officers.
- Asset owner tickets are reserved for organisations who have discretion over assets, invest in external funds and do not engage in third-party fundraising activities or collect fees for advisory/ consulting services.
Via Application
- A limited number of carefully selected impact fund managers are invited to participate in the conference via an application for a sponsorship package.
There are only a limited number of packages available per event. - Impact fund managers and their impact themes will be selected based on the institutional quality criteria, asset class and intended impact. Please apply below or contact us via: sales@phenixcapitalgroup.com.
Via Application
- A few third-party/corporate organisations such as:
Service providers;
Research organisations;
Investment consultants;
Government institutions;
Investee companies;
will be admitted to participate in the Summit. The ticket price is 1300CAD per ticket. - Each application will be reviewed by our team and contacted individually with the next steps.
VENUE 2025
Le Mount Stephen
1440 Rue Drummond, Montreal, Québec H3G 1V9
SPEAKERS 2024
Chantal Hermans
COO and Head of Impact Investing Intelligence,Phenix Capital Group
David Rowlett
Portfolio Manager – U.S. Impact Equity,T. Rowe Price
David Ung
Director, Sustainable Investing, Global Sustainable Investing Team,Manulife Investment Management
Erin Flanagan
Director, Climate Advisory,PSP Investments
Ian Capstick
Chief Impact & Communications Officer,Animikii
Gemma Roex
Impact Measurement and Management Specialist,Phenix Capital Group
Katie Wheatley
Head of Canada,UN Principles for Responsible Investment
Melissa Paris St-Amour
IMM practitioner,Member of CAFIID IMM Community of Practice
Pauline Barraque-Bigot
Senior Advisor, Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives, Sustainable Finance,Finance Montréal
Philippe Bélanger
Head of Responsible Investment,Régime de rentes du Mouvement Desjardins
Pierre-Laurent Macridis
Senior Associate - Private Investment Research,Rally Assets / Realize Capital Partners

-2.png?width=445&height=445&name=Untitled%20design%20(2)-2.png)
David Rowlett
Portfolio Manager – U.S. Impact Equity,
T. Rowe Price

David Ung
Director, Sustainable Investing, Global Sustainable Investing Team,
Manulife Investment Management

Gemma Roex
Impact Measurement and Management Specialist,
Phenix Capital Group

Katie Wheatley
Head of Canada,
UN Principles for Responsible Investment

-2.png?width=445&height=445&name=Untitled%20design%20(5)-2.png)
Pauline Barraque-Bigot
Senior Advisor, Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives, Sustainable Finance,
Finance Montréal
VENUE 2024
LE MOUNT STEPHEN
1440 Rue Drummond,
Montréal, Québec H3G 1V9
JOIN LEADING ORGANISATIONS AS A SPONSOR!
IMPACT FUND MANAGERS ARE WELCOME TO ENQUIRE ABOUT SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
GET IN THE MOOD TO MEET YOUR INDUSTRY PEERS!
High value, as the dynamic Phenix team with Sophie Robe, actively support alliances, connections and builds ongoing vital expansion opportunities for global Impact networks.”
WHAT IS IMPACT INVESTING
Whereas ESG investing looks to integrate environmental, social and governance factors when subject to an investment’s performance, impact investing goes a step further by seeking investments that contribute to measurable social and/or environmental impact.
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF IMPACT INVESTMENTS
-
Intentionality: intent to achieve a social or environmental goal is clearly expressed and the investor identifies outcomes that will be pursued
-
Additionality: thesis or narrative describes how the investor’s actions will help achieve the goal and how the outcome would not have occurred without the investment
-
Measurement: impact measurement framework in place to assess the level of expected impact and monitor progress against the goal
SPECTRUM OF CAPITAL
Impact Seminar Series programme is focusing on the financial-first impact investments opportunities, offering experienced impact investors the stage to share best practices with their industry peers.

First published by Bridges Fund Management (2015), the Spectrum of Capital maps out different investment approaches, depending on investors’ desired risk, return and impact profile, and categorizing them in a range from traditional investment to philanthropy.
- Financial-First Impact Investments: select funds in specific sectors, impact themes, or in alignment to the SDGs. In this approach, there is no trade-off between return and impact, and thus all investments should achieve fully commercial risk-adjusted returns.
Impact-First Impact Investments: funds are selected to maximize impact over returns. These investments may target lower risk-adjusted returns to deliver greater impact.