BC Pension Forum Speaker Biographies

In alphabetical order.

Priya Bala-Miller, Program Officer, Global Unions Committee on Workers’ Capital
Priya Bala-Miller coordinates SHARE’s international work through the Global Unions Committee for Workers’ Capital (CWC). She has ten years of experience working with UN agencies and international NGOs as an advocate for corporate social responsibility and sustainability. Priya holds a Master of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of British Columbia (UBC), as well as a Master of Arts degree in Conflict Analysis and Management from Royal Roads University. Currently, she is a doctoral candidate and Liu Scholar at UBC, where her research focuses on understanding the impacts of shareholder activism in conflict zones. In a voluntary capacity, Priya enjoys her role as a Director for the Coalition of Universities for Responsible Investment (CURI). She is also a member of the Canadian Business Ethics Research Network (CBERN) and UN-Principles for Responsible Investment (UN-PRI) Academic Network.

Paula Barrios, Senior Research Analyst, SHARE
Paula Barrios joined SHARE in August of 2008. She leads SHARE's research and shareholder engagement on environmental issues, including oil sands reclamation, sustainable forestry, climate change, toxic chemicals and sustainability reporting. Paula holds a Ph.D. in international environmental law and a Masters degree in law from the University of British Columbia, as well as a law degree from the University of Los Andes in Bogota, Colombia. She brings over seven years of experience doing research on a range of environmental issues, both as a graduate student and as a legal advisor to Colombia’s Ministry of Environment. For the past six years, she has been a report writer/editor for the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), covering United Nations conferences and multilateral negotiations related to the environment. She also covered a number of international environmental negotiations as a freelance report writer for the United Nations office in Nairobi (UNON).

Dennis Blatchford, Trustee, BC Municipal Pension Plan
Dennis Blatchford is the Pensions & Benefits Advocate for the Health Sciences Association of BC, a position he has held since October 2008. Prior to moving to the Advocate position, Dennis worked as the Executive/Human Resources Coordinator for HSABC for over 10 years. Dennis came to HSABC in 1997 from the BC Federation of Labour where he was the Director of Community and Social Action Programs. In 1999, Dennis was appointed to coordinate HSABC's response to changes to the BC Public Sector Pensions Plan Act and played a key role in negotiating the joint trust agreement for the Municipal Pension Plan. When the new jointly-trusted Municipal Pension Plan came into effect in April 2001, Dennis was appointed HSABC's trustee to the MPP; a position he holds today. Dennis has served many years on the MPP Governance Committee and is the current Chair.
 

David S. Blitzstein, Special Assistant for Multiemployer Funds, United Food & Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW)
As Special Assistant for Multiemployer Plans for the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), Mr. Blitzstein currently serves as a trustee on six Taft-Hartley pension funds and one health fund representing half a million plan participants. In addition, Mr. Blitzstein advises the UFCW International leadership on employee benefit policy issues. Between 1990 and 2006, Mr. Blitzstein served as the Director of the Negotiated Benefits Department of the UFCW, and was responsible for providing collective bargaining advice on health insurance and pension issues. Mr. Blitzstein represents the UFCW as a member of the Steering Committee of the National Coordinating Committee for Multiemployer Plans (NCCMP is a lobbying group for multiemployer plans), a member of the Employee Benefits Research Institute (EBRI), a member of the National Academy of Social Insurance and a Director of the Pension Research Council of the Wharton School - University of Pennsylvania. In April of 2008, Mr. Blitzstein was appointed by the Governor of Maryland to serve a four year term on the Board of Trustees for the Maryland State Retirement and Pension Systems. In June of 2011, Mr. Blitzstein was appointed by President Obama to the Advisory Committee of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) for a 3 year term. 

Murray Campbell, Partner, Lawson Lundell LLP
Murray Campbell is a partner with the Vancouver office of Lawson Lundell LLP. Murray is recognized as one of the top 500 lawyers in Canada in the 2012 LEXPERT®/American Lawyer Guide. He practices exclusively in the pension and employee benefits area, and is the head of Lawson Lundell’s Pension and Employee Benefits Group. Murray acts for boards of trustees and other sponsors of pension and benefit plans in the private and public sectors in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. While Murray is principally a solicitor, he is regularly involved in litigious pension and benefit matters. Murray assisted with the introduction of joint trusteeship to several public sector pension plans in British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba. He regularly advises boards of trustees and other plan sponsors on all legal and regulatory issues which arise in the administration of a pension or benefit plan. He regularly chairs and speaks at conferences for boards of trustees and other plan sponsors. Murray graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1984 and is a member of the Law Societies of Alberta (1985) and British Columbia (1990).

Garth Davis, Vice President, Community Capital, Vancity
Garth has leadership experience and roots in private equity, subordinated debt and leveraged finance. He has led investments involving growth equity, buyouts, recapitalizations and special situations in both the private and public markets. Prior to joining Vancity in 2010, Garth was a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Turtle Creek Private Equity in Toronto, with responsibility for executing transactions and the ongoing management of Turtle Creek Private Equity's middle-market portfolio investments and shared leadership and management responsibility for strategy, corporate development, team building and operations. Before co-founding Turtle Creek, Garth spent nine years as a Partner at Scotia Merchant Capital, the North American private equity-arm of the Bank of Nova Scotia. Garth has a Master of Arts in International Economics from the Paul H. Nitze School for Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, a Master of Science from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a Bachelor of Arts from Simon Fraser University.

Shelley Engman, Consulting Actuary, Aon Hewitt
Ms. Engman has practiced as a British Columbia pension actuary and consultant for 29 years. She is a strategic advisor to union-trusteed, jointly-trusteed, and corporately governed pension plans in both the public and private sectors. Her focus is on the prudent management of financial risk, so that desired outcomes are achieved for plan stakeholders. Ms. Engman is well known for her ability to communicate technical subjects in relevant and understandable terms. She is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries, a Member of the Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute and the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, and is a frequent speaker on pension issues.

Ken Georgetti, President, Canadian Labour Congress
Ken Georgetti’s career has taken him from pipefitter to president of the Canadian Labour Congress and from shop steward to start-up founder of labour-owned, multi-million dollar companies. What the Ottawa Citizen newspaper described as “Georgetti’s consensus-building West Coast cool” has led the Canadian Labour Congress to add 700,000 new members under his leadership since 1999, growing to represent a record 3.2 million workers. Along the way Ken has met world leaders like Nelson Mandela, Tony Blair, Bill Clinton, Angela Merkel, Vladimir Putin and the Dalai Lama, and directly heard the plight of workers who have been horribly disabled in the sweatshop factories of China and developing nations. Ken Georgetti is a modern labour leader – someone who has walked countless picket lines to support striking or locked-out workers and has been a controversial but respected guest in corporate boardrooms and cabinet offices, in every situation strongly advocating for working people and their families. Ken combines the traditional militancy of the labour movement with a keen understanding of business developed through the creation of Concert Properties, western Canada’s largest unionized residential developer, and the Working Opportunity Fund, a major labour-sponsored venture capital investor. First elected at age 46 in May 1999 as the youngest president in the CLC’s history, Ken came from a family of union activists in Trail, BC. During his 13 years as President of the British Columbia Federation of Labour, Ken earned a reputation for being innovative and outspoken while its membership more than doubled – from 218,000 in 1986 when he was elected to 450,000 members. At both the CLC and the BC Federation of Labour, Ken has helped modernize the organizations, ensuring that labour was more representative of the face of the workforce, by actively promoting women, visible minorities and youth.

Murray Gold, Partner, Koskie Minsky LLP
Murray Gold is a Partner at Koskie Minsky LLP and a leading practitioner in the area of pensions and employee benefits. In 2006, Murray was appointed as one of four Expert Advisors to the Ontario Expert Commission on Pensions. Murray continues to be deeply involved in pension governance, compliance and reform issues. In 2009 – 2011, Murray led Koskie Minsky’s team in establishing Canada’s first funded post-retirement healthcare trust in the auto sector covering 40,000 retired CAW members formerly employed by General Motors of Canada Limited and Chrysler Canada Inc. He has also been lead counsel for Koskie Minsky representing stakeholder interests in major pension insolvency proceedings involving Air Canada and Stelco, and represented a major Ontario pension plan in U.S. securities fraud litigation against Nortel. Murray completed his undergraduate education, with honours, from Harvard University in 1981, and has a law degree from the University of Toronto Law School (1984).

Rhys Kesselman, Professor, SFU School of Public Policy
Jonathan Rhys Kesselman is a professor in the School of Public Policy, Simon Fraser University Vancouver, and has held the Canada Research Chair in Public Finance since 2004. He was professor of economics, UBC, 1972-2003; director, UBC Centre for Research on Economic and Social Policy, 1994-2003; principal investigator, SSHRC MCRI project “Equality, Security, and Community,” 1998-2004; B.A. (Hon.) in Economics from Oberlin College and Ph.D. in Economics from M.I.T. Awarded the Canadian Economics Association’s Doug Purvis Prize for Canadian economic policy research (twice), the Canadian Tax Foundation’s Douglas J. Sherbaniuk Award for Canadian tax policy research, and the Reserve Bank of Australia’s Professorial Fellowship in Economic Policy. His research lay the foundation for the Tax Free Savings Account and contributed to the Registered Disability Savings Plan. His research interests span public finances, taxation policy, income security policy, and social policy.

Noushin Khushrushahi, Research Analyst, SHARE
Noushin Khushrushahi joined SHARE in August 2010. She leads SHARE’S research and shareholder engagement program on social issues, including human rights, labour rights, indigenous rights and free, prior and informed consent, and supply chain standards. Before coming to SHARE, Noushin worked for the Occupational Health and Safety Agency for Healthcare in British Columbia where her research focused on disability prevention, mental health in the workplace, return-to-work/stay-at-work policy, and healthcare workers’ rights. She has also provided consultancy and research for the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women in Bangkok, Thailand, focusing predominantly on immigrant and migrant worker’s rights. Noushin holds a Master of Arts in Asia-Pacific Policy Studies from the University of British Columbia. 

Irene Lanzinger, Secretary Treasurer, BC Federation of Labour
Irene Lanzinger is a long-time union activist and teacher. She began her teaching career in 1978 and taught in Abbotsford and Vancouver. She also travelled overseas and taught in Japan and Saudi Arabia. Irene was very active in the B.C. Teachers’ Federation serving as president of the Vancouver Secondary Teachers’ association, as a negotiator on provincial bargaining teams and as vice-president and president of the BCTF. Irene served as an Officer of the B.C. Federation of Labour from 2007 to 2010. Irene was elected to the position of Secretary-Treasurer of the B.C. Federation of Labour in 2010. She is the first teacher to assume a top post in a provincial Federation of Labour.

Irene Lanzinger, Secretary Treasurer, BC Federation of Labour
Irene Lanzinger is a long-time union activist and teacher. She began her teaching career in 1978 and taught in Abbotsford and Vancouver. She also travelled overseas and taught in Japan and Saudi Arabia. Irene was very active in the B.C. Teachers’ Federation serving as president of the Vancouver Secondary Teachers’ association, as a negotiator on provincial bargaining teams and as vice-president and president of the BCTF. Irene served as an Officer of the B.C. Federation of Labour from 2007 to 2010. Irene was elected to the position of Secretary-Treasurer of the B.C. Federation of Labour in 2010. She is the first teacher to assume a top post in a provincial Federation of Labour.

Nancy Moran, Citizen Services Specialist, Services Canada
Service Canada offers single-window access to a wide range of Government of Canada programs and services through more than 600 points of service located across the country, call centres, and the internet. Services are also offered on an outreach basis. In Nancy Moran's role as Citizen Services Specialist, she provides information, particularly on Service Canada's core programs such as Canada's public pension system, and Employment Insurance. She delivers this service on a mobile outreach basis, to organizations in the community. 

Laura O’Neill, Director of Law and Policy, SHARE 
Laura has been with SHARE since 2006. As Director of Law and Policy, her responsibilities include shareholder engagement, policy advocacy and management of proxy voting services. Laura was called to the bar in Ontario in 1996, and has a Bachelor of Laws degree from Queens’ University (1994). She also has a Bachelor of Arts degree (English Literature, 1989) and a Master of Arts degree (English Literature, 1990). Laura’s decade in the financial industry has included tenures with TD Asset Management, ISS Canada Corp. and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. She is a CFA Charterholder and a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada.

Helmut Pastrick, Chief Economist, Central Credit Union 1
Helmut Pastrick is Chief Economist for Central Credit Union 1, the central financial facility and trade association for the B.C. and Ontario credit union systems. Pastrick is the editor of the Economic Analysis of British Columbia and the Economic Analysis of Ontario publications. In addition, Pastrick provides economic analysis and forecast services to the credit union system. Prior to joining the Central 1 Credit Union in 1997, he spent many years with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation in BC analyzing and forecasting the provincial housing market and economy. Helmut Pastrick is the past President of the Association of Professional Economists of BC, a member of the Canadian Association for Business Economics, and the BC Economic Forecast Council. He is frequently called upon by the media to provide comments on economic events; and his presentations are in demand by many organizations and groups, including credit unions, trade and professional associations, and service clubs. Central 1 represents a consumer-oriented, full-service retail financial system that serves 2.9 million members and holds $70 billion in assets and is owned primarily by its member credit unions, 45 in B.C. and 126 in Ontario.

Bruce Ralston, MLA, Surrey Whalley, Opposition Finance Critic
Bruce Ralston was re-elected as the MLA for Surrey – Whalley on May 12, 2009. He was first elected to the Legislature in 2005.Bruce serves as opposition critic for Finance and Public Accounts. Bruce is currently the chair of the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts. He has also been a member of the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services since 2006. Bruce is a lawyer in Surrey, where he has operated his own law firm for 18 years. From 1995 to 2006, Bruce was elected to four consecutive terms as a member of the Vancity Savings Credit Union board of directors. He served as the chair of the board from 2001 to 2003. In 2003 BC Business magazine recognized Bruce as one of BC’s leading five board chairs. From 2003 until 2005, Bruce acted as the chair of the board of Vancity Enterprises, a Vancity subsidiary with a mandate to provide innovative housing solutions throughout the Lower Mainland. A former president of the BC NDP, Bruce was born in Victoria and grew up in Vancouver. He has degrees in history and law from the University of British Columbia and a degree in history from the University of Cambridge in England.

Brian Schramm, Staff Representative, BCGEU
Brian Schramm has a long history with pension issues in his work as a labour representative for more than 30 years. Most recently he has taken a position as a staff representative responsible for pensions with the BC Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU).  His previous labour experience includes working as the business manager for the West Vancouver Municipal Employees Association and earlier working in labour relations with the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees (HERE) International Union Local 40. Brian served as a trustee on a health and welfare plan with HERE in the past. He is the chair of the Council of Joint Organizations and Unions, an appointing body to the Municipal Pension Board of Trustees. Brian also currently serves as a trustee on the BC Public Service Pension Plan as well as a trustee on the BCGEU Pension Plan.

Mark Solomon, Partner, Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd
Mark Solomon, a barrister and Harvard-educated lawyer, represents both United States- and United Kingdom-based pension funds and asset managers in class and non-class securities litigation. Mark Solomon earned his law degrees at Trinity College, Cambridge University, England (1985), Harvard Law School (1986), and the Inns of Court School of Law, England (1987). He is admitted to the Bar of England and Wales (Barrister), Ohio and California, as well as to various United States Federal District and  Appellate Courts. Mr. Solomon regularly represents both United States- and United Kingdom-based pension funds and asset managers in class and non-class securities litigation. Mr. Solomon is a founding partner of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP.

Bryan Thomson, Vice President, Equity Investments, bcIMC 
Bryan Thomson is the Vice President, Equity Investments at the British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (bcIMC).  He is responsible for internally managed funds including trading, corporate governance and portfolio management as well as overseeing bcIMC’s external equity manager relationships.  Bryan has been with bcIMC since it was founded in 1999 and prior to that, with the Office of the Chief Investment Officer, the predecessor to bcIMC.  Bryan holds a B.A. in Political Science, a Bachelor of Laws and MPA from the University of Victoria.  He obtained the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 1999 and the Chartered Alternative Investments Analyst Designation in 2010.