Awards

Awards

December 1st, 2026
The OMNI King Edward Hotel Toronto

Beyond the evening gala, Institutional Connect Awards 2026 includes a comprehensive morning program dedicated to the most pressing and forward-looking issues in pension investments and governance.

Experience a night of sophistication and celebration as we honour the outstanding achievements in Canada’s institutional investment industry at the prestigious Institutional Connect Awards. This exclusive event highlights the industry’s trailblazers—those who are redefining the future of pension funds and investment management with innovative strategies, dedication to fiduciary excellence, and bold approaches that challenge the status quo.

As the investment landscape evolves, organizations and individuals are rising to meet new challenges in areas like macroeconomic trends, organizational culture, and investment practices. At the Institutional Connect Awards, we celebrate these remarkable efforts, recognizing achievements at both the organizational and individual levels. Whether at the beginning of their journey or already established leaders, award recipients will be celebrated for the unique impact they’ve made in their own way.

Judge Committee

Tamara Close

MSc, CFA

Senior Director, ESG Advisory

Petra Funds Group

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Robert Cultraro


CEO

NordoVest

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Jean-David Tremblay Frenette

M.Sc.

Chief Economist and Director, Investment Strategy Research

Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo)

View Bio

Les Marton


Managing Director

bfinance Canada Inc.

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Chris Sicotte


Executive Director

Zagime Anishinabek

View Bio

Christine Tessier

CFA, CAIA

Chief Investment Officer, Mercer Global Investments

Mercer

View Bio
What to Expect
View Award Categories
Submit Nominations

Nominations are open until September 25th, 2026

Judge committee will review nominations and select finalists

Finalists will be announced in early November

Half day program on the morning of December 1st, 2026

Award winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on the evening of December 1st, 2026

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Tamara Close

MSC, CFA

Senior Director, ESG Advisory

Petra Funds Group

Tamara has over 25 years of combined experience in capital markets and ESG strategy. She is based in Montreal and works with investment management firms and asset owners to advance their ESG integration practices across both risk and value frameworks. She was previously the Head of ESG Integration for KKS Advisors, a global ESG Advisory firm. Tamara has held various front office investment management positions for the Bank of Montreal and Credit Lyonnais in the global derivatives and foreign exchange markets and was previously the head of research and risk for a start-up fixed income asset management firm in Montreal. Before founding Close Group Consulting, she spent 10 years in senior leadership roles within the risk and public markets investment groups of PSP Investments. She is also the founder and creator of the Sustainable Risk Assessment Framework

Tamara holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certification and is a member of the ESG Examination Subcommittee for CFA Institute, a council member of the Canadian Advocacy Council for CFA Societies Canada. She is a Board director for Evovest, an investment management firm using artificial intelligence and evolutive learning techniques to manage investment portfolios. She is also a Board director for CFA Montreal and was previously the Chair of the ESG Committee. Tamara is also a member of the Investment Committee for the JGH Foundation. Tamara is a Strategic Advisor to the Veristell Institute, a globally focused think-tank on ESG and Corporate Purpose, and an Advisor and Contributor to PracticalESG, a source for ESG thought leadership. Tamara is a regular contributor to industry journals and author of thought leadership on ESG, risk management and sustainable investing and is a sought after speaker. She earned a Bachelor in Economics from McGill University and a Master of Science degree in Finance from the John Molson School of Business. She is based in Montreal and is fluent in English and French. 

Robert Cultraro

CEO

NordoVest

Robert has over thirty years of extensive experience in the investment industry, which includes working collaboratively with Boards and Committees, investment research and analysis, investment advising and managing investment portfolios.

Robert was the Chief Investment and Pension Officer at Hydro One Inc. from January 2005 until his retirement in June 2024. Robert’s expertise is in strategic decision-making, strategic and dynamic asset mix management, selection and monitoring of investments, governance, and risk management.

  • Robert holds many relevant industry credentials including the Chartered Financial Analyst, Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst, Certified Investment Manager, and the Institute of Corporate Directors designations.
  • Robert is professionally affiliated with the CFA Institute, the CFA Society Toronto, the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association, and is a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute.
  • Robert is a current member of the Investment Advisory Committee for the Nunavut Trust and Chair of the IRC for JP Morgan ETF Canada. He is the past Chair of the Board of the CFA Society Toronto and past Board member of the Pension Investment Association of Canada and past Chair of its Investment Practices Committee. Robert is a past member of the Investment Advisory Committee of the Office of Public Guardian and Trustee.

Jean-David Tremblay Frenette

M.Sc.

Chief Economist and Director, Investment Strategy Research

Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo)

Jean David joined AIMCo in December 2010 to lead the Global Tactical Asset Allocation investment activity. He has, since then, transitioned internally in a senior capacity to work on investment strategy research, asset allocation, quantitative research and macroeconomic analysis. He is currently Chief Economist and Director, Investment Strategy Research.

Prior experience includes macroeconomic analysis, tactical asset allocation and global macro portfolio management at Caisse dépôt et placement du Québec – La Caisse. He also worked in strategic investments for National Bank of Canada. Jean David began his career working in mergers and acquisitions at Credit Suisse in Toronto.

He holds an M.Sc. degree in finance from the Henley Business School – ICMA Centre at the University of Reading, United Kingdom and a BCom. – finance major, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Canada.

Les Marton

Managing Director

bfinance Canada Inc.

Les is the Managing Director and Lead Client Consultant in bfinance’s Canadian institutional investment consultancy practice.

He has worked in financial services for more than 35 years, with more than two decades of experience in asset management. He has extensive experience on the buy-side, having managed the Scotia Alternative Asset Fund from 2001-2003, launched the Scotiabank Canadian Hedge Fund Index and was Head of Operational Due Diligence for Scotia Capital’s alternative assets business. Les has worked extensively with institutional allocators in a range of advisory roles throughout his long and varied career. Prior to joining bfinance in 2017 he held senior roles at Scotiabank including Managing Director, Head of Hedge Fund Consulting & Capital Introduction and Head of the Global Alternative Asset Group. He began his career at Royal Bank of Canada and RBC Capital Markets.

Les has been a frequent speaker at pension investment conferences on a wide range of topics. He has eclectic tastes in literature and music, is an avid sports enthusiast as well as a keen (though unaccomplished) golfer. In the dim mists of time he received an MBA from York University and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and English from the University of Toronto, Trinity College.

Chris Sicotte

Executive Director

Zagime Anishinabek

Chris Sicotte is a proud Cree/Métis and member of the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (formerly known as Nelson House First Nation), Treaty 5 territory, with family connections to the historic communities of Cumberland House and the Red River Métis Settlement. Chris is the Executive Director of the National Aboriginal Trust Officers Association (“NATOA”), a position he started in October 2022. Prior to this role Chris worked for 30 years in the financial services (banking & insurance) industry. Over the course of his career, he has worked in locations across Canada, including Winnipeg, Brandon, Norway House Cree Nation, Cree Nation of Chisasibi (James Bay Cree of northern Quebec) and Saskatoon. Since 2002 he has been focused on working directly with First Nations governments, Tribal Councils, Economic and Business Development Corporations, Métis governments and Entrepreneurs in providing financial services and advice.
Chris has and continues to serve on numerous Boards and committees. He is the current Board Chair of Sparrow Hawk Developments (the economic development arm of Peepeekisis Cree Nation). In June 2022, through an Order in Council, Chris was appointed a Director of the Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation (“CMHC”) for a 4-year term. He is also the former Board Chair of Kahkewistahaw Economic Management Corporation, former Chair of the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce, former Chair of the City of Saskatoon’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Advisory Committee, and former Board Chair of AFOA Canada.
In May 2023 Chris participated in the AFOA Canada/Harvard University Leading People and Investing to Build Sustainable Communities course at Harvard Business School. As one of 83 participants from across Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand he had the opportunity to live on campus for a one-week intensive course designed to empower and inspire Indigenous leaders. This was a unique learning experience and allowed him to network with Indigenous leaders from around the world.
Chris is a speaker and presenter on Indigenous Economic Development, Indigenous Finance, and Urban Reserve development. He remains active as a community builder between the Indigenous and newcomer Canadian communities and the inter-faith community of Saskatoon. In recognition of his volunteer activities Chris was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (Saskatchewan) in March 2023.
Chris currently resides in Saskatoon (Treaty 6 territory) with his wife Darlene OkemaysimSicotte and is stepfather to 4 adult children. He is the proud grandfather of 4 grandsons: Albert (“AJ”), Dayshawn, Joseph, and Samuel and one granddaughter Desta. He also holds black belts in 2 martial arts (Traditional Japanese Jiu-Jitsu and the Filipino martial art of Kali) and is an advanced brown belt in the Filipino art of Sikaran.

Christine Tessier

CFA, CAIA

Chief Investment Officer, Mercer Global Investments

Mercer

Christine Tessier (CFA, CAIA) is an investment professional with +25 years of experience in institutional and retail product governance and investment and operational due diligence across asset classes, in both public and private markets. Mrs. Tessier is returning to Mercer as Chief Investment Officer of Mercer Global Investments in Canada. Previously, Ms. Tessier was Chief Investment Officer at Harbourfront Wealth Management, a Canadian-based independent wealth management firm focused on providing institutional quality solutions to the retail channel. Mrs. Tessier was Chief Investment Officer at Foresters Financial, overseeing the company’s $7B in life insurance and pension assets. Prior to joining Foresters, Mrs. Tessier was head of Investments at CAA Club Group, where she oversaw the company’s $1.5B in corporate, pension and P&C insurance assets. Prior to working in the insurance industry, Mrs. Tessier worked in institutional product development at Invesco Ltd. She was a Principal at Mercer Investments, where she focused on Manager Research. Mrs. Tessier began her career at TAL Global Asset Management (now CIBC Asset Management) in Montreal. Mrs. Tessier is a CFA charterholder and a CAIA charterholder. She holds an honor Bachelor of Commerce degree from Laurentian University.