AFP of Canada Treasury Management Forum

Education Highlights

Interactive roundtables and lectures offer specific techniques and tools in the areas  of  Risk Management, Continuous Process Improvement, and Payments.

• = Risk Management
• = Continuous Process Improvement
• = Payments
  

8:00 - 9:00 am

Managing in Uncertain Times

When the global financial system was imploding, Canada's financial system came through relatively unscathed. Not surprisingly, for the second straight year, the World Economic Forum declared that Canada has the safest and soundest financial system on the globe. And as small to medium sized enterprises compete in the financial markets for capital, it is partly the role of the TMX Group to be a conduit for those transactions. Hear from the CFO of the TMX Group as he lays out the issues and some of the potential solutions to not only getting the Canadian economy and businesses back on their feet, but globally as well.

Keynote:

• Michael Ptasznik, CMA
  Chief Financial Officer
  TMX (Toronto Stock and Montreal Exchange) Group

9:15 - 10:30 am

Concurrent Roundtables

Treasury Efficiency – Squeezing Working Capital

In a tough economic climate, organizations search for ways to free up cash from balance sheets.  Treasuries are under increased pressure to find new and innovative methods to optimize working capital. Explore strategies to effectively manage working capital. Exchange ideas on what metrics to use to monitor efficiency and which goals to set to accurately measure performance. 

• Handout

Facilitators:

• Charlotte Ng, CA
  Assistant Treasurer
  Samuel Manu-Tech, Inc.
• Diana Fife
  Treasurer
  Tim Hortons

Mitigating Counterparty Risk

The restructuring of the banking world has thrust counterparty credit risk into the limelight. Due to deterioration in financial institutions’ balance sheets, treasury must find new and effective strategies to manage these risks. Learn best practices on how to decide which institutions to add to your banking group, and examine what tools and measures are available to help support your decisions.

Speaker:

• Rick Nason, PhD, CFA
  Partner
  RSD Solutions, Inc.

11:00 - 12:00 pm

Concurrent Roundtables

Evaluating Banking - Relationships and Costs

After the economic turbulence created upheaval in the financial institution sector, treasury and finance professionals are more compelled to perform their due diligence when evaluating potential and current partners.  Discuss the latest trends in measuring bank performance, tracking competitiveness, evaluating services, and developing a bank scorecard. Exchange ideas on which investigative questions will ensure a prospective partner is a match for your organization.

Facilitator:

• Rick Albert
  Vice President, Treasury
  Biovail Corporation

Commodities Risk

Increasingly volatile commodities markets are forcing companies to better protect their commodity exposures. A large swing in prices can result in a significant and direct hit to margins. In addition, commodity consumers are exposed to sovereign risk or regional risk in the country of origin. Discuss how treasury is working with purchasing groups to identify risk and find natural (risk sharing), proxy or direct hedges to manage commodity exposures.

Facilitators:

• David Farnfield
  Vice President, Commodities
  George Weston Limited
• Todd Sibilla
  Commodities Applications Specialist
  Bloomberg LP

1:30 - 2:45 pm

Concurrent Roundtables

Managing Currency Risk in A Volatile US Dollar Environment

The past year brought tremendous volatility to the foreign exchange markets. How can treasury mitigate the impact of a rising Canadian dollar on the translation impact of non-CAD revenues? This roundtable will focus on the strategies, instruments and approaches treasuries utilize to provide earnings predictability and diminish the negative effects of a stronger Canadian dollar.

Facilitators:

• Rick Albert
  Vice President, Treasury
  Biovail Corporation
• Sharon L. Welsh
  Assistant Treasurer
  Woodbridge Foam Company
• Rob Key, CTP(CD), CFA, CMA
  Manager, Treasury Operations
  Research in Motion Limited

The Evolution of Canadian Payments Systems

Over the past few years, electronic payments have become increasingly dominant. Within the electronic payments realm, segmentation has emerged, either through consumer based initiatives, such as online or cross border payments, or new technologies, such as mobile payments and contactless cards.  Review the impact new technologies and consumer trends have had on evolution of the Canadian payments.  

Facilitator:

• Mo Janson
  Director, Interbank Operations & Industry Affairs
  RBC

3:15 - 4:30 pm

General Session: The New World of Bank Relationship Management

Treasury and finance professionals undoubtedly understand the changing dynamics relating to bank credit. Although the worst of the crisis has passed, banks still operate cautiously before releasing cash. From the perspective of a financial institution, gain an understanding of the new lending criteria, identifying what steps corporates must take to maintain more fruitful banking relations. Hear from corporate treasurers about their recent experiences in negotiating credit and realize the leverage you have in negotiating with your banking counterparties.

• Presentation

Moderator:

• Jim Mahaffy
  Executive Vice President & Head of Global Corporate Banking
  HSBC Bank Canada

Panelists:

• Kerry Biggs
  Treasurer
  Global Container Terminals

• Stan Pasternak
  Senior Vice President & Treasurer
  Canadian Tire Corporation, Ltd.

• Pamela Steer, CA, CFA
  Chief Financial Officer
  Fusenet, Inc.

8:30 - 10:00 am

Concurrent Roundtables:

Low Budget Approach to Treasury Efficiency

As treasuries are tasked with greater responsibilities without more robust staffs or larger budgets, they require tools and techniques to help streamline processes and increase efficiency. This discussion will focus on low budget implementations that increase the effectiveness and reduce the cost of treasury activities.  Share experiences on how process changes and technologies, both integrated systems and niche applications, can help treasury operate more efficiently.

Facilitator:

• Bob Stark
  Director, Marketing Strategy
  Thomson Reuters

Card Acceptance � Current Trends & Best Practices

Complex fee structures, increasing interchange rates, cross-border fees, growing card volumes, and PCI security compliance requirements continue to create difficulties when accepting cards.  Add to this the impending entry of new debit card options and technology advances like mobile and it is clear your job is not getting any easier. Review current trends and consider best practices, pitfalls to avoid, and risk management strategies to overcome these challenges.

• Handout

Facilitator:

• Robert Forsyth, CMA
  Director of Treasury
  Imperial Parking Corporation

10:15 - 11:45 am

Closing General Session: The State of the Economy and Impact of Financial Regulatory Reform

The recovery from the economic downturn and ongoing market volatility pose new tactical and strategic challenges for finance professionals. Concerns about credit availability, counterparty risk, regulatory change, pension solvency, and investment alternatives enhance the importance of treasury's role to provide companies with much-needed financial flexibility. This session will address the current and future economic climate and offer insight on domestic and global financial regulatory reform that may affect a company's capital structure and the ability to compete in the new economy.

Speaker:

• David Wolf
  Adviser to the Governor
  Bank of Canada