Archived events
The Economy = Your Money
June 20, 2023 @ Vancouver, BC
This month’s event was presented by
Meet the panelists
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Until January 2021, Jock Finlayson was the Executive Vice President and Chief Economist at the Business Council of British Columbia, an organization representing some 250 large and mid-size companies, academic institutions, and affiliated industry associations in the province. In that capacity, he led the Business Council’s work on economic, fiscal, tax, environmental, regulatory and human capital issues of interest to the business community. In 2021, Mr. Finlayson became a Senior Advisor to the Business Council, working on a half-time basis.
Mr. Finlayson holds a master’s degree in business from Yale University, undergraduate and M.A. degrees from UBC, and a post-graduate diploma in economics from the University of London. He received an honorary doctorate from Royal Roads University in 2014.
Mr. Finlayson previously served on the Boards of Directors of the Bank of Canada, the Institute for Research on Public Policy, Genome BC, the Canada West Foundation, Innovate BC, the Centre for the Study of Living Standards, the Surrey Board of Trade, Invest Vancouver, and the Degree Quality
Assessment Board of British Columbia. From 2007 through 2017, he was a member of the National Statistics Council. He currently a member of the C.D. Howe Institute’s National Council. During 2019-2021, he served on the Expert Panel on Housing Supply and Affordability.
He lives in West Vancouver with his wife Marlene.
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Murray is Executive Vice President, Director, Investment Research at Odlum Brown, a full-service investment management firm headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, with offices in Kelowna, Victoria, Chilliwack, Courtenay and Langley. Since the firm’s founding 100 years ago, Odlum Brown team members have taken great pride in helping generations of clients reach their financial goals. The firm has over 350 team members, roughly a hundred of which are Investment Advisors and Portfolio Managers, and manages in excess of $18 billion in client assets.
Murray joined Odlum Brown in 1994 and is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Directors. Murray formulates the firm’s economic outlook and investment strategy in addition to his leadership responsibilities and running the Odlum Brown Research Department. He also oversees the firm’s flagship hypothetical all-equity Odlum Brown Model Portfolio. Murray is passionate about investing and is known for his ability to share investment ideas in a clear and engaging manner. He is regularly quoted in the local and national press and interviewed by the television media. Murray has a Bachelor of Commerce degree (Finance Major with Honours) from UBC and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.
Murray is a strong supporter of Odlum Brown’s charitable giving programs and is an active fundraiser for the BC Cancer Foundation. He is also a mentor and counsellor for students in UBC’s Portfolio Management Foundation. He serves as Chair of Simon Fraser University’s Investment Advisory Committee and is on the Board of Cloverdale Paint.
Previously, Murray served on the board of the BC Cancer Foundation and chaired their Investment Committee for two consecutive three-year terms. He also served as a member of the Investment Advisory Committee of the Vancouver School of Theology.
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Krista is a passionate and visionary leader who cares deeply about the lives of young people. Retired in 2022 as the long-time CEO of Covenant House Vancouver, Krista led the organization through its largest period of growth; overseeing 230 employees, 4X revenue increases and completion of its state-of-the-art facilities in downtown Vancouver. During Krista’s tenure, the organization raised over $200M for programs to help youth at Covenant House gain lifelong independence. She remains engaged in mentoring Covenant House site executives and female leaders across North America.
Krista holds the Institute of Corporate Director’s designation (ICD.D); was a 2015 YWCA Woman of Distinction award winner and was Business in Vancouver’s 2015 CEO of the Year in the Registered Charities category. Krista was named the Vancouver BIA’s Outstanding Individual in 2018. Krista is a board member of the Carital Continuing Care Society, a finance committee member of the Immigrant Services Society of BC and past chair of the Canadian Council of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
She enjoys skiing, reading, travel and spending time with her family.
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Katrine Conroy has represented the West Kootenays as MLA since 2005. She is the Minister of Finance and the Minister Responsible for the Columbia Basin Trust, Columbia Power Corporation and the Columbia River Treaty. She previously served as the Minister of Forests and Minister of Children and Family Development.
While in opposition Katrine was the Caucus Whip in addition to being critic for Seniors, Interior Economic Development, Labour, Freedom of Information (FOI), Columbia Power Corporation, Columbia Basin Trust and the Columbia River Treaty.
Katrine had a varied career before becoming a MLA and was one of B.C.'s first female power engineers, an early childhood educator, Executive Director of a multi service non-profit agency, a college instructor, and a small business person.
Together with her late husband Ed, Katrine raised four children and has nine grandchildren and, for 42 years, has lived on their ranch in Pass Creek.
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Walter Pela leads BC's largest professional services firm, KPMG, with over 1,650 employees across 12 offices in the Province. Walter serves on KPMG's National Clients & Markets Committee, the firm’s National ESG Council and its Digital Executive Team. He also co-leads the Vancouver Ignition Centre, which focuses on disruptive innovation and sustainable business transformation. Walter is an active member of the community and serves on the Executive Committees of the Business Council of BC and the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade among other roles. With a 30-year career at KPMG, Walter specializes in tax and real estate and has advised clients on digital transformation and business model disruption. KPMG has a long history of serving clients in BC and globally, with exceptional service and a commitment to diversity, inclusion and doing the right thing.