Advancing Women in Wealth: Real Change Toward Lasting Results

Join VersaFi and Franklin Templeton on March 27, 2025 to discuss the mission-critical need to attract, retain and advance women in the wealth management industry.

Tanya van Biesen, President & CEO of VersaFi will set the stage by sharing key findings from VersaFi’s Women in Wealth: Retaining & Advancing Women Investment Advisors in Wealth Management. This report explores the experiences of women working as Investment Advisors (IAs) in Canada, and examines how industry reputation and systemic barriers limit their ability to advance within the wealth management sector.

Joining her on stage will be Liz Bouthillier, Head of Retail Sales, Franklin Templeton, Gillian Donvito, Regional VP, Advanced Advisor Practices, Elevate Services, Canada Life, and Esther Findlay, Senior Vice-President, Financial Services, IG Wealth,
who will share their own insights and experiences from their tenured careers in the wealth management space.

The event will include a candid conversation around the following themes:

-Advisor Teaming Programs: What does this look like on both the IA level and at a firm level?

-Allyship & Leadership Accountability: What can leaders, including the men who currently hold 80% of the roles in the industry, do to create real change?

-Addressing DEI Backlash: How do you call people into the conversations given the current climate around gender equity?

-Succession Planning: How do we create clear policies and equitable access to ensure women have equal opportunities for career advancement?

From workplace cultures to recruitment efforts to training and succession planning, this event will address the issues impacting women at every career level in wealth.

Location: The Canadian Museum for Human Rights, 85 Israel Asper Way, Winnipeg, MB R3C 0L5

Agenda:
5:00- 5:30 Registration and networking
5:30- 6:30: Panel
6:30- 8:00: Networking