Dear RIA Members,
It’s hard to believe that a year has passed since I shared reflections on 2023 and aspirations for 2024. Taking stock of how the last year unfolded, one of our most significant feats was the launch of the RIA’s new strategic plan. Your strategic plan. Every aspect was conceived with members in mind and informed by extensive consultation. It became clear that the RIA’s priorities had to evolve alongside our rapidly changing industry in order to meet your needs, both today and into future.
The strategic plan is anchored by three pillars that the RIA holds itself accountable to. The first is Build Community, where we act as a hub for members and RI market participants to impactfully collaborate, share, learn and stay abreast of the dynamic industry and environment. The second is to Drive Change and Influence Policy where we aim to be a bridge between investors and regulators and build trust and confidence in RI by advocating for policies and standards. And the third is to Educate and Inspire. Here the intention is to be a trusted source of objective data and insights, tapping into industry sentiments and charting the progress of RI. Foundational to all of this is the delivery of an exceptional member experience.
Although many initiatives converge across all three pillars, a cornerstone of building community is convening. For the first time since 2017, we received a warm west coast welcome in beautiful British Columbia for the 2024 Vancouver Conference. We learned, connected and drew inspiration from the stellar speaker lineup and from each other. We also enjoyed the vibrancy of the RI community in la belle province at the Colloque de Montréal, which focused on economic reconciliation and responsible investment. Another highlight was hosting our Global Sustainable Investment Alliance (GSIA) colleagues at our Toronto offices this fall in the lead-up to PRI in Person, where the RIA and Climate Engagement Canada (CEC) had an active presence.
Other events took place in hybrid or online formats, including round tables, working groups and 15 webinar sessions addressing timely topics from regulatory developments to retail product knowledge, research launches, and everything in between. We also convened industry councils such as the Policy Stewardship Group, RIA Leadership Council and the new Public Policy and Advocacy Council. Their invaluable insights inform our priority initiatives, including our policy and advocacy agenda.
2024 held no shortage of opportunities to entrench RI in Canada’s financial ecosystem through strategic advocacy. From organizing member audiences with key regulators, delivering in-the-moment briefings on active industry consultations and consequential new legislation, to conducting a member survey and roundtable to inform our submission to the Competition Bureau on Bill C-59 and the new greenwashing provisions. The RIA was at the forefront, ensuring responsible investors had a seat at the table.
The voice of investors will be particularly critical as part of the recently announced Canada Climate Week Xchange (CCWX), of which the RIA is a founding member alongside the TSX and other notable organizations. Together with our role as partner of the Circular Finance in Canada Working Group and member of the of the Sustainable Finance Forum organizing committee, among other carefully selected partnerships, we continued to increase our impact.
Speaking of impact, 2024 was a fundamental in setting up tools, processes and optimized capacity that will palpably enhance your member experience into next year. Learners and credential holders will have already noticed some process changes, but we have only scratched the surface. 2025 will bring new digital infrastructure and exciting developments that will be shared in due course. All of this will set us up for a productive and ambitious year.
2025 will be all about driving member value and I’m incredibly excited about all the initiatives we’ll be delivering. Highlights include the inauguration of our Retail Strategy Advisory Group, the launch of working groups for institutional members, 360-degree research and insights spanning the full spectrum of responsible investment in Canada, our webinar series, the inaugural Canada Climate Week Xchange, and the 2025 RIA Conference on June 3-4 in Toronto. The most rewarding part of my job is connecting with you, our members, and I truly hope to see you there. And be sure to look out for a member survey where you can share direct input on the program and the issues that matter to you the most.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to our industry and steadfast support of the RIA. I wish you a happy and healthy start to the new year and look forward to all that we will accomplish together in 2025.
Sincerely,
Patricia Fletcher
CEO
Responsible Investment Association
