Investor, seniors advocates join OSC committee

The latest edition of the Ontario Securities Commission’s (OSC) advisory committee on seniors’ issues features prominent investor and elder advocates, among a broad array of legal, industry and health experts.

The OSC unveiled the makeup of its Seniors Expert Advisory Committee (SEAC) for 2024 — which includes Ken Kivenko, president of investor advocacy group Kenmar Associates; Laura Tamblyn Watts, CEO of seniors advocacy group CanAge; the former head of the OSC’s Investor Education Fund and now-retired seniors’ advocate, Terri Williams; and Marta Hajek, executive director of the non-profit Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario (EAPO).

The committee, which meets four to six times a year, advises the OSC on regulatory policy issues, along with operational, educational and outreach activities involving senior investors.

“OSC staff recognize the importance of consulting with a multidisciplinary group of experts who can provide staff with specialized input to support ongoing efforts and better understand the unique needs of older investors,” the regulator said in a release announcing the latest edition of the committee.

Alongside the notable advocates for seniors and investors, the group also includes an array of other experts, including:

• a police officer with expertise in crimes against seniors, detective constable Michael Payne;
• Dr. Julia Spaniol, a psychology professor at Toronto Metropolitan University and Canada Research Chair in Cognitive Aging;
• geriatrics expert, Dr. Joe Bornstein, managing director and founder of Health Innovations Group;
• Jennifer Moir, founder of consulting and training firm, Age Well Solutions;
• Kyle Fitzgerald, director of government relations and public policy with the Alzheimer Society of Ontario; and,
• Jennifer Aronson, a registered social worker and clinical practitioner.

Industry representation on the SEAC includes:

• Danielle Tetrault, vice president, compliance and chief compliance officer at IG Wealth Management;
• Lindsay Rogan, managing director and CCO at Rogan Investment Management Ltd.;
• Ellen Bessner, partner with Babin Bessner Spry LLP;
• Kimberly Whaley, founding partner of boutique law firm, Whaley Estate Litigation;
• Arthur Fish, former partner in the tax group of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP and manager of the Toronto Regional Family Wealth Counsel Practice; and,
• Angela Salmon, a securities lawyer at Royal Bank of Canada (RBC).

James Langton

James is a senior reporter for Advisor.ca and its sister publication, Investment Executive. He has been reporting on regulation, securities law, industry news and more since 1994.