Risk Management Through the Pandemic: Lessons Learned

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a stark reminder to directors everywhere that a single root -cause event can trigger risk at an enterprise-wide level affecting workforces, customer service, technology needs, cyber risk and liquidity, to name a few. The pandemic has reaffirmed the importance of a robust risk management process to ensure boards and the organizations they oversee are able to react quickly and mitigate emerging risks.
 
This event is intended to highlight the benefits of a more formalized risk management program and how organizations of any size or complexity might begin the process of developing one. With a full year of the pandemic now behind us, our panelists will also discuss key risk management lessons learned. 
 
Questions covered in this session will include:
 
What is enterprise risk management (ERM) and what are the benefits of a more formalized approach to risk management?
 
What is the role of the board with respect to enterprise risk management?
 
What are the important first steps to implementing a risk management program?
 
How well have traditional risk management programs supported organizations through the pandemic and how might they change going forward in light of the lessons learned?

Panellists

Lise de Moissac, CPA, CA, ICD.D

Lise de Moissac, CPA, CA, ICD.D

Lise de Moissac is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Affinity Credit Union and is currently responsible for Finance, Accounting, Insurance, and Facilities. Her previous portfolios have included Technology, Commercial Lending, Collections, Administration, and Investment Properties. Lise has been in the CFO role since 2006. She has been part of the senior leadership team responsible for growing the balance sheet from $800 million to $5.8 billion. In recent years, Lise has been responsible for the implementation of IFRS, partnership integration as it impacts her areas, the build of Affinity’s corporate office, and several new open concept advice centres throughout the province.  
 
Lise has been a Chartered Accountant since 1994 and has held positions in public practice accounting and within the credit union system, including Concentra Financial. She currently sits as a Board Member of Concentra Bank (Chair), Saskatchewan Blue Cross (Investment Committee Chair), and APEX I and II Venture Capital Companies. Lise was one of Saskatchewan’s Top 10 Women of Influence in 2014.

Robert Kuling, CIA, CRMA, CQA

Robert Kuling, CIA, CRMA, CQA

Robert Kuling leads MNP’s Enterprise Risk Services practice in Saskatchewan. Drawing on more than 30 years of senior leadership and consulting experience, Robert helps organizations develop practical solutions for internal audit, risk management, financial compliance, governance, and regulatory requirements. He has developed leading edge practices for risk, audit and assurance groups, including planning, risk assessment, value-for-money, analytics, program evaluation, talent strategies, quality, corporate culture, fraud/ethics, and performance reporting.
 
He is a former Deloitte partner and Chief Audit Executive at major Canadian organizations, including Tervita, Viterra, TransAlta, and Precision Drilling. He is an internationally recognized leader with the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) serving on the Global Board and Chairman of the North American Board and is a national spokesman for the internal audit profession with regulators, professional groups, training firms, and government organizations.  Robert is also a globally recognized training provider for appraising corporate culture.

Moderator

Robert (Bob) Kirkpatrick Q.C., ICD.D

Robert (Bob) Kirkpatrick Q.C., ICD.D

Bob Kirkpatrick is Sr. Vice President, General Counsel, Securities and Corporate Secretary for Nutrien Ltd. At Nutrien, he is responsible for all corporate secretary functions, securities regulatory compliance and advises in the areas of corporate finance, governance, and disclosure. Bob is a Past Director of SQM in Chile, -past Chair of the Board of St. Paul’s Hospital, a former Director of the United Way of Saskatoon and a past Saskatchewan Chapter Chair of the ICD. Bob previously taught Securities Regulation at the University of Saskatchewan and has been involved in administration for the sport of tennis at the local, provincial, and national levels including as a Director of Tennis Canada. He completed the Director Education Program through the Insitute of Corporate Directors (ICD) in 2018 and obtained his ICD.D designation.