Internal Investment Committee
Internal Investment Committee
The Internal Investment Committee was established in 2016 to strengthen our internal processes for exercising delegated authority and certain other matters. Additional details regarding the function of the Internal Investment Committee are set out in its Terms of Reference.
The current voting members of the Internal Investment Committee are set out below. The General Counsel and other investment department staff also attend and participate in meetings of the Internal Investment Committee.
Jeff Norton, B.Sc. (Eng), LLM, CFA, C.Dir.
President & CEO
204-942-3764
Jeff Norton is responsible for the overall operations of TRAF and chairs the Internal Investment Committee and the Internal Operations Committee. He interacts closely with the Board regarding governance and risk matters, as well as setting the overall strategic direction of the organization. Jeff is the primary liaison with our key stakeholders regarding various aspects of the plan, including long-term sustainability.
Prior to joining TRAF in 2005, Jeff was President of Assante Global Advisors Inc., an investment management firm based in Los Angeles, California.
Jeff holds two degrees from the University of Manitoba (Industrial Engineering, 1986, Gold Medalist; Law, 1989, Dean’s Honour List), as well as a Master of Laws degree from the London School of Economics. Jeff is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder and Chartered Director, and previously served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law.
Jeff currently serves as the Chair of the Independent Review Committee of the Beutel Goodman family of mutual funds, as a director of Altema Asset Management Inc. and as a member of the Investment Committee for the Winnipeg Civic Employees’ Benefit Program. Within the pension industry, Jeff has served as a director of both the Association of Canadian Pension Management (ACPM) and the Pension Investment Association of Canada (PIAC).
Graeme Hay, CPA, CMA, CFA
Chief Investment Officer
204-975-3655
Graeme Hay leads all aspects of TRAF’s investment program, including investment strategy, manager selection and monitoring and investment risk management.
Prior to joining TRAF in 2013, he was a member of the investment team of Wellington West Asset Management, the internal portfolio management unit of one of Canada’s largest independent brokerages. In this role, he carried out fundamental research for the firm’s equity portfolios and led the firm’s research effort on external investment managers.
Graeme is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), having earned the Robert Syme Memorial Silver Medal, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder.
He is a past chair of the Pension Investment Association of Canada (PIAC), and a past president of the CFA Society of Winnipeg. He currently serves on the Investment Committees of the Manitoba Museum Pension Trust Fund, United Way Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba’s endowment.
David Asselstine, CPA, CA.IFA, CFE
Executive Vice President
Chief Risk Officer
204-975-3670
David Asselstine works closely with the investment team, the Board and the Investment Committee in establishing an appropriate investment risk appetite, an appropriate investment strategy, and the prudent design and execution of the investment program.
David has over 20 years of experience as a financial expert. Prior to joining TRAF, he was the President of Infocus Forensic Financial Investigations Ltd. where he served as a forensic accountant and financial expert. His clients have included, among others, the International Monetary Fund, local and national governments, numerous foreign governments, an independent and historic public inquiry, municipal and national police forces, and various public regulatory bodies. On six occasions, David has testified as an expert witness in criminal tribunals dealing with such matters as investment fraud and other white-collar crime matters.
Russell Olivson, CFA
Portfolio Manager
204-594-4278
Russell Olivson is responsible for the long-term strategy and implementation of TRAF’s real estate and real estate debt portfolios.
Prior to joining TRAF, he was a Director of Investments and Analysis for Longboat Development Corporation, a Winnipeg-based real estate development firm. Russell played a key role in the development of several office, retail and residential projects, as well as overseeing a portfolio of stabilized assets within the city of Winnipeg.
Russell holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder.
Russell currently serves as a director of the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba and as a member of its Investment Committee. He also serves as a director of Manitoba Possible and is the Chair of its Finance and Audit Committee.
Michael Kurtas, CFA, CAIA
Portfolio Manager
204-975-4577
Michael Kurtas participates in all aspects of TRAF’s private market activities, including the evaluation and monitoring of fund commitments and other investments for the private equity, private debt and infrastructure asset class mandates.
Prior to joining TRAF, Michael was a Manager, Commercial Banking at CIBC where he was responsible for a diversified book of client accounts. In this role, he carried out transaction sourcing, diligence and execution functions.
Michael has a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from the University of Winnipeg and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Manitoba where he was awarded the T.A. and A.S. Anderson Gold Medal (for completion of the Asper MBA Program with highest standing among all graduates). Michael is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder and a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) charterholder.
He currently serves on the Member Services Committee of the Pension Investment Association of Canada (PIAC), the Investment Subcommittee of the University of Manitoba Pension Plan and the Investment Committee of the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba.
Brett Tessler, CFA
Portfolio Manager
204-975-4582
Brett Tessler participates in all aspects of TRAF’s public equity investment activities, including long-term strategy and the evaluation and monitoring of external investment managers.
Prior to joining TRAF, Brett was a Corporate Finance Analyst at Investors Group. In this role, he was responsible for and supported analytical activities related to the firm’s pension plan, corporate investments and M&A activity.
Brett has a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from the Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba, majoring in Finance and Entrepreneurship and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder.
He currently serves on the Public Equity Markets Working Group of the Pension Investment Association of Canada (PIAC), the Investment Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver and the Investment Committee of the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba.
