Wilfrid Laurier University
PA-8: Committee on Investor Responsibility

Wilfrid Laurier University believes in responsible investing. University administration and the Board of Governors conducted a comprehensive review of the Board’s existing policies, including ESG statements, related to pension and endowment funds to determine if any changes were required. In addition, the Board agreed this broader comprehensive review would be beneficial to ensure investment policies were consistent with Laurier’s values, vision, mission, and guiding principles. The Responsible Investment Working Group (RIWG) was established by the Board to make a recommendation to the Board on whether and how to revise existing investment policies and procedures for university-managed investment funds.

•Lynda Kitamura (co-chair), external Board of Governors member •Alastair Robertson, retiree representative to Pension Committee •Marc Kilgour, faculty representative to Pension Committee •Tom Berczi (co-chair), external Board of Governors member •Bill Muirhead, external Board of Governors member •Niru Philip, staff representative to Board of Governors •Marley Wildish, undergraduate student •Marc Richardson, alumni •Gautam Khanna, graduate student •Donna Kotsopoulos, faculty

Role of the Working Group: To make recommendations to the committees consistent with the purpose above, after having conducted appropriate research and consultation, including: •Investigate and research SRI, ESG, Fossil Fuel Divestment and Impact Investing concepts and practises within the public sector and higher education environment; •Review of the purposes and goals of the investment funds; •Review of the legal and regulatory requirements, including contractual commitments, fiduciary and trust responsibilities, and legislation related to pension plans; •Review of existing university policies, procedures and governance related to investment funds, and existing university policies, procedures and governance related to sustainability and environmental responsibility; •Review of other Canadian universities’ approaches to incorporating ESG factors into decision-making; •Researching different ways to incorporate ESG factors into investment decisions and modelling the impact of different models on the investment funds’ returns and the ability to fulfil commitments to donors, plan members and other beneficiaries of the investment funds; •Consulting university stakeholders, including pension plan members, retirees, donors and students; •Consulting legal, actuarial and investment advisors, as appropriate; and •Conducting other appropriate and reasonable research and consultation required in order to provide advice within the mandate of the working group.