Paul Owens

Paul Owens is currently Senior Vice President, Pension Policy with Ellement Consulting Group. Paul was previously Deputy Superintendent of Pensions with the Government of Alberta and was responsible for regulation of 700+ private and public sector pension plans in the Province of Alberta. Paul transitioned the regulatory environment from rules to principles based with a focus on pragmatic, client focused regulation. Paul was the founding CEO of a jointly-trusteed Canadian public sector pension plan with assets in excess of $5 billion covering 30,000 members.

Paul also aligned and integrated investments, liabilities, systems and governance into a functioning, low cost, value-added operation. He transitioned a union-management lay board with revolving membership from an operating governance style to a policy focus. He previously designed and managed 11 global pension plans for a leading Canadian bank and is known for successful board leadership with international not-for-profit organizations. He also has extensive experience in industry related teaching, course development, governance, advisory committees, conference presentations and writing.

Paul is the recipient of the Libby Slater Award from the International Pension and Benefits Lawyers Association and has given presentations on ESG and climate change to the Investments and Pensions Europe 2019 conference and to the University of New Brunswick Masters in Quantitative Investment Management program.

Paul enjoys taking guided walks with Wiley the grey wolf in the Purcell Mountains of British Columbia, Canada. Paul believes wolves are a key part of the eco-system and he looks at the positive impact they have had when they were re-introduced into Yellowstone National Park.