Six distinguished business leaders with experience in the financial markets have accepted an invitation to judge the candidates for the inaugural IIAC Industry Scholarship Award, the Investment Industry Association of Canada said Monday.

The judging panel includes:

• David Emerson, executive chair, British Columbia Transmission Corp.;
• Douglas Hall, chairman, Nova Scotia Business Inc.;
• Tom Hockin, chairman, Expert Panel on Securities Regulation;
• Harold MacKay, former managing partner and chairman, MacPherson Leslie & Tyerman LLP;
• Jean Martel, partner, Lavery; and
• Joe Oliver, past president and CEO, Investment Dealers Association of Canada.

The scholarship will be awarded to an employee of an IIAC member firm who demonstrates professional excellence, serves the community and contributes to the betterment of the investment industry and the capital markets.

The winner will receive funding to attend SIFMA’s Securities Industry Institute (SII), a leadership and management education program which examines the current thinking in economics, finance, management, marketing, professional development and operations.

The program runs for a week in March at the Wharton School in Philadelphia and is designed for securities industry professionals to enrich their portfolio of knowledge and performance. The dates of the 2010 program are March 7 to 12.

“This IIAC Award recognizes outstanding contributions by professionals in the financial industry and honours those individuals that take an active role in their community, the securities industry and the capital markets”, says Ian Russell, president and CEO, IIAC.

The winner will be announced at the IIAC Annual Conference on September 24 at the King Edward Hotel in Toronto.

IE