SUPPORTED BY OUR DEDICATED TEAM OF STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS, 2018 was a year of many successes, new initiatives, Society enhancements, and stronger relationships.

Over the past year, the Society’s technology infrastructure has continued to evolve, allowing us to now integrate most of our digital assets: our website, our e-communications tools, and our social media channels. These improvements have resulted in enhanced brand recognition, sold-out events, and a meaningful increase in media requests and coverage.

We also saw a number of innovative programs produced by our events staff and volunteers. In September, we hosted our inaugural professional development conference: Managing Your Career as the New Job Security. This conference focused on developing the soft skills most relevant to the needs of the modern financial industry’s workforce—in particular, the importance of impromptu speaking. In the high-net-worth space, we hosted a very successful series of workshops that concentrated on both the business and the client management aspects of the practice—again, with a modern twist.

We experimented with new ways of earning continuing education credits, adding educational entertainment (edutainment) to our offerings by working with Hot Docs for Continuing Professional Education. You can read more about the documentary screening of Collared in this issue of The Analyst.

Finally, we launched a new polling technology, using the EventMobi app, for our Annual Investment Dinner on Nov. 1. The app offered attendees an enriched interactive experience, enabling them to participate in polls as well as competitions unique to the event.

All of these developments contributed to the attraction and development of new and existing sponsor relationships, and a substantial increase in the number of employers posting at our Career Centre—a very positive outcome as we continue to move forward in an increasingly competitive industry.

In 2019, we will continue to make it our priority to provide continuing education opportunities to advance the professional and career development of our members, while highlighting the CFA designation as the highest professional standard in the investment community.

On behalf of the Society, best wishes to you and your family during the holiday season as you enjoy some downtime before tackling a new year, and new challenges.

We look forward to connecting with you in 2019.