OPTrust Board announces new Chair and Vice-Chair

Posted: November 1, 2022

Print this page Email the link

TORONTO, November 1, 2022 – As part of OPTrust's joint governance structure, the positions of Chair and Vice-Chair alternate between Government and OPSEU appointees every two years.

Lindsey Burzese was named Chair of OPTrust’s Board of Trustees, effective November 1, 2022, replacing former Chair Sharon Pel, who remains on the Board. Ms. Burzese was appointed to the Board by OPSEU in January 2018, and most recently served as Vice-Chair. Ms. Burzese holds a P. Eng. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Guelph. She is a Chartered Director (C. Dir.) from the Directors College at the DeGroote School of Business and holds a Certificate in Pension Law from Osgoode Hall Law School.

Ms. Burzese is employed with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks as a Divisional Program Specialist and has more than 20 years’ experience in program implementation and management, information and data analysis, and compliance. She has previously served as a union steward for OPSEU Local 205 in Hamilton and has been active on a variety of committees and community organizations.

Also effective November 1, 2022, Richard Nesbitt was named Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Nesbitt was appointed to the Board by the Government of Ontario in September 2019. He is an Adjunct Professor at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, and a Visiting Professor at the London School of Economics, United Kingdom, where he chairs the research institute, The Inclusion Initiative.

Mr. Nesbitt has more than 30 years’ experience in financial services. He served as President and CEO of the Global Risk Institute from 2014 to 2018, as Chief Operating Officer of CIBC from 2008 to 2014, and as Chief Executive Officer of the Toronto Stock Exchange Group from 2004 to 2008.

Mr. Nesbitt has an M.Sc. from LSE, an MBA from Rotman School of Management and an HBA from the Ivey Business School, University of Western Ontario.

About OPTrust

With net assets of over $25 billion, OPTrust invests and manages one of Canada's largest pension funds and administers the OPSEU Pension Plan, a defined benefit plan with over 100,000 members and retirees. OPTrust was established to give plan members and the Government of Ontario an equal voice in the administration of the Plan and the investment of its assets through joint trusteeship. OPTrust is governed by a 10-member Board of Trustees, five of whom are appointed by OPSEU and five by the Government of Ontario.

-30-

Media Contact:
Claire Prashaw
Manager, Public Affairs
OPTrust
1-416-681-3617 
cprashaw@optrust.com

Visit our OPTrust Media Page

For members of the media who want information on news releases, videos, briefing papers, speaker profiles, and media relations contacts.

Explore >