Partner Perspectives: OMERS

Navigating the snowcapped streets of Toronto, the interns were delighted to visit the headquarters of our esteemed Partner, the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS), and share a fruitful conversation over lunch with OLIP Alumni, Chris Morley, Vice President of Government Relations, and Ann DeRabbie, Vice President of Corporate Communications.  

Established in 1962, OMERS is one of Canada’s largest defined benefit pensions plans, providing secure, lifetime retirement income for over 500,000 members, including municipal workers, police, firefighters, and school board staff across Ontario. 

Drawing on their previous experience as political staffers, Chris and Ann generously shared their career journeys over an evolving political landscape and reflected on how those experiences continue to shape their work at OMERS today. Our conversation explored how skills transfer between the public and private sectors, the differences between working in Canada and the United States, and the value of adaptability across roles. We also gained insight into OMERS’ operations and governance structure and developed a clearer understanding of how the organization serves its members while navigating complex policy and economic environments. As a jointly funded, multi-employer public pension plan, it was especially interesting to learn about OMERS’ history, its evolving policies, and how it communicates its priorities to stakeholders. 

Altogether, we would like to thank Chris and Ann for taking the time to meet with us and share their insights and perspectives. We would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to OMERS for continuing to support OLIP and the many endeavours of our programme!