Conference to Feature SEC Chair Mary Jo White; Panels on Gender Diversity in the Workplace & Benefits and Challenges of Serving and Protecting Increasingly Diverse Investor Populations

WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 17, 2016) – Securities regulators and industry participants from throughout North America will convene next month in Providence, Rhode Island, for the North American Securities Administrators Association’s (NASAA) Annual Conference.

Under the theme “Diversity in Today’s Financial Marketplace,” the conference will be held September 11-13. Conference details and registration information are available on the NASAA website at www.nasaa.org.

“Our program is designed to provide securities regulators and industry participants alike with a deeper understanding of the benefits and challenges of serving and protecting an increasingly diverse investor population and the importance of greater inclusivity in the workplace and boardroom,” said NASAA President and Maine Securities Administrator Judith Shaw.

This year’s conference will feature a one-on-one interview between Shaw and SEC Chair Mary Jo White. “I am pleased that Chair White will join us at this year’s conference,” Shaw said. “We share the same mission to protect investors and generate renewed confidence in the capital markets.”

A second interview session will focus on capital formation initiatives for women- and minority-owned businesses. The conference also will offer an analysis of the race for the White House and Congress by noted political expert, author and commentator Wendy Schiller, chair of the Department of Political Science and Professor of Political Science, International & Public Affairs, at Brown University.

In addition, two panels will explore different aspects of diversity. The first, moderated by Robin Wiessmann, Commissioner and Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities, will examine gender diversity in the financial services industry, steps firms are taking to make their workplaces inclusive, and how regulators can help facilitate greater diversity. The second discussion, moderated by Shonita Bossier, ‎Director of Securities, Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions, will explore both the positive aspects and challenges presented by greater ethnic and cultural diversity among today’s investors.

The conference also will include open discussions with NASAA Section Committees on subjects related to broker-dealers, investment advisers, corporation finance, enforcement, investor education and CRD and IARD issues.

For more information:
Bob Webster | Director of Communications
202-737-0900