PRMIA volunteer profile - Doug Cronk

by Adam Lindquist

PRMIA Director of Membership

Canada has produced many innovative leaders for PRMIA Chapters, and Doug Cronk is no exception. Doug shares his experience as a volunteer with PRMIA and some of his amazing accomplishments.

Adam What is your professional role in risk?

Doug I was a Pension Investment & Risk Management Officer at AIMCo - Alberta Investment Management and previously the IWA-Forest Industry Pension Plan.

Adam Tell us about your innovation in Canada

Doug There are a number of Chapters in Canada. We have one featured regional event per year, the Canadian Risk Forum that brings Chapters together. In conversations with Sarah Reppchen and Carl Densem with PRMIA Vancouver, we created the pan-Canadian PRMIA group. It’s proven to be a great way to brainstorm and service the PRMIA membership from coast-to-coast.

Adam What are some of the benefits you have found with being active with PRMIA?

Doug In 2020, of course, risk managers have become rock stars. That’s kinda’ cool. I’ve always felt it is important to stay current and put new skills in the kitbag. That’s why I added the PRM™ Designation. Now, the menu of virtual risk education has expanded significantly. It’s important, indeed critical, to understand the most current thinking in risk management. Credit risk management has been around a long time in the banking industry, so we know a lot about it. Market risk management is more recent - the last 40 years say. But Operational and Enterprise risk management are in their infancy, and we are getting a crash course in those right now.

In the pension industry, indeed the investment industry more broadly speaking, it’s been all about ‘risk management’ for the entire career of most everyone reading this. Think 1987, 1990, 1994, 2000/2001/2002, 2008, 2018 and now, 2020. Certainly, for the last 10-15 years, every paper written, every seminar, every client conversation has been and is about risk management.

Adam

What kind of professional benefits have you experienced by volunteering?

Doug I’ve met some interesting people that I would not have otherwise met. And you never know what connections can be made or where they may lead. Before I moved to Calgary, I was a Steering Committee contributor with the PRMIA Edmonton chapter as well as a board Director for the Edmonton CFA society. I also did some ad-hoc volunteer work for CFA Vancouver. Currently, I am a YMCA foundation board Director and advisor to their investment committee.

Adam With life’s busy schedule, how do you squeeze in volunteering? What time management tips would you suggest to others to make it worth your time?

Doug Squeeze is the right word. One has to be brutally efficient with time. Then at 5pm shut it down because it’s time for family/spouse/relationship/exercise.

Adam

Why would you recommend that people volunteer?

Doug

Anyone reading this is very fortunate. Volunteering is a way to give back. To contribute.

Adam

And your words of wisdom for those thinking of volunteering?

Doug Once, while volunteering at the Food Bank, the staff there told me ‘one in every four people that come here have a degree.’ That had impact.

Adam

Thank you, Doug for your great insights.

There are a variety of short- and long-term PRMIA volunteer opportunities available. VIEW VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

interviewee

Doug Cronk

Doug Cronk serves as Co-Regional Director, Calgary AB