Judy Robinson to retire as pensions director

The Anglican Church of Canada’s Pension Office Corporation will see a change in leadership after director Judy Robinson announced her retirement effective Dec. 31, 2022.

Robinson has served in the position since the start of 2004, following a six-month tenure as associate pensions director. Her prior work included stints as a member of the Pension Commission of Ontario, later the Financial Services Tribunal, from 1997 to 2001 and senior director of pensions and benefits for George Weston Ltd./Loblaw Companies Ltd. from 2001 to 2003.

General Secretary Alan Perry, a pension committee member since 2007, said Robinson “brought the qualities of warmth and good humour along with efficiency and an intimate knowledge of the pension world to the committee. At the centre of her work is a clear concern for the care of the pension plan members.”

“In addition to overseeing a healthy, well-funded pension plan, Judy leaves two significant accomplishments as her legacy to the church,” Perry said. “First is the successful effort to address an underfunding crisis brought about by the financial downturn in the 2008 recession. The improvements to pensions over the last two years are a result of those efforts.

“The second is the merging of the Lay Retirement Plan with the General Synod Pension Plan, providing lay employees in parishes with a better source of income for their retirement. We can all look forward to a more comfortable retirement thanks to Judy’s leadership.”

Deputy director and compliance officer Rekha Menon has accepted an offer as the next pensions director and will assume the role Jan. 1, 2023