The Ben Graham Centre for Value Investing at the Ivey Business School, Western University, held its annual Value Investing Conference on April 14, 2026, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Embracing Benjamin Graham's Legacy
The mission of the Conference is to pay tribute to the pioneering work of Benjamin Graham by upholding the timeless principles of value investing. We are committed to empowering participants with insights into the diverse methods employed by practitioners and to nurture academic research and study in the area of value investing.
Learning and Networking Opportunities
No matter if you're an individual investor, a seasoned professional, or an executive in the investment management or financial services industries, our Conference provides a platform to explore, discuss, and deliberate on the principles, practices, and diverse applications of value investing on a global scale. It's a unique opportunity to engage and connect with experts and enthusiasts alike, sharing knowledge and experiences.
Value Investing in a Global Context
We believe in value investing as a universal concept. As we gather in Toronto, investors from around the world will unite to explore its vast potential and discuss how it resonates across different markets and cultures.
Registration closed on April 1st at 11:59 PM EST.
Media Coverage
"A Lollapalooza for value investors: Inside Fairfax week in Toronto"
The Globe and Mail, April 27, 2026
"2026 Value Investing Conference: Stephen Penman on Why Book-to-Price Only Works When you Reverse-Engineer the Market"
Hedge Fund Alpha Media Coverage, April 15, 2026.
"2026 Ivey's Ben Graham Conference: Wincrest's Bernard On Getting A Margin Of Safety Via Bottlenecks"
Hedge Fund Alpha Media Coverage, April 16, 2026.
"Ben Graham Centre's 2026 Value Investing Conference: Palisade's Veru On Why The Small-cap Super Cycle Is Starting With Help From AI"
Hedge Fund Alpha Media Coverage, April 15, 2026.
"Ben Graham Centre's 2026 Value Investing Conference: Orbis' Skinner on Why AI Will Amplify Market Inefficiencies & 3 Stocks Which Could Benefit"
Hedge Fund Alpha Media Coverage, April 15, 2026.
"Ivey's 2026 Ben Graham Conference: Francis Chou Details Three Big Returns In Insurance Vehicles Using Grahamian Principles"
Hedge Fund Alpha Media Coverage, April 15, 2025.
"Ben Graham Centre's 2026 Value Investing Conference: Dan Rasmussen on The Private Equity Bubble, Japan And Where Value Investing Still Works"
Hedge Fund Alpha Media Coverage, April 16, 2025.
"Ben Graham Centre's 2026 Value Investing Conference: Sionna's Kim Shannon - The 20-Year Inflationary Cycle Has Already Started"
Hedge Fund Alpha Media Coverage, April 15, 2026.
"Ben Graham Centre's 2026 Value Investing Conference: Thomas Russo On "Capacity to Suffer" And The Three Layers Needed For It"
Hedge Fund Alpha Media Coverage, April 16, 2025.
"2026 Value Investing Conference: Murad Al-Katib On Building A Moat In Global Food Security"
Hedge Fund Alpha Media Coverage, April 15, 2025.
Lineup, Videos and Slides
Conference Organizer and Chair
George Athanassakos, Professor of Finance, Ben Graham Chair in Value Investing, Founder & Managing Director, Ben Graham Centre for Value Investing, Ivey Business School, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
Topic: "Stock Picking: Is It Skill or Luck?"
In his opening remarks, among other things, Dr. Athanassakos provided evidence that stock picking is not a matter of luck but rather a matter of skill. His academic indirect and direct evidence in favor of stock picking was corroborated by individual value investor data compiled by Scott Reardon of Dakota Value Funds which showed that more than 50 high profile value investors have outperformed their benchmarks and/or the markets before and after fees over their life time (or over a time during which they were active money managers), from John Maynard Keynes (over 24 years) and Prem Watsa (over 30 years) to Walter Schloss (over 49 years) and Peter Cundill (over 35 years) and from Seth Klarman (over 25 years) and Howard Marks (over 22 years) to Charlie Munger and Warren Buffet (over 60 years). The key characteristics of all these investors were patience, discipline and long-term perspective. Dr. Athanassakos concluded his speech by arguing that such performance could not be just luck as academics tend to argue, dismissing stock analysis as a wasted effort, and focusing only on diversification. It was pure stock picking based on bottom-up analysis and careful due diligence.
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Morning Keynote Speaker
Presenter: Stephen Penman, George O. May Professor Emeritus of Financial Accounting, Columbia School of Business, New York, New York, USA
Topic: "Redeeming Value"
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PowerPoint Presentation
Luncheon Keynote Speaker
Presenter: Francis Chou, Founder and President, Chou Associates Management Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Topic: "Ben Graham Insurance Edition"
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PowerPoint Presentation
Afternoon Keynote Speaker
Presenter: Murad Al-Katib, President and Chief Executive Officer, AGT Food and Ingredients Inc., Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Topic: "Global Food Security - A Compelling, Defensive, and Long-Term Value Investing Thematic"
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PowerPoint Presentation
Value Investor Session
Presenter: Barbara Ann Bernard, Founder and Chief Investment Officer, Wincrest Capital, Nassau, NP, The Bahamas
Topic: "A Personal Evolution in Value Investing: From Anti-Bubbles to Bottlenecks & Structuring a Margin of Safety"
Presenter: Dennison (Dan) T. Veru, Senior Partner and Chief Investment Officer, Palisade Capital Management, Fort Lee, New Jersey, USA
Topic: "The Small Cap Super Cycle Begins"
Presenter: Simon Skinner, Head of Global Investment Team, Orbis Investments, London, United Kingdom
Topic: "New Tools, Old Habits"
Presenter: Dan Rasmussen, Founder and Portfolio Manager, Verdad Advisers, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Topic: "The Humble Investor"
PowerPoint Presentation Not Available
Presenter: Kim Shannon, Founder and Co-Chief Investment Officer, Sionna Investment Managers, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Topic: "Waiting for Godot: The Dilemma of the Ignored Value Rally"
Presenter: Thomas Russo, Managing Member, Gardner Russo & Quinn LLC, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA
Topic: "Capacity to Suffer - Global Value Investing"
Selected Testimonials
"The conference was a powerful reminder that great investing requires a careful balance of patience, discipline, and the ability to look beyond the balance sheet ... Hearing from leading investors reinforced how much of this craft is rooted in continuous learning and humility."
~ Leigh-Ann Allen, Toronto Metropolitan University
"The Ben Graham Centre for Value Investing - Ivey Business School at Western University Conference was a lot of fun -- even better for being on home turf. Heard lots of differing views on AI and perspectives on adoption. Also, more optimism on the future of value investing than I've seen in a while."
~ Kris Bennatti, Hudson Labs
"Good morning Toronto and the Ben Graham Centre for Value Investing - Ivey Business School at Western University Annual Conference. Thank you George Athanassakos for assembling another world class event."
~ James Di Cenzo, iA Private Wealth.
"The Value Investing Conference was rewarding, with thoughtful discussions and insights from experienced investors."
~ Chaitanya Gandhi, Ivey Business School.
"Wonderful conference, thank you so much!"
~ Diego Gedge, Toronto Metropolitan University.
"Congratulations on another successful conference! I wanted to take a moment to thank you for organizing such a well-run and engaging event last week! I found the presentations to be thought-provoking and particularly enjoyed a number of the side discussions with industry participants. I'm already looking forward to next year's event."
~ Robert Gill, Fairbank Investment Management.
"The conference did not disappoint! Apparently it has become a yearly pilgrimage to many astute industry professionals, as someone said this was his 10th ... The conference leaves you with moments that remind you of the plan. Like when Dr. George Athanassakos asked Thomas Russo of Gardner Russo & Quinn LLC "What will make you sell a stock?" and the simple answer was "malfeasance". Looking forward to next time."
~ Ikechukwu Iheanacho, Independent.
"Enjoying the Ben Graham Centre for Value Investing - Ivey Business School at Western University annual conference with my Richer, Wiser, Happier | William Green masterclass friends from all over the world."
~ Paul Manders, National Bank Financial.
"As usual an informative and fun conference. Shout out to Gary Kim for seamless and always cheerful organizing."
~ Kim Shannon, Sionna Investment Managers.
"I was honored to participate in this year's value investing event with an esteemed group of great investors."
~ Dennison (Dan) T. Veru, Palisade Capital Management
"Last week we at Hudson Labs attended the Ben Graham Centre's annual Value Investing Conference in Toronto, a few things that stuck with me from a great speaker lineup ... One thread that ran through almost every talk: the information advantage in public equities is alive and well, but only if you're willing to do the work to find it ... Big thanks to George Athanassakos, Gary Kim and the Ivey team for putting this together every year."
~ Buddy Wiseman-Barker, Hudson Labs
Conference Photo Gallery
OPENING REMARKS
MORNING KEYNOTE SPEAKER
VALUE INVESTOR SESSION - PANEL 1
2026 INTERNATIONAL MBA STOCK PICKING COMPETITION - WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT
LUNCH
LUNCHEON KEYNOTE SPEAKER
NETWORKING COFFEE BREAK
VALUE INVESTOR SESSION - PANEL 2
AFTERNOON KEYNOTE SPEAKER
CLOSING REMARKS
Thank you to our Donors
We would like to thank our donors for their generous support. Platinum Donors: Burgundy Asset Management Ltd., Gardner Russo & Quinn LLC, The Peter Cundill Foundation, Robotti & Company Advisors, and Turtle Creek Asset Management Inc.. Gold Donors: The Center for the Advancement of Value Investing Education, Lewin Capital Management Ltd., LSV Asset Management, Orbis Investment Management, Stacey Muirhead Capital Management, and Wincrest Capital. Silver Donors: 3G Capital Management LLC, Lyrical Asset Management, MAAT Investment Group, Sionna Investment Managers, and Tweedy, Browne Company LLC.
REGISTRATION CLOSED