Laura Tamblyn Watts 

CEO, CanAge

Laura Tamblyn Watts is the CEO of CanAge, Canada’s national seniors’ advocacy organization and a global expert on aging. Her work focuses on aging, inclusion, and justice. She has previously served as Chief Public Policy Officer at the Canadian Association of Retired Persons and at the Canadian Centre for Elder Law including as their long-time National Director. She is an Assistant Professor (status) in the Factor Inwentash Faculty of Social Work University of Toronto where she specializes in research on law, aging, financial issues, accessibility and consumer inclusion. Laura is a lawyer, and was called to the Bar in 1999. Previous to being called to the Bar, Laura worked as a licensed insurance broker in British Columbia. 

She is the Chair of Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario’s Consumer Advisory Panel.  Laura was also appointed to the inaugural Board of Directors for the new SRO for Canada’s investment sector, which resulted from the merger of Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada and the Mutual Funds Dealer’s Association.  Prior to its establishment, she served as a Board Director for IIROC.  Previously she served on the Board of the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments (OBSI). Prior to joining OBSI’s Board, she Chaired OBSI’s Consumer and Investor Advisory Committee for 8 years. She is a member of the Investment Funds Institute of Canada’s (IFIC) committee on Seniors and Vulnerable Investors (IFIC) and serves as a Canadian representative on the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASSA) committee on Vulnerable Investors. Laura is a continuing member of the Ontario Securities Commission’s Taskforce on Seniors.  She regularly advises the financial sector on consumer issues.