The Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation (APFC) Board of Trustees will hold their Annual Meeting on September 21-22, 2022 in Anchorage, AK. The public is invited to attend this meeting in person, or via webinar (location and links are in the agenda linked below) and there will be an opportunity for public comment and participation at the beginning of the meeting on September 21.
APFC’s Executive Director Search
APFC would like to update our fellow Alaskans on the status of the search for an Executive Director who will work with the Board of Trustees in setting the strategic vision and direction of the Corporation, fulfilling our corporate mandate to manage and invest the assets of the Permanent Fund and other funds designated by law.
“In APFC’s search for the next Executive Director, the process has been deliberative and focused on ensuring that there is a strong, well-vetted candidate pool and clear direction from the Board,” noted Valerie Mertz, the Acting Executive Director. “Ultimately, Alaskans will have the opportunity to listen to the Board’s public interview of the final candidates and will recognize their determination in selecting a well-qualified leader in support of the long-term health and success of the Corporation.”
Conducting the recruitment on behalf of APFC is Alaska Executive Search (AES), now called People AK, a trusted Alaska recruitment resource for more than 40 years. AES was awarded the recruitment contract following a competitive procurement process.
The State’s procurement rules elongated the initial phase of the recruitment effort after APFC conducted a pre-procurement request for information to collect data, including anticipated costs, from competitive vendors in the industry. The RFI determined the need for a competitive procurement process in selecting an executive search firm to assist the APFC Board of Trustees to recruit and select a new Executive Director.
Once AES was awarded the contract, the strategy included identifying highly qualified candidates with the skills and ability to lead APFC and effectively collaborate with the Board of Trustees in achieving our corporate vision of delivering outstanding returns for the benefit of all current and future generations of Alaskans.
AES and APFC have established a Recruitment Committee to vet candidates and conduct preliminary interviews. APFC’s Recruitment Committee is comprised of Board Chair Richards, Trustee Schutt, Acting Executive Director & Chief Financial Officer Valerie Mertz, Chief Investment Officer Marcus Frampton, and Chief Risk & Compliance Officer Sebastian Vadakumcherry.
Given the caliber of candidates sought and current interest in the position, these initial interviews are targeted for this month. Once the preliminary interviews, are complete the Recruitment Committee will forward the leading candidates to the full Board of Trustees for consideration during a public interview process. APFC expects to conduct the Executive Director interviews during a Special Board meeting that will likely be scheduled in October. Final candidate information will be included in the publicly available board packet, and the meeting will be publicly noticed per the Open Meetings Act.
The Board is grateful to the APFC’s professional staff for their steadfast dedication to the stewardship of the Fund. While filling this position has taken longer than initially expected, the Corporation’s staff have demonstrated their commitment and fortitude, ensuring the ongoing performance and success of the Permanent Fund for the benefit of all generations of Alaskans.
The Board of Trustees and staff look forward to welcoming a new Executive Director this fall to build upon and enhance our mission-driven, dynamic investment management of Alaska’s most valuable renewable financial resource.
Welcome, Trustee Deven Mitchell, to APFC’s Board
APFC welcomes the Acting Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Revenue, Deven Mitchell, to the Board of Trustees.
Trustee Mitchell has long familiarity with the Fund and notes, “As a lifelong Alaskan, the importance of Alaska’s Permanent Fund has been clear to me since Governor Hammond described the potential to my third-grade class in the Capitol back in 1976. It is truly a privilege to be able to serve as a Trustee for Alaska’s Permanent Fund Corporation”.
Trustee Mitchell brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to APFC, having worked at several Alaskan financial institutions and for the Alaska Department of Revenue since 1992. His leadership and service as the Executive Director and Treasurer of the Alaska Municipal Bond Bank Authority, a public corporation of the State, provide a solid foundation of fiduciary duty.
APFC’s Board of Trustees Meets in Advance of Annual Meeting
Juneau – APFC’s Board of Trustees Audit Committee met on September 1st to monitor the integrity of the financial reporting process and the system of internal controls and procedures regarding finance, accounting, and legal compliance, as well as to review the performance and independence of APFC’s external auditors.
In line with state statute and our commitment to transparency, the Alaska Permanent Fund is audited in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles every year by an independent outside financial auditor. The annual audit includes financial statements providing: the amount of money received by the Fund from each investment during the period covered, a market value appraisal of the Fund’s assets, a description of the Fund’s investment activity during the fiscal year, a comparison of the Fund performance with previous years, and an examination of the effect of the investment-related policies. Read More
APFC Board of Trustees Meetings
The Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation (APFC) Board of Trustees will hold an Audit Committee Meeting and Budget Work Session on September 1, 2022. The public is invited to attend this meeting in person, or via webinar (location and links are in the agendas linked below) and there will be an opportunity for public comment and participation at the beginning of both meetings.
9.1.22 APFC Board of Trustees Budget Work Session Agenda
9.1.22 APFC Board of Trustees Budget Work Session Packet
9.1.22 APFC Board of Trustees Audit Committee Agenda
9.1.22 APFC Board of Trustees Audit Committee Meeting Packet_revised
FY22 Permanent Fund Performance Report
Our Commitment to Alaska
APFC’s long-term stewardship, prudent management, and diverse investment strategy ensure the Alaska Permanent Fund will continue to be safeguarded and wisely invested for the benefit of generations of Alaskans. Though we continue to find ourselves in extraordinary times, be assured that our staff is working at capacity and is fully engaged in managing the portfolio to find opportunities within the current market and limiting the downside impacts to the Fund.
Notes on Performance
Reflected in the APFC June 30, 2022 Performance Report are the successes and challenges faced by the portfolio over the past year. Following a year of record returns and explosive growth in global markets, forecasted market volatility and inflationary pressures are now impacting Fund performance.
Amid these global economic pressures, the total Fund performance is down 1.32% for the fiscal year 2022. That said, the Fund significantly outperformed the passive benchmark of -14.64% and the performance benchmark of -3.24%, for which Fund performance is measured in comparison.
Alaska Permanent Fund Special Meeting of the Board of Trustees
The Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation’s (APFC) Board of Trustees will hold a Special Meeting on July 28, 2022, for the purpose of discussing APFC employee compensation, retention, and recruitment matters generally and in preparation for the FY24 Budget request to be approved at the Annual Meeting in September.
The public is invited to attend this virtual meeting via Webinar (information listed below), or telephonically.
July 28, 2022 Board of Trustees Special Meeting Agenda
July 28, 2022 Board of Trustees Special Meeting Packet
APFC’s Board of Trustees hold Special Meeting to address talent recruitment and retention issues
Juneau – The Board of Trustees held a Special Meeting in Anchorage and via webinar on July 12, 2022, to address long-standing APFC recruitment and retention issues, specifically related to salaries and incentive compensation.
“We recognize that recruitment and retention of world-class talent are essential to the prudent management and success of the Alaska Permanent Fund,” said APFC Board Chair Craig Richards. “We are thankful for the support received from the Alaska Legislature. Through these positive discussions, the APFC Board is working towards solutions to staff compensation challenges to ensure the Fund continues its multi-decade history of world-class asset management into the next generation.”
A follow-up Compensation Committee meeting is scheduled to take place on July 28.
Archived video recordings of all Board of Trustees meetings can be found on our website at https://apfc.org/bot-video-archive/.
APFC Board of Trustees Special Meeting – July 12, 2022
The Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation’s (APFC) Board of Trustees will hold a Special Meeting on July 12, 2022 for the purpose of discussing APFC employee compensation, retention, and recruitment matters generally and in preparation for the FY24 Budget request to be approved at the Annual Meeting in September.
The public is invited to attend this meeting in person, via Webinar, or telephonically. Please see the agenda for specific details.
July 12, 2022 APFC Board of Trustees Special Meeting Agenda
July 12, 2022 APFC Board of Trustees Special Meeting Packet
APFC Welcomes Trustee Rubenstein and Trustee Brune
The Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation (APFC) welcomes Gabrielle “Ellie” Rubenstein and Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Jason Brune to the APFC Board of Trustees. Their service on the Board commences on July 1, 2022.
As CEO and Co-Founder of an investment firm, Trustee Rubenstein brings extensive private equity, investment management and corporate experience to the Board. Trustee Rubenstein also supports numerous organizations and initiatives through her family office and dedicates countless hours volunteering with the Red Cross of Alaska.
“The Alaska Permanent Fund is a globally recognized sophisticated investor. I am humbled and honored to serve on the Board. I look forward to getting to know the Trustees and Staff and working with them in service to the people of Alaska.” ~ Trustee Rubenstein
Trustee Brune has served as the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner since December 2018. Trustee Brune brings to the Board a wealth of knowledge on Alaska’s resources, the foundation of the Alaska Permanent Fund. Previously he served in various public and private roles throughout Alaska, primarily related to resource development and land management.
“Having been part of resource development in Alaska for decades, it is a tremendous honor to serve on the Board of Trustees. Through managing the Fund, the role that APFC holds in converting a portion of the State’s royalty wealth into a financial resource for generations of Alaskans is stewardship at its best.” ~ Trustee Brune