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Workshops
Workshops
US Growth Equities: Avoid at Your Peril
Join us to discover how we identify exceptional American companies with the potential to reshape industries and deliver outsized returns. We will explore why the US remains the global engine of innovation, how long-term active management can capture transformational growth, and why identifying the outliers is critical to long term returns.
Workshop Objectives:
- Recognise the structural forces that make the US uniquely positioned to produce world-changing companies.
- Understand how disciplined patience and conviction can turn volatility into long-term success.
- Identify the qualities that distinguish exceptional growth companies from the broader market.
Company Profile:
Baillie Gifford’s sole business is investment management. Since the company was founded in 1908 it has been a partnership. Today it is owned by 59 partners all of whom work in the business. We believe that the best investment ideas spring from thinking about future possibilities, not short-term probabilities. We set no barriers to the imagination of our investors, encouraging fresh perspectives and the use of diverse sources of information. We term ourselves Actual Investors.
We currently manage or advise some £212bn (as at 31st July 2025) on behalf of clients worldwide. Whilst we are predominantly an institutional manager (circa 80% of FUM), we offer an extensive range of investment trusts and open-ended funds to UK wealth managers and intermediaries.
Speakers
Paul Stevenson
Client Relationship Director
Paul joined Baillie Gifford in 2015 and is a Client Relationship Director in the Clients Department, with a primary focus on US clients, including Vanguard. He also supports the US Growth team as an Investment Specialist. Prior to this, Paul spent 15 years as a pilot. While at university, he undertook elementary flying training through a Royal Air Force Flying Scholarship. He went on to serve 12 years as an RAF Officer, flying a range of aircraft including the Hawk T1 and Hercules C-130J. During this time, he was a flying instructor on the Hercules and carried out global operations, including four tours in Iraq and seven in Afghanistan. After leaving the RAF in 2012, Paul was a commercial pilot with a European airline for three years. He graduated in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Glasgow in 1999.
Representatives
Graeme Taylor
Client Relationship Manager
Graeme joined Baillie Gifford in 2021 and is a client relationship manager in our Clients Department where he is responsible for looking after our South African relationships. Prior to Baillie Gifford, he was a Wealth Manager at UBS in both London and Edinburgh where he managed Charity and Endowment clients and more recently Scottish Private Clients. Graeme graduated with a First Class Honours in Economics with Finance from the University of Edinburgh in 2015 and holds the CISI Private Client Investment Advice and Management certificate.
Opportunities in the Small Cap Markets
Baron Small Cap Fund, managed by Baron Capital, invests in U.S. small-cap growth companies with market caps up to the Russell 2000 Growth Index's largest or $2.5B, whichever is greater. The fund is well diversified across sectors stocks and sectors while maintaining a high active risk. Managed by Cliff Greenberg and assisted by David Greenberg, it features low turnover, and an attractive risk/return profile versus peers.
Workshop Objectives:
Baron Capital will discuss why they believe now is an opportune time for an active, long-term approach to investing in select technology-driven U.S. companies given recent market weakness.
Company Profile:
Baron Capital Group Inc. is a premier asset management firm focused on delivering growth equity investment solutions. Founded in 1982, we started managing assets in 1983, and have become known for our long-term, fundamental, active approach to growth investing. Founder Ron Baron began his career as a research analyst in 1970 and has managed client assets since 1975. We started as an equity research firm, and research has remained at the core of our asset management business, with more than one in five of our employees dedicated to equity research and analysis. The Firm has $44.2 billion under management. We have 210 employees, 43 of whom are investment professionals, including 16 portfolio managers. The Firm is privately owned and headquartered in New York City with offices in London and Dubai.
Speakers
David Goldsmith
VP, Assistant Portfolio Manager, Research Analyst
VP, Assistant Portfolio Manager, Research Analyst David joined Baron Capital in 2006 for research analyst and was named assistant portfolio manager of Baron Small Cap Fund in 2016. He has 22 years of research experience. From 2001 to 2004, he worked at Claiborne Capital Group as a research analyst. From 1999 to 2001, he worked at Banc of America Securities as an investment banking health care analyst. David graduated cuml aude from Duke University with a B.S. in Economics in 1999 and from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with an M.B.A. in 2006.
Representatives
Rabih Sultani
SEO & Head of Middle East
Rabih joined Baron Capital in 2024 as the SEO and Head of Middle East. Rabih has over 25 years of experience in regional portfolio management and institutional sales covering sovereign wealth funds, institutions and family offices. From 2018 to 2024, Rabih worked at Franklin Tempelton as director of institutional sales and prior to that had worked at Ashmore Investments Saudi Arabia and Alkhabeer Capital. He also worked as portfolio manager with Duet MENA and SHUAA Capital. Rabih graduated from American University of Beirut Lebanon with a B.A. in Economics and from London Business School with an M.B.A.
Leveraging Hong Kong High-Dividend Stocks in the China Playbook
Hong Kong’s high-dividend universe offers compelling income potential for global institutional investors. Stable, cash-generative businesses deliver attractive yields that enhance portfolio income and reduce overall volatility. Strong governance and transparent payout policies provide visibility into sustainable cash flows and dividend growth, aiding income predictability.
Since 2020, HK high-dividend equities have demonstrated features of a secular bull run that emulates US equities. The region’s exposure to mature cash-generators alongside China’s growth ecosystem creates a balanced blend of income and capital appreciation opportunities. Diversified sector exposure—utilities, financials, telecom—adds resilience and ballast during market stress.
E Fund, the largest mutual fund company in China, would share its investment philosophy and insights in investing the Hong Kong high-dividend market.
Workshop Objectives:
E Fund would present why Hong Kong High Dividend Stocks deserves a place in the China allocation toolkit for Middle Eastern family offices.
Company Profile:
Established in 2001, E Fund Management Co., Ltd. (“E Fund”) is a leading comprehensive mutual fund manager in China with over USD 571 billion under management (as of 25Q3). It offers investment solutions to onshore and offshore clients, helping clients achieve long-term sustainable investment performances. E Fund’s clients include both individuals and institutions, ranging from central banks, sovereign wealth funds, social security funds, pension funds, insurance and reinsurance companies, to family offices and large corporates.
Long-term oriented, it has been focusing on the investment management business since inception and believes in the power of in-depth research and time in investing. It is now widely recognized as one of the most trusted and outstanding Chinese asset managers.
Speakers
Taurus Yang
Portfolio manager, Director of Investment Operations
With over a decade in finance, Taurus is a Director of Investment Operations and Portfolio Manager at E Fund HK, while concurrently working as a Portfolio Manager at E Fund Management Co., Ltd. He joined the E Fund group in 2015 as an analyst and advanced to his current portfolio management roles.
Taurus holds a Master's in Financial Analysis from the University of San Francisco and a Bachelor's in Economics from UC Berkeley.
Representatives
Mr. William Hu
Associate Director of Middle East
Mr William Hu is an associate of E Fund Global Investor Services team. He is responsible for client servicing and relationship. Before joining E Fund, he has experience in Equity Research and Cross-border M&A. William holds a Master’s degree in Management from Yale University, a Master’s degree in Management from HEC Paris, and a Bachelor’s in Arts from Fudan University.
Mr. Bo Zhang
Director of EMEA
Bo is a Director of E Fund Global Investors Services Department. He has over 10 years of industry experience, including J.P. Morgan, Zurich Financial Services and PWC.
Bo graduated from University of Southampton in Economics and has an MBA from Columbia Business School. In addition, He is holder of FCA from Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales.
Thematic Investing and the Hype Cycle: Defining AI and Unveiling the FT Framework
Gregg Guerin will provide a comprehensive update on the latest developments in Artificial Intelligence, highlighting the First Trust AI Framework to evaluate investments amidst the hype.
Gregg will look at a few specific segments of the market that we believe are well-positioned to profit from this general-purpose technology.
Workshop Objectives:
- To introduce the First Trust Framework to evaluate AI which seeks to cut through the hype.
- To outline the profound business impact of AI, just 3 years on from ChatGPT's debut.
- To highlight specific investment opportunities and navigating the AI Hype Cycle.
- To discuss the electrical grid. Can it keep up, and does it represent an investment opportunity in its own right?
Company Profile:
First Trust is a privately owned U.S. based financial services firm established in 1991. Our mission and approach are simple. We aim to offer investors a better way to invest by providing transparent and innovative solutions - through knowing what we own, investing for the long term, employing discipline and rebalancing our portfolios.
These core principles are taken into consideration in all aspects of our business and are the building blocks of our reputation. It is through these principles that First Trust’s specialist investment managers apply a robust and disciplined approach to a range of methodologies. We have a strong track record in providing a variety of rules-based, thematic, and actively managed strategies investing across a range of equities, fixed income and alternatives.
In delivering our message, our regional sales teams work closely with prospects and clients to distribute First Trust’s range of single-country, regional and global solutions across the world.
Speakers
Gregg Guerin
Senior Product Specialist
Representatives
Anis Benatmane
Vice President
Anis Benatmane joined First Trust in 2018 as an ETF salesperson to institutional clients in France, Luxembourg and Switzerland (Geneva), contributing to the distribution effort of thematic, multi-factor and actively managed ETFs. Additionally, he is responsible for the expansion of the First Trust ETF distribution into the Middle East market, namely the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Anis holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and a Master’s degree in Financial Markets from Pantheon-Sorbonne University. He is fluent in English, French and Arabic.
Rupert Haddon
Managing Director and Head of Sales
Rupert is Managing Director, Head of Sales and Distribution for First Trust’s UCITS platform globally and was an original team member when First Trust was founded in Europe in 2013. Rupert has over 15 years of experience working in the financial services industry and graduated with honours from the University of Leeds having read Ancient History and Classical Literature.
Diversifying Portfolios: Emerging Opportunities and Challenges
This presentation will examine how GCC bonds, global sukuk, and private credit can contribute to a diversified fixed income portfolio. Mr. Kronfol will share his expertise on navigating these markets and identifying attractive investment opportunities.
Company Profile:
Your trusted partner for what’s ahead™
We believe that success requires more than just expertise - it demands powerful partnerships. As a forward-thinking asset manager, we build dynamic relationships with our clients, understand their goals, and navigate the complexities of the market together. Our team leverages cutting-edge strategies and deep industry insights to unlock opportunities to help grow wealth. With Franklin Templeton by their side, investors don’t prepare for the future - they shape it.
Speakers
Mohieddine Kronfol
Chief Investment Officer Global Sukuk and Head of Middle East Fixed Income
Mohieddine (Dino) Kronfol is the chief investment officer for Global Sukuk and Head of MENA Fixed Income for Franklin Templeton based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Dino is responsible for managing the investment process, research, and performance of the Global Sukuk and MENA Fixed Income teams, and leads portfolio management for FTSF Global Sukuk, FTIF Gulf Wealth Bond, and FT-BSP Private Financing strategies.
Dino is a pioneer in Arab capital markets where he has committed the past 25 years to the development of MENA debt markets and Shariah compliant finance across the globe. He has one of the longest track records managing global Sukuk assets, since 2008, and under his leadership, Franklin Templeton has established itself as a leader in global Sukuk investing. Dino frequently shares his views as a commentator on regional and international media and is a regular speaker at industry events.
Preceding his tenure at Franklin Templeton, Dino was part of a small team that, in 2000, helped build from scratch and run what became SHUAA Capital's financial services business. He was initially head of Capital Markets and later became head of Debt Asset Management and, in 2002, fund manager of the first fund to focus exclusively on MENA debt. Prior to that, he was an early employee at one of the first pan-Arab investment banks, Middle East Capital Group (MECG).
Dino holds a bachelor of arts in business administration and an MBA from the American University of Beirut. He won the first Failaka Islamic Award for "The Best Sukuk Fund" in 2010, the first Employee Provident Fund of Malaysia (EPF) Award for "Best Global Sukuk Portfolio Manager" in 2014 and 2019, and the MENA Fund Manager Award for "Outstanding Achievement by an Individual" in 2016. Franklin GCC Bond fund won the Mountain View Fund Award 2019 in the Bond Funds Global category. His team was awarded the Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Middle East Awards for MENA Fixed Income Strategy, 1 Year (2022) and 3 Years (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025) and Global Sukuk Strategy, 1 Year (2021) and 3 Years (2022, 2023). In private markets, 3 transactions won the Bonds Loans & Sukuk Private Credit Deal of the Year in 2022 (Pure Harvest), 2023 (Moove), and 2025 (Keyper).
Representatives
Lana Masri
Institutional Sales Manager
Lana Masri is an Institutional Sales Manager at Franklin Templeton covering the Middle East region. Lana is based in Dubai and has been with the firm since 2014. Prior to joining Franklin Templeton, Lana worked as a Senior Financial Advisor at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) in Toronto. She has over 20 years of experience in the Financial Services sector. She earned her degree in Economics & Business from York University in Toronto. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder.
Alexandre Rahman
Institutional Sales Manager
Alexandre joined Franklin Templeton in November 2022 and is based in Dubai. He has been covering institutional clients in the Middle East & Africa region for 10 years, through experiences in asset management at State Street Global Advisors and investment banking at Natixis. Alexandre holds a MSc in Finance and BA in Economics from ESCE Paris.
Financing Everyday Life – opportunities in commodities credit
Food, infrastructure, and energy underpin daily life and global economies. Yet, these essential resources are often produced in regions defined by unique geology and climate, far from where they are ultimately consumed. Bridging that gap requires financing across the entire supply chain, from production and processing to transport and trade.
Commodities credit provides investors with access to this real-world financing opportunity, offering stable, income-generating exposure that is largely uncorrelated to traditional markets. By supporting the movement of essential goods, it can serve as both a diversifier and a hedge against inflation, currency depreciation, and geopolitical risk.
Workshop Objectives:
Introduce & update participants to global commodities credit and trade finance in a potentially changing environment.
Company Profile:
Gemcorp Capital: Redefining Emerging Markets.
Our mission is to redefine emerging markets investing for our clients through the power of private capital. We believe that private markets offer our clients an enlarged investment universe; providing access more opportunities to generate strong, low correlation returns from emerging markets.
We are an Emerging Markets specialist asset manager, with a focus on private credit. We have grown to over $1bn in AUM and have allocated over $7bn to investments across emerging markets since our inception in 2014. Over the last decade we have refined our investment approach and are now able to provide a range of innovative strategies that allow investors to capitalise on the promise of emerging markets.
Speakers
Ahmad Al-Sati
President of Gemcorp Capital Advisors LLC and Portfolio Manager of GCAP
Ahmad is the President of Gemcorp Capital Advisors LLC and the Portfolio Manager of GCAP based in New York. Before joining Gemcorp, he was President of Pandion Mine Finance and RiverMet Resource Capital where he focused on investing in precious metals, he was also responsible for managing the investments and the day-to-day operations of the registered investment adviser. Prior to this, he was an investment partner and a voting member of the investment committee at Albright Capital - a global investment firm focused on emerging markets. Ahmad started his asset management career managing credit and distressed funds in the US. He holds a JD-MBA from Columbia Law School and NYU Stern School of Business.
Asad Hajiyev
SEO & Senior Portfolio Manager
Asad Hajiyev is a SEO and a Portfolio Manager, based in Abu Dhabi, responsible for investing structured capital in GCC and global EM, with focus on energy and energy transition, technology, and connectivity, as well as special situations. Before 6 years at Gemcorp, Asad spent eight years in various positions at J.P. Morgan investment bank, between M&A, ECM and Leveraged Finance Executions and Distressed Credit. As part of that, Mr. Hajiyev developed a broad experience in corporate finance, capital raising and restructurings in the Energy, TMT and other sectors. Prior to his career in investment banking, Mr. Hajiyev worked as a financial analyst and treasury team leader in the upstream unit of BP in Azerbaijan. Mr. Hajiyev holds an MBA from Columbia Business School, as well as an MA degree in International Relations from the University of Warwick, and a BA degree in International Economics from Schiller International University in Germany. Mr. Hajiyev is a chartered accountant in the UK (CIMA qualification).
Representatives
Khurram Akram
Head of Coverage
Khurram Akram leads Gemcorp’s institutional coverage across MENA. With extensive experience in the region, Khurram plays a key role in fostering strategic partnerships and supporting the firm's growth in emerging markets.
Prior to joining Gemcorp, Khurram was Managing Director at Union Bancaire Privée (UBP), overseeing institutional clients in the MENA region. His earlier career spans leadership roles at leading investment firms including JP Morgan, Moore Capital, and Lehman Brothers within Equity markets.
Unlocking the Next Generation of Emerging Markets: Opportunities Beyond the Traditional Index
James Johnstone, Portfolio Manager of the Redwheel Next Generation Emerging Markets Equity Strategy, will lead a thought-provoking session exploring the evolving landscape of smaller emerging and frontier markets, focusing on both risks and opportunities. While large economies like China, India, Taiwan, and Korea have dominated global capital allocation, many mid-sized markets such as Indonesia and Thailand have been overlooked despite strong demographics, resource wealth, and manufacturing potential. This strategy identifies under-represented countries poised for structural growth, driven by young populations, commodity reserves, and low-cost manufacturing capacity essential for scaling digital and green technologies. With shifting geopolitics and demand for diversified supply chains, these markets represent significant untapped opportunities.
Workshop Objectives:
Company Profile:
Redwheel is a specialist, independent investment manager with an active investment heritage built on a foundation of innovation, original thought, and high conviction.
The business was established in 2000 with the ambition to create an environment in which exceptional fund managers can operate with a high degree of investment autonomy and maximise the benefits of their skills over the long-term.
The eight investment teams specialise in Sustainable & Thematic Equities, Active Engagement, Emerging Markets, Value & Income and Convertible Bonds. A total of $20.9 (as at 30th September 2025) is managed across these strategies on behalf of clients who include some of the foremost global institutions and advisors.
With more than 172 people, including 58 dedicated investment professionals, Redwheel has offices in London, Copenhagen, Miami, and Singapore.
Speakers
James Johnstone
Portfolio Manager, Redwheel Next Generation Emerging Markets Equity Fund
James is the Portfolio Manager of the Redwheel Next Generation Emerging Markets Equity Fund. He also co-manages the Redwheel Emerging & Frontier Market Equities Strategy alongside John Malloy. He has 24 years of experience in investment management and research. Prior to Redwheel he was Senior Managing Director and Director of Investments at Everest Capital, since 2009, where he was responsible for portfolio management and research in frontier markets. James also served in the Royal Navy for five years. He graduated from Christ Church, Oxford University with an MA (Hons) in Classics and Modern Languages and speaks Russian.
Representatives
Roderick Loffler
Head of UK, South Africa and Middle East Distribution
Roderick is the Head of UK, South Africa and Middle East Distribution at Redwheel, where he leads the firm’s business development and client relationship strategy across these regions. He joined the company in April 2011 and is responsible for managing relationships with discretionary asset managers, including private banks, funds of funds, family offices, and private client managers.
Unlocking Value in Private Markets: The Strategic Case for Secondaries in a family office portfolio
Please join Benedetta Balducci, EMEA and APAC Head of Private Markets, for a session on the benefits of Private Market Secondaries in family offices’ portfolios and an update on State Street Investment Management's recent strategic investment in Coller Capital.:
Secondaries have emerged as a powerful tool for investors seeking faster capital deployment, enhanced visibility, and broad diversification in private markets. Unlike primary commitments, secondaries allow investors to avoid the J-Curve by gaining exposure to seasoned assets with established performance, reducing early-stage uncertainty and capturing early upside via discounts vs. NAVs.
This session will explore why secondaries can be a powerful addition to a family office’s allocation strategy, and how they provide liquidity in an otherwise illiquid asset class.
Attendees will gain practical insights into current market dynamics, pricing opportunities, and risk mitigation strategies - making the case for why secondaries are an essential component of modern private market allocations, particularly in today’s environment.
Company Profile:
State Street Investment Management leverages global expertise and over 30 years of experience in MEA, with offices in Dubai and Riyadh, to deliver tailored investment solutions for governments, institutions, employers, and intermediaries—driving better outcomes for clients and investors worldwide.
Speakers
Benedetta Balducci
Head of Private Markets EMEA and APAC
Benedetta currently serves as Managing Director Head of Private Markets in EMEA and APAC for State Street Investment Management, responsible for the identification of Private Markets opportunities and the commercialization of Private Markets products and solutions in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. She brings nearly 15 years of experience in private markets, spanning fundraising, capital formation and investments - including direct, indirect, and GP stakes - across Europe, the US and the Middle East. Benedetta began her private markets career as an Investment Manager in Private Equity direct investments at Synergo SGR (Milan) before moving to Generali Group (Milan/London), where she was first a member of the Private Equity investment team and she was later responsible for sourcing majority GP stake investments in European and US alternatives managers. She then joined Raymond James Cebile, contributing to fundraising efforts across private equity, private credit, and secondaries in EMEA. Most recently, Benedetta was Head of Private Equity Portfolio and Client Solutions EMEA at Federated Hermes in London, leading Private Equity business development efforts and serving on the Investment Committee, reviewing fund and direct co-investments.
Representatives
Emmanuel Laurina
Head of Middle East, Africa & Official Institutions
Emmanuel is a Senior Managing Director and Head of Middle East, Africa & Official Institutions at State Street Investment Management, reporting jointly to the Global Head of Client Coverage Group and the Head of EMEA. Supported by a team of 30 in Dubai, Krakow, London and Riyadh, he heads up all business operations, investment and client-facing activities in the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia, as well as the firm's Global Official Institutions Group.
Emmanuel is also the appointed CEO of the State Street Global Advisors Limited branch in Dubai and he is a non-executive Director on the board of State Street Saudi Arabia. Emmanuel is a member of the firm's Executive Management Group, EMEA Executive Committee, and State Street Corporation's Operating Group and Country Risk Committee.
Emmanuel also contributes to external initiatives such as the Abu Dhabi Global Market Sustainable Finance Committee, the One Planet SWF Initiative, the Abu Dhabi Gender Equality Working Group, the steering committee of 30% Club's MENA Chapter, and the REACH mentoring platform for women in business in the Middle East.
Emmanuel joined State Street Investment Management in Brussels in 2005 where he was responsible for the firm's business in the Benelux and Nordics regions until relocating to the Middle East in 2013. Prior to joining State Street Investment Management, Emmanuel worked for The Bank of New York in London and Brussels where he gained experience in client relationship management, product management and business development. During his last four years at The Bank of New York, Emmanuel was responsible for growing BNY's third party money market fund platform business in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Emmanuel holds an MA degree in Translation Studies from the University of Mons-Hainaut, Belgium, and he has completed the Executive Leadership Program at Oxford University's Said Business School.
James Thomas
Vice President, Intermediary Account Executive, Middle East and Africa
James Thomas is an experienced investment professional with over 10 years’ experience in asset management fund raising. He is responsible for developing and managing relationships with intermediary investors across the MEA region for State Street Investment Management .
Prior to his current role, James served as Head of EMEA Sales at ARK Invest, where he oversaw the distribution and launch of their business across Europe. He also spent six years at State Street Investment Management in London, driving ETF adoption among UK Intermediaries. Earlier in his career, he worked in Sales Strategy at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, contributing to the firm’s distribution strategy.
Japan Equities Through a Local Lens: Opportunities for Middle Eastern Investors
Japan’s equity market remains inefficient due to limited analyst coverage, language barriers, and a vast number of listed companies. As one of the Japanese local asset managers, we unlock these attractive investment opportunities with strong research capabilities and deliver uncorrelated returns for Middle Eastern investors by leveraging abundant alpha opportunities. Additionally, Japan’s industries are undergoing significant transformation. Japanese economy is emerging from decades of deflation, with trends such as inbound consumption, corporate capital investment, and capital market reforms driving structural changes. These shifts are bringing new business opportunities. SuMi TRUST will explain those alpha opportunities and the enhanced portfolio diversification that Middle Eastern investors can attain by investing in the Japanese equity market and introduce its core Japanese all-cap strategy.
Workshop Objectives:
We discover the hidden appeal of Japan’s equity market and how our unique approach—combining thematic investing with bottom-up stock selection—has consistently delivered stable returns.
Company Profile:
SuMi TRUST (Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management), Japan’s largest asset manager with over $600 billion AUM, leads the Japanese institutional market and has expanded globally across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Its Japanese equity strategies, driven by experienced local portfolio managers and analysts, have consistently generated alpha. Renowned for high-quality client services, SuMi TRUST serves diverse European clients, including private/public pension funds, private banks, asset managers, and family offices.
Speakers
Hirofumi Hayashi
Head of Investment Management
Hirofumi Hayashi has been responsible for client services and investor relations for institutional investors in the EMEA region including pension funds, asset managers and wealth managers since 2018. Prior to joining our London office, he was in charge of business development and client services for Asian institutional investors, in our Tokyo head office. Hirofumi has experience covering various institutional investors including public pensions, life insurers and financial institutions in Asia.
Representatives
Kei Ohashi
Investment Director
Kei Ohashi is responsible for promoting Japanese equity strategies at Sumitomo Mitsui Trust International in London, covering institutional investors in the Middle East. Previously, Kei was Associate Investment Director at SuMi TRUST AM in Tokyo and a Product Specialist at Mitsui & Co Alternative Investments. Kei holds an MSc in Innovation & Entrepreneurship from HEC Paris and a BSc in Business Administration from Yokohama City University.
Stefan Ramos
Business Development and Client Relationships
Stefan is responsible for United States business development and client relationships as well as advising the Global Client Relations department on intercultural communication. He began his career in Japanese asset management supporting international client relationships and producing investment communications in 2021, and he joined SuMi TAM in 2024.
Gold Market Update and Allocation Perspectives
This presentation provides a timely update on the gold market, examining recent developments and exploring which indicators might help explore what lies ahead.
Workshop Objectives:
Help portfolio managers assess their positioning and consider how gold could fit into their strategy going forward.
Company Profile:
Based in London, World Gold Council is a team of gold experts that champions the role gold plays as a strategic asset through research, analysis, commentary and insights.
We report to, and are owned by, a forward-thinking group of listed gold miners, and drive industry progress, shape policy and set the principles for a perpetual and sustainable gold market.
Speakers
John Reade
Market Strategist
John is the Gold Market Strategist for Europe, Middle East and Asia and has been with WGC since 2017. John has over 35 years’ experience in the gold industry, working for gold mining companies across production and project evaluation; for Investment Banks as an Equity Analyst and Gold Strategist; and in Asset Management as Gold Strategist and Portfolio Manager. John has a degree in Mining Engineering from Imperial College, London.
Representatives
Jaspar Crawley
Institutional Relationships
Jaspar Crawley joined WGC in 2018 and is responsible for building long-term relationships with institutional gold investors. Jaspar has over 15 years’ experience in the gold industry and related fields as a precious metals sales trader at UBS and Deutsche Bank, and running the APAC team from Singapore. Formerly a Captain in the British Army, Jaspar is a CAIA charter holder and has an MBA from the University of Oxford.
Edwin Lawrence
Consultant to World Gold Council
Edwin works in a consultancy capacity for World Gold Council. He has unrivalled experience in the asset owner space across the Middle East, having spent 17 years working for Franklin Templeton and Columbia Threadneedle. Edwin connects WGC with asset owners in the Middle East region and assists with their gold thinking.
Edwin has a degree in Economics and Economic / Social History from the University of York.
Dr Hannah Critchlow
Dr Hannah Critchlow is an internationally-acclaimed neuroscientist, broadcaster, author and Fellow at Magdalene College, University of Cambridge.
She has spoken internationally on the science of collective intelligence to a range of audiences including business leaders, government officials, financial institutions and energy providers. In 2022 Hannah received an Honorary Doctorate for her work in science communication. In 2019 Hannah was named by Nature as a ‘Rising Stars in Life Sciences’. Hannah Critchlow was recognised as a ‘Top 100 UK scientist’ by the UK Science Council in 2014 and one of Cambridge University’s most ‘inspirational and successful women in science’ for her work in science communication.
In 2026 she is scheduled to receive the Rosalind Franklin medal for her work in science communication. Her expertise spans topics from decision-making, morals and ethics, resilience, mental wellbeing, boosting brain performance, intuition and creativity, collective intelligence, cognitive diversity, communication, recruitment strategy and our evolving relationship with AI.
Her book Consciousness: A Ladybird Expert Guide, was published with Penguin in 2018. The Science of Fate, published with Hodder in May, 2019, made The Sunday Times Bestseller list, receiving international press coverage and was translated into 8 languages. Her third book: Joined up Thinking: the science of collective intelligence was published with Hodder in August 2022 to critical acclaim and translated to English and Chinese territories to date. Her fourth book, with Penguin on How to Build a 21st Century Brain, is due for publication April 2026.
Speakers
Neil Cabral
Neil Cabral is the CEO of the single family office at GFG Alliance, bringing over 35 years of leadership across banking, private wealth, and family-office strategy. He previously served as managing director and global head of key clients at Lighthouse Canton Capital and as executive director and CEO of the single family office of Himalaya Wellness (formerly The Himalaya Drug Company).
Cabral has held senior roles at leading global financial institutions including HSBC, Citibank, ICICI, Standard Chartered, Crédit Agricole, and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank. His expertise spans investment advisory, business strategy, governance, and family-office management across multiple geographies.
Widely regarded as a seasoned private banker and corporate leader, Cabral serves on the boards of several international companies and NGOs and actively supports philanthropic causes. He is ranked among the 100 most influential Indians in the UAE.
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Christopher Langner
Christopher Langner brings nearly three decades of global experience across finance and media. He began his career in Brazil with Forbes before moving to New York, where he held roles at The Wall Street Journal and Thomson Reuters. His journalism career culminated in Singapore as a columnist for Bloomberg Gadfly (now Bloomberg Opinion).
In the UAE, Langner served as head of investment strategy for First Abu Dhabi Bank’s private bank for five years, before becoming CFO and CIO at a Dubai-based family office. Since December 2024, he has been working independently as an adviser to two family offices, a real estate fund, a DIFC-based asset manager and a Singapore crypto trading fund.
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Nirav Shah
Nirav Shah is an investment professional with over two decades of experience across India, Singapore and Dubai.
Currently serving as a chief investment officer for a single family office managing a multi-asset global investment portfolio across liquid and private assets since 2018.
Before joining single family office, he was a senior vice president at Citigroup, based in Singapore, where he has worked for 14 years across various markets, spanning several wealth management functions.
He holds a bachelor of commerce and chartered accountants degree and is also a CFA charterholder.