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Workshops
Workshops
Systematic Investing – A live Demo
Interactive workshop going under the hood of a leading systematic manager.
Portfolio Manager Tom Bilbé will present a live demo of Acadian’s stock selection forecasts. Through this transparent demonstration, he will illustrate how fundamentals drive decision-making. The workshop will conclude with a review of portfolios and their performance drivers.
Workshop Objective: Gain insight into how systematic investing works.
Company Profile: Established in 1986, Acadian is recognized as a pioneer in the field of systematic investing. We have been at the forefront of systematic research, signal development, and portfolio construction for over 35 years.
As of December 31,2024, we manage €113bn of assets for institutional investors worldwide, across equity, credit, and alternative strategies.
Speakers
Tom Bilbé
Vice President, Portfolio Manager
Tom joined Acadian in 2024 and is a Portfolio Manager on the Equity Team. Before joining Acadian, he was group head of asset allocation at Quintet private bank, where he was responsible for leading Quintet’s asset allocation function, including setting the strategic and tactical investment direction for the group. Prior to that Tom was a senior portfolio manager at State Street Global Advisers in the quantitative equity team. He holds a MSc in finance and investment from the University of Edinburgh Business School and a BEng mechanical engineering with management from the University of Edinburgh.
Representatives
Olivier Systchenko
Senior Vice President, Business Development
Olivier joined Acadian Asset Management (U.K.) Limited in 2015 and is Director, Business Development, leading business development in Continental Europe. Prior to joining Acadian, he worked in institutional sales across French-speaking Europe for Janus Capital International. Olivier earned an M.Sc. in finance from IESEG School of Management, Lille, France. He holds both the CFA U.K.’s Investment Management Certificate (IMC) and Certificate in ESG Investing.
Alexander Skeel
Vice President, EMEA Business Development
Alex joined Acadian Asset Management (U.K.) Limited in 2018 and supports EMEA business development and client service efforts. Prior to joining Acadian, he worked as a business development associate at Sloane Robinson LLP in London. Alex earned a B.A. (First Class Hons) in economics and international development from the University of Sussex. Alex is a CAIA charterholder and also holds CFA U.K.’s Investment Management Certificate (IMC).
Romain Lanfranchi
Assistant Vice President, EMEA Business Development
Romain joined Acadian Asset Management (U.K.) Limited in 2021 and supports business development efforts. Prior to joining Acadian, he worked as a business development associate at La Française Group. Romain earned a M.Sc. in economics from Imperial College London and is a CFA charterholder.
Fund Group Workshop
Beyond Boundaries: The Power of Unconstrained Bond Strategies
This presentation explores Allspring’s differentiated approach to flexible fixed income investing and why it delivers more. More opportunistic. More diversified. More consistent. This unique approach to global fixed income investing has not only delivered superior risk-adjusted returns but done so consistently over different types of market environments and cycles.
We'll also show why it’s the ideal time to revisit flexible fixed income strategies. Recent market volatility has exposed the risks of certain types of approaches that were not evident just a few years ago. We’ll also discuss the hidden risks emanating from the unusual and extreme asset concentration in this segment of the fixed income market.”
Workshop Objectives:
1. Understand the key components of a multi-sector fixed income investment process, including security selection, sector allocation, and risk management techniques.
2. Analyse the relative value and risk-return characteristics of major fixed income sectors, such as government bonds, corporate credit, high yield, emerging markets, and securitized products.
3. Evaluate the current market environment and economic factors influencing various fixed income sectors.
Company Profile: Allspring Global Investments™ is an independent asset management firm with more than $605 billion in assets under advisement*, over 20 offices globally, and investment teams supported by 400+ investment professionals. Allspring is committed to thoughtful investing, purposeful planning, and inspiring a new era of investing that pursues both financial returns and positive outcomes. For more information, please visit www.allspringglobal.com.
*As of December 31, 2024. Figures include discretionary and non-discretionary assets.
Speakers
Noah Wise
Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Global Macro Strategy
Noah Wise is a senior portfolio manager and Head of Global Macro Strategy for the Plus Fixed Income team at Allspring Global Investments and specializes in global credit and asset allocation for the team. In this capacity, he has oversight and portfolio management responsibilities for separate accounts, mutual funds, and commingled vehicles across a range of strategies. He joined Allspring from its predecessor firm, Wells Fargo Asset Management (WFAM). Noah joined WFAM as a research analyst and later became a portfolio manager. Prior to joining the firm, Noah worked as a lead market maker for Interactive Brokers. Noah began his investment industry career in 2001. He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in securities analysis from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Noah has earned the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation.
Representatives
Charles Wilson
Head of Financial Institutions U.K. and Switzerland
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Charles (Charlie) Wilson is head of Financial Institutions for the U.K. and Switzerland at Allspring Global Investments. In this role, he is responsible for financial intermediary distribution development with clients in both countries. He develops and manages client relationships with global and regional banks, private client groups, insurance companies, and platforms. Prior to joining Allspring, Charlie served as senior vice president and was the head of European Accounts at PGIM Investments. Before that, he worked at Investec Asset Management as a sales director for the Global Financial Institutions Group. Earlier in his career, Charlie held sales and client-facing roles at Lazard Asset Management and Morgan Grenfell Asset Management. He began his investment industry career in 1997. Charlie has earned his Investment Management Certificate.
Marco Negri
Head of Sales, Southern Europe
Marco Negri is head of Sales for Southern Europe at Allspring Global Investments. In this role, he is responsible for leading Allspring’s Milan office and expanding the firm’s local presence and servicing a growing portfolio of wholesale, retail intermediary, and institutional clients in Italy, Spain and Portugal. Marco has held numerous roles working for global asset managers, leading business development and sales strategy in Italy and Southern Europe. Prior to joining Allspring, he worked as country head Italy at La Financière de l’Echiquier and as managing director, head of Southern Europe and head of Italy for Legg Mason Global Asset Management, where he oversaw the firm’s sales efforts in Italy, Iberia, and France. He also held senior roles at UBS Global Asset Management Italy, including serving as head of business development and head of discretionary business. Marco began his investment industry career in 2004 at Dexia Asset Management. He earned a bachelor’s degree in financial institutions and markets from Bocconi University.
Japan Value Equity Strategy
As trade wars intensify and geopolitical tensions persist, global equity investors continue to look for diversification opportunities. In Japan, a significant transformation of the corporate landscape is under way, spurred on by the return of inflation, monetary policy normalisation, and initiatives led by the Tokyo Stock Exchange. How can investors position their Japan equity exposure? In their presentation, Japanese market leader Asset Management One will address some of the latest market trends and introduce its Japan Value Equity Portfolio.
Workshop Objectives: Hear from Japanese market leader Asset Management One on the trends impacting Asia’s largest developed market – return of inflation, monetary policy normalisation, TSE initiative. The workshop will also introduce AM One’s Japan Value Equity Portfolio.
Company Profile: Headquartered in Tokyo, Asset Management One Co., Ltd is one of the leading Japanese asset managers offering Japanese, Asian and Global investment strategies to some of the world’s largest institutional, wholesale and corporate asset owners. As of Q1 2025, the firm’s assets under management were $467bn.
The current day company traces its investing legacy back over 90 years to the last century. The group’s experience and Asian-focused perspective offers crucial insights into understanding the nuances of opportunities and challenges not only within Japan, but also across global markets.
Speakers
Oleg Kapinos, CAIA
Product Specialist
Oleg is an investment professional specialising in Japanese and Asian markets with close to two decades of experience. Currently heading Global Distribution Strategy at Asset Management One International in London, he previously served as Senior Product Specialist at Tokio Marine Asset Management. His expertise spans Japanese equities, alternative investments, and cross-border business development between East and West. Oleg is a Hitotsubashi University graduate, CAIA charter holder, and fluent Japanese speaker.
Representatives
Danlio Verdecanna
Director- Business Development
Danilo Verdecanna is Business Development Director in FundRock Distribution, representing Asset Management One in Continental Europe. Before that Danilo Verdecanna joined Asset Management One in 2020 as Business Development EMEA Director covering Italy and south Europe. Before that he was Managing Director and Country Head in State Street Global Advisors Italy for longer than 10 years and product manager and wholesale sales manager in AXA Investment Managers Italy SIM. He has a degree in Economics and Business from the University of Tor Vergata in Rome and a master's degree in Economics and Finance from the Venice International University.
Lora-Ann Chiginsky
Director, Business Development
Ms Chiginsky is a Director of EMEA Business Development and Relationship Manager. She has engaged and collaborated with numerous types of institutional entities; by geography, these asset owners have been located throughout Europe and the Middle East. Prior to joining Asset Management One she was at Nikko Asset Management and Wellington Management Company. She holds an MBA from London’s Cass School of Business.
Introduction to Eagle Capital Management, LLC
Eagle Capital Management is a boutique investment firm based in New York City, specializing in U.S. public equities for institutional and individual clients. With over $30 billion in assets under management, Eagle employs a long-only, bottom-up, fundamental investment strategy focused on long-term value creation. Over its 36-year history, this approach has consistently outperformed the broader equity market. We construct a concentrated portfolio of 25–35 positions, with an average holding period exceeding seven years. Valuation is central to our investment process, allowing us to build a portfolio that blends value and growth while remaining style-agnostic. Our focus on long-term internal rate of return (IRR) seeks to provide downside protection while giving us the flexibility to invest in high-quality businesses at attractive valuations.
Workshop Objective: Provide an introduction to Eagle Capital Management and our unique investment philosophy and approach.
Company Profile: Founded in 1988, Eagle Capital Management is built on a foundation of original, thoughtful research and disciplined valuation to guide long-term investment decisions in public equities. For nearly four decades, our singular investment philosophy has remained unchanged, emphasizing deep analysis and patience beyond the typical market horizon. We believe time is an asset, allowing us to capitalize on opportunities that many market participants overlook. This long-term approach has consistently served both our clients and our investment strategy well. Eagle operates from a single office in New York City, with 44 employees and is 100% employee-owned, ensuring full alignment with our clients' interests.
Speakers
Adrial Meli
Co-CIO and Partner
Adrian Meli is a Co-CIO and Partner at Eagle Capital Management. Prior to joining Eagle, he was a member of the investment team at Farley Capital. Adrian was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Williams College with a BA in Economics and Psychology.
Will Hyland
Partner and Managing Director
Will Hyland is a Partner and Managing Director at Eagle Capital Management. Prior to joining Eagle, he was a Director in Institutional Equity Research Sales at both Sanford C. Bernstein and Credit Suisse. Earlier in his career, Will worked as a Manager at Deloitte & Touche Management Consulting, where he participated in strategic and financial assessments of major corporations and institutions. He also worked as an Engineer at Teradyne, designing computer hardware systems. Will holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he was a member of the Skull Honor Society. He also earned an M.B.A. in Finance and Strategic Management from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Maximising Asia’s Uncorrelated Alpha: Quantitative and Fundamental Approaches in Asian Markets
We believe Asian equities are more compelling than ever. Eastspring Investments will present an update on the latest drivers and opportunities in the Asia equity market, while exploring two distinct strategies to capture the opportunities ahead. Our quantitative, factor-based, lower volatility approach to investing across Asia delivers a diversified portfolio that can help mitigate market volatility, reduce downside capture, and deliver strong returns. Meanwhile, our fundamental, bottom-up value approach seeks to identify the largest upside opportunities across Asia today and build a focused portfolio of best ideas.
Workshop objective: Eastspring will be presenting an update on the latest Asia equity market drivers and opportunities and suggesting two different approaches to capturing the opportunity that lies ahead.
Company Profile: Eastspring Investments, part of Prudential plc, is a leading Asia-based asset manager that manages USD 271 billion (as of 31 Sep 2024) of assets on behalf of institutional and retail clients globally. Operating since 1994, Eastspring Investments has one of the widest footprints among asset management companies across Asia. We provide investment solutions across a broad range of strategies including equities, fixed income, multi asset, quantitative and alternatives and are committed to delivering high quality investment outcomes for our clients over the long term.
We incorporate ESG factors into our investment process and are aligned with a number of global sustainability initiatives including the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investments (PRI) and the Asia Investor Group on Climate Change (AIGCC).
Speakers
Michael Sun, PhD
Director Quant Capability and Client Portfolio Manager, Eastspring Investments
Michael Sun is a Director Quant Capability and Client Portfolio Manager in Quantitative Strategies (QS) team at Eastspring Investments.
Prior to joining Eastspring Investments, Michael was a Senior Vice President at Unigestion where he was a portfolio manager for the EM risk managed strategy and a client portfolio manager representing the firm's risk managed equity strategies. Prior to this, he served as an advocate for multi-factor equity strategies and drove the growth of the active systematic business at HSBC Global Asset Management. Michael's in-depth expertise in factor investing and portfolio management analytics was refined during his tenure as Vice President at MSCI Barra. He commenced his career as a quantitative research analyst at a FinTech firm in the UK in 2005, where he established his skills in equity risk modelling and portfolio optimisation. Michael has 20 years of industry experience. Michael holds a PhD in Mathematical Science from Brunel University London, UK and a MSc In Mathematical Finance from the University of Hull, UK.
Samuel Bentley
Client Portfolio Manager, Eastspring Investments
Samuel Bentley joined Eastspring Investments as Client Portfolio Manager in August 2008. Samuel is an integrated member of the investment team, acting as the principal conduit to clients, prospects and media with regards to the Regional Asia and Global Emerging Markets Equity Strategies.
Representatives
Dirk Toedte
Director, Distribution Europe
Dirk Toedte is Director, Distribution Europe, is based in Luxembourg and focuses on Continental Europe, he joined in October 2019.
He has been in business development for 22 years, previously working for SG Asset Management now Amundi, Allianz Global Investors and Alma Capital.
Dirk is German and was educated in Germany and France, he is a CFA charterholder and a CAIA designee. He speaks German, English and French.
A high conviction, benchmark-free, low duration approach to European High Yield
In Eurizon we are constructive about credit markets, driven by three key factors:
1. Macroeconomic Outlook
The current macroeconomic environment supports a positive outlook for credit. Growth projections remain stable, and inflationary pressures are easing, providing a favourable backdrop for credit performance.
2. Yields
With interest rates stabilizing, bond yields are currently attractive from a historical perspective. This creates opportunities for investors to achieve strong returns while maintaining a balanced risk profile.
3. Technical Indicators
Default rates are low and market technicals further bolster our constructive view. Continued inflows into credit markets reflect sustained investor confidence. Additionally, the prevalence of callable paper and opportunities to refinance at lower rates support ongoing market strength and liquidity.
In summary, the combination of stable macroeconomic fundamentals, attractive yields, and positive technical factors positions credit as an appealing investment opportunity in the current environment.
Workshop Objectives: To equip participants with actionable credit market insights, enabling strategic positioning amid market fluctuations. The workshop will emphasize the importance of active management and robust credit risk control to achieve optimal investment outcomes.
Company Profile: Eurizon is a leading player in the European Asset Management space, of widespread international presence. Eurizon Capital SGR is the Asset Management Division Company of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group. In Europe, Eurizon controls Eurizon Capital S.A. which develops growth in foreign markets, Epsilon SGR, specialized in absolute and total return strategies, and the Eastern Europe hub. In the UK, with Eurizon SLJ Capital LTD, a joint venture providing investment and advisory services with a focus on Chinese and emerging market debt, currency management and macroeconomic research. Eurizon operates through its commercial branches in Spain, France, Germany, and Switzerland.
Speakers
Andrea Villani
Head of High Income at Eurizon Capital SGR S.p.A.
Andrea, with 19 years of experience, is Head of High Income at Eurizon, a position he has held since 2024. In this role, he oversees investments in high yields, AT1s, crossover funds and leveraged loans. Prior to joining the firm, Andrea worked for several investment banks both in Italy and in the UK focusing on origination and execution of debt-related transactions and credit activities. Andrea holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Bocconi University, a Master´s in Finance from the University of California, San Diego and is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) charterholder.
Representatives
Gabriele Miodini
Head of International Sales at Eurizon Capital SGR S.p.A.
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Gabriele joined Eurizon Capital SA in Luxembourg as “Head of Sales & Client Management”; in June 2022 he moved to the Headquarter in Milan where he’s responsible for all international Business development activities. Prior to that he was Head of EMEA Institutional Business development for Ersel, and prior to that he was Managing Director – Head of European Financial Institution for Aviva Investors Gabriele holds a degree in Economics from Bocconi University in Milan, an Executive MBA from SDA Bocconi (exchange program with UCLA - Anderson Business School of Management - Los Angeles) and a specialization in "Behavioural Finance" from HARVARD University.
Jorge Diaz
Senior Sales of Spain & Portugal
Jorge is Senior Sales Director for the Iberian market. Previously, he worked at Amundi Iberia as Senior Institutional Sales and local ESG & Illiquids specialist for 7 years, and 5 years at Groupama AM. He also worked in the buyside at Banesto AM and Ahorro Corporación.
Romain Roucoules
Country Head France and Belgium
Romain Roucoules, with over 20 years of experience in the industry, is Head of France and Belgium at Eurizon.
Romain joined Eurizon in January 2015. He was previously working for CFJC for 9 years, selling funds to institutional investors. Beforehand, he worked 6 years for the hedge fund subsidiaries of Crédit Agricole and Société Générale.
Romain holds a degree from ISG University in Paris (1995) and began his career in 1996 in London.
Alain Barthel
Head of Sales Switzerland – Eurizon Capital S.A.
Bringing over 25 years of industry experience, Alain is Head of Sales Switzerland at Eurizon in Zürich.
Alain was previously Head of Continental European Sales at Brandywine Global Investment Management (Franklin Templeton Group), Head of Institutional Client Coverage with UBS Asset Management (Switzerland), Country Head (Switzerland) Institutional for Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Prior to these roles, he was with Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Credit Agricole Asset Management, Paribas Asset Management. Alain has earned his M.B.A from Paris XII University.
Taking Advantage of Market Volatility: The proven FERI Approach to Option Premium Collection
Workshop Objectives:
We would like to warmly invite you to a focused session on our investment strategy. Discover how our decade-long, systematic approach delivers consistent returns and learn about:
1. Systematic Approach: Benefits of our proven, rule-based method.
2. Avoiding Forecasts: How avoiding unreliable predictions enhances risk management.
3. Simplifying Complexity: The role of liquidity and simplicity in achieving stable returns.
4. Preparing for Declines: Tools for managing market downturns.
5. Continuous Hedging: Ensuring long-term success and liquidity.
Join us to see how these insights can enhance your investment strategy.
Speakers
Horst Gerstner
Lead Portfolio Manager
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As the Lead Portfolio Manager of the Volatility Strategies department at FERI, Horst Gerstner is responsible for trading decisions and the development and refinement of quantitative investment strategies across FERI’s volatility funds: OptoFlex, US EquityFlex, and EuroEquityFlex. He has been trading derivatives for various client mandates since 2001.
Prior to joining FERI, Horst was the Lead Portfolio Manager for six years and Co-Portfolio Manager for four years of the Athena Volatility Strategies, a family of hedge funds that pursue option strategies on the S&P 500 and EuroStoxx 50 equity indices. He was also responsible for the Athena Volatilitätsstrategie UCITS funds during this time.
Stephan Bongartz
Portfolio Manager
Stephan Bongartz is a Portfolio Manager within the Volatility Strategies department at FERI, where he is responsible for the day-to-day management of the EuroEquityFlex fund, as well as trading, cash, and collateral management in the Hedge Funds and Volatility Strategies divisions. Stephan joined FERI in 2015 and previously worked as an Analyst in the Hedge Fund department, focusing on Credit Long/Short and Event-Driven strategies.
He holds a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Banking and Finance (MBF) from the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Philosophy and Economics from the University of Bayreuth. Stephan is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a member of the CFA Society Germany. Additionally, he is a PhD candidate at the University of Neuchâtel
Representatives
Fedor Plambeck
Head of Sales
Fedor Plambeck joined FERI (Schweiz) AG in May 2024 as Head of Sales for Switzerland and Liechtenstein covering Wholesales and Institutional investors. His aim is to help each investor to find the best possible solution for their needs. In his previous role, he was country head for Janus Henderson Investors (Switzerland) Ltd. for five years after having worked more than 20 years as equity sales for diƯerent bulge-bracket investment banks (UBS Investment Bank, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Barclays Capital and Deutsche Bank). Fedor Plambeck is a CFA Charterholder, speaks German, English and French and studied business administration at the University of Zurich.
Nunzia Thiriot
Director Institutional Clients
As a Director Institutional Clients at FERI, Nunzia Thiriot is responsible for the coverage of international institutional clients. With over 20 years of industry experience, Nunzia is a very well skilled professional. Before joining FERI, Nunzia has worked for different global Asset Managers amongst others Credit Suisse and Commerzbank where she was primarily responsible for developing business with Fund of Funds, Pension Funds, Insurance companies and Corporates.
Nunzia holds a Master Degree in Business Administration from Frankfurt School of Finance and Management and has working experience abroad (Italy, USA).
Alessandro Reggi
External Advisor
Alessandro Reggi brings over 20 years of experience in asset management, with roles at respected institutions such as Goldman Sachs, Nomura, and American Express. He is also an entrepreneur with a focused background in private equity and venture capital, particularly within emerging markets. As an external advisor to the board of Feri AG, Alessandro supports the development of international investors. His career reflects a dedication to navigating complex financial landscapes and fostering growth through thoughtful, strategic investments.
Downside Risk Mitigation + Premium Income Innovation
After the market performance in Q1 2025, expecting another +20% calendar-year return (like in 2023 and 2024) from the US market or the S&P 500 seems more challenging.
We will present a potential solution structured as a UCITS ETF that helps mitigate market corrections and periods of higher market volatility while maintaining the participation on upside returns, up to a predefined cap, of the reference asset with First Trust’s Target Outcome Buffer Series UCITS ETFs.
Our Target Outcome Buffer Series, feature:
• Defined downside buffers over a specified period (10% and 15% buffer options)
• Growth opportunities up to a predetermined cap
• Automatic reset of both cap and buffer at the end of each outcome period
• Long-term holding potential as a buy-and-hold investment
• Market exposure to either the S&P 500® or Nasdaq-100®
Workshop Objectives: In our session we will:
• present the buffer and cap reset mechanism
• show investment ideas and new opportunities coming alongside UCITS Buffer ETFs
• highlight how target outcome can potentially meet investment portfolio goals
• We look forward to sharing how our innovative UCITS ETF range provides a flexible, liquid, and transparent tool for your portfolio management.
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
Ben Weisbarth
Senior Product Specialist
Benjamin Weisbarth is a Senior Product Specialist for First Trust Global Portfolios. Benjamin’s career started at Citigroup Global Markets Europe AG in 2014 within the public distribution team for listed warrants and investment products. Following this, Benjamin moved within Citigroup to build and launch the sales of the new product offering in structured derivatives for the German and Austrian markets from their inception. Benjamin is a graduate of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) where he received an M.Sc. in Econmathematics.
Representatives
Derek Fulton
CEO
Derek is a Director and CEO of FTGP. Derek has been managing global portfolios with a focus on fixed income for 20 years. Prior to joining First Trust in Europe in 2011, Derek was founder and principal of a boutique fixed income manager in Paris managing global bond funds. Derek joined Aberdeen Asset Management after leaving university and spent 12 years with the firm holding positions as Head of Asian Fixed Income in Singapore and Head of Global Fixed Income strategies in London. At First Trust, he is responsible for development and distribution of actively managed and smart beta strategies.
Alexandre Pouteau
Vice President
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Alexandre joined First Trust in 2018 and is Vice President of ETF Sales covering the Switzerland and Monaco ETF distribution. Previously, he worked as an assistant for a portfolio management team in Paris. Alexandre holds a degree in Economics from the Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and a Master in Finance from Eada Business School in Barcelona.
Levente Kulcsar
Head of Sales in Germany, Austria and German speaking Switzerland.
Levente Kulcsar is Head of Sales in Germany, Austria and the German speaking Switzerland (FTGP) and has been at the company since June 2014. Previously he worked for Credit Suisse, where he led the ETF business in Germany and Austria. Levente is a graduate in industrial engineering and started his career in 2000 with Prudential Securities and was an authorised broker on the NYSE and the CBOT.
"Empowering the Underestimated" True active investing in Emerging Markets
• A global approach to Emerging Markets investing, why it makes sense.
• Why we need active management in Emerging Markets
• Example on true active management
• Philosophy and process
Workshop Objectives:
• Understanding current investment opportunities in EM
• Benefits from true active engagement in EM that lead to enhanced returns for investors
Company Profile: GIB Asset Management (GIB AM) focuses on unlocking opportunities that others don’t see in relentless pursuit of superior investment performance for our clients.
Thoughtful curiosity, rigor, and an emphasis on materiality underpin decision-making across our carefully curated strategies. We’re focused on seeking out, investing in, and supporting sustainable businesses that share our ambition to shape a better future.
GIB Asset Management has over $6bn AUM, with offices in London and New York
www.gibam.com
Speakers
Kunal Desai, CFA
Portfolio Manager, Emerging Markets Equities
Kunal is a Portfolio Manager for Global Emerging Markets Equities at GIB Asset Management. Kunal has over 10 years of experience in investing in Emerging and Frontier Markets, having most recently been a Partner at Mobius Capital Partners. Prior to Mobius Capital Partners, he was the Lead Manager of the award-winning Neptune India Fund as Head of Indian Equities, and also served as a portfolio manager on the Neptune Global Emerging Markets Fund.
Kunal graduated from Oxford University with a first-class degree in Economics and Management and is a CFA Charterholder.
Representatives
Harry Stein
Harry is a Director for European Business Development at GIB Asset Management. In addition to working with the team to develop GIB AM's business across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Harry is responsible for GIB AM's institutional business development across Europe.
Harry joins GIB AM from Ascender Capital, where he was Head of Investor Relations. Before joining Ascender Capital, he was with Mobius Capital Partners, where he was Head of Sales and Marketing.
He studied History and Politics at Newcastle University.
The CLO investment opportunity – simply in an active ETF
The higher yield and defensive income profile of floating rate investments like CLOs has attracted asset allocators looking to improve portfolio diversification.
Looking at European AAA CLOs versus Euro Investment Grade credit, investor can access better yield, better credit quality and compelling relative value, with the added advantage of negligible sensitivity to interest rate volatility.
There has never been a default of an A, AA or AAA CLO in Europe, even through market stresses like the Global Financial Crisis.
In the current tight-spread environment it is vital for investors to maximize their income per unit of risk without leaving yield on the table.
Janus Henderson has a broad expertise managing 21Bn$ in CLOs and more than 45Bn$ in securitised assets.
Workshop Objectives: Learn about the securitised debt market with focus on Collateralised Loan Obligations (CLOs), their characteristics and current opportunity set, and why an active approach to the sector is key.
Company Profile: Janus Henderson’s mission is to help clients define and achieve superior financial outcomes through differentiated insights, disciplined investments, and world-class service.
We are investors – that is what we do. But it is how we do it that sets us apart. We draw on more than 90 years’ experience of insight-led investing that allows our world-class teams to form independent perspectives.
Our global reach and expertise allow us to continuously innovate as we partner together with clients and bring our whole firm to deliver solutions, invest on behalf of millions of people, and fulfil our purpose of investing in a brighter future together.
Speakers
Ian Bettney
Portfolio Manager
Ian Bettney is a Portfolio Manager on the Secured Credit Team at Janus Henderson Investors. He is responsible for portfolio management, markets and transaction analysis across securitised credit markets. Ian joined Henderson in 2005 as a systems accountant and held various roles before becoming a portfolio manager in 2016. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an MSc in financial markets and derivatives.
Income as outcome with Equity Premium Income ETFs
Income as outcome – this concept has been highly successful in the US, where our Equity Premium Income ETFs are among the largest active ETFs. Hear from our experts as they describe how these innovative ETFs, which are now also available to European investors, can enhance your investment strategy.
Workshop Objectives: Join our workshop to hear more about active ETF trends and how our highly successful Equity Premium Income ETF range can add value to your portfolio.
Company Profile: J.P. Morgan ETFs are rigorously designed to push the boundaries of ETF investing so that investors can build diversified, competitively priced portfolios. Our ETF solutions are backed by the extensive research, trading and technology resources of one of the world’s leading asset managers. It’s this combination of investment expertise and ETF know-how that sets our ETFs apart, allowing us to track indexes more efficiently, and provide competitively priced access to new opportunities through the development of innovative active strategies. J.P. Morgan Asset Management is one of the fastest growing UCITS ETF providers with over 35bn US dollar assets under management.
Speakers
Katherine Magee
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Katherine Magee is an Investment Specialist in J.P. Morgan Asset Management's US Equities business. Based in London, Katherine works with client advisors to position the firm's US Equity investment strategies with clients across EMEA, LatAm, and Asia. Katherine previously worked as an Investment Specialist in the firm's Asset Management Solutions business focused on factor-based, sustainable, and thematic investment strategies. Prior to that, she supported the CEO of Asset Management, EMEA and also worked on the Institutional Advisory & Sales team at J.P. Morgan in New York. Katherine graduated from Northwestern University with a B.A. in Economics and is a CFA Charterholder.
Representatives
Daphne Cramer
ETF Distribution Switzerland
Daphne Cramer covers the Geneva market. She brings 10 years of experience in investment banking and private wealth management, including eight years with UBS's Index Group in London. Before that she was an assistant client advisor for UBS Wealth Management focused on business and operational risk. More recently, Daphne managed a significant private art collection. She was also a member of the 2004 Swiss Olympic Fencing Team. Daphne is based in Geneva and reports to Ivan Durdevic, Head of ETF Distribution for DACH region.
Fund Group Workshop
Semi-Liquid Private Debt
This strategy strives to provide access to Mercer’s best ideas across private debt, in a semi-liquid structure. It aims to enable investors to access attractive opportunities across direct lending, structured credit and specialty finance. The structure targets to provide a similar return profile to closed-ended private debt but with greater liquidity, faster deployment (no j-curve), a greater ability to rebalance, vintage diversification and a much lower administrative burden.
The strategy is aiming to deliver a return of cash +4.5-6.5% with quarterly liquidity capped at 5%. As a manager of the fund of fund structure, Mercer will remove the administrative burden
Partnering with Mercer enables access to highly rated managers and a curated selection of high-quality alternative investment opportunities, managed by our extensive and experienced private markets team (>270 investment professionals globally).
* Mercer cannot guarantee access to managers or investment opportunities, GP and related discounts are not guaranteed. Mercer cannot guarantee any future returns.
Workshop Objectives: The objective is to present and discuss the opportunity in semi-liquid private debt. The strategy is designed to appeal to the Wealth Management segment in particular, where there is a need for greater liquidity.
Company Profile: Mercer, a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC), is a global leader in helping clients realize their investment objectives, shape the future of work and enhance health and retirement outcomes for their people. Marsh McLennan is a global leader in risk, strategy and people, advising clients in 130 countries across four businesses: Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Mercer and Oliver Wyman. With annual revenue of over $24 billion and more than 90,000 colleagues, Marsh McLennan helps build the confidence to thrive through the power of perspective. For more information, visit marshmclennan.com, follow us on LinkedIn and X.
Speakers
Mark Sheahan, CFA
Investment Director, Mercer Alternatives
Mark Sheahan is a Senior Alternatives Investment Director at Mercer. Mr. Sheahan is responsible for bringing Mercer's Alternative Investment capabilities to clients and prospects in Europe, delivering best in-class Alternatives programs across private markets.
Prior to joining Mercer, Mr. Sheahan was a Portfolio Manager at AustralianSuper in Melbourne, managing a $6bn active Global Fixed Income portfolio.
Mr. Sheahan trained at PwC Ireland and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ireland, Chartered Tax Advisor, and a CFA® charterholder.
Representatives
Frank Murray, CFA
Investment Specialist, Mercer
Mr Murray is an Investment Specialist covering Multi-Asset for Mercer Global Investments Europe. Mr Murray has been with Mercer for over 3 years, primarily as a Fixed Income Portfolio Manager in Europe. Before transitioning to the investment specialist role this year, Mr Murray held lead PM responsibilities on Mercer’s Global Bond Fund, Convertible Bond Strategy and a number of large bespoke mandates.
Prior to Mercer, Mr Murray worked for Goodbody, a Dublin based Wealth Manager and Asset Manager. Mr Murray has over 10 years’ industry experience with expertise in macroeconomic analysis, fixed income, equities and portfolio management.
Teena Jilka
Senior Investment Consultant
Teena Jilka has over 16 years’ experience in Alternative Investment advisory across private equity, private debt, real estate, infrastructure and hedge funds. Her responsibilities at Mercer include investment advisory for our family office and banking relationships.
Before joining Mercer in 2023, she led the Alternative Advisory service at Pictet Private Wealth. Teena also has over 10 years prior experience in alternative investment advisory roles across JP Morgan, Trafigura and Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity.
Teena has a Master in International Business from the Grenoble Graduate School of Business and a Bachelors (Honours) Degree in International Trade and French from the University of Portsmouth. Teena speaks 4 languages (English, French, Italian and Gujarati).
Unlocking the AI investment opportunity
Artificial intelligence is emerging as the next general-purpose technology, triggering a wide range of new applications across all parts of the economy. As we begin to understand what these might be, Xuesong Zhao, Fund Manager within the Polar Capital Technology Team, gives his thoughts on the broader outlook for AI and where he is seeing the most exciting developments, both for the enablers of the technology and the wider beneficiaries across all sectors.
Workshop Objectives: The objective is for delegates to understand the early stages of artificial intelligence as a general- purpose technology and where the team are seeing the latest developments in both technology enablers and their beneficiaries across all sectors.
Company Profile: Polar Capital is a specialist, investment-led, active fund manager.
The company prides itself on its collegiate and meritocratic culture where capacity of investment strategies is managed to enhance and protect performance. Since its foundation in 2001, it has grown steadily and currently has 14 autonomous investment teams managing specialist, active and capacity constrained portfolios, with combined AUM of €28.8 billion (as at 31 December 2024).
Speakers
Xuesong Zhao
Fund Manager
Xuesong joined Polar Capital in May 2012. He is a lead manager of the Polar Capital Artificial Intelligence Fund and is a Fund Manager on the Polar Capital Technology Trust and Polar Capital Global Technology Fund.
Prior to joining Polar Capital, he spent four years working as an investment analyst within the emerging markets & Asia team at Aviva Investors, where he was responsible for the technology, media and telecom sectors. Prior to that, he worked as a quantitative analyst and risk manager for the emerging market debt team at Pictet Asset Management. He started his career as a financial engineer at Algorithmics, now owned by IBM, in 2005.
Representatives
James Brandt
Head of International Business Development
James joined Polar Capital in 2001 and founded the Sales & Marketing initiative. He was instrumental in building the various funds within their capacity constraints and recognizing the inverse relationship between funds under management and performance. James has over 25 years of sales experience and as Head of International Business Development, has responsibility for all non-UK business development. Prior to joining Polar Capital, James was a European Sales Director at Henderson Investors and prior to that worked at Hill Samuel Asset Management. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers.
Kyffen Allen
Managing Director - Polar Capital (Europe)
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Kyffen joined Polar Capital in July 2013 as Sales Manager in International Sales with primary responsibility and investor coverage of Iberia, Switzerland, France and Monaco. Prior to joining Polar Capital, Kyffen spent five years raising assets at Cazenove Capital & Finaltis and five years within structured credit sales at BNP Paribas and BGC Partners.
Fund Group Workshop
Highly-rated subordinated bonds – a source for higher yields and lower volatility for your IG bond portfolio
We will present the positive characteristics of subordinated bonds as an asset class and how an allocation of highly rated subordinated bonds can improve the risk-adjusted returns of an IG corporate bond portfolio by delivering consistently positive alpha with a lower beta. We also demonstrate why coupon income is likely to remain elevated with absolute yields at near decade long highs, offering a yield pick-up for an IG bond portfolio in a decreasing interest rate environment.
Workshop Objectives: How the increase in energy demand due to artificial intelligence and data center construction is creating a growing market in utility hybrids in Europe and the US.
Speakers
Isabel Faragalli
Managing Director, Investments
Isabel joined Spectrum in 2023 as a Managing Director, Investments, having previously spent 17 years at Credit Suisse within Investment Banking and International Wealth Management, most recently within Debt Capital Markets. Isabel has more than 30 years’ experience in the structuring and issuance of EUR and CHF secured and unsecured bonds for European banks and corporates. Isabel holds a Msc in Finance and Financial Law (University of London) and a post-graduate degree in Law.
Gemma Tomas
Managing Director, Spectrum Investments, Principal Global Investors (Switzerland) GMBH
Gemma joined Principal in 2024 as a Managing Director, Spectrum Investments, with responsibilities for international business development primary in Europe, Middle East and LatAm, including sales and distribution expansion in both institutional and private client segments. She is based out of Zurich, Switzerland. Gemma previously spent 26 years at Credit Suisse in various roles within Investment Banking and International Wealth Management, most recently as regional head of External Asset Managers Latin America. Gemma has 20 years of client coverage and investment advisory experience in international markets including Europe, Middle East and Latin America and further 10 years tenure in strategic planning roles in investment banking and management consulting. Gemma holds a Msc in Physics from the University of Barcelona and a post-graduate program in Corporate Finance from London Business School.
Representatives
Ivo Buschor
Country Head Switzerland and Senior Investment Specialist
30 years of industry experience within AM, IB and WM. Ivo has investment experience in Emerging Markets (equity analyst, strategist, and HF trader). He is also an investment specialist for Private Markets incl. Private Debt, Data Centers and other Real Assets. Ivo is a CFA charter holder.
Guido Schlegel
Senior Investment Specialist
25 years of financial markets experience. 22 years at Credit Suisse in AM and WM roles, incl. Head Portfolio Management Middle East & North Africa and Head Asset Management for Saudi Arabia as well as CPM for discretionary mandates. He is specialized in private markets, asset allocation, and ESG investing
Gonzague Ruskoné
Gonzague began his career in 2007 at AXA IM covering the French wholesale clientele, then joined Financière Arbevel, before joining Banque Degroof Petercam in 2012 as head of institutional clients in France. From 2017 to 2023, he was responsible of the French speaking countries (France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium) at Exane AM.
In 2023, he joined Principal AM as Director, Business development in France, Luxembourg, Belgium and Monaco.
Fund Group Workshop
Company Profile: At Smead Capital Management, we are stock market investors. Our investors are individuals, advisors, family offices and institutions globally who invest with the firm through its mutual funds, separate accounts, UMAs and other investment vehicles. We advise investors that fear stock market failure through a low-turnover, differentiated value discipline seeking wonderful companies to build wealth.
Speakers
Cole Smead, CFA
Chief Executive Officer and Portfolio Manager
Cole Smead, CFA is Chief Executive Officer and Portfolio Manager where he oversees all activities of the firm. He is the final decision maker for all investment decisions in the firm’s international equity portfolios. Cole has been with the firm since its founding in 2007. Prior to joining Smead Capital Management, he was a Financial Advisor with Wachovia Securities in Scottsdale, AZ. He is a member of the CFA Institute.
Japan Equities Through a Local Lens: Opportunities for European 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 offer abundant alpha sources and uncorrelated returns for European investors. 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. By identifying companies poised to benefit from and grow alongside these changes, European investors can capture alpha and enhance portfolio diversification.
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
Jun Kito
Head of Investment Management
Jun Kito joined SuMi TRUST in 1992 and has been responsible for global business development since 2013. He is responsible for investor communications on investment strategies and propositions. He moved to Luxemburg in April 2022 and started to cover the EU countries for SuMi TRUST. Prior to his current role, Jun gained experience as a Portfolio Manager of global equity portfolio strategies. Jun hold B.A in International Relations from University of Tsukuba and MBA from Vanderbilt university, and he is a Certified Member Analyst of the Securities Analysts Association of Japan (C.M.A.)
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 Switzerland and 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.
Miho Ogushi
Assistant Investment Director
Miho Ogushi is responsible for client services and global business development at Sumitomo Mitsui Trust International, the London arm of SuMi TRUST AM. Prior to that, she was engaged in supporting fund distribution to Asia investors at SuMi TRUST AM in Tokyo. She has a BSc in Politics from Keio University.
Steering the Ship: Navigating the New High Dividend Landscape
Over the past few years, we have noticed a remarkable shift: the yield of High Dividend strategies has declined. Increasing exposure to mega-caps with steep valuations has altered the category’s focus away from high dividend yields towards growth. By looking beyond the beaten path, our presentation will explore and showcase how we integrate dividend growth without sacrificing yield, whilst staying true to the core principles of high dividend yield investing.
The presentation will cover:
1. Material shifts in high dividend yield investing – more growth, less yield?
2. The importance of preserving the core principles of high dividend yield investing
3. The proof of concept in today’s volatile markets
Workshop Objectives: To provide participants with actionable insights and practical examples of High Dividend Yield investing in today’s evolving investment universe.
We look forward to meeting you in Montreux.
Company Profile: Van Lanschot Kempen Investment Management NV is part of the Van Lanschot Kempen group, with roots dating back to 1737. We are active managers who bring free thinking, resolve and originality to investment decisions. This helps us to reach hard-to-access asset classes that are often missed by competitors. Placing considerable focus on active engagement we aim to unlock value in a sustainable way, guiding investors through the transition to a sustainable economy.
Van Lanschot Kempen Investment Management NV is licensed to manage UCITS and AIFs and is authorised to provide investment services under the supervision by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets.
As of February 2025, Van Lanschot Kempen had a total of €149.3 bn AUM
Speakers
Joris Franssen
Head of Dividend and Value Team
Representatives
Daniel Whitaker
Business Development Products & Strategies – Switzerland, Italy, and Iberia
Daniel joined Van Lanschot Kempen in May 2021 as a Senior Associate in Business Development for Switzerland, Italy, and Iberia. Daniel holds a B.A. in Politics from the University of Leeds.
Amy Vogel
Business Development Products & Strategies – Italy and Iberia
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Amy joined Van Lanschot Kempen in August 2023 as an Associate within the Wholesale team covering Italy, Iberia and Switzerland. Amy holds a BA in History and Politics from University College London (UCL) and has completed the Investment Management Certificate.
The Pursuit of Global Equity Alpha
The WCM Quality Global Growth portfolio is a large-cap quality investment strategy focusing on global companies. The portfolio typically holds positions in 30 to 40 companies. It aims to achieve meaningful long-term excess returns above benchmarks, driven by strong upside participation and effective downside protection.
We prioritize businesses that benefit from enduring tailwinds, possess significant and expanding economic moats, and exhibit alignment between their culture and strategy. Risk control is managed through valuation discipline and thoughtful diversification. Diversification is implemented through traditional methods, including sector, industry, country, and currency considerations, and our proprietary growth bucket classification, which categorizes investments into defensive, secular, and cyclical growth.
Workshop Objectives: WCM will present the key pillars of its Quality Global Growth strategy, focusing on identifying companies with expanding economic moats and strong cultural alignment, while applying a disciplined approach to diversification and risk management to drive long-term excess returns.
Company Profile: WCM is an independent investment management firm that has a strong track record managing high-conviction, growth-oriented global equity portfolios.
WCM’s unique investment philosophy is built on the idea that competitive advantages, or “economic moats”, are not static. They ebb and flow, and it’s the direction of the moat (“moat trajectory”)—not the width—that drives stock returns. And here is where culture comes in: we think that effective cultures serve to extend the duration of moat expansion, or “positive moat trajectory”. WCM believe that culture is one of the most important—yet least understood—drivers of long-term value in global equities. Effective corporate culture separates the great companies from the good; it can grow a firm’s competitive advantage, and help avoid disruption. At the same time, it’s extremely hard to pin down, and even more difficult to quantify.
Speakers
Brian Huerta
Client Portfolio Manager
Brian joined WCM in 2020; his primary responsibility is communicating the firm’s investment thinking while servicing investment consultants and institutional clients. Since he began his investment career in 1997, Brian worked as Managing Director for Bank of America Merrill Lynch, overseeing the firm’s institutional relationships for the Western region. Brian earned his B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Southern California. He is also a CFA® charterholder.
Representatives
Greg Morris
Managing Director, Global Head of Sales
Greg is a Managing Director at Heptagon Capital & heads up the Sales team, having joined in August 2023. Prior to joining Heptagon, he was the Head of UK Institutional Business Development & Sales at abrdn, & before that, the Global Head of Alternative Investments Distribution having relocated with his family from Australia late in 2020. During his time in Australia, he held senior leadership roles at National Australia Bank including Head of Global Investment Desk for Business & Private Bank, Director of Global Institutional Sales at NAB Asset Management, with latterly, the Acting Executive General Manager running NAB Private Bank, the largest private bank in Australasia.
He has 25 years’ experience across asset management, banking & accountancy.
Natalia Greslikova
Managing Director, Institutional Sales Europe (DACH & NL)
Natalia Greslikova is part of the Institutional Sales Team, having joined in October 2010. Her responsibilities include marketing the firm’s product offering to clients in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Natalia began her finance career in 1996. Prior to joining Heptagon, Natalia spent six years as a Managing Director of Institutional Sales at Gottex Fund Management, where she was responsible for covering European clients. Previously, Natalia was an Executive Director at Goldman Sachs in the Fixed Income, Currencies and Commodities division, marketing strategic products and solutions to institutional clients in Germany, Austria, Central and Eastern Europe. Prior to Goldman Sachs, Natalia spent four years at Credit Suisse Financial Products specialising in asset and liability derivatives sales to institutional investors, having also been on the emerging markets desk of the Fixed Income division of Merrill Lynch. Natalia has a BA in Economics from Harvard University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. Registered with the National Bank of Slovakia as a tied agent of Heptagon Capital Limited.
Matt MacArthur
Portfolio Specialist
Matt joined WCM in 2007; he is responsible for developing and servicing client relationships with investment consultants, endowments, foundations, family offices, and other institutions. Since he began his investment career in 1988, Matt’s experience includes a position with Templeton Private Client Group, followed by his time as Managing Director at the formerly WCM-affiliated firm, Centurion Alliance. Matt attended the University of Arizona, earned his B.A. from The Master’s College (California).
Speakers
Daniel Silke
Daniel Silke is a prominent figure in South Africa, renowned for his industry-leading expertise as a political economy analyst and his dynamic keynote speaking engagements. His unique approach involves seamlessly weaving economic and political insights into engaging and accessible physical and virtual presentations.
As the Director of Political Futures Consultancy, headquartered in Cape Town, Silke has established himself as a sought-after speaker for major global blue-chip companies, delivering exceptional keynotes, webinars, and workshops tailored to the conference and events industries. With a career spanning over 20 years, he has consistently delivered flagship presentations on Global, African, and South African political and economic trends, providing invaluable strategic foresight to businesses of all sizes.
Silke's academic background includes a Master’s degree in South African and International Politics from the University of Cape Town. During his tenure at the University's Institute for the Study of Public Policy, he engaged in teaching within the broader Department of Political Studies.
His dedication to public service led him to the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, where he served as an elected Member of the Legislature after a stint as a City Councillor in the City of Cape Town. Notably, he held key positions such as party whip and Portfolio Committee Chair for economic development. Following the launch of his consultancy, Silke swiftly gained recognition on both the corporate speaking circuit and in media, garnering attention both in his home country and abroad.
Silke's extensive client portfolio boasts prestigious names such as Bank of America, Maersk, Mazars, Barclays Africa, Marriott International, Oracle, CISCO, PwC, Investec, PPC, Actemium, FirstRand, Grant Thornton, Deloitte, Gartner, Momentum, Sanlam, Estée Lauder, FNB, BMW, and ABSA, among others. His influence extends to global forums and conferences, where he has delivered compelling addresses.
His engagements have included the World Travel Forum in Istanbul, the Transcontinental Trusts International Forum in Bermuda, the Cross Border Planning conferences in London and Singapore, and the African & Arabian Hotel & Investment Forum in various locations. Notably, he has also shared his insights with prestigious organizations such as the World Affairs Council, Fulbright Association in Washington DC, and the Australian Institute of Chartered Accountants in Sydney.
With a robust academic background, Silke has lectured extensively at universities in the United States, including Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh, PA, and Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida. He has served as a global political trend/risk consultant for GLG in New York City and as a featured speaker on the panel of Duke Corporate Education.
Silke's commentary and insights are consistently sought after by global and domestic media outlets. He has made appearances on leading platforms such as BBC, Sky Australia, Australian Broadcasting Company, France 24, CGTN (China), Newsmax, and TRT Turkey. His contributions span various media channels, including CNBC Africa, ENCA, SABC, Newzroom Africa, Bloomberg, Reuters, AFP, RTL, Deutsche Welle (Germany), Cape Talk 567, 702, and Business Day TV. His expertise has also been valued by the Australian, British and South Korean missions in South Africa.
Dr. Kerry McInerney
Distinguished AI ethics scholar and advocate, Dr Kerry McInerney holds accolades for her research at the University of Cambridge, spearheading projects on global AI politics, co-hosting a popular feminist technology podcast, and contributing significantly to the discourse on AI's societal implications through media coverage and forthcoming publications.
Dr. Kerry McInerney (formerly Mackereth) stands as an AHRC/BBC New Generation Thinker and a distinguished member of the 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics of 2022. She shines as a nominee for several accolades, including the Champion of Women - Champion of Innovation (2022), Women of the Future - Technology and Digital (2022), and Women in Tech Excellence - Rising Star (2022) awards.
As a Research Fellow at the eminent Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence at the University of Cambridge, she plays a pivotal role in a leading €1.9 million AI ethics initiative. Kerry takes the helm of the Global Politics of AI project, a pioneering endeavor that delves into the impact of AI on international relations, specifically analyzing the dynamics of a US-China AI arms race through a linguistic lens.
Her articulate discourse spans an array of subjects, encompassing feminism and technology, AI's intersection with anti-Asian racism, the intricacies of AI-driven hiring software, fostering diversity and inclusion in the tech sector, scrutinizing race and racism in higher education, and the significance of authentic portrayals of AI scientists in media.
A compelling co-host of The Good Robot podcast, Kerry, alongside Dr. Eleanor Drage, draws over 40,000 listeners into dialogues with prominent global voices exploring the convergence of feminism and technology. Her resonant insights have graced renowned platforms, including BBC Radio 3’s Free Thinking, The Guilty Feminist, BBC Cambridgeshire, the Colin McEnroe show, and the Radical AI Podcast.
Her groundbreaking work on AI-powered recruitment tools has garnered international recognition, with extensive coverage by esteemed media outlets such as the BBC, Forbes, the Register, and the Daily Mail. In parallel, her investigations into the portrayal of AI scientists on screen have sparked discussions in esteemed publications like The Guardian, the Telegraph, BBC Tech Tent, and a host of international platforms.
Kerry's influence extends to the realm of academia, as she co-edits the forthcoming volumes "Feminist AI" with Oxford University Press and "The Good Robot: Feminist Voices on the Future of Technology" with Bloomsbury Academic. Further amplifying her impact, she is co-authoring a book titled "Reprogram: Why Big Tech is Broken and How Feminism Can Transform It" alongside Dr. Eleanor Drage, offering an incisive perspective on reshaping the tech landscape.
We would love to put your questions to her on stage, so we are asking for you to submit your ideas now. Need inspiration? Below are a few topic areas to get you thinking. If you have any questions based on the below or absolutely anything else AI related, please send them to us. Let us know if you would like to put your question to Kerry directly or for us to ask for you anonymously.
Future of Work and Education
Creativity and Innovation
Politics, International Relations, Trade and Power
Please send your questions to catkins@citywire.co.uk
Nicola Winter
Nicola Winter is a pioneer with an extraordinary career: she was a fighter pilot in the German Armed Forces for over a decade, was one of only three women in the air force to pilot the Eurofighter, trained young pilots herself in the USA for several years and most recently held the rank of Major. She is a helicopter pilot and, as a space engineer at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR e.V.), is responsible for launching satellites into space.
Aviation, space and adventure are Nicola's passion - and have been since early childhood: in 2004, Nicola Winter (*1985) joined the German Air Force, thus realising her childhood dream. She became the Bundeswehr's second ever female fighter pilot, flew the Tornado and was a flight instructor in the USA. At the same time, she studied aerospace engineering via distance learning. In 2015, she retrained for the Eurofighter, making her one of only three women in the German Air Force authorised to fly this fighter aircraft. Before retiring from the Bundeswehr in 2018, she held the rank of Major and was stationed at the Tactical Air Force Wing 31 "Boelcke" at Nörvenich Air Base. She then worked for a well-known, large management consultancy for a year and volunteered as a paramedic for the Bavarian Red Cross before moving to DLR as an aerospace engineer and working on her doctorate in the field of microlaunchers.
In 2017, Nicola Winter and Insa Thiele-Eich won the selection process for the "Die Astronautin" initiative against 400 competitors. The project aims to take a German woman into space for the first time and prepares the participants for a ten-day stay on the ISS, which unfortunately did not materialise due to a lack of funding. However, she is still pursuing her childhood dream of flying into space and is taking part in ESA's astronaut selection process. "I want to do pioneering work," says Nicola Winter, "the goal could also be the moon or Mars." She has been a reserve member of the new class of ESA astronauts since November 2022.
Over the course of her career, Nicola Winter has received numerous honours. In 2013, for example, she was honoured as the best flight instructor of the year at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. In 2017, she was named "Forward Thinker of the Year" by the Boston Consulting Group and Wirtschaftswoche magazine. She convinced the jury because she
"overcomes technical, physical and social boundaries".