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Speakers
Heidi Karjalainen
Heidi Karjalainen joined the IFS in 2019. She is currently a Senior Research Economist working in the Retirement, Savings, and Ageing sector. Her current work includes research on pensions policy, saving for retirement, and health and cognition among older people. She is also one of the authors of the IFS Pensions Review, a multi-year project on the UK pension system and of the future of financial security in retirement. Before joining the IFS Heidi worked in the private sector in infrastructure financing.
Ben Hanlin
Hailing from Birmingham, Ben Hanlin has built an extraordinary career spanning over two decades in the entertainment industry. His journey began with a deep-rooted passion for magic, but it was in 2009 that he made a defining decision—to leave behind a conventional job and fully immerse himself in his craft.
Determined to bring magic to a modern audience, he launched his YouTube channel, where his innovative tricks and playful interactions with celebrities quickly captured attention. One of his most memorable moments saw him travel to Los Angeles in pursuit of Britney Spears—a personal milestone that reinforced his belief in chasing bold ambitions.
Ben’s unique ability to blend magic with storytelling soon opened doors in television. His charm and talent led to appearances on CBBC and the Discovery Channel’s Breaking Magic, before securing his own ITV2 series, Tricked. The show, which blended magic with pranks, became a hit with audiences and went on to win Best Entertainment Show at the Broadcast Digital Awards—firmly cementing Ben as a leading figure in the industry.
Beyond the screen, Ben has made a name for himself as a live performer. He has taken to some of the most prestigious stages in the world, including London’s West End, where he starred in productions such as The Illusionists and ITV’s Live at The Palladium. His solo shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival earned critical acclaim, with Theatre Weekly naming it “The best variety show of The Fringe!” in 2018. His ability to captivate audiences—whether in an intimate theatre or a grand auditorium—has been a defining aspect of his career.
Workshops
Workshops
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Unlocking Japan’s Next Chapter of growth
Japan’s market is entering a dynamic new phase, powered by domestic revival, financial reform, and innovative sectors beyond traditional industries. Discover how a focus on resilient, high-growth companies is reshaping investment opportunities and why Japan’s evolving fundamentals offer compelling value for forward-looking investors.
Workshop Objectives:
• Understand how Japan’s domestic momentum and financial reforms are creating a self-sustaining growth story
• Explore leading-edge sectors and innovative companies driving Japan’s economic transformation beyond cyclical industries
• Learn strategies to capitalize on Japan’s hidden growth drivers while navigating global and cyclical challenges
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 £197bn 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
Jared Anderson
Investment Manager
Jared Anderson is an investment manager in the Japanese Equities Team. He is co-manager of the Japanese Fund and Japanese Smaller Companies Fund, and deputy manager of the Shin Nippon Investment Trust. Jared joined Baillie Gifford in 2016. Prior to joining the firm he spent two years as an Assistant Economist at the Scottish Government. Jared graduated MA (Hons) in Economics from the University of Edinburgh in 2012.
Representatives
Megan Rooney
Client Relationship Manager
Megan is a client relationship manager in the UK Intermediaries Team. She joined Baillie Gifford in 2016. Prior to joining the firm, Megan worked at Barclays, specialising in private client services. She graduated BSc (Hons) in Geography from the University of Glasgow in 2014.
Nathan Evans
Client Service Manager
Nathan joined Baillie Gifford in 2020 as part of the UK Intermediaries Team. He graduated MA (Hons) in Business Studies from the University of Edinburgh in 2018.
Beyond blue-chips: the exceptional opportunity within UK small and mid-caps
What if the most exciting investment opportunities are not in the blue-chips, listed on the Nasdaq or the S&P, but in a different market entirely - undervalued yet delivering growth at discounted valuations? What if the growth stories are quietly unfolding in agile businesses with strong fundamentals but flying under the radar? At Octopus Investments, we believe this is exactly what’s happening.
This presentation will explore the investment potential of UK small and mid-cap equities—a segment often overlooked, despite its strong growth prospects and attractive valuations. As one of the largest investors in the Alternative Investment Market (AIM), the Quoted Companies Team at Octopus Investments is uniquely positioned to uncover hidden opportunities across this dynamic space.
We’ll examine the key market drivers and some evolving trends shaping the landscape, offering practical insights into the liquidity within this market, and how this asset class can aid portfolio diversification. Discover how to tap into this underappreciated segment where growth, value, and innovation converge.
Workshop Objectives:
- To equip advisers with insights to uncover value in UK equities beyond the FTSE 100 and deliver
differentiated outcomes for clients. - Advisers will gain knowledge into under-researched UK companies within niche growth areas.
Company Profile: Octopus Investments, part of the Octopus Group, is a B Corp-certified investment company for investors who believe their money can be a force for good.
Today, we invest the £9.6bn our institutional investors, retail investors and their financial advisers have entrusted to us into the areas where we believe we can have the greatest impact.
We focus our efforts on three investment themes – empowering people, revitalising healthcare and building a sustainable planet – and alternative asset classes across venture capital, sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy, real estate, healthcare and smaller listed companies.
Speakers
Chris McVey
Chris is Deputy Head of the Octopus Quoted Companies Team, which he joined in December 2016. He is a specialist within the quoted UK Smaller Company market, with more than 20 years of experience. Chris works across all the Quoted Company portfolios and is the Lead Fund Manager on the FP Octopus UK Multi Cap Income Fund. He is also co-manager on the FP Octopus UK Micro Cap Growth Fund and FP Octopus UK Future Generations Fund.
Representatives
Gavin White
Head of Wholesale at Octopus Investments
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Beau Bulgin
Key Partnerships Manager at Octopus Investments
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Fund Group Workshop
Speakers
Rob Perrone
Investment Specialist
Rob joined Orbis in 2011. He is a member of Orbis’ team of investment counsellors, with primary responsibility for covering the Global Balanced Strategy. Rob has a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts from Carnegie Mellon University, and is a CFA charterholder.
Nicola Dormehl
Investment Specialist
Nicola joined Orbis in 2015, having spent three years as a business analyst at Orbis’ sister company, Allan Gray Proprietary Limited. She is a member of Orbis’ team of investment counsellors and a specialist on the Orbis Global Balanced and Global Cautious strategies. She has a Bachelor of Commerce in Economics (Cum Laude) and a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Financial Economics and Investment Management (Cum Laude) from University of the Free State.
Fund Group Workshop - Credit
Speakers
Martin Coucke
Credit Portfolio Manager
Martin is a Credit Portfolio Manager in the Global Unconstrained Fixed Income team. He joined Schroders in 2015 and is based in London.
Martin joined Schroders within the European Credit team as a Portfolio Analyst, in 2017 he moved into a Portfolio Manager role and in 2023 moved to the Global Unconstrained Fixed Income Team.
Prior to Schroders, Martin worked as an Intern at both Société Générale CIB and bfinance.
Martin holds an MSc in Risk and Finance from EDHEC Business School and a BSc in Applied Mathematics from Université Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne.