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Dr. Tim Leunig
Dr. Tim Leunig is a prize-winning economist and policy advisor whose work spans economic history, urban planning, and public policy. A Visiting Professor at the London School of Economics, Tim has advised Chancellors, Cabinet Ministers, and Prime Ministers, shaping major economic and social policies.
After working in academia, Tim joined the policy world, first at the Centre for Cities influencing urban policy, infrastructure, and strategies to promote economic growth in cities across, and then in government. He served as Chief Economist at the Department for Education, devising policies on school funding, performance measurement, and curriculum reforms. He worked on housing policy and the expansion plans for Heathrow Airport. He was also Economic Adviser to Chancellors Sajid Javid and Rishi Sunak. Significantly, and contrary to the existing plans of the Treasury, he conceived the UK’s furlough scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic, protecting millions of jobs.
Having left government, Tim explores the real world effects of economic policy. He considers how it affects businesses and individuals, and provides insights into decision-making, productivity, and long-term economic growth. He’s a regular commentator to The Financial Times, The Times, The Telegraph, and The Guardian, and has contributed to programmes on Radio 1 and Radio 4.
Tim has also served as Director of Economics at Public First, and as a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, the Royal Society of Arts, and the Royal Historical Society, and a Governor of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research.
Presentations
Workshops
Unlocking Private Markets for UK Wealth
In this interactive break-out session, join us for an open discussion on the growing enthusiasm for private market investments across the UK Wealth market, as well as exploring the key considerations when incorporating into client portfolios.
Workshop Objective:
The discussion will leverage BlackRock’s extensive experience in Wealth, focused on topics such as:
- How clients are seeking to improve their value proposition and deliver differentiated performance through the inclusion of private market investments.
- The role that private markets can play in discretionary portfolios, both for distributors and clients.
- The inherent challenges that private markets present, including liquidity risk and reputational risk, and how asset managers can support mitigants of these.
- The benefits of thoughtful portfolio construction, an efficient approach to open architecture and the benefits of a holistic, multi-alternative approach.
Company Profile:
BlackRock’s purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, we help millions of people build savings that serve them throughout their lives by making investing easier and more affordable. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate
Speakers
Hannah Wallis
Head of Product Strategy for Private Market Solutions in EMEA, within the Multi-Alternatives (“Multi-Alts”) platform
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Hannah Wallis, Head of Product Strategy for Private Market Solutions in EMEA, within the Multi-Alternatives (“Multi-Alts”) platform. The Multi-Alts platform designs and manages portfolios across a wide range of illiquid and liquid alternative investments, leveraging BlackRock’s investment capabilities and technology to deliver best in class solutions for clients. As Head of the EMEA region, Ms. Wallis and her team are responsible for business development, client servicing and solution innovation. Prior to her current role, Ms. Wallis was a strategist for BlackRock's Factor-Based Strategies Group, where she was responsible for communicating the breadth and depth of the company's enhanced factor strategies to investors across EMEA and APAC. Prior to that, she worked in product development for BlackRock's Global Product Group. Ms. Wallis started her career with EY as a consultant focused on asset management clients. Hannah read International Management at the University of Manchester and holds the Investment Management Certificate (IMC).
Representatives
James Lane
A member of BlackRock's UK iShares & Wealth Sales Team.
James Lane, is a member of BlackRock's UK iShares & Wealth Sales Team. Mr Lane joined BlackRock in 2016 as part of the UK Adviser Sales Team, responsible for building relationships and delivering the BlackRock platform to the broad IFA community across the UK. James joined the London Wealth Sales team in 2018 and is now tasked with the distribution of BlackRock's products and services to the UK's largest wealth clients.
Rob Bird
EMEA Alternatives Specialist, BlackRock
Rob Bird, is a member of the Alternatives Specialists Team within the EMEA Wealth Client Business. Rob and his team are responsible for expanding BlackRock's Private Markets and Liquid Alternatives capabilities to Wealth clients in the region. Rob is responsible for driving private market opportunities for Wealth in the UK, Nordics, Middle East and Africa. He is also responsible for leading the Alternatives pillar in the Digital Wealth channel. Previously, Rob was a member of the BlackRock Alternatives Specialists team within BlackRock Alternative Investors, where he led hedge fund and liquid alternative fundraising in the UK. Prior to joining BlackRock, Rob spent 12 years as an officer in the British Army. Rob has a degree in War Studies from King’s College London and an MBA from the University of Northampton. He is a member of the EMEA Veterans & Allies Network committee and is also a Governor of a Primary School and Special Educational Needs Unit in West London.
From Alternative to Essential: Building portfolios using evergreens
Company Profile:
HarbourVest is a leading global private markets investment firm with over 40 years of experience and $146 billion in assets under management as of 30 June 2025. The firm operates independently and offers a full suite of strategies—including primary funds, secondaries, co-investments, real assets, infrastructure, and private credit—supported by a global team of 1,150+ professionals. The firm partners with top-tier institutional investors and wealth intermediaries, while also working closely with General Partners (GPs) to provide capital solutions and strategic support. Its Quantitative Investment Science (QIS) team enhances decision-making through advanced analytics, including proprietary tools for cash flow forecasting and GP performance benchmarking. For more information about HarbourVest, please visit https://www.harbourvest.com/.
Speakers
Craig MacDonald
Portfolio Manager, Evergreen Solutions
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Craig MacDonald is Head of HarbourVest’s Dublin office and Portfolio Manager for HarbourVest Global Private Solution – Direct Private Equity. Since joining in 2005, he has focused on co-investments across Europe and now leads fund management for evergreen strategies. His prior experience includes roles at Morgan Stanley and Citigroup in New York and London. Craig earned a BA in Political Science and Information Systems from UNC Chapel Hill, where he was a Morehead Scholar.
Representatives
Victoria Dorling
Vice President, Global Wealth
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Victoria Dorling is a Vice President at HarbourVest, focusing on custom solutions and separate accounts for wealth channels in Asia and EMEA. She joined in 2019 and works closely with the Private Client Group. Previously, she was a client relationship associate at Sandaire Investment Office and an investment analyst at Citi Private Bank in New York. Victoria holds a BSc in Economics from Newcastle University, is a CFA charterholder, and a member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment.
Julia Hanmer
Investment Specialist, Evergreen Solutions
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Julia Hanmer is an Evergreen Product Specialist at HarbourVest, driving growth across evergreen funds and custom solutions. She joined in 2022 as part of the Quantitative Investment Science team. Prior to HarbourVest, Julia was an AVP and Investment Specialist at Wellington Management, focusing on multi-asset and alternative strategies. Julia holds a BA in Economics and History from McGill University and is a CFA charterholder.
Antonio Jesuthasan
Associate, Global Wealth
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Antonio Jesuthasan is an Associate at HarbourVest, focusing on business development and strategy with key intermediary relationships in EMEA. Previously, he focused on private markets distribution to the institutional client base at Schroders. Antonio holds a BSc in Economics from the University of Nottingham, and an MSc in Investment and Wealth Management from Imperial College Business School.
Access all areas: Investing across the full credit spectrum
Credit as an asset class is evolving and the lines between public and are private blurring. In this session, we’ll explore how wealth managers can access all parts of the credit spectrum and how a diverse blend of assets – from high-quality, investment-grade public credit all the way to Direct Lending – can work together to potentially deliver a smoother ride and attractive risk-adjusted.
Company Profile:
L&G's Asset Management business is a major global investor across public and private markets, with £1.117 trillion in AUM.* Our clients include individual savers, pension scheme members and global institutions, who invest alongside L&G’s own balance sheet. Our investment philosophy and processes are focused on creating value over the long term.
*Source: L&G, global AUM as at 30 June 2025. Excludes assets managed by associates (Pemberton, NTR, BTR). The AUM includes the value of securities and derivatives positions and may not total due to rounding.
Speakers
Amelie Chowna
Senior Fixed Income Investment Specialist
Amelie covers Global Credit and Absolute Return Portfolios within the Global Fixed Income Team. Prior to this, she was a Portfolio Manager for the Global Bond Strategies team, which she joined in 2014 as Quantitative Analyst. She joined L&G in 2011 from AXA IM. Amelie graduated from ESSEC Business School and holds an MBA. She is a CFA Charterholder.
Jenny Staley
Head of Private Credit Capital Raising
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Jenny Staley is Head of Private Credit Capital fundraising at L&G, whereby she represents L&G private credit capability as well as solutions created alongside our partners. Prior to L&G, Jenny worked at PGIM in several roles, most recently leading the EMEA private credit sales effort for PGIM Private Capital. Jenny began her career at Mercer, followed by time at Barnett Waddingham.
Representatives
Ben Cherrington
Head of UK Wholesale, L&G
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Ben Cherrington is Head of UK Wholesale Distribution at L&G, overseeing wealth, IFA, and strategic client coverage. He joined in 2018 as Head of Strategic Partnerships, following five years in Singapore with M&G as Head of Intermediary Channels, Asia Pacific. Ben began his career at Skandia in 2001 and holds a BA in Business Studies (Finance) from Bournemouth University.
Steve Gray
Head of Wealth Management, L&G
Steve is Head of Wealth Management Sales at L&G, promoting the firm’s fund range to London-based discretionary clients. He joined in 2016 from AXA Investment Managers, where he was Head of London Discretionary Sales. Steve previously held sales roles at AXA, Framlington Unit Management, HSBC Asset Management, and Save & Prosper. His experience spans multi-asset, multi-manager, and model portfolio services during periods of strong asset growth.
What every allocator needs to know: Lessons learnt from 25 years of managing evergreen funds
Speakers
Simon Baker-Munton
Head of Evergreen Portfolio Management
Simon Baker-Munton leads the Evergreen Portfolio Management team within the wider Portfolio Management business unit, based in London. He has been with Partners Group since 2015. Prior to joining Partners Group, he worked at KPMG Investment Advisory and UBS Global Asset Management. He holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Bath, UK. He is also a CFA Charterholder
Alex De Stefano
Head of UK & Eire Wealth, Client Solutions
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As a member of the Client Solutions team at Partners Group in London, Alex is responsible for developing relationships with banks, wealth managers and financial intermediaries in the UK and Ireland. Alex has over 20 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Partners Group, Alex had roles at Nuveen, SEI Investments, Wellington Management and Merrill Lynch Investment Managers. Alex holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Bristol, and a master's degree from Imperial College, London.
Representatives
Joanna Asfour
Managing Director, Client Solutions Europe
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Joanna Asfour is part of the Client Solutions business department, based in London. She has been with Partners Group since 2011 and has 18 years of industry experience. Her role is currently focused on working on private markets fund solutions for different client segments having set up many open ended and closed ended private markets products for the UK and US market. Joanna also spent 5 years in our Denver, Colorado office working with US clients and consultants. Joanna was part of the industry-led Productive Finance Working Group in the UK which aimed to develop practical solutions to the barriers to investing in long-term, less liquid assets. Prior to joining Partners Group, she worked at Citibank. She holds a master’s degree in international business and languages from Heriot-Watt University, UK.
Special Situations Shine as Stress Builds in the Shadows
As credit markets remain preoccupied with near-term growth and inflation trends, stress levels continue to climb amid increasing market complexity and approaching maturity walls. Join Rob Fawn for his perspective on a concurrent rise in special situations activity from his vantage point as portfolio manager for PGIM’s Credit Opportunities Strategy.
Gain insight into the forces shaping current conditions and presenting unique opportunities for investors with the resources and expertise needed to capitalise on them. Learn how the team target high risk-adjusted returns with favourable asymmetrical payoff profiles using an approach that combines exhaustive credit analysis with extensive special situations capabilities to harvest complexity premia using a mix of event-driven, relative-value and credit-shorting strategies.
Workshop Objective:
Expect to learn how trends in market dislocation, maturity walls and defaults foster special situation opportunities and how to identify managers with the necessary attributes to capitalise on them.
Company Profile:
PGIM, the global asset management business of Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU) is built on a 150-year legacy of strength, stability, and disciplined risk management through more than 30 market cycles. Managing more than US$1.44 trillion in assets, PGIM offers clients deep expertise across public and private asset classes, delivering a diverse range of investment strategies and tailored solutions—including fixed income, equities, real estate and other retail investment vehicles. With 1,450+ investment professionals across 42 offices in 19 countries, we serve retail and institutional clients worldwide. For more information, visit pgim.com.
As of 30 June 2025
Speakers
Rob Fawn
Portfolio Manager, European Leveraged Finance
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Rob Fawn is a Principal and Portfolio Manager in the European Leveraged Finance Team at PGIM, based in London. Mr. Fawn is responsible for managing high yield bonds and bank loans across multiple mandates. He manages the European investments in PGIM’s Credit Opportunities strategy, and is also responsible for managing the European Leveraged Finance sleeves within the Global High Yield and Multi Sector portfolios. Previously, Mr. Fawn was a credit analyst in the European Leveraged Finance Credit Research Team where he covered the chemicals, food, metals & mining and paper & packaging sectors. Prior to joining the Firm in 2017, he spent 12 years at Citigroup, most recently as a credit analyst on their European High Yield Credit Trading desk, having also spent 6 years in M&A. Mr. Fawn received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from The University of Bath.
Representatives
Jeremy Cunnew
Senior Sales Manager
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Jeremy Cunnew is a Senior Sales Manager at PGIM, focusing his distribution efforts on the wholesale channel within the UK and Ireland, spanning global banks, national discretionary fund managers, family offices, fund of funds and other intermediaries. Before joining PGIM, Jeremy was at Natixis Investment Managers where he focused his distribution efforts on UK wholesale clients. He worked at Natixis Investment Managers for 8.5 years. Prior to that, he was at J.P. Morgan Asset Management on the Sales and Strategic Planning team and was a GBP Interest Rates Swaps broker at RP Martin. Jeremy earned a Bachelor of Science in Sports & Exercise Science and a Master of Science in International Management from Loughborough University in the United Kingdom. He has completed the Oxford University Private Markets Investments Programme and also holds the IMC certificate. Jeremy was a semi-professional rugby player for Richmond Rugby Club for eight seasons.
Carolina Baigrie
Account Manager, UK
Carolina Baigrie is an Account Manager within PGIM’s UK Sales Team. In this role, she supports the team in building and managing relationships within the UK intermediary/ wholesale channel, spanning global and domestic private banks, family offices, fund of funds, wealth managers and other intermediaries. Carolina started her career on the consultancy side, delivering research, policy and brand campaigns for financial services clients, after graduating from the University of Manchester with a first-class degree in Politics and Sociology.