Speakers
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Dr Azar Jammine
Dr Azar Jammine is the Director and Chief Economist of Econometrix (Pty) Ltd, South Africa's leading independent economic research consultancy and forecasting company, established in 1982. He has been in his current position since December 1985 and has established a significant profile in South Africa as an analyst and commentator on domestic and international economic affairs. Dr Jammine has conducted more than 5,000 presentations to leading client corporations and other institutions and at conferences dealing with the local and international economic environment. In this capacity, he was also invited over the years by several corporations to serve as an independent non-executive director, including six that were listed on the JSE. Dr Jammine has been quoted in thousands of newspapers and magazines in South Africa and abroad and has been interviewed hundreds of times on local and international radio and television.
Dr Jammine has been a member of the Executive Committee of ISASA (Independent Schools Association of South Africa) for the past decade and still serves in that capacity. He is also a member of the Board of Governors of the Wits University Foundation. Dr Jammine recently retired as a member of the National Advisory Council on Innovation, a body of experts appointed by the Department of Science and Technology, but still assists NACI on an ad-hoc basis as an expert on various tasks. In 2018, Dr Jammine was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at The South African Professional Services Awards Association (sponsored by Sanlam).
Academically, Dr Jammine obtained a BSc (Hons) in Mathematical Statistics and a BA (Hons) in Economics at Wits, followed by an M.Sc in Economics from the LSE and a PhD at the London Business School.
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Rebecca Davis
Rebecca Davis is an award-winning journalist, political commentator and writer. She has twice been a winner of the prestigious Vodacom Journalist of the Year award, once for her work on the investigative team which exposed the Guptaleaks story. She is the author of two bestselling books and can also be heard weekly on Cape Talk radio.
Pieter du Preez
Pieter (aka supapiet) du Preez is a South African Para Athlete competing in swimming, cycling, athletics and triathlon. He is a multiple African and world record holder, multiple world champion, and Paralympic gold medalist.
A keen runner and cyclist in childhood, Pieter was paralyzed from the chest down after a car collided with his bicycle. Determined to overcome his life-changing circumstances, Pieter not only returned to sport but set about breaking records - he became a seven-time winner of the Berlin marathon as a T51 competitor and the first athlete with C6 quadriplegia to complete an Ironman triathlon, amassing 18 global championship medals along the way. An inspiration to countless others, he went on to be nominated for the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability.
Alongside his sporting achievements - and a twenty-year career as an actuarial analyst - Pieter is a sought-after motivational speaker. In speeches, Pieter shares insights into adapting to change, dealing with tough times and living with purpose. He believes we’re always only one mindshift away from finding solutions to any problem: “When a bad thing happens, it's an opportunity to be great. You don’t need to be a superhero to inspire, you can be a normal person with a smile!”
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Workshops
Workshops
A Case for Global SMID Cap Stocks: The Ideal Intersection of Quality and Growth
SMID cap companies often exhibit a combination of characteristics that can make for good investments. However, not all SMID caps are created equally. The application of our investment philosophy and process narrows this broad universe, pinpointing the types of high-quality companies we have seen deliver excess returns over the past 25 years. Adding further degrees of freedom through our Global Discovery Strategy—with an unconstrained market cap mandate and broad global reach—enhances our capabilities.
Workshop Objectives: Present a compelling picture for active investment management in the global SMID cap arena.
Company Profile: Artisan Partners was founded in 1994 with the objective of producing high value added and differentiated investment outcomes for institutional investors, through identifying, attracting and retaining high caliber talent in long term asset classes.
We provide the resources of a full-scale, global firm paired with the independence of a boutique to each of our autonomous investment teams, who have the freedom to execute its own process based on its original research and creative perspectives. While our teams differ across market capitalizations, geographical regions, investment styles and product offerings, they are all highly incentivized to deliver long-term value for our clients.
Speakers
Chip Ridley, CFA
Managing Director, Artisan Growth Team
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Chip Ridley, CFA, is a managing director of Artisan Partners and business leader for the Growth team. Prior to joining Artisan in 2006, Mr. Ridley was a director of business development for GMO and served as product manager for the Emerging Markets strategy. Mr. Ridley also spent 9 years as an aviator in the United States Navy where he flew and instructed various types of fighter aircraft.
Representatives
Pearse Monaghan
Director, EMEA Client Group
Pearse Monaghan is a director on the EMEA Client Group at Artisan Partners. Prior to joining Artisan Partners in April 2017, Mr. Monaghan was a Director at Nomura Asset Management with responsibility for the UK business. He has also held positions at HSBC Asset Management, and Pioneer Investments.
Real Estate in 2025: Investing in tomorrow’s foundations
This evolution offers investors a more diversified portfolio, supported by strong tailwinds from mega forces. As we look ahead to 2025, we believe the sector is well-positioned for growth, especially as many companies are currently trading at substantial discounts compared to broader equity markets.
With improved access to capital and tighter supply across various sub-sectors, listed real estate holds the potential to deliver attractive returns driven by long-term earnings growth and supportive fundamentals well into 2025 and beyond.
Workshop objectives:
1) The fundamental outlook for RE
2) Deep dive on sector opportunities
3) Why go active in this space
Speakers
James Wilkinson
Global Head of BlackRock's Global Real Asset Securities business
James Wilkinson, Managing Director, is the Global Head of BlackRock's Global Real Asset Securities business. James has 25 years of investment experience across real estate and infrastructure and joined BlackRock to help establish the securities platform in 2013. James was previously a fund manager at Thames River Capital where he worked on a range of traditional long only and long/short real estate securities funds. Prior to this, he worked at Henderson Global Investors as a member of the European real estate securities team. James began his career at Healey & Baker as a Chartered Surveyor. James is a member of the Board of Directors of the European Public Real Estate Association (EPRA). James graduated from the University of East Anglia with a BA Hons degree in Philosophy and gained his MA in Property Valuation and Law from City University Business School, London (now Cass Business School). James is a member of the UK's Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Representatives
Tamsyn Clark
Africa Sales Team
Tamsyn Clark, CFA, Director, is Head of Africa Wealth. In this role, Tamsyn is responsible for managing client relationships and strategic partnerships, developing and executing on strategic growth initiatives and delivering the broad BlackRock offering to clients and stakeholders across the region. Mrs Clark's service with the firm dates back to 2013. She has experience within the Fundamental Active Equity business where she worked a product strategist focusing on UK Equity and ESG products. Prior to this, Mrs Clark spent 4 years working in the Global Consultant Relations team, responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with investment consultants across all asset classes.
Built to last: Investing in global listed infrastructure
Global Listed Infrastructure has historically offered equity-like returns, but with lower volatility and more attractive downside capture relative to global equities. In addition, the asset class offers diversification, inflation protection, and resilience in uncertain market conditions. Cohen & Steers, who have infrastructure expertise dating back to 2004 and manage $8.7bn in the asset class, will discuss their active approach to this large, liquid and global investment opportunity.
Workshop Objectives: To understand the unique investment characteristics and benefits of global listed infrastructure, why the next several years remain critical to maintaining an allocation, and Cohen & Steers’ unique investment approach.
Company Profile: To understand the unique investment characteristics and benefits of global listed infrastructure, why the next several years remain critical to maintaining an allocation, and Cohen & Steers’ unique investment approach.
Speakers
Michelle Butler
Senior Vice President
Michelle Butler, Senior Vice President, is a Real Assets Portfolio Specialist for Cohen & Steers, specializing in Global Listed Infrastructure, Midstream Energy, and Commodities. Her primary responsibility is articulating the investment teams’ process, positioning, and investment outlook. She has 28 years of experience, prior to joining the firm in 2013, Ms. Butler was the Portfolio Specialist for the Active Commodities strategy at GE Asset Management, where she worked for 14 years in various product development and client service roles. Ms. Butler began her investment career in securities lending at the Bank of New York and UBS. Ms. Butler has a BA from Providence College and is based in New York. She is the holder of Series 3, 7, and 63 FINRA certifications.
Representatives
Sean Cooney
Head of U.K. Wealth
Sales representative 1 bio – 70 words
Sean Cooney, Head of U.K. Wealth, is responsible for developing strategic relationships and growing market share across the U.K. Wholesale investment landscape. Prior to joining the firm in 2021, Mr. Cooney was a client director at GAM Investments covering a variety of client segments. Previously, he was a sales manager at Neptune Investment Management and a financial planner at ABSA Bank. Mr. Cooney has a BSc. from Rhodes University, South Africa and the Investment Management Certificate. He is based in London.
David Conway
Head of International Wholesale Distribution
David Conway is Head of International Wholesale Distribution. He has 29 years of experience. Before joining the firm in 2020, he was Global Sales Director at Jupiter Asset Management, where he built the Global Financial Institutional business and established its Japan distribution model and first Asia office. His prior role was in investment sales at Royal Skandia. Mr. Conway holds a BA from Hertfordshire University and is based in London.
Contrarian Investing in a rapidly changing world
Contrarius is a bottom-up, valuation-based, contrarian active manager taking advantage of opportunities in global markets. Our presentation outlines the application of the key components of our investment philosophy, and demonstrates how the current disparity in the market creates opportunities across both growth and value and quality-oriented areas. Our very different portfolio offers investors an opportunity to invest in a Fund which is truly different from conventional offerings. Our presentation also demonstrates how the consistent application of our bottom-up, contrarian investment philosophy has taken advantage of valuation disparity over time resulting in a fund that has outperformed the benchmark MSCI World Index, the average manager, the MSCI World Value Index and the MSCI World Growth Index since its inception on 1 January 2009.
Workshop Objectives: To introduce delegates to Contrarius’ contrarian investment philosophy and the areas of the market where we are currently finding value.
Company Profile: Contrarius’ objective is to create long-term wealth for our investors through superior long-term investment performance. Our portfolios are typically very different from our peers demonstrating our contrarian approach.
Our largest fund, Contrarius Global Equity Fund, has outperformed the benchmark MSCI World Index, the average manager, the MSCI World Value Index and the MSCI World Growth Index since its inception on 1 January 2009.
We believe that long-term performance is driven by the consistent application of a sound investment philosophy. The key characteristics of our investment philosophy are that it is contrarian, valuation based, long-term and based on proprietary fundamental research. For more information, visit www.contrarius.com.
Contrarius offers a global equity and global balanced strategy available to South African investors through:
- Contrarius ICAV, an Irish UCITS approved for marketing in South Africa
- BCI Contrarius rand-based feeder funds
- Contrarius BCI South African funds with up to 45% offshore exposure
Speakers
Simon Raubenheimer
Director
Simon joined Contrarius in March 2019. He has over 16 years’ previous investment experience with Allan Gray Ltd. From 2008-2018, Simon co-managed Allan Gray’s equity and balanced composites which included the largest equity and largest mutual fund in South Africa. Simon also co-launched and managed the Allan Gray Global Frontier Equity Fund. He has a BCom (Econometrics) and BCom (Honours) (Financial Analysis and Portfolio Management). Simon is a CFA charterholder.
Representatives
Heaton van der Linde
Director
Heaton joined the Contrarius Group in March 2009. He is a director and employee of Contrarius Investment Services (South Africa) (Pty) Limited, the Representative Office of Contrarius funds approved for marketing in South Africa. He previously had 11 years’ experience at Allan Gray Limited ("AGL"), the largest privately owned investment management firm in South Africa whose clients comprise both institutional investors and individuals. He holds a Bachelor of Business Science (Finance) degree from the University of Cape Town, is a Chartered Accountant (SA) and a CFA charterholder.
Fund Group Workshop
Global X ETFs was founded in 2008. For more than 15 years, our mission has been empowering investors with unexplored and intelligent solutions. Our expansive product lineup features a wide range of ETFs and includes more than $98 billion in assets under management. While we are distinguished for our Thematic Growth, Income and International Access ETFs, we also offer Core, Commodity, and Risk Management funds to suit a wide range of investment objectives. Explore our ETFs, research and insights, and more at www.globalxetfs.eu.
Global X is a member of Mirae Asset Financial Group, a global leader in financial services, with more than $632 billion in assets under management worldwide. Mirae Asset has an extensive global ETF platform ranging across the US, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Europe, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam with over $137bn in assets under management.
Source: Global X, as of January, 2025
Mirae Asset, as of September, 2024
Mirae Asset, as of September, 2024
Speakers
Andrew Ye
Investment Strategist
Andrew is an Investment Strategist at Global X ETFs, covering Thematics. Prior to joining Global X, Andrew was most recently at Shaw and Partners, an Australian wealth management firm owned by EFG International, where he was an Investment Analyst for 3.5 years. He performed security selection, asset allocation and manager selection
as part of the SMA Investment team, which managed more than A$2
billion in AUM. Prior to that, Andrew began his career as an analyst at
Goldman Sachs in Sydney. He graduated with Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Laws degrees from the University of New South Wales and is a CFA Charterholder.
Representatives
Rob Oliver
Head of Europe
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Prior to joining Global X, Rob spent 12+ years at J.P. Morgan as Global Head of Beta and Systematic Strategies within Global Wealth Management, managing a team researching passive and quantitative strategies structured within ETFs, MFs, SMA’s and Hedge Funds. Rob also held roles in International Fund Product Management and Global Technology.
BSc (Econ) (Hons) degree, University of Portsmouth.
Isabella Stack
ETF Sales
Bella became a member of the UCITS distribution team at Global X in January 2025, focusing on the UK market. Prior to joining Global X, she spent 2.5 years at Betashares, an Australian ETF provider and financial services firm, where she worked within the sales team. Bella graduated with a Bachelor of Economics/ Bachelor of Arts from the University of Sydney.
GuardCap Global Equity Strategy
Michael Hughes will outline why our ‘defensive growth’ global equity strategy is ideal as we enter a potentially challenging economic environment, where quality and sustainable growth are poised to be key drivers of performance.
Workshop Objective: To introduce GuardCap and our long-term investment strategy and why it should be considered by those searching for an all-weather portfolio.
Company Profile: GuardCap Asset Management is a UK-based specialist investment firm exclusively focused on managing two concentrated, long-only equity strategies, one in global equities and the other in emerging markets equities. Our core objective is to achieve superior returns for our clients, in excess of standard benchmarks with less risk than the benchmarks, over the long term. An integral part of this is our commitment to investing in high quality companies around the world that are capable of generating long-term sustainable growth.
Speakers
Michael Hughes
Senior Vice President & Client Portfolio Manager
Michael joined GuardCap in 2014 in the role of Senior Vice President and Client Portfolio Manager. Prior to this, he spent four years at Trinity Street Asset Management, a global investment boutique where he helped grow AUM from $300M to $1.8B. Michael’s tenure includes Managing Director at JPMorgan Asset Management where he was responsible for the product management of $72B in European equity fund assets. Prior to this, he was a portfolio manager and product manager for the Emerging Market Group of JPMorgan. Michael holds a joint honours degree in modern languages from the University of Bristol.
Representatives
Sarah Lynde
Client Portfolio Manager
Sarah Lynde joined GuardCap in 2021, with the responsibility to support the full spectrum of client relationship activities.
Her career in the financial services industry began in 2014 with BMO Nesbitt Burns in Toronto. She subsequently was a Relationship Management Associate for EdgePoint Wealth Management (Toronto). Directly prior to joining GuardCap, Sarah was an Investment Sales Manager – UK & Europe, with BennBridge (London, UK).
Henry Davies
Sales & Marketing Associate
Henry Davies joined GuardCap in 2023 as Sales & Marketing Associate with the Client Service team to support the full spectrum of client relationship activities.
His career in the financial services industry began in 2020, when he joined SLB Capital Management (a boutique capital consultancy company). Directly before GuardCap, Henry held the role of RFP Specialist at GAM Investments.
Investing in global equities in uncertain times
Unlike last year, in which equity returns were remarkably concentrated – not just in the US, but in a handful of American tech leaders – 2025 has shaped up differently.
Alongside a change in market leadership, the fight against inflation isn’t fully over, and politics has rarely affected markets so acutely. How do investors construct an equity portfolio for all weathers?
This was the challenge which the Guinness Global Equity Income Fund was designed to meet. In this presentation the Guinness Global Equities team explains what the current market environment means for equity investors seeking a degree of resilience while aiming to participate in market upside.
Workshop Objectives: Increasing understanding of current market drivers including inflation and earnings expectations; and the dynamics of persistent return on capital equity portfolios in periods of market stress.
Company Profile: Guinness Global Investors was established in 2003 by founder and chairman Tim Guinness. Its specialist disciplines of equity income, energy, innovation and Asia offer exposure to key themes to help investors achieve their investment goals. Its in-house economic, industry and company research allows it to take an independent view and not be led by the market. Its size and specialist nature also enables it to respond quickly and efficiently to market movements. It incorporates ESG factors into all its equity strategies and embraces the stewardship responsibilities which it assumes as an investment manager. Active management, high conviction and identifying value are the central pillars of its philosophy and they are delivered in the form of concentrated, equally weighted portfolios.
Speakers
Sagar Thanki
Portfolio Manager
Sagar is an investment analyst for the Guinness Global Equity Income Fund.. Prior to joining Guinness in 2017, Sagar worked at Bloomberg as an equity specialist, within Financial Analytics and Sales. Sagar graduated from Selwyn College, University of Cambridge, with a Master’s degree in Economics. He is a CFA Charterholder and has a Diploma in Investment Management, having passed the IMC Certificate and CFA Certificate in ESG Investing.
Representatives
Flurry Wright
Head of Europe and South Africa
Flurry White joined Guinness in 2012. She is responsible for customer service in the Channel Islands, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, France and South Africa. She holds a degree in English, obtained in 2011 from Worcester College (University of Oxford).
A technology mindset – investing for growth
Technology remains one of the key drivers of equity markets, this has been the case for years and as we move into an AI wave of compute, the Janus Henderson Global Technology Leaders team believes that Tech’s share gains vs. the wider economy will only accelerate.
Investing in technology, particularly as we move into the next wave of compute, presents significant opportunities but also risks. Experience is vital to identify sources of outsized unappreciated earnings while navigating the hype cycle to avoid areas of extreme valuation and the stocks who quickly move from leaders to laggards.
Graeme Clark will cover the outlook for tech how the team’s investment approach is suited to this market and why technology equities are an essential part of any global portfolio.
Workshop Objectives:•
- Mag 7 – outlook and update
- Undiscovered earnings potential in the technology sector/AI
- Making the technology sector/fund part of a global portfolio
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. This means being ever mindful of the futures of the millions of lives that our thinking and our investments help shape. Our diverse client base and robust balance sheet allow us to offer financial strength and stability with which to help investors achieve their objectives.
The human connection matters in all that we do. Teams across Janus Henderson come together every day to deliver outcomes for our clients – and their clients – that make a difference. We are proud of this responsibility as we fulfil our purpose of ‘Investing in a brighter future together’.
Speakers
Graeme Clark
Portfolio Manager, Technology Equities
Graeme Clark is a Portfolio Manager on the Global Technology Leaders Team at Janus Henderson Investors, a position he has held since joining the firm in 2013. Graeme began his career at Ernst & Young
in 1994 as a senior auditor. He later held the position of senior analyst covering European software and IT services on the sell-side for ING, Piper Jaffray, and Jefferies.
Graeme received a degree in accountancy and business from the University of Edinburgh, graduating with honours. He holds a CFA UK Level 4 Certificate in Investment Management and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland. He has 31 years of financial industry experience.
Representatives
Sam Mettrick
Head of UK Intermediary
Sam Mettrick is Head of Intermediary, UK Client Group at Janus Henderson Investors, a position he has held since 2024. In this role, he is responsible for the UK intermediary business. Sam joined the Henderson in 2013 as head of UK advisory sales. Earlier, he was head of strategic partners at Artemis from 2009 to 2012. He held a similar role at New Star Asset Management from 2003. Sam began his asset management career with Framlington in 1999. Earlier, he held distribution roles with Zurich, Royal, and Sun Alliance.
Sam has 32 years of financial services experience.
Nigel Barnes
Head of business Development
Fund Group Workshop
Speakers
Clare Pleydell-Bouverie
Co-lead fund manager
Clare is co-lead fund manager of the Liontrust Global Innovation, Liontrust Global Dividend and Liontrust Global Technology funds. She joined the team in 2022 and is a fund manager with 8 years of industry experience, having previously worked in global equities at Neptune Investment Management, Liontrust and in private equity research across a variety of industries. Clare holds a first-class degree in history from Christ Church College, Oxford University and is a CFA Charterholder. Formerly she also represented England for lacrosse.
Storm Uru
Head of the Global Innovation team & co-lead fund manager
Storm is co-lead fund manager of the Liontrust Global Innovation, Liontrust Global Dividend and Liontrust Global Technology funds. He has 12 years industry experience, including as a fund manager and prior to Liontrust worked at Neptune Investment Management running global funds. He holds an BBS in finance and MBS in international business from Massey University, an MBA from Oxford University and is a CFA Charterholder. He represented New Zealand in rowing at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, winning bronze in London in 2012.
Representatives
Tim Hooton
Sales Manager - London
Tim joined Liontrust in May 2015 and is a Sales Manager covering London and South Africa. Tim joined from JP Morgan where he was a Corporate Financial Analyst. Before that Tim was a Senior Associate at TACTICA Fund Management.
Fund Group Workshop
Speakers
Gontse Tsatsi
Gontse has extensive experience in Financial Services having served in strategy, operations and business development roles. He holds academic qualifications in Business Management and Biological Sciences. In his current role, he is responsible for catering to the needs of and growing Old Mutual Investment Group’s retail client base.
Fund Group Workshop
Speakers
Simon Prior
Fund Manager
Simon Prior joined Premier Miton in August 2020 and is co-manager of the Premier Miton Corporate Bond Monthly Income Fund, Premier Miton Strategic Monthly Income Bond Fund and Premier Miton Financials Capital Securities Fund. Previously he was at Merian Global Investors (2013-2020), where he was co-manager of the Merian Corporate Bond Fund and Merian Monthly Income Bond Fund. He has also worked at Old Mutual plc, having held positions in both the finance and treasury functions. Simon holds a BSc in mathematics from the University of Hull, and is a CFA Charterholder.
Strengthen Your core with Global Quality
The current climate calls for a resilient, core-quality investment strategy. We believe a long-term equity strategy should include balanced exposure to leading global companies, without material style, sector, or geographic bias.
Workshop Objectives: Hauke Ris, Co-Head of Robeco's Global Equities team, will present how Robeco's flagship Global Equity strategy provides a compelling opportunity amid current global uncertainties. He will explain how we identify Global Stars using our 3-pillar process and highlight how this fundamental approach has consistently generated alpha and managed risk effectively through various economic conditions. By emphasizing quality, such a strategy aims to outperform across market cycles, providing a balanced and resilient portfolio.
Company Profile: Robeco is a pure-play international asset manager founded in 1929 with headquarters in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and 15 offices worldwide. A global leader in sustainable investing since 1995, its integration of sustainable as well as fundamental and quantitative research enables the company to offer institutional and private investors an extensive selection of active investment strategies, for a broad range of asset classes.
On 30 September 2024, Robeco had EUR 204 billion in assets under management, of which EUR 200 billion is committed to ESG integration. More information is available at
Speakers
Hauke Ris
Fundamental Equity Portfolio Manager
Mr. Hauke Ris is Co-Head of Robeco’s Global Equity team, and he heads the Fundamental Equity Client Portfolio Management team.
He is a member of the management team of Robeco’s Equity division, which includes both Fundamental and Quantitative Equities. Hauke served on the Board of Directors of Robeco’s Luxemburg Fund range for several years.
He started his career at Robeco in 2012 in the role of Client Portfolio Manager for Robeco’s Asia-Pacific Equity team. Prior to joining Robeco in 2012, he was a Portfolio Manager with Kempen & Co in Amsterdam, managing Discretionary Private Client Portfolios. Before that, he worked for Bank Insinger de Beaufort in Amsterdam as an Investment Analyst focusing on institutional investment portfolios.
He started his career in the investment industry in 1999 at Salomon Smith Barney’s subsidiary Robinson Humphrey in Atlanta, GA, and holds an MBA from Western Carolina University.
Representatives
Thabo Tembo
Head of Africa Distribution, Robeco
Thabo Tembo is Head of Africa Distribution. Thabo is responsible for the overall management, sales and strategic decisions for Robeco in Africa.
Thabo brings more than twenty years of experience helping clients achieve their financial goals. Most recently, he was Head of Investor Sales, South Africa, for Citi Global Markets, primarily focusing on providing solutions to financial institutions, across a client base that included banks, pension funds, insurance companies, asset managers and hedge funds.
Thabo was also pivotal in driving the strategy for the broader markets business and was a member of Citigroup South Africa’s executive committee and of the JSE Financial Derivatives Advisory Committee.
Thabo holds an MSc in Finance, Regulation and Risk Management and a law degree from the University of Reading, UK. He also has a postgraduate diploma in Legal Practice from Oxford University and Oxford Brookes University.
Irshaad Ahmad
Managing Director of Europe, Africa and North America Institutional, Robeco
Irshaad Ahmad’s responsibilities include overseeing our Institutional Sales efforts and leading strategic planning in these regions. Irshaad brings over 25 years of experience in investments and pension organizations across the UK, Europe, and North America. Previously he held senior positions at Ardevora, Canada Post Corporation, Allianz, AXA, and Mercer. In these roles he was responsible for developing and implementing investment and
commercial strategies. Irshaad has a deep understanding of both public and private markets investing. He holds a degree in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Toronto.
Beyond the Giants: Hidden opportunities in small & mid-market buyouts
Schroders Capital provides institutional investors with a distinctive approach to private equity, focusing on high-quality opportunities in the global small and mid-cap market. As one of the few firms with a dedicated strategy in this space, we leverage deep GP relationships and disciplined investment selection to build resilient portfolios with strong return potential. This session will explore how adding targeted exposure to this segment can enhance portfolio diversification, improve risk-adjusted returns, and contribute to more effective private equity portfolio construction.
Workshop Objectives: Introduce investors to Schroders Capital, the private markets investment division of Schroders, with a particular focus on the potential benefits of investing in small and mid-cap private equity.
Company Profile: Schroders is a leading provider of active asset management, advisory and wealth management services. Our capabilities and global reach
across public and private markets allow us to design distinctive solutions for the diverse needs of clients. They look to us to provide excellent long-term investment outcomes, and it is our duty always to act in their best interests. That is a responsibility we take seriously – and we believe that when we succeed for clients, society and the wider world benefit too.
Schroders was founded in 1804 in London but has had an office in South Africa since 2015 where we focus entirely on providing offshore investment solutions to local intermediaries and institutions.
Speakers
Jeremy Knox
Senior Investment Director, Private Equity
Jeremy Knox is Senior Investment Director, Private Equity at Schroders Capital (the private markets division of Schroders). He covers Schroders Capital US private equity activities with a focus on co-investments, primary fund commitments and secondaries. Prior to joining Schroders Capital in 2016, Jeremy spent seven years in the investment arm of PartnerRe Ltd., where he was responsible for managing their private equity portfolio. Prior to PartnerRe, Jeremy worked in the Investment Banking group of Fox-Pitt Kelton where he focused on transactions within the financial services industry. Jeremy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Franklin & Marshall College.
Representatives
Kondi Nkosi
Country Head South Africa
Kondi Nkosi is the Schroders South Africa Country Head. He is responsible for providing the strategic leadership for the business and also oversees the Institutional Business Development strategy. He joined Schroders in 2018 and is based in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Kondi has worked in the financial services industry for over 18 years and has extensive experience in dealing with large institutional investors (including retirement funds, multi-managers and insurance companies) from both investment consulting and asset management perspectives. Kondi has a Masters in Finance and Economics (West Texas A&M University) and a Bachelor of Commerce (University of Cape Town).
Philip Robotham
Head of Wealth South Africa
Philip is Head of Wealth, South Africa and manages intermediary client relationships across the country. He joined Schroders in 2007 and has held multiple positions within the London distribution team. These have involved managing the largest intermediary clients and distribution partners in the UK, trade bodies, professional bodies, international life companies and UK ex-patriate clients across Europe.
Own the Few, Own the Best: Long-term Vision in a Short-term World.
Short-term market volatility is higher today than at any point in history, driven by changes in market structure and the rise of passives, quants, hedge fund pod shops and retail flows. In this session, we will discuss what it means to be a long-term investor in light of this increasing noise. How do you see the wood for the trees and identify those very few businesses that can compound wealth over time for the true long-term investor?
Workshop Objectives: We will be discussing quality long-term decision making, investing, and the necessary frameworks to support them. Additionally, we will be discussing the opportunity for the long-term focused in a short-term world.
Company Profile: Sands Capital is an active, long-term investor in leading innovative growth businesses, globally. Our approach combines analytical rigor and creative thinking to identify high-quality growth businesses that are creating the future. Through an integrated investment platform spanning venture capital, growth equity and public equity, we provide growth capital solutions to institutions and fund sponsors in more than 40 countries.
An independent, staff-owned firm founded in 1992 and headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area with offices in London and Singapore, Sands Capital managed more than $54B in client assets as of December 31, 2024.
Speakers
Ian Barnes
Managing Director
Ian Barnes joined Sands Capital in 2021 as Managing Director and is based in the London office. Sands Capital is an active, long-term investor in leading innovative growth businesses, globally.
Mr. Barnes previously worked as the CEO of Veritas Asset Management, and CEO of UBS Global Asset Management UK Limited, as well as various investment roles at Russell Investments and Towers Perrin. In his current role, Mr. Barnes heads the London offices and is responsible for our client base in the UK, Europe and Southern Africa.
Mr. Barnes earned his MA from Cambridge University.
T. Perry Williams, CFA
President, Co-Portfolio Manager
T. Perry Williams, CFA is President, Co-Portfolio Manager of the Sands Capital Global Growth strategy, and an Executive Managing Director. Sands Capital is an active, long-term investor in leading growth businesses globally.
Prior to joining Sands Capital, Mr. Williams was a Consultant and Principal at Mercer Investment Consulting. Mr. Williams joined the firm in 2004 as a Director of Client Relations and in 2006 became a Research Analyst on the Global Consumer Sector Team. Mr. Williams served as a Co-Portfolio Manager of the Select Growth strategy until 2013, at which time he became Co-Portfolio Manager of the firm’s Global Growth strategy. Mr. Williams became a member of the Executive Management Team in 2011, which provides strategic leadership across the firm. From 2014 – 2023, Mr. Williams held the position of Director of Research, and in 2016, he was promoted to President of Sands Capital.
Mr. Williams earned a BS from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia and an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University (1999).
Representatives
Philip Caraci
Portfolio Specialist
Sands Capital is an active, long-term investor in leading innovative growth businesses, globally. Our approach combines analytical rigor and creative thinking to identify high-quality growth businesses that are creating the future. Through an integrated investment platform spanning venture capital, growth equity and public equity, we provide growth capital solutions to institutions and fund sponsors in more than 40 countries.
An independent, staff-owned firm founded in 1992 and headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area with offices in London and Singapore, Sands Capital managed more than $54B in client assets as of December 31, 2024.
2025 Outlook for Gold
We have seen significant demand from investors for cost effective, efficient building block solutions across the whole Fixed Income spectrum. Indexing has been widely adopted by those investors to facilitate Tactical Asset Allocations, or to complement/replace actively managed strategies. We showcase how State Street Global Advisors (SSGA), a pioneer in indexing has been providing offerings across Core (Aggregate) as well as Satellite (High Yield) Fixed Income - and has been successful due to its highly sophisticated approach to portfolio construction amid rapidly evolving markets.
Workshop objectives: To showcase how SSGA, a pioneer in indexing, has provided offerings across Core (Aggregate) and Satellite (High Yield) Fixed Income, and showcase success due to its highly sophisticated approach to portfolio construction amid rapidly evolving markets.
Company Profile: We are innovators and problem solvers, stewards and educators. With experts across the globe, we are the quiet power in a tumultuous investing world.
For over four decades, State Street Global Advisors has served the world’s governments, institutions, and financial advisors. With a rigorous, risk-aware approach built on research, analysis, and market-tested experience, and as pioneers in index and ETF investing, we are always inventing new ways to invest. As a result, we have become the world’s fourth-largest asset manager* with US $4.72 trillion† under our care.
*Pensions & Investments Research Center, as of 12/31/23.
†This figure is presented as of December 31, 2024 and includes ETF AUM of $1,577.74 billion USD of which approximately $82.19 billion USD in gold assets with respect to SPDR products for which State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC (SSGA FD) acts solely as the marketing agent. SSGA FD and State Street Global Advisors are affiliated. Please note all AUM is unaudited
Speakers
David Furey
Global Head of Portfolio Strategists, Fixed Income, Cash and Currency
David is the Global head of the Fixed Income Portfolio Strategy group. In this role he leads a team of experienced investment professionals who are responsible for representing our investment capabilities across the complete fixed income arena spanning indexed, active and systematic strategies, LDI, cash and currency. The strategist team also act as subject matter experts to assist institutional investors and their advisors to evaluate economic and market developments, assess the impact to their portfolios, and identify specific products and solutions to help them manage risk and take advantage of market opportunities.
Prior to joining the strategist team in 2011, David was a Senior Portfolio Manager at SSGA Ireland (formerly Bank of Ireland Asset Management) with responsibility for the management of a broad array of active fixed income strategies primarily in the European bond markets. Previously, David spent five years in a similar role in Bermuda with a focus on US credit markets with Butterfield Asset Management. David began his investment career with AIG in Dublin before moving to London in 1993 to take up a position as a fixed income portfolio manager, managing active and liability driven bond strategies for AIG and other institutional investors.
David is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, and of the Smurfit Graduate School of Business at University College Dublin
Representatives
Shaza Hasan
Vice President, Middle East & Africa Sales
Shaza is a Vice President, Middle East & Africa Sales, at State Street Global Advisors. She is responsible for the business development and marketing of SSGA's investment solutions to clients in the Middle East & Africa.
Shaza joined SSGA from Ninety One, where she spent nine years as a Senior Manager within the UK Institutional team based in London. Shaza was responsible for building and managing relationships with the UK's largest Institutions (including pension schemes, endowments, consultants & wealth managers), partnering with them to develop bespoke investment solutions across a range of asset classes. Prior to this Shaza worked at F&C Asset Management, within the Institutional sales and marketing team.
Shaza holds a Bachelor of Science (with Honors) degree in Management, from Warwick Business School alongside the Investment Management Certificate, from the CFA UK.
James Thomas
Vice President, Middle East & Africa Sales
James is an experienced investment professional with extensive experience in asset management distribution. As a VP of Sales for Middle East & Africa at State Street Global Advisors, he is responsible for developing and managing relationships with intermediary investors across the region.
Prior to his current role, James served as Head of European Sales at ARK Invest, where he oversaw the distribution and launch of active ETFs across Europe, focusing on innovative and disruptive investment strategies. He also spent six years at State Street Global Advisors in London, driving ETF adoption among UK Intermediaries. Earlier in his career, he worked in Sales Strategy at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, contributing to the firm’s distribution strategy.