Jake Meyer
Jake Meyer has climbed many of the world’s highest and toughest peaks, including the infamous K2 – “The Savage Mountain”. Jake completed the 7 Summits challenge in 2005, aged 21, as the youngest Briton to climb Everest, via the North Ridge, and the youngest man in the world to complete the 7 Summits (Bass variant). He’s also set a record of the fastest ascent of the highest mountain in every State in the contiguous USA and in 2023 climbed Everest for a second time – via the South Col – making him one of a small collection of mountaineers who has summited Everest via two different routes.
He spent 10 years and 3 expeditions trying to climb K2 in Pakistan, the second highest mountain in the world – eventually making it to the top in 2018, as the youngest Briton.
Jake is an ambassador for Walking With The Wounded, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards Scheme and has worked closely with a number of charities including Help for Heroes, The Prince’s Trust, the Prince’s Teaching Institute, MakeA-Wish Foundation, and the CAIRN Trust. He is also a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
He was awarded the British Empire Medal in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for ‘Services to Mountaineering, Youth and Charity’.
Jake is a full-time management development consultant for the Inspirational Development Group. IDG are an award-winning business performance improvement organisation who work with countries, corporations and enterprises around the world.
He’s a commissioned officer in the British Army Reserve and has served overseas, including an operational tour of Afghanistan as a Battlegroup Influence and Consequence Management Officer.
Workshops
Workshops
Assessing attractive opportunities and key risks across the healthcare industry
The healthcare industry is under immense pressure, with soaring costs and declining patient outcomes pushing systems to collapse. Government spending has surged, leaving a massive financing gap. Chris will delve into these challenges and highlight the potential opportunities for investors and will explain why healthcare remains an attractive sector for new investment.
Workshop Objective:
Understanding healthcare industry key challenges and long-term opportunities
Company Profile:
About AXA Investment Managers
AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) is a leading global asset manager offering a diverse range of global investment opportunities in both alternative and traditional asset classes. Through our products we aim to diversify and grow portfolios, while delivering long-term investment performance and value for clients.
AXA IM manages approximately €859 billion in assets*, and has €480 billion of ESG-integrated, sustainable or impact assets**. Our purpose is to act for human progress by investing for what matters. As a responsible asset manager, we are committed to integrating ESG principles across our business, from stock selection to our corporate actions and culture.
Part of the AXA Group, a worldwide leader in insurance and asset management, AXA IM employs over 2,800 employees and operates from 23 offices in 18 countries globally**.
*As at the end of March 2024, including non-consolidated entities.
** As at the end of December 2023.
Speaker
Chris Eccles
Portfolio Manager, Healthcare
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Prior to joining AXA IM, Chris spent five years at Impax Asset Management as the senior global healthcare analyst, specialising in sustainable investment strategies. Chris has over 14 years’ experience in global healthcare markets, having previously worked as a pharmaceutical sector analyst at Morgan Stanley and healthcare specialist sales at Stifel, as well as covering biotech at a new hedge fund start-up. Chris graduated from Oxford University with a 1st class degree in pre-clinical medicine.
Representatives
Robert Wilson
Head of Global Financial Sales UK
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As Head of Global Financial Institutions UK, Rob is responsible for AXA IM’s relationships with global financial distributors in the UK. Rob joined AXA IM in 1999.
Prior to AXA IM, Rob worked at Morgan Grenfell Asset Management as an Investment Sales Manager, where he was responsible for the North of England and Scotland. Rob worked at Greig Middleton as a Private Client Portfolio Manager for fifteen years, where he was responsible for the independent research and analysis of UK mutual funds and portfolio construction for private clients and IFAs.
Gary Laing
Investment Sales Manager
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Gary joined AXA Investment Managers in May 2005 and is Investment Sales Manager for IFA and discretionary sales covering the East Anglia, North London and the Midlands regions. Gary was previously at F&C Asset Management in Edinburgh and has 15 years industry experience.
A differentiated approach to infrastructure investing
William Argent will discuss opportunities in the listed UK infrastructure sector and how the asset class can provide reliable income for investors. He will highlight the Fund's differentiated approach, and its focus on sector themes including renewable energy, healthcare, and digital infrastructure.
Workshop Objective:
To demonstrate how a diversified approach to infrastructure investing can deliver reliable, long-term income.
Company Profile:
When we talk about the long run at Gravis, we’re not just thinking about returns. The way we see it, the most reliable returns are linked to the assets that are most vital to society and the economy.
That’s why we invest in things that will be needed for many years to come. Building on our investments in hospitals, schools and student accommodation we’ve expanded into increasingly important areas, such as renewable energy generation, supported living, logistics and data centres, to name but a few.
Gravis gives investors access to the more stable and predictable side of many of today’s most exciting themes – from infrastructure and real estate to clean energy and digital assets. Whatever the sector, and whether it’s through public or private markets, the result we aim for is reliable, long-term income for all our investors.
Speakers
Will Argent
Fund Manager of the VT Gravis UK Infrastructure Income Fund
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Will is responsible for the oversight of the VT Gravis UK Infrastructure Income Fund and VT Gravis Clean Energy Income Fund. Will joined Gravis in 2017, having spent 12 years working as an equity analyst and portfolio manager within the private client wealth management industry. Will has significant experience investing in global capital markets and he maintains a specialist focus on the listed infrastructure and real asset sectors. Will graduated with a degree in Mathematics from the University of Exeter. He has passed all three levels of the CFA Program and was awarded the CFA charter in 2009.
Representatives
Jonathan Feely
Sales Director
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Jonathan is a Sales Director with responsibility for the Midlands, North of England, Scotland & Northern Ireland.
For over 25 years he has worked in Financial Services, the last 16 years at Columbia Threadneedle covering the intermediary market in the North of the UK. He also has experience in the Middle East market having undertaken a hybrid role for several years covering the North of the UK & Middle East. He has vast experience working with independent financial advisors, wealth managers, banks and platforms. He holds Certificate in ESG Investing, CFA Diploma in ESG Investing. CFA Level 4 Certificate in Investment Management, (IMC). CII Level 4 Diploma in Financial Planning (DipPFS) and the CII Level 4 Certificate in Discretionary Investment Management (DM).
Cameron Gardner
Director, Head of Distribution
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Cameron is a Director at Gravis and is Head of Distribution. She is a member of the Responsible Investment Committee.
She joined Gravis in April 2019 from Neptune Investment Management, where she was responsible for covering the Southwest, Midlands and Wales. Prior to that Cameron worked at Ardevora Asset Management where she supported the Head of Institutional clients.
Cameron graduated with a degree in Geography from the University of Cambridge and holds the Investment Management Certificate.
UK Equities: This Is Just The Beginning!
What a year it has been for UK equity investors! The market is finally beginning to wake up to the UK’s economic resilience. Yet, despite a sterling start to the year, this is just the beginning. Conditions are aligning for a remarkable multi-year period for the UK equity market.
In this workshop, Richard Bullas, Co-Head and Portfolio Manager - UK Equities, will outline the attractive long-term prospects for UK equities. He will also discuss how the Martin Currie UK Mid Cap Fund provides exposure to businesses well placed to benefit from a domestic resurgence.
Workshop Objective:
Attendees will discuss the merits of the undervalued UK market and how the catalysts for improvements are aligning making the current environment perfect for UK equity investors.
Company Profile:
Martin Currie is a global active equity specialist and part of Franklin Templeton, one of the world’s leading asset managers. Founded in Scotland in the late 19th century, today we build concentrated, best-idea portfolios that create conviction in fast-changing markets. Our equity teams manage global and regional products that span developed and emerging markets.
Talented, autonomous teams are backed by a distinctive and supportive investment culture. With stewardship at the heart of our business, we employ long-term, original thinking to deliver sustainable investment returns.
We are fundamental, long-term investors managing assets globally for some of the world’s largest asset owners.
Speaker
Richard Bullas
Co-Head, UK Equities (Small & Mid Cap)
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Richard is Co-Head, UK Equities (Small & Mid-Cap) at Martin Currie. He is lead portfolio manager of the FTF Martin Currie UK Mid Cap Fund and manages the mid cap portion of the FTF Martin Currie UK Manager's Focus Fund.
Richard has worked with the fund management team for over 20 years; He joined the company when the Franklin UK Equity team transferred to Martin Currie in 2022, but previously worked at Rensburg Fund Management when it was acquired by Franklin Templeton Investments in 2011.
Representatives
Mark Elliot
Head of UK Business Development
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Mark is responsible for building Martin Currie’s UK Intermediary and retail business, across the firm’s equity platform, working in partnership with Franklin Templeton’s UK sales team. Before Mark joined Martin Currie, he worked for Franklin Templeton, most recently as Head of Strategic Partnerships and prior to this, he held a number of roles at Blackrock including European Strategy and Head of UK Sales during his decade with them. His 35+ years in UK Financial Services also include 5 years with Lazard Asset Management and 12 years with National IFA, Sedgwick Noble Lowndes in various Advisory and Management roles.
Dan Williams
Business Development Director
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Dan Williams is a business development director at Franklin Templeton Investments, responsible for relationships and investment fund distribution in the North of England and Scotland. He joined the Franklin Templeton Leeds office in 2013 as a Sales Support Executive. Prior to joining Franklin Templeton, he worked at RBS Global Banking & Markets in roles within Interest Rate Derivatives Operations and FX Prime Brokerage. Dan studied Virtual Reality Design at the University of Huddersfield and holds the CFA Level 4 Investment Management Certificate and the CISI Level 3 Certificate in Investments.
The road less-travelled: discovering hidden small-cap gems across Europe
European small-caps have significantly underperformed large caps but we see an opportunity for them to make up lost ground. Mirabaud’s Discovery Europe team of experienced active managers walks the road less travelled to build a high conviction portfolio of hidden small-cap gems to continue to deliver alpha.
Workshop Objectives:
- Provide an overview of the European small-cap market and why now is the time to take advantage of the ‘small-cap effect’.
- Investors will learn how we unearth hidden gems, hear insights from our research trips along ‘the road less travelled’, and understand the importance of a clear process for discovery.
Company Profile:
Mirabaud Asset Management is the independent asset management division of the Mirabaud Group focused on active investing across Fixed Income, Equities, Multi-Assets and Private Assets. A common philosophy applies across each of these areas of expertise, which is an active, high conviction approach to generating long term risk adjusted returns. A focus on managing risk and a commitment towards environmental, social and corporate governance principles are important constituents of Mirabaud AM heritage. The firm operates in Europe’s key financial centres: London, Paris, Geneva, Zurich, Madrid, Milan and Luxembourg.
Speaker
Trevor Fitzgerald
European Equities, Fund Manager
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Trevor is passionate about investing and brings extensive experience in smaller companies from investment banking. Trevor started as a smaller companies specialist in equity sales in 2000. Firstly, as a U.K. specialist at Altium Capital, Seymour Pierce & Numis and most recently broadening pan European since 2008 at Credit Suisse. He joined Mirabaud Asset management in 2015 as an analyst and was promoted to co-manager in 2017.
Trevor has a first-class degree in Economics from the University of Sydney
Representatives
Benjamin Carter, PhD
Head of UK Wholesale
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Benjamin Carter, Head of UK Wholesale, joined Mirabaud Asset Management in 2021. Benjamin, who has a decade of experience within the financial services industry, joined from Aviva Investors where he was a Senior Business Development Director and responsible for setting the discretionary strategy, as well as lead of the London team. He started his investment career as a product specialist for the Aviva Investors global convertibles capability in 2012.
Elliot Fowles
UK Wholesale Sales
Elliot Fowles, UK Wholesale Sales, joined Mirabaud Asset Management in 2022. Elliot, who has nearly thirty years of experience in
the industry, joined from Aviva Investors where he spent the last ten years as Senior Business Development Director. Prior to this, he held sales positions at HSBC Global Asset Management and DWS Investments, among others.
Demystifying Emerging Market corporate bonds
The presentation will go through some of the fundamental tenants of Emerging market corporate bonds and will look to educate investors on their relative attractiveness, in relation to developed market fixed income and other emerging market asset classes. We will look at index composition, relative risk levels and diversification benefits of the asset class and why we feel it should be a core allocation in a fixed income portfolio.
Workshop objective:
Provide investors an education on Emerging market Corporate bonds.
Company Profile:
The Nomura Asset Management Group is a leading global investment manager. Headquartered in Tokyo, Nomura has additional investment offices throughout the world including London, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taipei, Frankfurt and New York. With a global workforce of 1,365 employees, it has been operating in Europe for more than 30 years. Today Nomura Asset Management provides its clients with a wide range of innovative investment strategies including global, regional and single country equities, high yield bonds and global fixed income strategies.
Speaker
Magashlin Chetty
Executive Director, Nomura Corporate Research and Asset Management Inc.
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Magashlin Chetty is an Executive Director who joined NCRAM in June 2023. He currently plays a dual role as a corporate credit analyst and assistant portfolio manager. Before joining NCRAM, Mr. Chetty worked at Fisch Asset Management where he primarily focused on emerging market corporate issuers within the Asia region. Prior to joining Fisch Asset Management, Mr. Chetty was a senior emerging market corporate analyst, working across long-only and hedge fund strategies at Bluebay Asset Management. Mr. Chetty received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry with Management from Imperial College and is a qualified Chartered Accountant.
Representatives
Kevin McFarlane
Regional Sales Director North of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland
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Kevin McFarlane joined the EMEA Distribution team in February 2023 as Business Development Director, focusing on UK Wholesale in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the North of England. Kevin has previously worked at Standard Life, Schroders, Miton and SVM covering the Discretionary and Wealth Managers in his region. He will be supporting NAM’s strategy to develop its market share, predominantly with wealth managers, fund-of-funds, family offices and other financial institutions.
US Equities – Choices in Allocation, Selection, and implementation
The ‘winner-takes-it-all’ trend that dominated global equity markets in 2023 has continued its momentum into 2024. Investor focus on a select group of US stocks, known as the Magnificent 7, has not only heightened concentration risks but also made it more challenging to outperform broad benchmarks. In this environment, equal-weighted strategies have gained significant traction, as investors aim to align their US equity allocations with their market outlook. Besides monitoring a tactical turnaround in US equity participation, investors may also want to consider the long-term implementation costs of US market access, given the region’s ever-increasing role in portfolios.
Workshop Objectives:
• Understand the impact of increasing single stock concentration in global equity markets
• Explore the tactical and strategic uses of factor-based investments to enhance portfolios
• Learn about implementation considerations and assess product quality
Company Profile:
Xtrackers, the passive solutions platform by DWS has one of the largest and most established product ranges in Europe, with a global presence and more than €220 billion in assets under management (as of 10/2024). Xtrackers has an index track record going back over 20 years and offers a broad range of efficient, high-quality ETFs and ETCs on all major asset classes – equities, bonds and commodities, as well as bespoke strategies through index funds and segregated mandates. Xtrackers provides numerous building blocks across all wrappers for traditional investment strategies, ESG strategies (environmental, social, governance), sector and factor investments, as well as innovative products on thematic investments and future trends.
Speakers
Lukas Ahnert
Senior Product Specialist - Xtrackers Index Strategy & Analytics
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Lukas Ahnert is part of the Xtrackers Index Strategy & Analytics team within the DWS Product Division. In his role, he is particularly involved in the design and analysis of passive index strategies, including the Xtrackers ETF range. Lukas Ahnert joined DWS in 2018 and holds a Master in Finance from the University of St. Gallen and a Master in Economics from the University of St. Andrews.
Representatives
Toby Dudley-Smith
Team Lead Coverage Xtrackers UK
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Toby joined from Amundi, where he spent two years in the ETF, Indexing and Smart Beta Sales team, covering UK clients, covering asset and wealth managers as well as family offices. Prior to that he headed up the Equity Investment solutions desk at Julius Baer, and, prior to its takeover, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management for seven years. He previously held other roles within the Merrill Lynch organisation, including equity sales trader.
MA in History from University of Edinburgh.
Tom Eckett
Passive Client Coverage, DWS
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Tom joined DWS as assistant vice president, Xtrackers client coverage division, in September 2024. Prior to this, he spent five years at ETF Stream, most recently as editor between 2021 and 2024. He started his career at Investment Week in August 2016 as an asset management correspondent covering ETFs.