09:00
WELCOME – DAVID LANE, H&B Chairperson
09:20
SIGNAL VS. NOISE | EVERYONE'S TACTICAL UNTIL THEY'RE WRONG
Amidst ever-evolving market trends, how do you discern what truly represents a fundamental shift versus fleeting volatility?
This candid session brings together a panel of Australia's best allocators to discuss how they distinguish genuine market signals from the noise, and the major ideas set to have the largest impact on portfolios. A session that provides insight on tactical shifts to long-term structural opportunities and everything in between.
10:25
MORNING TEA
10:55
CONSTRUCTING RESILIENCE | CAPITAL ALLOCATION WITHOUT EXCUSES
Rates are no longer zero, the cost of capital matters again and publicly listed companies shrink away, so how do investors optimally balance while traditional portfolio boundaries blur?
This session examines the evolving landscape across asset classes, exploring how to construct portfolios that harness the complementary strengths of both public and private markets. One where we explore consideration around liquidity management, valuation disparities, and the structural shifts reshaping asset allocation decisions.
Discover practical frameworks for integrating private markets alongside public holdings, understanding when illiquidity premiums justify commitments, and identifying opportunities across the spectrum.
11:50
RETHINKING AUSTRALIA'S EQUITY EXTREMES | DIFFERENTIATION LOOKS SUSPICIOUSLY SIMILAR
When did holding Australia's largest company become a contrarian position?
This fireside chat confronts the absurdity of current market positioning, where every manager claims differentiation by avoiding the same stocks. A session where we examine being long CBA, the heaviest index weight, now qualifies as a bold call, and what this consensus avoidance reveals about groupthink in portfolio construction.
Beyond the peculiar dynamics of large-cap positioning, we explore opportunities across the market cap spectrum. From overlooked quality to structural growth in small caps and global equities, this conversation identifies where real edge exists when everyone is zigging the same direction.
SPEAKERS:
PAUL TAYLOR, Head of Investments Australia | Portfolio Manager, Fidelity International
JAMES ABELA, Portfolio Manager, Fidelity International
13:00
LUNCH
14:00
PRIVATE CREDIT | FEAR SELLS NEWSPAPERS, DATA TELLS TRUTH
Is private credit the next financial crisis, or is fear obscuring one of the more compelling opportunities for portfolios?
This session confronts the sensationalist narratives dominating media coverage, examining what the data actually reveals about private credit performance, structure and risk. As headlines scream about defaults and obscurity, we explore the current private credit market and where these concerns may or may not be substantiated.
Discover how diversified private credit strategies across geographies can build portfolios with meaningful downside protection. We dissect metrics and rate exposure to understand where genuine risk resides versus where misconceptions persist and compare the sector against public markets.
SPEAKER:
JASON PHILLIPS , Director ,Credit & Markets , KKR | Investment manager partner of Channel Capital
15:00
AFTERNOON TEA
15.30
QUALITY VS. VALUE | BOTH CAN'T BE RIGHT (OR CAN THEY?)
Can both philosophies win simultaneously, or does the current environment demand choosing sides?
A chat uniting two opposing investment perspectives to explore what's actually working in global equities today. Moving beyond textbook definitions and backtest debates, we examine how two different approaches are navigating the same opportunity set with vastly different lenses and where their views surprisingly converge.
A session to explore the global themes that are creating genuine opportunities across investment styles: where disciplined value investors are finding mispriced assets, and where quality-focused managers see sustainable compounders. From geographic dislocations to sector rotations, we explore whether today's market rewards patience, discipline, or simply being in the right place.
SPEAKERS:
JOHN GOETZ, Managing Principal, Co-Chief Investment Officer, Portfolio Manager, Pzena Investment Management
DOUGLAS TYNAN, Chief Investment Officer, GCQ Funds Management
16:30
REGULATORY INSIGHTS UNVEILED | RISK MANAGEMENT ISN'T RISK AVOIDANCE
Our speaker in this session offers a rare, unfiltered look into the regulatory landscape from an ASIC insider. We'll explore the evolving future of financial advice, challenging conventional interpretations and empowering advisers to navigate compliance with confidence.
This session promises a practical deep-dive into legislative nuance, encouraging a balanced approach that promotes proactive regulatory navigation without compromising risk management. A session that redefines the boundaries of what you can achieve in your practice today.
SPEAKER:
DANIELLE PRESS, Non-executive Director
17:30
SYMPOSIUM DAY 1 CONCLUDES
18:15
SYMPOSIUM CRUISING DINNER – Catalina Noosa