09:00
WELCOME – PAUL CHAPMAN, H&B Chairperson
09:20
POSITION IMPOSSIBLE | DECODING GROWTH BEYOND THE OBVIOUS
In a world where rapid innovation and market concentration are reshaping the investment landscape, how can active investors successfully build a resilient portfolio?
This session will explore the profound impact of AI which has the potential to challenge market incumbents and create the next generation of giants. We will delve into the ongoing debate over the valuation of mega-caps and discuss how a marked increase in style volatility presents a key challenge for maintaining investment discipline.
Our speakers will detail how to navigate this period of disruption by exploring innovation-driven opportunities backed up by the principles of valuation & risk management. This session offers a framework for global equities allocations to thrive in volatile markets and strategically positioning client portfolios for what comes next.
SPEAKERS:
HUGH SELBY-SMITH, Co-Chief Investment Officer, Talaria Asset Management
PAWEL WROBLEWSKI, Portfolio Manager, ClearBridge Investments
JONATHAN TOLUB, Partner | Portfolio Manager, InvestSense
10:25
MORNING TEA
10:55
THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD | AUSTRALIAN EQUITY OPPORTUNITIES LARGE AND SMALL
Why settle for the obvious when Australia's equity landscape is teeming with overlooked opportunities? This session dives deep into the local market's best-kept secrets, from nimble small-cap growth stories to undervalued situations ripe for transformation.
Discover how active management can unlock value across the market spectrum, with real-world examples of companies that have delivered outsized returns. We'll explore asymmetric opportunities where patient capital meets activist insight, revealing how differentiated approaches and strategic engagement can reshape corporate Australia.
Through compelling company case studies and behind-the-scenes corporate storytelling, leave with a fresh perspective on building long-term Australian equity portfolios that look beyond the index.
SPEAKERS:
JASON PETRAS, Director, Resonant Asset Management
MICHAEL HIGGINS, Portfolio Manager, Milford
JAMES HAWKINS, Partner | Head of Catalyst Fund, L1 Capital
12:05
THE GREAT ESCAPE | PRIVATE EQUITY'S EXIT DILEMMA AND OPPORTUNITY PARADOX
Remember when private equity seemed perfectly aligned with easy exits and endless opportunities? Fast-forward to today's reality check, where IPO windows slam shut while privatization deals surge, creating a fascinating paradox in private markets.
This session tackles the uncomfortable questions head-on: How do you create value when traditional exit routes are blocked? What happens when public companies flee to private havens while private companies can't find their way out? We'll dissect whether recent market dislocations have created genuine opportunities or simply masked underlying challenges.
Building on familiar private equity myths and misconceptions, we'll explore how today's environment demands a complete rethink of value creation strategies. Leave understanding how this evolving landscape reshapes private asset allocation decisions.
SPEAKER:
DAVID CHAN, Portfolio Manager | Private Equity, MLC Private Equity
13:00
LUNCH
14:00
ASSET-BASED FINANCE | PRIVATE CREDIT’S NEXT FRONTIER
In an era defined by evolving banking regulation, traditional areas of the private credit universe are becoming increasingly saturated and necessitate caution. Our speaker in this session explores how asset-based strategies are emerging as a compelling frontier for forward-thinking investors seeking stability of income downside protection through hard collateral, diversification, and attractive returns.
SPEAKER:
CHIA-WEN TEOH, Head Of Alternative Sales | Asia, PIMCO
15:00
AFTERNOON TEA
15:25
AI, AI, CAPTAIN | NAVIGATING THE GENERATIVE STORM
What if the biggest disruption to wealth management isn't coming from regulators or markets, but from a chatbot? This isn't your typical AI presentation filled with buzzwords and theoretical promises.
Bring your laptop and bring your skepticism, this hands-on workshop throws you into the deep end of generative AI. From compliance nightmares to client communication breakthroughs, we'll experiment with tools that are reshaping the industry landscape. No coding required, but curiosity is mandatory. Leave knowing whether AI is your next competitive advantage or just another shiny distraction.
Laptops/devices required for participation
SPEAKER:
DANNY BEIRUTI, Inventiologist, Inventium
16:25
SECOND CHANCES | THE FULL SPECTRUM OF SECONDARY OPPORTUNITIES
What happens when prestigious US endowments suddenly need cash and can't wait for traditional exit timelines? The secondary market explodes with opportunity across every corner of private equity.
This comprehensive session covers the entire secondary landscape - from nimble small and mid-market deals to massive mega-fund transactions. Discover how funding pressures, particularly affecting university endowments amid shifting political support, are creating unprecedented secondary deal flow.
We'll explore how different market segments offer distinct advantages: the agility and relationship-driven nature of smaller secondaries versus the scale and diversification benefits of large-cap transactions. Leave understanding how to navigate secondary opportunities across the full spectrum and why today's market dislocations might be tomorrow's portfolio winners.
SPEAKERS:
JOHN LEE, Partner | Hong Kong, Lexington Partners
JEFF MILLER, CIO | Global Head of Private Equity, Pantheon | Investment Manager Partner of Longreach Capital Advisors
17:30
PRE DINNER DRINKS
18:30
SYMPOSIUM DINNER - Mantellina