09:00
WELCOME – H&B Chairperson
09:20
CONFLICT, CRUDE & COMPUTE | READING THE NEW MARKET MATRIX
Today’s allocators are forced to navigate a matrix of conflicting signals. On one hand, the threat of geopolitical escalation & shifting oil dynamics and on the other, the exponential, economy altering growth of AI.
To open the forum, we bring together a panel of leading advisers to discuss what is genuinely driving their decisions today. This session unpacks the tensions at the forefront of asset allocation, examining how to weigh raw geopolitical risk against unprecedented technological opportunity. How do these massive themes translate into actual portfolio weightings, tactical pivots, and structural opportunities for the year ahead?
SPEAKERS:
NORMAN ROBINSON, Chief Executive Officer, Sentinel Financial Group
FIL ANDRONACO, Partner | Portfolio Manager, Trellia Wealth Partners
10:25
MORNING TEA
10:55
CONSTRUCTING RESILIENCE | IMPLEMENTING THE MACRO MATRIX
Volatility from crude oil spikes to tech breakouts is the new baseline and as traditional diversification levers falter and historical correlations break down, the strategies of the past are rendered insufficient.
Following our allocator panel, this session shifts from forming a market view to expressing these views in a portfolio. Our speakers explore how a multi-sector approach weaves diverse asset strengths into a robust framework. We explore how to build portfolios that can absorb short-term geopolitical shocks while still capturing the upside of long-term secular trends like AI.
We look beyond standard boundaries to uncover where genuine risk premiums hide today, a practical guide to rethinking liquidity, managing downside risk, and executing capital allocation without excuses.
SPEAKER:
ADAM KIBBLE, Portfolio Manager, Schroders, Australia
11:50
THE AI SHADOW | MISPRICED EXCELLENCE IN THE NEW ECONOMY
If everyone is paying a premium for tomorrow's disruptors, who is buying today's lasting leaders?
The current AI euphoria has created a massive blind spot within the software, data and professional services sectors, mislabelling robust businesses as legacy relics. This session provides a framework to separate the long-term winners from those genuinely at risk from AI-disruption. We draw on the lessons of history and highlight the characteristics evident in those businesses today trading at at a once-in-a-cycle discount.
SPEAKER:
STEPHEN ARNOLD, Chief Investment Officer, Aoris Investment Management
12:50
LUNCH
13:50
ASSET-BASED FINANCE | PRIVATE CREDIT’S NEXT FRONTIER
Private credit markets are under pressure from tighter spreads and growing competition in direct lending. Asset-based finance represents an interesting solution, offering income stability and downside protection amid regulatory shifts and emerging risks. Our speaker in this session will explore what is required to succeed in today’s fast evolving asset-based market.
SPEAKER:
CHIA-WEN TEOH, Head of Alternative Sales | Asia, PIMCO
14:50
AFTERNOON TEA
15.20
THE DISPERSION DIVIDEND | HUNTING ALPHA IN A CONCENTRATED WORLD
As market leadership narrows, the risk of holding the benchmark has never been higher. Yet beneath the surface, global equity dispersion is creating massive opportunities for those willing to look outside index concentration.
This panel brings together two distinct vantage points, a fundamental approach and a dedicated Asian specialist lens to map the new frontiers of alpha. We explore how to navigate away from crowded US exposures without sacrificing quality or growth.
Our speakers discuss where active management is currently being rewarded, whether it's unearthing overlooked global compounders, capturing the dynamism of Asian markets, or finding the idiosyncratic companies driving the next phase of global economic growth.
SPEAKERS:
MATT REYNOLDS, Equity Investment Director, Capital Group
GARY MONAGHAN, Investment Director, Fidelity International
16:20
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
17:20
SYMPOSIUM DAY 1 CONCLUDES
18:00
SYMPOSIUM DINNER