08:45
WELCOME – Paul Chapman, Chairperson
09:00
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
10:05
MORNING TEA
10:30
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.
SPEAKERS:
ADAM KIBBLE, Portfolio Manager, Schroders, Australia
SAM TOHILL, Assistant Portfolio Manager, Resonant Asset Management
11:30
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
12:25
LUNCH
13:25
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.
GUEST MODERATOR:
NICK MORTON, Director | Chief Investment Officer, Resonant Asset Management
SPEAKER:
CHIA-WEN TEOH, Head of Alternative Sales | Asia, PIMCO
14:25
GODS, GUNS & GOLD | FROM MACRO SIGNALS TO ALLOCATION STRATEGY
We are navigating a market defined by extremes. This session opens by stepping away from standard asset classes to dissect the new macro trinity, the technological singularity of AI, the geopolitical friction driving energy, and the structural bid for Gold.
Identifying these trends, however, is only half the battle. In the second half of our session, a panel of allocators explores how to actually price these forces into a portfolio. We move from theory to granular execution, discussing how industry participants distinguish genuine signals from red herrings, size their tactical shifts, and anchor their long-term conviction amidst the noise.
SPEAKER:
CHRIS WATLING, CEO, Chief Market Strategist & Founder, Longview Economics
15:10
AFTERNOON TEA
15.35
INSTINCT MEETS OPTIMISATION | DIFFERENT PATHS, SAME DESTINATION
Do markets reward human judgment or quantitative rigor, or does the answer matter less than we think?
This session unites two opposing, or perhaps complimentary global equity philosophies. One relies on deep fundamental research and experienced judgment to identify mispriced quality while the other harnesses a number of datasets, including proprietary analyst driven signals, and through disciplined execution aims to remove unintended biases. We explore how these differing approaches interpret the same volatile market environment, discovering where human insight and systematic precision actually complement each other to drive sustainable alpha.
GUEST MODERATOR:
NICK MORTON, Director | Chief Investment Officer, Resonant Asset Management
SPEAKERS:
MATT REYNOLDS, Equity Investment Director, Capital Group
ANGELA CHOI, Investment Director, Fidelity International
16:35
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.
GUEST MODERATOR:
BRUCE MALONEY, Principal, WP Invest
SPEAKER:
DANIELLE PRESS, Non-executive Director
17:30
SYMPOSIUM DAY 1 CONCLUDES
18:00
SYMPOSIUM DINNER