11th Asset Allocation Australia Summit
Thursday 15 May 2025, Sydney
Draft Agenda
8.30 Registration
9.00 Opening Remarks from the Chair
9.10 Keynote: Unpacking global geopolitical developments and the outlook for investors
- Assessing how emerging policies abroad and at home will impact economic growth, inflation and interest rates
- Questioning the implications upon different industries, sectors and socioeconomic groups
- Reflecting on market volatility and navigating uncertain market conditions
- Positioning investment portfolios to outperform amidst global geopolitical shifts
Alexander Downer AC, Former Minister for Foreign Affairs
10.10 Panel: Questioning the impact of inflation and interest rates on investor strategy
- Evaluating inflation and interest rate effects on strategy and returns from multiple perspectives
- Allocating to inflation-hedging assets to enhance real returns
- Identifying portfolio risks and developing strategies to mitigate interest rate exposure
- Maintaining adaptability to ensure resilience amidst shifting market conditions
Matthieu Durin, Chief Investment Officer, Allianz Australia Insurance
Martin Crabb, Chief Investment Officer, Shaw and Partners
Richard Allen, Head of Investments and Asset Liability Management, TAL
Ed Tomlinson, Chief Investment Officer, Future Super
10.50 Morning Coffee
11.20 Improving risk adjusted returns in global portfolios through effective currency management
- Currency implications of increasing global equities exposure
- Understanding the embedded currency risks
- Developing an effective currency overlay to protect portfolios
- Effectively using currency as a portfolio diversifier
Andrew Harrex, Managing Director Australia/New Zealand, P/E Investments
Mohamed Noureldin, Senior Manager, Currency Commodity & Tactical Asset Allocation, NGS Super
11.50 Incorporating liquid alternatives to navigate tightening markets
- Integrating liquid alternatives into portfolios to safeguard and enhance returns
- Mitigating interest rate sensitivity by diversifying across highly liquid assets
- Managing downside risks by investing in derivative instruments
- Balancing liquid alternatives with illiquid investments to meet short-term performance tests
Jason Lejonvan, Global Investment Strategist, Multi-Asset Solutions, Newton Investment Management Group
12.10 Panel: Maximising risk-adjusted returns through effective risk management
- Structuring risk/return strategies to optimise yields while mitigating known risks and unforeseen disruptions
- Building resilience through diversification and leveraging multiple factors
- Hedging against market volatility by incorporating derivatives to protect returns
- Adapting to changing market conditions with flexible allocation approaches
Marina Pasika, Head of Growth Alternatives, Rest Super
Thomas Gillespie, Head of Investment Risk, NSW TCorp
Andrew Fisher, Head of Portfolio Strategy – Asset Allocation, Australian Retirement Trust
1.00 Lunch
2.00 Panel: Identifying sustainable and social assets to propel positive impact of investments
- Targeting growth opportunities which address pressing social and environmental issues
- Exploring community investment opportunities that prioritise underserved populations and regions
- Focusing on sustainable and impact-driven assets in energy and social enterprises
- Leveraging ESG criteria to measure portfolio contributions and drive meaningful impact
Andrew Sneddon, Chief Investment Officer, Brightlight Group
Brett Chatfield, Chief Investment Officer, Cbus Super
Rory Lonergan, Chief Investment Officer, Clean Energy Finance Corporation
Dinusha Periris, Responsible Investment Manager, Suncorp
Christina Hobbs, A/Chief Impact Officer, Future Group
2.50 Panel: Adjusting approaches to portfolio diversification to match market characteristics
- Recalibrating portfolio diversification to suit the economy’s current stage of recession, recovery or expansion
- Mitigating pressure from rising interest rates and inflation with opportune investments in real assets
- Accounting for geopolitical risk to diversify on sector and region-wide scales
- Shifting to defensive sectors in periods of market downturn or uncertainty
Craig Thorburn, Director Research and Insights, Future Fund
Michael Mi, Deputy Chief Investment Office, NGS Super
Ross Etherington, Deputy Chief Investment Officer, Coal LSL
3.30 Afternoon tea
4.00 Workshopping risk scenarios to prepare investment teams for unforeseen disruptions
- Exploring unforeseen risks to investment teams through scenario and stress testing
- Identifying operational risks and their potential to disrupt wider financial systems
- Managing vulnerabilities in teams and strategies to enhance resilience amidst disruptions
- Ensuring investment teams are equipped to perform in an era of rapid change
Jane Couchman, Chief Risk Officer and Group Executive, Sustainability, Aware Super
4.50 Closing Remarks from the Chair
5.00 End of Summit