Infrastructure Investment Australia Summit Draft Agenda

Thursday 13 March 2025

 

8.30 Registration Open

9.00 Opening Remarks from the Chair

9.10 Keynote: Unpacking global geopolitical developments and the outlook for investors

  • Considering perspectives on inflationary pressures, fluctuating interest rates, and supply chain disruptions
  • Reflecting on market volatility and navigating uncertain market conditions
  • Adjusting your investments for enhanced portfolio resilience and stability amid slowing growth
  • Leveraging the resilience of infrastructure investments to preserve capital and maximise returns

Alexander Downer AC, Former Minister for Foreign Affairs

 

10.10 Panel: Reflecting on trends in deal flows and valuations in the Australian infrastructure market

  • Identifying the most attractive and opportune investment targets in a competitive environment
  • Leveraging strategic partnerships to negotiate favourable terms and access new deals
  • Reviewing valuations of Australia’s largest infrastructure asset classes and their impact on investments
  • Optimising resources and efficiency through enhanced due diligence in assessing and valuating deals

Kyle Giumelli, Senior Investment Analyst – Private Markets, UniSuper

Sam Habibeh, Associate Portfolio Manager, Aware Super

Emmanuel Diinis, Associate Director, Infrastructure, Cbus Super

Dan Cave, Senior Consultant, Frontier Advisors

 

10.50 Morning coffee

 

11.20 Leveraging AI to oversee the performance of infrastructure investment portfolios

  • Utilising generative AI to accelerate the identification of critical risks and mitigations across portfolios.
  • Employing machine learning models to predict areas of risk
  • Assessing opportunities and dangers of AI for decision-making
  • Lessons learnt from an AI business transformation

David Dubois, Executive Director – Portfolio Performance and Analytics, Infrastructure NSW

 

11.50 Turning a new leaf through sustainable and lucrative forestry infrastructure investments

  • Understanding how forestry drives economic growth and mitigates climate change
  • Driving sustainability efforts through protecting native forests, environmental planting, and sustainable plantations
  • Securing investment in forestry to make the most of demands in sustainable land management
  • Highlighting innovative case studies in successful and sustainable forestry investments

 

12.30 Lunch

 

1.30 Keynote: Meeting the challenge of the renewable energy transition

  • Securing NSW’s commitment to renewable energy through decisive policy action
  • Promoting energy transition and renewables through policy and regulatory frameworks
  • Exploring Australian investment opportunities which adapt to and protect our environment
  • Unpacking and building resilience to risks and roadblocks in green infrastructure projects

Kiersten Fishburn, Secretary, NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure

 

2.20 Panel: Moving up the curve of risk/return as infrastructure evolves

  • Exploring innovative and emerging investment solutions to move up the yield curve
  • Reassessing the risk/return profiles of traditional and emerging infrastructure classes for new risks and opportunities
  • Pushing boundaries for investable assets while maintaining adherence to requirements and objectives
  • Employing strategic, creative, and collaborative initiatives to ensure returns are met

Maria Guo, Director Infrastructure and Timberland, Future Fund

Sally Cameron, Senior Manager Infrastructure, NGS Super

Maria Donnelly, Senior Portfolio Manager, Aware Super

Anne Boniface, Senior Investment Strategist, External Investments and Partnerships, NZ Super Fund

 

3.00 Afternoon tea

 

3.30 Panel: Diversifying infrastructure portfolios to enhance resilience and foster growth

  • Understanding how and why a turbulent geopolitical climate demands branching out from traditional infrastructures
  • Balancing risk management and return requirements when looking into diversification opportunities
  • Exploring geographic regions and emerging sectors which deliver stable, long-term returns
  • Building a portfolio diversification strategy which looks to innovative areas to maximise returns while mitigating risks

Peter Colacino, Project Strategy and Delivery Lead, Mott MacDonald

Ken Lee, Senior Manager, Infrastructure, NSW Treasury Corporation

Gary Greene, Investment Manager – Infrastructure, HESTA

Matthew Dickson, Senior Manager, Infrastructure, Rest Super

 

4.10 Panel: Investing in social infrastructure to enhance sustainability and quality of life

  • Assessing the capacity for social infrastructure to enhance economic growth and social mobility through creating healthier, more connected communities
  • Exploring the opportunities and risks in sectors of increasing demand including hospitals, schools, social housing, cultural infrastructure, justice services and more
  • Measuring social impact of investments through initiatives including Closing the Gap and OECD development targets
  • Getting the most out of value-aligned investment partnerships to deliver on returns and ensure long-term growth

Andrew Sneddon, Chief Investment Officer, Brightlight Group

Darren Dawson, General Manager Social Infrastructure Funds, Australian Unity

Visakhan Vythilingham, Responsible Investment Analyst, Active Super

 

4.50 Closing Remarks from the Chair

5.00 End of Summit and Networking Drinks