Asset Owner Series™ presents:
AOS Virtual Keynotes
A webinar series featuring perspectives from the world’s leading asset owners and investment consultants by CFA Society New York, in partnership with CFA Institute and CAIA Association.
Asset Owner Series™ (AOS) is a collection of exclusive in-person events that have featured over 300 asset owner and investment consultant speakers. These speakers collectively represent organizations with over $70 trillion in fiduciary assets under ownership or advisory. Since its inception in 2015, AOS events have been attended by over 6,000 in-person attendees globally. AOS speakers have represented every asset owner category: sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies, single family offices, multi family offices, endowments, foundations, private banks, national pensions, corporate pensions, institutional investment consultants, central bank reserve funds, supranational development banks, public pensions and union pensions.
In light of COVID-19, CFA Society New York created AOS Virtual Keynotes in 2020—presented in partnership with CFA Institute and CAIA Association—to ensure CFA Society and CAIA members globally will still be able to access exclusive asset owner and investment consultant perspectives. Both the AOS and AOS Virtual Keynotes were created by Thomas Brigandi, CFA, Global Inaugural Outstanding Young Leader of the CFA Institute, and are driven by his team of over 500 industry leaders globally who source speakers from their respective networks.
About CFA Institute
CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence and credentials. The organization is a champion for ethical behavior in investment markets and a respected source of knowledge in the global financial community. The end goal: to create an environment where investors’ interests come first, markets function at their best, and economies grow. CFA Institute has over 178,000 members and 157 member societies.
About CAIA Association
The CAIA Association is a global professional body dedicated to creating greater alignment, transparency, and knowledge for all investors, with a specific emphasis on alternative investments. A Member-driven organization representing professionals in more than 95 countries, CAIA Association advocates for the highest ethical standards. The organization provides unbiased insight on a broad range of investment strategies and industry issues, key among them being efforts to bring greater diversification to portfolio construction decisions to achieve better long-term investor outcomes.
Upcoming Events
Past Events
Hear About the Largest US Public Pension’s Major Shift, from the CIO
Featuring Ben Meng, Ph.D., CIO, CalPERS
Hear from the CIO of CalPERS, Ben Meng, Ph.D., about their increased allocation to alternatives and greater use of leverage.
INSURANCE: Subsectors Worth Watching, According to AFLAC’s CIO
Eric Kirsch (AFLAC); Stewart Foley, CFA (Insurance AUM Journal)
Significant market shifts often begin in the margins. The speakers on our August 16 webinar will share where they see risk and opportunity in small corners of this idiosyncratic market. Join us for an interview of Eric Kirsch (Global Chief Investment Officer and EVP of AFLAC), as conducted by interviewer Stewart Foley, CFA (Managing Partner and Editor-In-Chief of Insurance AUM Journal), focused on the details concerning their respective outlooks across an expansive range of subsectors.
An Asset Owner CIO View from APAC
Featuring Mark Delaney, AustralianSuper
Hear how the chief investment officer of the largest Australian superannuation and pension fund, Mark Delaney, CFA, views the stresses on the market in his region as he is interviewed by Marg Franklin, CFA, CEO of CFA Institute
A Global View from the former Chief Strategy Officer of the Saudi Arabian Sovereign Wealth Fund
Featuring Dennis Johnson, formerly of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia
Dennis Johnson, CFA, is a rarity. As the former Chief Strategy Officer for the sovereign wealth fund for Saudi Arabia, he has a unique global view. He will be interviewed by CFA Institute’s former CEO, Paul Smith, CFA.
A View of LATAM’s Public and Private Markets
Featuring Fernando Manrique, CFA, CAIA, Head of Bottom Up Investments, AFP Integra / Sura
Fernando Manrique, CFA, CAIA of AFP Integra (part of Sura, Latin America’s largest private pension plan) will share where he sees value in the public and private markets in Peru and beyond in LATAM.
Reflections on a Career Serving the Public Pension System
Featuring Chris Ailman, CalSTRS
Chris Ailman, Chief Investment Officer, CalSTRS, will share his views of how one of the US’ largest public plans is positioning its portfolio in this rare market environment. Alternative investments will also be discussed as he will be interviewed by John Bowman of CAIA.
What Clients Want and What They Will Want: A Consulting and OCIO Leader’s Perspective
Featuring Rich Nuzum, CFA, President, Investment and Retirement, Mercer
Hear what Rich Nuzum, CFA, President of Investment and Retirement of Mercer, thinks the current market pressures will yield in terms of client expectations of products and services.
What’s Next for India’s Infrastructure and Other Investments?
Featuring Prakash Rao, National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF)
Hear from Prakash Rao of India’s sovereign wealth fund National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), about the agenda for the second largest country in the world, by population.
A View from the Top of the Real Estate Market
Featuring Kent Swig, Owner, Swig Equities
View the current pressures on the real estate markets through the lens of one of its stars, Kent Swig of Swig Equities.
One Local Retirement Fund Investor's View
Featuring Natalie Jenkins Sorrell, Investment Officer, Employees Retirement System of the City of Dallas
Natalie Jenkins Sorrell, Investment Officer, Employees Retirement System of the City of Dallas, shares her view of why now is a good time for alternative investments.
A View of the African Continent
Featuring Uche Orji, Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, Solomon Asamoah, Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) and Dave Uduanu, CFA, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Sigma Pensions Limited
How do asset owners from a sovereign fund, pension plan and infrastructure fund view the impact of the pressures, and the values, on the African continent?
What Can Stressed Public Funds Learn from this Asset Owner?
Featuring Jeff Houston, Head of Pensions at Local Government Association (UK) and Secretary to the Board of Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) Advisory Board
Jeff Houston of the UK’s LGPS will share his experience of living through a massive rebalancing.
Spotlight on Mexico’s Public and Private Markets
Featuring Juan Manual Veron, CFA, Chief Investment Officer, Principal Financial Group
Hear insights into the local markets and macro factors affecting them from one of the country’s largest asset owners.
What’s Next for the Nordics?
Featuring Torbjörn Hamnmark, Head of Strategic Asset Allocation, AP3 (Tredje AP-fonden/Third Swedish National Pension Fund)
Torbjörn Hamnmark, AP3, will share his view of the next allocation and manager selection changes for AP3.
What’s on the Mind of one of the Systems within the Largest Municipal Pension Fund in the US?
Featuring Antonio Rodriguez, CFA, Director of Investment Strategy, NYC Board of Education Retirement System
Antonio Rodriguez, CFA, Director of Investment Strategy at the NYC Board of Education Retirement System will share the latest thinking from the largest local public pension plan.
Private and Co-Investment Risks and Opportunities
Featuring Itay Blasenheim, Global Head of Direct Private Investments, Citi Private Bank
Hear from senior private banking executive Itay Blasenheim, Global Head of Direct Private Investments, Citi Private Bank, about where private market valuations make sense, and where they don’t.
How is the World Bank Managing Assets Amid the Crisis?
Featuring World Bank Treasury's: Tapiwa Sikipa (Sr. Portfolio Manager) and Heike Reichelt (Head, Investor Relations & Sustainable Finance, Capital Markets & Investment)
Hear Tapiwa Sikipa (Senior Portfolio Manager, World Bank Treasury) and Heike Reichelt (Head, Investor Relations and Sustainable Finance, Capital Markets and Investment, World Bank Treasury) discuss how they are handling the current crisis.
Where One Sovereign Fund is Allocating to Alternatives
Featuring Marcus Frampton, CFA, CAIA, FRM, Chief Investment Officer, Alaska Permanent Fund
The CIO of Alaska Permanent, Marcus Frampton, CFA, shares the values he is finding in the alternatives space. He will be interviewed by CAIA’s Bill Kelly.
How One Wealthy Family Views the Growth of India’s Family Offices and Alternative Investments
Featuring Nitai Utkarsh, Lead – Investment Strategy & Chairman’s Family Office, Hero MotoCorp, Ltd.
Dynastic family wealth requires an exceptionally long term view. Hear from one Indian family that takes a very long term view of the local markets and macro trends.
A Candid View of China’s Markets
Featuring Winston Ma, CFA, Esq., former Managing Director of China Investment Corporation (CIC)
Winston Ma, CFA, Esq., a former Managing Director of China Investment Corporation (CIC) will share an unvarnished view into this huge, and challenged, economy.
What One LATAM Central Bank Reserve Fund Manager Thinks about the Crisis
Featuring Hector Resendiz, CFA, Deputy Manager – Investment Risks, Central Bank of Mexico
Hector Resendiz, CFA, of Mexico’s Central Bank will be interviewed by Jo Paisley of GARP.
One Wealthy Family’s Journey to Investing With Purpose
Featuring Valerie Rockefeller, Chair of the Board of Directors, Rockefeller Brothers Fund
Hear from Valerie Rockefeller about her family’s five year case study of fossil fuel divestment.
What the Sovereign Fund from the Least Corrupt Country Thinks About ESG and More
Featuring Morten Kjærgaard, Danmarks Nationalbank; Soren Elbech, JP Morgan
Transparency International named Denmark the least corrupt country. Hear from Morten Kjærgaard, Danmarks Nationalbank as he is interviewed by Soren Elbech of JP Morgan.
Hear How One State Pension Plan is Dealing with Covid Pressures
Featuring Amy McGarrity, Colorado PERA
Amy McGarrity, Colorado PERA will be interviewed by John Bowman of CAIA on the pressures and how to manage them.
How Could the Asset Allocation of the Biggest Dutch Life Insurance Company Change?
Featuring Jeroen Bos, CFA, CAIA; Valentijn van Nieuwenhuijzen
Jeroen Bos, CFA, CAIA will interview Valentijn van Nieuwenhuijzen to find out what’s next.
What the “Technologized Investor” of the Future Looks Like
Featuring Ashby H. B. Monk, PhD (Standford University); Hugh O’Reilly (OPTrust)
Ashby Monk (Stanford) thinks investors will need to understand more about long term risks, unconventional data and have good tech partners in the future.
How Does One of Asia’s Largest Insurance Group CIOs See the World?
Featuring Jo Murphy (CAIA); Professor Mark Konyn (Group CIO, AIA)
Join us as Jo Murphy (CAIA) interviews Professor Mark Konyn, Group CIO at AIA, the largest independent, publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group.
Racial Equity in Asset Management: Asset Owners’ Perspectives
Featuring Thomas K. Lee (NYS Teachers' Retirement System); Chavon Sutton (Office of NYC Comptroller)
What can the asset management industry to do affect positive and sustainable racial change? What unique role should asset owners play in advancing the industry? What new expectations do asset owners have of the asset managers they hire? What metrics and parameters will be used to measure asset managers, and how will they be held accountable?
See How a State Pension Plan Sees the Long Run
Featuring Elizabeth Burton (Hawaii Employees’ Retirement System); John Bowman (CAIA)
Elizabeth Burton, CIO of Hawaii Employees’ Retirement System will be interviewed by John Bowman of CAIA
How One Endowment and One Family Office are Implementing ESG Investments
Featuring Michael Barry (Georgetown Univ. Investment Office); Liesel Prtizker Simmons (Blue Haven Initiative)
Michael Barry of Georgetown University Investment Office and Liesel Pritzker Simmons of Blue Haven Initiative have wrestled with ESG data and investments in their long run planning. Hear what has worked for them.
A View from Australia
Featuring Stephen Dunne (Construction and Building Industry Superannuation Fund); Maria Wilton, CFA, AM (CFA Institute)
Stephen Dunne, Director of Construction and Building Industry Superannuation Fund (Cbus), will be interviewed by Maria Wilton, CFA.
Southeast Asia’s Risks and Returns, During and Beyond Covid
Featuring Azmil Tengku (Khazanah Nasional Berhad); Edphawin Jetjirawat (Temasek); Sharinee Shannon Kalayanamitr (Gobi Partners)
Hear the CIO of Khazanah Nasional Berhad, the sovereign wealth fund of the Government of Malaysia and Edphawin Jetjirawat, MD, Temasek interviewed by Sharinee Shannon Kalayanamitr, Gobi Partners.
Why Investing in Hope is Profitable for One of Africa’s Wealthiest Families
Featuring Joseph Boateng (Casey Family Programs Endowment); Hubert Danso (Africa Investor)
Joseph Boateng of Casey Family Programs Endowment will be interviewed by Hubert Danso, Africa Investor.
Building a Successful Investment Strategy in China as a Foreign Investor – Perspectives from Power Corp, a Desmarais family controlled company
Featuring Pravin Raveendran (AssetOwner.CO); Eoin Ó hÓgáin (Power Corporation of Canada; Power Pacific Investment Management)/h2>
Perspectives from Power Corp, a Desmarais family controlled company.
North American Alternative Investment Risks
Featuring Rossitsa Stoyanova (Canada Pension Plan Investment Board); John Bowman, CFA (CAIA)
Rossitsa Stoyanova, Managing Director, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board will be interviewed by John Bowman, CFA of CAIA.
A View of Long-Termism from New Zealand’s Sovereign Wealth Fund
Featuring Stephen Gilmore (The Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation Fund); Jo Murphy (CAIA)
Stephen Gilmore, CIO of The Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation Fund will be interviewed by CAIA’s Jo Murphy.
Utilizing the Canadian Endowment Model in a UK Pension Scheme
Featuring Michelle Ostermann, CFA (RPMI Railpen); John Bowman, CFA (CAIA)
Michelle Ostermann, CFA, will discuss RPMI Railpen’s organizational and asset allocation change that’s leading to more private assets. She will be interviewed by John Bowman, CAIA.
How Endowments Will Be Impacted by U.S. Higher-Ed Pressures
Featuring Ken Redd (NACUBO); Kristin Agatone (Lehigh University Investment Office)
Ken Redd, Director, Research and Policy Analysis, NACUBO and Kristin Agatone, Chief Investment Officer, Lehigh University Investment Office will discuss the issues facing higher education entities and how they will impact their endowments.
One Pension Manager’s View of the Pressures on the EU
Featuring Laura Merlini (CAIA Association); Elena Manola-Bonthond (CERN Pension Fund)
Laura Merlini, Managing Director EMEA, CAIA Association will interview Elena Manola-Bonthond, CIO of CERN Pension Fund.
How One Canadian Pension Views Global Alternatives
Featuring James Burron, CAIA (Canadian Association of Alternative Strategies & Assets); Robert Goobie, CPA (Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan)
James Burron, CAIA, President, The Canadian Association of Alternative Strategies & Assets will interview Rob Goobie, Assistant Vice-president of Collateral Management, Derivatives and Fixed Income, Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan.
Racial Equity in Asset Management: Asset Owners’ Perspectives
Co-hosted with the Diversity & Inclusion Forum, and the New Jersey Interest Group
What can the asset management industry do to affect positive and sustainable racial change? What unique role should asset owners play in advancing the industry? What new expectations do asset owners have of the asset managers they hire? What metrics and parameters will be used to measure asset managers, and how will they be held accountable?
A Look Forward with the Head of Duke’s Endowment
Featuring Evan Jones, CFA (Head of DUMAC); Daniel Fridson (McCarvill Capital Partners)
Evan Jones, CFA, Head of Direct Investments of DUMAC (Duke University’s endowment) will be interviewed by Daniel Fridson, McCarvill Capital Partners.
OCIO: What Investing Trends the CIO of One of the Largest Thinks About
Christopher Philips, CFA (Vanguard Institutional Advisory Services); Chris Cutler, CFA (Manager Analysis Services)
Chris Cutler, CFA, Founder of Manager Analysis Services and a frequent CFA Society New York volunteer, will interview Chris Philips, CFA, Principal and Head of Vanguard Institutional Advisory Services.
Insurance: Portfolio Design Amid Massive Change
Stewart Foley, CFA (Insurance AUM Journal); Vlad Barbalat, CFA (Liberty Mutual Investments); Patrizio Urciuoli, CFA (Libery Mutual Investments)
The pace of change caused by the recent markets, extraordinary central bank actions, excessively low interest rates and other risks make change the only constant in the recent investment arenas. Hear from the CIO of one of the US’ largest insurance carriers about how she’s managing those changes. Stewart Foley, CFA, Managing Partner and Editor-In-Chief of the Insurance AUM Journal will interview Vlad Barbalat, CFA, Executive Vice President, Executive Managing Director and Co-Head of Strategy & Asset Allocation and Patrizio Urciuoli, CFA, Executive Vice President, Executive Managing Director and Co-Head of Strategy & Asset Allocation, both of Liberty Mutual Investments.
OCIO & Wealth Solutions: Accelerating Investor Demand for Whole-Portfolio Solutions
Jeffrey Saef, CFA (BlackRock); Marg Franklin, CFA (CFA Institute)
CFA Institute’s CEO Marg Franklin, CFA and Jeffrey Saef, CFA, Managing Director, Head of the Americas Region and Global Head of Model Portfolios of BlackRock’s Multi-Asset Strategies & Solutions team will discuss the future of the rapidly evolving OCIO and Wealth Solutions space. With over 30 years of investment management experience, Jeff will share his unique perspectives on why there is acceleration in demand for outsourced investment capabilities, and how BlackRock is evolving its institutional OCIO and wealth investment solutions capabilities to serve this growing demand for whole portfolio solutions.
Portfolio Construction for Asset Owners Considering Sustainable Data, Risks and Returns
Francesco Briganti (Cross Border Benefits Alliance-Europe); Timothée Jaulin (Amundi)
Watch Francesco Briganti, PhD, Secretary General, Cross Border Benefits Alliance-Europe and Timothée Jaulin Head of ESG Development & Advocacy, Special Operations, Amundi discuss the details of portfolio construction for asset owners with an ESG orientation.
Consultants: How the Decision Making Tools Asset Owners Use to Stay Ahead of Trends are Changing
Duncan Bonfield (International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds); Rich Nuzum, CFA (Mercer)
How do a broad cross section of the world’s largest, most sophisticated asset owners address long-term systemic risks and investment opportunities such as those associated with climate change, technological disruption, or low long-term real interest rates? What organizational practices help create competitive advantage in investing to seize opportunities and mitigate risks associated with major trends that might otherwise threaten the ability of an asset owner to achieve their objectives?
Family Offices: A Long Term View of Investments and Philanthropy
Binu J. George, CFA (Willett Advisors); Bruce Zimmerman (Dalio Family Office)
Hear Binu George, CFA, Willet Advisors (Bloomberg family office) and Bruce Zimmerman, CIO, Dalio Family Office discuss their investment program changes and managing philanthropic goals.
Insurance: Innovative Thoughts on Portfolio Construction and Asset Selection
Stewart Foley, CFA (Insurance AUM Journal); Susan Chung (Amica Mutual Insurance Company)
Innovation is one of the most important factors in handling the risks presented by unique situations like those in the markets now. Stewart Foley, CFA, Managing Partner and Editor-In-Chief of the Insurance AUM Journal will interview Susan Chung, Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer at Amica Mutual Insurance Company on the most innovative portfolio management and due diligence techniques she has seen and used.
Diverse Views on What’s Next for the Markets
Ashish Shah (Goldman Sachs Asset Management); Joanna Horowitz, CFA (Monticello Consulting Group); Adeyemi Ajao (Base10); Degas Wright, CFA (Decatur Capital Management); Kirk Sims, CFA (Teachers Retirement System of Texas)
Forecasting market movements is difficult at any juncture, but even more so during periods of uncertainty. Tune in to this virtual conversation to hear diverse professionals discuss their perspectives on what the future holds for the market and how they plan to reach their diversity goals in their firms and their asset selection.
Development Bank Perspective: Optimizing Investments in Sustainable Infrastructure in Emerging Markets
M. Nicolas J. Firzli, LL.M. (World Pensions Council); Prof. Zamir Iqbal (Islamic Development Bank)
AOS features Prof. Zamir Iqbal (Vice President - Finance, CFO, Islamic Development Bank) in conversation with Nico Firzli (President, World Pensions Council), as Prof. Iqbal shares his perspective on how investors can maximize infrastructure and sustainable development opportunities when investing in emerging markets—informed by his nearly three decades of experience in the sector.
