We will open our conference with a review of the current geopolitical climate in play around the globe from the perspective of someone who has been directly involved at the highest level in the fields of international diplomacy and intelligence. How do the seemingly insurmountable array of challenges facing the world connect and interact, what near and medium term factors will add to or calm the temperature and, importantly for our discussions during the conference, what should investors be monitoring and thinking about.

This session will explore how changing global dynamics are intertwined in investment strategy. Specifically, how commodity markets are intrinsically interconnected with global geopolitical developments, the decarbonisation energy transition, inflation and currency dynamics and other asset allocation considerations.

In this session, our speakers will reflect on the opening sessions of the conference and provide an update on how current global market developments, the challenges of inflation and interest rates, and domestic economic settings are each flowing through to implications for Australian investors and their approaches to portfolio management.

On the eve of the Australian government’s first sovereign green bond issue, we consider the progress made in debt markets around responsible investments. Are fossil fuel exclusions an easy starting point or should investors use a mix of strategies and products to achieve their objectives?. In this session our panel will explore approaches to ESG, development of new products, and importantly consider the risks investors face as we transition. This is especially important for insurers who not only hold large allocations to bonds, but likely also have exposure to climate risks on both sides of the balance sheet.

Wei Ji 危机. Wei means crisis while Ji means opportunity. In the ancient Chinese philosophy, opportunities often arise from crisis. In this year of the Dragon the real estate industry sees enormous opportunity on the horizon. We have two veterans of the industry who hope to persuade our “dragons” to invest with them in what promises to be attractive ‘vintage’ ahead. Will it be real estate private credit (debt), secondary portfolios at deep discounts, or something else?

Investors continue to grow their unlisted asset allocations (not surprising). Given the focus on beneficiary equity along with increases in regulation and focus on valuations from APRA, plus new regulation coming around the Financial Accountability Regime (in 2025) – all investors need to focus and lift on the challenges of unlisted valuations.

Asset owners do not need impact investments to achieve their headline financial objectives. So why are an increasing number intentionally allocating to impact investment opportunities? What does it really mean to invest with purpose? Our expert panel will unpack the fundamentals of impact investing to reveal why investors are essential in achieving a healthier, fairer, and greener global economy. We will examine and debunk key myths (and misconceptions) and consider the practical steps asset owners should take when considering impact investments. Finally, we discuss the current opportunities and industry trends in the impact investing space, and how these can generate attractive financial and positive social/environmental outcomes for asset owners.

The performance of Chinese and Indian equities has diverged materially in recent years, along with a narrowing of their respective index weights. What might these shifts foretell of the potential for more discretionary EM allocations, heightened sensitivity to geopolitical considerations and the return prospects for long-suffering EM investors. Drawing on the perspectives of both asset owners and managers, along with Frontier’s lens, we will explore the elevated consideration of sovereign risk factors in dimensioning EM opportunities. Does EM simply have a China problem and can India take the reins? Will the large, emerging middle classes of both countries (home to more than one-third of the world’s population) prove to be powerful, twin engines of superior, multi-decade EM growth? Or do geopolitical implications infer that superior opportunities lie elsewhere within EM domiciles.

Private debt has become a sought-after investment for allocators looking for strong and stable returns. But what risks are investors really taking, how is private debt likely to withstand a slowing economy or even a recession, and is now the time to commit additional capital? Join us as we unveil Frontier’s latest senior direct lending market survey results and interact with a panel of private markets industry practitioners to unpack this important topic.

The transition of Australia’s energy system requires industry, governments, communities and investors to play a pivotal role in meeting our ambitious targets. The enormity of the task poses both opportunities and risks for infrastructure investors. In this session, we explore the opportunities and current market challenges, particularly the social license to meet our green energy obligations, with prominent investors.

Institutional investors all over the world have committed to addressing climate change in their portfolios as part of global efforts to achieve net zero by 2050. Now, it is time to make good on those commitments, but this is easier said than done. Enabling this critical transition will involve investing in and supporting companies that need to evolve their strategies to reduce their greenhouse gas emission levels as soon as possible. While investing in these stocks can have adverse, short-term impacts on a portfolio’s carbon “footprint” it will be critical for meaningful, real-world decarbonisation. Investors sit at the intersection of building net-zero aligned portfolios that drive positive change and generating strong risk-adjusted returns for beneficiaries. Our panel will discuss the practicalities of implementing a net zero portfolio strategy while also meeting their financial and fiduciary objectives.

Australia’s economic prosperity and security is intimately linked to that of its neighbours in Southeast Asia. While there is huge diversity amongst ASEAN economies, Australia could do more to engage with Southeast Asia to boost trade and investment, and recent Australian government-led delegations to the region with participation from our largest institutional investors, including Frontier, have been positive. The panel will provide an insight into Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 and the types of opportunities and challenges asset owners and investors can expect in Southeast Asia.

In a comprehensive conversation with the newly appointed Chair of Australia’s Future Fund, we will delve into Greg’s career insights and perspectives as a business leader. We will discuss various topics including negotiating, superannuation, politics, leadership and governance, the economic transformation required to reduce emissions, and taking on his latest role with the Future Fund.