The IA Annual Conference 2023

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Please use appropriate discount code based on your membership tier*: 

• Full Member: IACONF23FULL | Free to attend

• Affiliate, Sector, AREF, I2020 and Engine Member: IACONF23AFF | £95 + VAT

*To check your member status, please visit our Members Directory

After a decade of sustained growth, the last 12 months have marked a pivotal moment for the investment management industry. As the war in Ukraine continues to have a profound human and economic impact, so too does the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, climate change, and the UK’s evolving relationship with the European Union and beyond on our industry.

This year’s conference will encourage participants to consider how the UK-based investment management industry should now adapt to the changing world and stay globally competitive, and how firm’s can succeed in an uncertain political and economic environment. Whether responding to the changing needs of investors, utilising new technology and pushing innovation, adapting to the UK’s new place in the world and new investment opportunities, or simply staying current across a rapidly changing regulatory environment, the scale and pace of change facing the industry is both a challenge and an opportunity for all.

The UK is a global centre for excellence in investment management and this year’s conference offers a chance to explore how to make the most of that position. With keynote speeches from leading industry figures at the global, regional, and domestic level, this year’s conference will provide a platform for up to 600 participants from across the industry to exchange knowledge, insights, and experiences and network with colleagues, policymakers, and regulators alike.

Join us at our flagship event, featuring:

• Up to 600 IA members in attendance
• Hear from the FCA, IOSCO, UK Policy makers and industry leaders
• Engage with exhibitors from across the investment management industry
• Meet our new Engine innovators of Cohort 6
• The biggest IA event in the annual calendar, hosted by Daisy McAndrew

For sponsorship and exhibitor enquiries, please contact Events@theia.org

08:30 - Registration, networking and breakfast

09:40 - Welcome & housekeeping

Daisy McAndrew, Journalist, TV & Radio presenter 

09:45 - Opening remarks

Patrick Thomson, CEO EMEA, J.P. Morgan Asset Management & IA Chair

09:55 - Innovation in Investment Management: Engine pitch one

10:00 - Panel: Supporting changing investor expectations

Moderator: Karen Northey, Director - Corporate Affairs, The Investment Association 

• Charles Prideaux, Group Head of Strategy & Solutions, Schroders Investment Management Ltd
• Marcello Arona, CEO, AXA Investment Managers UK
• Dawn Hyams, Head of Investor Insight & Governance, Wisdom Council
• Richard Wilson, CEO - Personal Wealth, Abrdn & Founder of Interactive Investor
• Sean Hagerty, Managing Director, Vanguard Europe & IA Deputy Chair 

10:45 - Innovation in Investment Management: Engine pitch two

10:50 - Networking break

11:25 - Innovation in Investment Management: Engine pitch three

11:30 - Panel: Embracing innovation and utilising new technology

Moderator: Jonathan Lipkin, Director - Policy, Strategy & Innovation, The Investment Association 

• Ben Lucas, CEO, Amundi Technology 
• Kate Rosenshine, Global Technology Director, Strategic Partnerships - Digital Natives, Microsoft
• Oliver Bilal, Head of EMEA Distribution, Invesco
• Euan Munro, CEO, Newton Investment Management 

12:15 - Investment2020 10 Year Anniversary

Karis Stander, IA Director, Culture, Talent & Inclusion, MD, Investment20/20

12:30 - Innovation in Investment Management: Engine pitch four

12:35 - Lunch & networking break

13:40 - Innovation in Investment Management: Engine pitch five

13:45 - Keynote: The Labour Perspective on Financial Services

Tulip Siddiq MP, Shadow Economic Secretary to the Treasury 

14:00 - Global Developments in the Investment Management Industry – a Strategic Insight into Global Themes Impacting the Road Ahead

Michelle Moran, Partner & Head of Investment Management, K&L Gates

14:10 - Panel: Supporting clients in a globally uncertain world

Moderator: Jack Knight, Deputy CEO, The Investment Association 

• Joseph Pinto, CEO, M&G Asset Management 
• Stephen Cohen, CEO EMEA, Blackrock
• Marie Dzanis, CEO, Northern Trust
• Michelle Moran, Partner & Head of Investment Management, K&L Gates

15:00 - Keynote – Parliamentary perspective on the future of financial services regulation

Harriett Baldwin MP, Chair of the Treasury Select Committee and Conservative MP for West Worcestershire

15:15 - Networking break

15:35 - The Global Economic Outlook

Karen Ward, Chief Market Strategist, JP Morgan Asset Management

15:45 - Keynote 3

Martin Moloney, Secretary General of IOSCO

16:00 - Panel: Meeting the regulatory agenda

Moderator: Chris Cummings, Chief Executive, The Investment Association 

• Martin Moloney, Secretary General, IOSCO
• Camille Blackburn, Director of Wholesale and Buyside, FCA
• Thoreau Bartmann, Co-Chief Counsel of Asset Management Division, SEC
• Alain Deckers, Head of Unit Asset Management, DG FISMA, European Commission
• Jonathan Charles, Director - Investment Management Regulatory Advisory, Grant Thornton UK LLP 

16:45 - Closing remarks

Chris Cummings, Chief Executive, The Investment Association

16:50 - Networking drinks reception

In order of appearance: 

Daisy McAndrew, Journalist, TV & Radio presenter
Daisy McAndrew is a popular conference facilitator and corporate awards host with 25+ years’ experience covering politics, business & royal stories on tv and radio. Daisy is currently NBC News’ Royal Commentator, co-presents the Times Radio Sunday politics show T&G with Tom Newton-Dunn, and is a regular contributor on TalkRadio, the BBC, ITV/ITN, Sky News and contributes to numerous documentaries on the Royals on Channel 5, Discovery and Yahoo TV. Recently she has presented election coverage for London Live and had her own weekly business show on LBC

The face of the high-profile presenter and media trainer can often be seen flickering on screens as she reviews papers for Sky News, BBC News, and This Morning.

Before leaving ITV News to go freelance, Daisy spent an efficacious seven years there reporting on major issues such as the credit crunch and the recession as its Economics Editor, as well as presenting ITV Lunchtime and Weekend News, and ITV Moral of the Story.

Prior to ITV, she presented (as Daisy Sampson) the BBC's Daily Politics and was BBC Breakfast News' political correspondent.

Before moving into broadcasting, Daisy began a 10-year stint at Westminster by first working as a Tory researcher. She began to write for newspapers from the Press Gallery, profiling MPs in The House Magazine (which she ultimately edited), and eventually became the Press Secretary for Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy.

Daisy was also a consultant on the BBC’s A-Z of Politics and edited The Politics Companion, published by Chrysalis books.

She had her own drive time show on LBC Radio as the host of the weekly O2 Business Show in 2013, which uncovered the latest business gossip through discussions with leading British experts.

Other presenting spells include Channel 4's Powerhouse, the BBC's Heaven and Earth Show and BBC Weekend News. She has also been featured on Have I Got News for You?, The Wright Show, Despatch Box, and many Radio 5Live programmes.

As well as acting as a patron of the St John's Hospice and being an active supporter of Crisis, she is the trustee of the Internews Europe which aims to empower local media worldwide to give people the news and information they need.

Daisy’s presenting accolades keep on growing as she adds anchoring London Live to the list. The broadcaster hosted all the coverage surrounding the 2016 London mayoral elections, including breaking news and exclusive interviews.

Able to confidently facilitate a conference, deliver a keynote speech on political and economic movements, and share stories from her broadcasting career, Daisy is an adept and astute host and facilitator.

Patrick Thomson, CEO Europe, Middle East & Africa, J.P. Morgan Asset Management & IA Chair
Patrick Thomson is Chief Executive Officer for EMEA, J.P. Morgan Asset Management based in London. He is Chair of the Board of the Investment Association, representing UK’s investment management industry, and a Member of the UK Government’s Treasury Task Force. Patrick joined J.P. Morgan Asset Management in 1995 and worked in Singapore 2000-2005 as global head of sovereigns, with extensive experience in reserves management in Asia and the Middle East, and has worked with many of the largest asset owners in the world.

After graduating from Edinburgh University with an MA (Hons), Patrick served as an officer in the British Army for five years, and is co-chair of the EMEA VETS group at JP Morgan. He qualified as a member of the UK Society of Investment Professionals in 2000.

Karen Northey, Director of Corporate Affairs
Karen leads the Corporate Affairs function at the Investment Association (IA), which includes Communications, UK Government Affairs and European and International Regulatory Affairs.
Karen joined the IA from the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) in March 2022 where she was Head of China, International Markets and Head of Government Relations, Asia Pacific.
Prior to LSEG, Karen worked at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) where she held a number of roles including leading the FCA’s international relations function and the asset management and funds policy team.

Charles Prideaux, Group Head of Strategy & Solutions, Schroders Investment Management Ltd
Charles Prideaux is Group Head of Strategy and Solutions. He is responsible for our Global Solutions business, corporate development and relationships with key partners. He is also Chief Executive of Schroders Investment Management Ltd. Previously he was Global Head of Investment where he was responsible for the management and oversight of the public market investment platform. Previous roles also include leading the Product and Solutions division.

Prior to joining Schroders in 2017, Charles was at BlackRock and its antecedent companies from 1988 to 2017, where his roles included serving as Global COO for Fundamental Equities, Head of the EMEA Institutional Client Business and lastly as Head of the European Active investment platform.
Charles holds a BA in English Literature from Cambridge University. He is based in London.

Marcello Arona, CEO, AXA Investment Managers UK
Marcello joined AXA IM in 2005 as CFO of AXA IM Italy. He moved to AXA IM US in 2013, where he was Head of Americas, leading the distribution team in the Region and coordinating the support functions. He joined the UK team as CEO in April 2021.
Before joining AXA IM Marcello was COO of HSBC Asset Management Italy.
Marcello started his career in 1998 as a financial auditor in PWC, with a specialisation in the banking and asset management industry.

Sean Hagerty, Managing Director, Vanguard Europe & IA Deputy Chair
Sean is responsible for leading the operations and distribution efforts of the European business. He relocated to London from Vanguard’s global headquarters in the United States in 2016. Since joining Vanguard in 1997, he has been head of Corporate Strategy and head of Retail Marketing and Communications, and he has held various management positions in Vanguard’s institutional business. Before Vanguard, he worked for PNC Bank and Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. Sean earned a B.B.A. from St. Bonaventure University and an M.S. in communications from Villanova University. He also completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Dawn Hyams, Head of Investor Insight & Governance, Wisdom Council
A senior consultant to The Wisdom Council, leading their work on investor and product governance – challenging the industry to ‘think customer’ in the design, delivery and marketing of investment and long-term savings products and services.
With over 30 years’ experience in asset management – as a senior practitioner and consultant – Dawn has hands-on experience of the commercial and regulatory challenges facing the industry as well as deep investment industry expertise. Dawn brings all of this to bear whether driving B2B research projects with professional investors, representing the customer voice on industry working groups, leading TWC’s work with the Investment Association or talking to the people that matter – the industry’s customers.

Richard Wilson, CEO - Personal Wealth, Abrdn & Founder of Interactive Investor
Richard joined abrdn in May 2022 following the abrdn acquisition of interactive investor (ii) and was appointed CEO of the Personal vector in August 2022. He leads the abrdn Financial Planning, Discretionary and Digital Solutions businesses, alongside ii, which operates as a standalone business.
Richard originally joined the ii board as a non-executive director in 2015, before taking over as Chief Executive Officer in March 2017. Under his leadership the company has grown significantly, becoming the UK’s largest flat-fee investment platform through a series of successful acquisitions and organic growth. His passions for service and people have been central to his career and are at the heart of everything ii stands for.
Richard began his career as an operations clerk at Société Générale, with his lattermost role being Chairman of Newedge UK Financials Ltd, the global derivatives broker. For three decades Richard has been driving and delivering change across the finance industry, including roles as Chief Technology Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer at institutional and retail brokers and banks in Europe and the USA.
He is a non-executive director of the Personal Investment Management & Financial Advice Association (PIMFA), the UK trade association for firms that provide investment management and financial advice. He is also non-executive director of First Bank SA, a Romanian bank which is majority owned and managed by US investment firm J.C. Flowers & Co, and the Medical Research Network, a leading clinical trials organisation.

Jonathan Lipkin, Director - Policy, Strategy and Innovation, The Investment Association
Jonathan is Director of Policy, Strategy and Innovation at The Investment Association (IA) and a member of the IA management team. 
Jonathan’s policy role focuses on how the industry serves its customer markets. This includes areas such as products and competition; fund communications and governance; and the long-term savings and pensions regimes in the UK and internationally. He also works closely on the IA’s broader strategic positioning and leads its programme to support industry innovation.

Jonathan joined the IA in 2005, becoming Director of Public Policy and a member of the IA Executive Committee in 2012. Prior to 2005, he worked for a number of years at Oxford Analytica, an international consultancy. At OA, he led the European political and economic analysis serving a wide range of domestic and overseas clients, both corporate and governmental. 

Jonathan is a Board Member of the Cost Transparency Initiative, Chair of the EFAMA Pensions Group and is a member of the Advisory Board of the Centre for Asset Management Research at Bayes Business School. He writes and speaks regularly both in the UK and abroad on investment management and pensions issues.

Oliver Bilal, Head of EMEA Distribution, Invesco
Oliver Bilal leads Invesco’s Distribution business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), a role he has held since May 2022.
Oliver has 23 years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to Invesco, Oliver was Head of International Sales and Marketing at Natixis Investment
Managers and responsible for institutional and retail clients in EMEA, APAC, Latin America and US Offshore. Prior to Natixis, Oliver was Head of EMEA, UBS Asset
Management, CEO of the Baroda Pioneer Asset Management Company (India) and Head of Sales & Marketing (Germany) at Pioneer Investments (now Amundi).
Oliver holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from University of Chicago Booth School of Business, a Master of Banking & Insurance Administration from
University of Applied Sciences Braunschweig-WF, and a Certification of DVFA/EFFAS as Certified European Financial Analyst (CEFA).

Kate Rosenshine, Global Technology Director, Strategic Partnerships - Digital Natives, Microsoft
Kate is a part of the Strategic Partnerships team at Microsoft, where she leads the Global Digital Native Technology team, focusing on the intersection between business and technology to build long-term strategic value. Her team is responsible for developing and executing strategies to support expansion and scale through cloud technology. Before joining Microsoft in 2017, Kate worked at start-ups in Israel and the UK, where she led technology-focused teams. Kate started her career in bio-technology research, focusing on big data and genomics. Kate was a member of the AI Public-Private Forum (AIPPF), led by the BoE and FCA, aimed at facilitating dialogue between the public and private sectors to better understand the use and impact of AI in financial services. Kate holds a MSc in Molecular Biology and an MBA from Tel Aviv University.

Euan Munro, CEO, Newton Investment Management
Euan Munro is Newton’s CEO and Chair of the Executive Management Committee
Euan is a seasoned investment management executive and has earned a reputation as a leading macro investor as well as being an innovative asset management executive.

Prior to joining Newton Euan was Chief Executive Officer of Aviva Investors and a member of the Aviva Group Executive. Before that he spent 20 years at Standard Life where he was a member of The Board and Head of Multi Asset and Fixed Interest. He started his career at Scottish Provident.

Euan has a first class honours degree in Physics from the University of Edinburgh and is a Fellow of the Faculty and Institute of Actuaries. He is also a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Wharton Business School, Philadelphia.

Ben Lucas, CEO, Amundi Technology
Ben is the Chief Executive Officer of Amundi Technology, a global leader in technology solutions for the Savings and Investments industry. Prior to joining Amundi, Ben led KPMG’s Global Asset Management Consulting practice, servicing the investment management industry around the world. In addition, Ben was the UK Head of the Wealth and Asset Management sector for KPMG.

As both a practitioner and advisor, Ben has extensive knowledge of industry trends, challenges and opportunities. He regularly authors and contributes to research and publications on subjects ranging from technology and innovation, through to leadership and wellbeing.

Ben has also launched and scaled a number of his own digital products as a founder/operator, including most recently the global health and wellness app, Magic Mountain.

Prior to KPMG Ben was a partner at another Big 4 consulting business where he was focused on technology and innovation.

Karis Stander, IA Director, Culture, Talent & Inclusion, MD, Investment20/20
Karis leads the Investment20/20 team and is an executive director of the Investment Association. She joined Investment20/20 in 2014 shortly after it started and under her leadership it has developed into a multi award winning organisation driving inclusive and responsible recruitment with young people from all backgrounds. Prior to Investment20/20 Karis specialised in entry talent and learning and development within financial services.

George Montgomery, Risk & Compliance Manager, Seven Investment Management.
George has recently joined Seven Investment Management as a Risk & Compliance Manager following 3.5 years at Brooks Macdonald. George took his first step into investment management when he joined Investment20/20’s Think Investments programme while at college. He joined Brooks Macdonald as an Investment20/20 Trainee Analyst in 2019 and following a successful trainee year, was promoted to Risk Analyst, a position he held for 2 years. In September 2022 he was promoted again to Senior Risk Analyst.

George continues to be an advocate and ambassador for Investment20/20 and aspires to reshape the way we approach risk, especially from a sustainability and climate perspective.

Abibatu Carew, Client Services Executive, Cazenove Capital
Abi began her career in investment management through the Investment20/20 Programme at Vanguard, having graduated from the University of Leicester. She thrived during her trainee year at Vanguard, building knowledge of investment management and finding a career path in client services. Having completed her Investment20/20 programme, Abi progressed to become a Client Services Executive at Cazenove Capital. Abi’s passion for supporting others is demonstrated through her ongoing support for Investment20/20, delivering sessions to students and helping them to see the broad range of opportunities available in the sector.

Tulip Siddiq MP, Shadow Economic Secretary to the Treasury
Tulip Siddiq was first elected to the Commons in 2015 and represents the Hampstead and Kilburn constituency. Ms Siddiq has held the Shadow Economic Secretary brief since December 2021. Prior to her appointment by Keir Starmer to the Shadow Treasury team she held the shadow brief for Children and Early Years education.

Michelle Moran, Partner & Head of Investment Management, K&L Gates
Michelle Moran is Head of the Investment Management Group in London.
Ms. Moran advises clients on the establishment, authorisation and management of retail and institutional investment funds in the UK, Ireland, Luxembourg and Jersey. These include UCITS, hedge funds, private funds, investment trusts, real estate funds, segregated institutional portfolios and exchange traded funds. She has worked on a wide variety of transactions involving investment managers, brokers, custodians, fund service providers and operating platforms.
Ms. Moran’s extensive regulatory experience includes having participated on the EU Commission working groups representing numerous financial institutions on sensitive issues involving UK and EU regulators.

Jack Knight, Deputy CEO, The Investment Association
As Deputy CEO, Jack helps to lead the IA Executive Committee. He is responsible for international trade & investment policy and activity, as well as the organisation’s finance, HR, IT and membership functions, including the IA Enterprises events, training and Engine business lines. Jack is Company Secretary and secretary to the IA Board Committees.
He was previously COO at the Takeover Panel, the UK's regulator of takeovers and mergers.
Jack has an MA from Cambridge University and an MAP certificate from Said Business School, Oxford University.

Joseph Pinto, CEO, M&G Asset Management
Joseph joined M&G plc in March 2023 as Chief Executive Officer of M&G Asset Management and became a member of M&G’s Group Executive Committee, reporting to Group Chief Executive, Andrea Rossi.
Joseph has accountability for all investment capabilities including the equity, fixed income, multi asset, private and alternative asset strategies alongside distribution, operations and proposition management across the Asset Management business.
With 30 years of experience in asset management, financial services, and consulting, Joseph joined from Natixis Investment Managers where he served as Head of Distribution and Investment Solutions for EMEA, APAC and LATAM and Global Chief Operating Officer.
Previously at AXA Investment Managers for 13 years, Joseph held senior positions, including Global Chief Operating Officer, Global Head of Markets & Investment Strategy and Head of Business Development for Southern Europe and the Middle East.

Marie Dzanis, CEO, Northern Trust Global Investment, LTD (U.K.)
Marie Dzanis, CIMA®, is head of asset management in EMEA, responsible for the end-to-end asset management business in the region including governance, strategy, operations, portfolio management, product business development and talent of Northern Trust Asset Management.
Marie is the CEO of Northern Trust Global Investment, LTD (U.K.) and sits on the boards of Northern Trust Global Funds, PLC; Northern Trust Fund Managers (Ireland) Limited, Northern Trust Investment Funds and FlexShares ETF ICAV Funds. Marie serves on several executive, business and risk committees globally for Northern Trust Asset Management including the Northern Trust Asset Management Executive Committee and EMEA cross-business.
Previous to joining Northern Trust in 2011, Marie held executive positions at iShares/Blackrock, JPMorgan Asset Management and Smith Barney. Marie’s comprehensive business acumen highlights driving diverse and profitable growth in businesses. Her multifaceted career began as a financial advisor and subsequently includes experience in securities lending, trading, product development, sales management and profit-and-loss management.
As a recognized industry leader and media contributor, Marie has been celebrated as among the “100 Most Influential Women in Finance” by Financial News (2022), 100 Most influential women in European Finance 2021, "Women to Watch" from Investment News (2017) and “Top Women in Asset Management” by Money Management Executive (2015). Marie sits on the board of directors of the Investment Association in the U.K., along with the Investment Association’s financial, audit and risk committee. She is a member of the C200 most successful women in business, along with Irish Funds and Women in ETFs.
Marie has a bacherlor’s degree in political theory from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. She is a Certified Investment Management Analyst®. Additionally, Marie is on the women’s board of the University of Chicago Cancer Foundation, Advisory Board for BlinkNow Charitable Foundation. She also is a producer for the Maggie Doyne documentary called “Love Letters to my Children.”

Stephen Cohen, Senior Managing Director & Head of EMEA, Blackrock
Stephen Cohen, Senior Managing Director, is the Head of Europe, Middle East and Africa region for BlackRock. He is a member of BlackRock’s Global Executive Committee.
Before taking up this role in April 2021, he was Head of the iShares, Index and Wealth businesses in EMEA. He led BlackRock's relationships with wealth management firms and platforms, the development and distribution of active and index investments, and the firm's equity index portfolio management capability in the region.
Mr. Cohen previously served as Global Head of Fixed Income Indexing for BlackRock, responsible for the iShares fixed income business and oversaw the fixed income index investment group. Prior to that, he was the Chief Investment Strategist for International Fixed Income and iShares.
Mr. Cohen joined BlackRock in 2011 from Nomura, where he was Global Head of Equity Linked Strategy, and led the #1 Institutional Investor ranked Convertibles research team. He joined Nomura from ING Barings in 2003, having started his career in fixed income at UBS in 1996.
In addition, Mr. Cohen has been a Director of Enovara, an Irish funds company. He earned a First Class honours degree in Economics from the University of Southampton in 1996.

Harriett Baldwin MP, Chair of the Treasury Select Committee
Harriett was elected as Chair of the Treasury Select Committee in November 2022. Harriett is a Conservative MP and has represented West Worcestershire in Parliament since 2010. She has previously held a number of ministerial positions in the Foreign Office, Ministry of Defence and the Treasury, where she served as Economic Secretary to the Treasury. Prior to her election to Parliament, Harriett enjoyed a successful 20 year career in finance, specialising in currency markets for pension funds.

Karen Ward, Chief Market Strategist, JP Morgan Asset Management
Karen Ward, Managing Director, is the Chief Market Strategist for EMEA for J.P. Morgan Asset Management.
Karen has considerable experience in economic and financial analysis, and public policymaking. Before joining J.P. Morgan in 2017, she was Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers for the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, advising on macroeconomic issues including fiscal strategy and Brexit. Prior to that, she worked for a decade at HSBC’s investment bank in a number of roles, including Chief European Economist. She started her career at the Bank of England providing supporting analysis for the Monetary Policy Committee.

Karen is currently a member of the UK Government’s Economic Advisory Council and has been named as one of Financial News’s 100 Most
Influential Women in European Finance every year since 2019. Karen obtained a Masters with Distinction in Economics from University
College London.

Martin Moloney, Secretary General of IOSCO
Martin Moloney joined the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) in September 2021 as Secretary General.

Prior to joining IOSCO, Martin was Director General of the Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC) and before that he worked as a Special Adviser on Risk and Regulation to the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI), where he served for 16 years, previously heading up the Markets Policy, Markets Supervision, and Legal and Finance Divisions respectively. Prior to joining the CBI, Martin worked for brief periods in the Department of Justice and the Irish Competition Authority, and spent ten years working in the Irish Department of Finance in positions of responsibility in relation to both national and semi-State debt management and the sale of State banks. Martin spent his early career working in Industry at Barclays Bank and the Bank of Ireland in London.

Martin has an LLM in Business Law and a Masters qualification in Economic Policy, both from Trinity College Dublin. He has Postgraduate Diplomas in Arbitration, Regulatory Management and has completed professional examinations of the Chartered Institutes of Bankers and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Chris Cummings, Chief Executive Officer, The Investment Association
Chris joined the IA in 2016 from TheCityUK, which he set up and ran as CEO for seven years.  He sits on the Treasury’s Asset Management Taskforce, the Board of EFAMA (European Fund & Asset Management Association) and is the President of IIFA (International Investment Funds Association).  He is also Chairman of Just Finance Foundation. He was previously a member of the FCA’s Regulatory Decisions Committee and the FCO’s Diplomatic Excellence Panel.

Thoreau Bartmann, Co-Chief Counsel of Asset Management Division, SEC
Thoreau Bartmann is Co-Chief Counsel of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Investment Management. In this role, he oversees the Division’s legal guidance regarding investment companies and investment advisers. He has served as Co-Chief Counsel since October 2022.

Mr. Bartmann joined the Commission in 2005, developing rulemaking policy in a variety of capacities, including leading the teams for the adoption of the adviser marketing rule and the mutual fund liquidity and fair valuation rules. In 2021 he took on a new position as an Assistant Director in the Chief Counsel’s office where he oversaw the Division’s work on crypto and international matters and provided guidance to advisers and funds on various matters. Prior to joining the SEC, Mr. Bartmann worked as an associate at the law firm Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver, and Jacobson.

Mr. Bartmann received his J.D. from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and his B.A. from the University of Alabama, Birmingham.

Alain Deckers, Head of Unit Asset Management, DG FISMA, European Commission
Alain Deckers has over 20 years of experience in public service at the European Commission. He has been responsible for policy reviews and policy development in areas including trade in goods, environmental policy, public procurement and financial services regulation.
He currently heads a team of responsible for the regulation of asset management and investment funds.
Alain graduated in physics and holds a masters in the economics of technical change, both from the University of Manchester (UK).

Camille Blackburn, Director of Wholesale and Buyside, FCA
Camille is the Director – Wholesale Buy Side for the FCA. She is responsible for policy development and the effective supervision across asset management, alternative investments, custody banks and investment research.

She has regulatory experience from private and public sectors and joined the FCA in October last year from Legal & General Investment Management where she was Chief Compliance Officer and was responsible for the company’s global compliance framework and team.

Before that she was Chief Compliance Officer at Aviva Investors and was Chair of the Investment Association's Brexit Committee.

Camille has held senior policy roles at the Central Bank of Ireland and the Australian Government. She was a Principal Advisor to the Australian Treasury on the 2014 Australian Financial System Inquiry and the 2016 Capability Review of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

Jonathan Charles, Director - Investment Management Regulatory Advisory, Grant Thornton UK LLP
Jonathan is a director in Grant Thornton’s Financial Services Group Regulatory Advisory practice, with significant experience in helping clients deal with the challenges of current regulations or emerging requirements. Jonathan is also the engagement director in Grant Thornton’s investment management sector Skilled Person work, and supports firms responding to regulatory interventions.

Jonathan’s specific focus is the investment management sector, where he advises across a wide range of wholesale conduct matters to both buy-side and sell-side firms, and retail firms including wealth management, advice, and platform firms. Jonathan has been very active over many years in investment firm prudential requirements, effective risk management frameworks, and improving culture and governance across the financial services sector.

Headline principal partner: 

K&L Gates is a fully integrated global law firm with lawyers located across five continents offering the full spectrum of legal advice across all matters affecting our asset management clients. As a fully integrated network of lawyers and legal professionals, we believe that clients need more than technical legal skills; they need insightful and practical advice on the diverse issues that affect their businesses, delivered with unparalleled client service. Our asset management and investment funds practice includes specialist asset management lawyers in 27 of our 48 offices world-wide - a group of more than 150 lawyers across the firm. We advise on unregulated and regulated funds, from hedge funds to UCITS, private equity, real estate and closed-end listed funds. Our funds work stands apart from the competition thanks to our unique global offering for clients.

Event Partner: 

At Grant Thornton UK LLP, we’re a passionate about exceeding our clients’ expectations. We achieve this through our high performing people, providing practical solutions to the most complex of issues, and a wealth of issues.

Grant Thornton is a network of independent assurance, tax and advisory firms, made up of more than 68,000 people. Our aim is to help dynamic organisations unlock their potential for growth. At the heart of our success, we have a passion for technical excellence and providing real added value to our clients. As of 2022, Grant Thornton member firms operate through 147 countries.

For more than 100 years we have helped dynamic organisations to realise their strategic ambitions. We have got scale combined with local market know-how and regulations. That means that our network is everywhere you are, as well as where you want to be.

 Exhibitors:

For sponsorship and exhibitor enquiries, please contact Events@theia.org