Irish Funds Annual Global Funds Conference 2026

Thursday, 01 October 2026 - In-Person

8am - 6pm

Location: The Convention Centre Dublin, Spencer Dock, North Wall Quay, Dublin 1, D01 T1W6

Online registration is now closed.

Onsite registration will be available on the day at the applicable rate.

The Irish Funds Annual Global Funds Conference returns in person on Thursday, 1 October 2026 at The Convention Centre Dublin, Spencer Dock.

As a leading event in the international funds and asset management calendar, it attracts over 500 senior participants from across the global funds community.

This year's theme, 'Ireland: Powering the Global Investment Future' will spotlight Ireland’s expanding role as a global centre for investment funds, including private assets and ETF innovation.

Coinciding with Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, this year’s conference takes place at a pivotal time as Europe prioritises competitiveness, capital markets development, and regulatory simplification.

Attendees can expect high-profile keynote speakers, expert panels, and presentations addressing key industry trends, including the rapid growth of ETFs, Ireland’s developing private assets ecosystem, the Savings and Investments Union, financial literacy, and evolving regulatory and operational landscapes. Additional sessions will cover digital assets, tokenisation, and the future of cross-border investments.

With just one month to go, we are pleased to announce an exciting line-up of keynote speakers, bringing perspectives from politics, technology, global media and sport to this year's conference:

- Dr Abeba Birhane, Trinity College Dublin

- Enda Brady, TRT World

- Sir Jeremy Hunt

- Pico Lopes

- Micheál Martin, Taoiseach (Prime Minister of Ireland)

- Gabriel Makhlouf, Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland

- Maria Luís Albuquerque, European Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union

Throughout the day, there will be extensive networking opportunities with peers, clients, and industry leaders in the large exhibition area. The conference concludes with a drinks reception - an ideal setting to continue conversations and strengthen connections.

Pre-Conference Events - Golf & Tennis

Taking place the day before the conference on Wednesday, 30 September, will be the Irish Funds Social Golf Day, which will run concurrently with the Irish Funds Social Tennis Day. Both of these pre-conference events are optional extra activities, and are available to book when registering as a delegate via the conference booking page.

Please note that the Social Tennis Day is now fully subscribed.

There are 2 ways to book places at the Golf Day:

Individual bookings online: single places can be reserved as an optional extra when purchasing a ticket for the Annual Conference 2026. Irish Funds will allocate single bookings into 4-ball teams on the day.

4-ball Teams from individual firms can be booked directly by emailing a request to events@irishfunds.ie.

Please note that the Social Golf Day is now fully subscribed.

Partner With Impact: Sponsorship & Exhibiting Opportunities
Sponsoring or exhibiting at the Irish Funds Annual Conference places your organisation at the centre of the global funds industry, with access to 500+ senior decision-makers. Gain strong brand visibility, valuable networking opportunities, and a platform to showcase your expertise - aligning your brand with key conversations shaping the future of financial services. For more information, download our sponsorship pack or contact events@irishfunds.ie.

Ticket Information

On-Site Registration: Member €1,500 / Non Member €1,700

Online Registration is now closed

Find Out What to Expect at This Year's Annual Conference

Agenda

08:00 - Registration and Breakfast

08:50 - Welcome Remarks: Irish Funds Chairperson

Andrea Kelly, Partner, PwC
Enda Brady, TRT World (MC & Introductions)

09:00 - Panel Discussion: The Leadership Agenda - Balancing Growth, Regulation and Innovation

This opening leadership panel will explore how senior executives are managing growth, innovation and competitiveness amid regulatory change and technological disruption, highlighting the key trends shaping the future of the global funds industry.

Moderator: Carin Bryans, Board Chair and INED

Panellists:

Alva DeVoy, Universal Investment Group
Diane MacFarlane, JP Morgan
Gavin Lewis, BlackRock

09:35 - Panel Discussion: Data, Distribution, and the Future - Who Owns the Client?

This panel will explore how data, distribution models and evolving client expectations are reshaping asset management, examining who owns the client relationship and how firms can use data and technology to strengthen engagement and drive growth.

Moderator: Greg Morris, Heptagon Capital

Panellists:

Gemma Cowie, Broadridge
Nick Rosenblatt, Marsh
Paul Price, Haven Green

10:10 - Government Address

An Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD

10:25 - Keynote Address: The Central Bank of Ireland

Gabriel Makhlouf, Governor

10:40 - Networking and Coffee Break

Kindly sponsored by The Panel

11:10 - Special Interview

Sir Jeremy Hunt MP, Former UK Chancellor of the Exchequer and Former Foreign Secretary, alongside Enda Brady

11:30 - Panel Discussion: The Growth Challenge: Scaling Irish Success Stories

The Founders from Carne Group, Fenergo and TransferMate share their experiences of scaling Irish-founded businesses into global success stories, exploring growth strategies, leadership lessons, international expansion and the challenges of building world-class firms from Ireland.

Moderator: Alan Meaney, Fund Recs

Panellists:

John Donohoe, Carne Group
Marc Murphy, Fenergo
Sinead Fitzmaurice, Aperture Capital

12:05 - Panel Discussion: The New Investment Ecosystem - Products, Platforms & the Next Generation Investors

This panel will examine how changing investor behaviours, new distribution models and digital platforms are transforming the investment ecosystem, and what product providers must do to meet the needs of tomorrow's investors.

Moderator: James Costello, Davy Group

Panellists:

Anna Brading, Mentora Money
Mark Fitzgerald, Vanguard
Michael Byrne, Trading 212

12:40 - Keynote Address: Human Accountability in the Age of “Rogue” AI

Dr Abeba Birhane, Leading AI Researcher and Member of the European Commission's AI Act Advisory Forum. 2025 Irish Tatler Women of the Year Innovation Award Winner.

As AI agents dominate headlines, Abeba cuts through the hype to separate real risks from media-driven fears. Discover why effective AI regulation should focus on the organisations building and deploying AI, not the models themselves.

13:10 - Networking Lunch

Kindly sponsored by Northern Trust

14:10 - Beyond Cash: Financial Literacy and Long-Term Financial Wellbeing

How can we build stronger financial futures? This panel explores the role of financial literacy in achieving long-term wellbeing, empowering individuals to make informed decisions on saving, investing, and financial resilience in an evolving world.

Moderator: Natasha Haugh, Irish Funds

Panellists:

George Cussen, Irish Student Managed Fund & UCC Economics Society
Gráinne Griffin, CCPC Financial Literacy Ambassador
Katy Walton Jones, Smart Girl Finance and Invesco EMEA ETFs
Niamh Geraghty, Deloitte
Susan HayesCulleton, HayesCulleton Group

14:40 - Panel Discussion: Regulatory Update 2026

Senior policymakers and regulators provide the latest insights on the evolving European regulatory landscape, discussing key policy developments, supervisory priorities, and their implications for the funds industry, investors, and capital markets.

Moderator: Umar Ahmed, Irish Funds

Panellists:

Antonio Barattelli, ESMA
Billy Kelleher, MEP
Gavin Curran, Central Bank of Ireland
Hélène Bussières, European Commission
Regina Doherty, MEP

15:20 - Industry Satellite Sessions

1: ELTIF 2.0 at Scale: Delivering Investor Excellence Without Compromising Control (hosted by FIS )

Moderator : Russell Andrews, FIS

Panellists:

Eoin Motherway, INED
Edel Brophy, FIS
Rachel Thornton, Northern Trust

2: Leading with AI: Practical AI Fluency for Business Leaders

Many leaders are expected to shape AI strategy before gaining hands-on experience. This session explores practical AI use cases, helping executives build fluency, sharpen judgement, and make more confident AI decisions.

Dmitrii Dolzhenkov, Senior AI Workforce Specialist, Microsoft

15:50 - Networking and Coffee

16:20 - Keynote Address: European Commission (Virtual Address)

Maria Luís Albuquerque, Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union

16:30 - Parallel Panel Discussions

Panel 1: The Future of Private Asset Structures - Ireland's Competitive Edge

With the implementation of AIFMD II and continued growth in private markets, this panel explores the future of private asset structures and the advantages that position Ireland as a leading domicile for private assets, including innovation, regulatory evolution, scalability, and global investor access.

Moderator: Nicholas Blake-Knox, Walkers

Panellists:

Laura Butler, StepStone Group Europe Alternative Investments Limited
Aidan Bailey, KKR
Victoria Chernykh, Preqin by BlackRock

Panel 2: Bridging Traditional and Digital - the Path to Tokenisation

As tokenisation gains momentum across global markets, this panel explores how traditional fund and asset management models are converging with digital infrastructure. Industry leaders will discuss the opportunities, challenges, and practical steps required to unlock the benefits of tokenised assets and modernise investment ecosystems.

Moderator: Mai Santamaria, INED

Panellists:

Barry O'Connor, Matheson
Daniel Penaloza, Fidelity International
Nigel Khakoo, Ripple

17:05 - From Marketing Mortgages to Marking Messi in Miami

The Pico Lopes interview alongside Enda Brady

Join professional footballer Pico Lopes in conversation with Enda Brady as he shares his remarkable journey from financial services to elite sport, reflecting on leadership, resilience, ambition, and the experience of facing Lionel Messi in the World Cup Finals.

17:30 - Closing Address, Irish Funds

Pat Lardner, CEO

17:40 - Networking Drinks Reception

Kindly sponsored by Clearstream