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Pat Lardner joined Irish Funds as Chief Executive in April 2012. He has over twenty five years’ experience in the global asset management industry and has held executive/leadership positions in Ireland and overseas with firms managing a broad range of both traditional and alternative investment strategies. Pat is an active participant on all significant Government sponsored groups relating to funds in Ireland, is a member of the Board of the European Fund and Asset Management Association and is an Advisor to the Asset Management Association of China’s International Partners Committee. He is a past Council Member of the Irish Association of Pension Funds and a former Director of both the Irish Association of Investment Managers and the International Investment Funds Association. He attained honours undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from University College Dublin.

Michael is currently a TD for Cork South Central and is the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

Michael grew up in the harbour town of Passage West in County Cork. Before entering national politics, Michael served in local government as a member of Passage West Town Council and Cork County Council (Carrigaline electoral area). He was elected to Dáil Éireann at the first attempt in 2007 and has been re-elected in every election since (2011, 2016 and 2020).

Michael secured a first-class honours Commerce degree in UCC and went on to qualify as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG in Cork City. Before going into politics full time, Michael held senior positions in both the private sector (Financial Controller, RedFM) and public sector (Head of MIS, UCC). He is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and has served on that body’s Audit, Risk and Finance Committee. Michael has also undertaken studies with the London School of Economics and Political Science.

In his time in the Dáil, Michael has served on a number of Oireachtas committees including the Finance Committee, the Oireachtas Banking Inquiry, the European Affairs Committee and the Public Accounts Committee.

As Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael is responsible for delivering well-managed and well-targeted public spending, through modernised, effective and accountable public services. The department oversees the implementation of the National Development Plan, drives the programme of public service reform, and has a key role in decisions made across government.

Jonathan is Director of Policy, Strategy and Research at The Investment Association (IA) and a member of the IA management team.

Jonathan’s current role focuses on customer-facing policy and regulatory issues affecting the investment management industry, including products and competition, fund communications and governance. He is also responsible for IA market insight and research, and broader strategic positioning. In recent years, he has led major projects on a range of themes affecting the industry, including new investment fund structures, pension reform, customer communication and industry competition. He is also involved in broader IA policy development, including on EU and international affairs.

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

Eve is the LGIM’s Managing Director in Ireland, appointed in October 2017 and is responsible for the overall leadership and management of LGIM’s Irish office and European entities based in Dublin.

Eve was previously Head of Solutions based in London. In her Head of Solutions role, Eve has been responsible for the design and management of objective driven investment solutions which bring together the best of the LGIM Group’s investment capabilities to meet our clients’ needs.

Previously, Eve was Head of LDI Portfolio Construction and had overall responsibility for the structuring and portfolio management of the LGIM Group’s UK and European LDI portfolios. Eve joined LGIM in 2009 and is a Trustee of both the Legal and General Group Pension Scheme and the Pension Fund.

Prior to joining the LGIM Group, Eve worked in the Global Pensions Strategy Group at Deutsche Bank developing liability management solutions and multi-asset strategies for a variety of global pension schemes.

Eve began her career as an investment consultant at Watson Wyatt. Eve has a first class honours degree in financial and actuarial mathematics from Dublin City University and is a fellow of the Institute of Actuaries.

Gerry Cross was appointed as Director of Financial Regulation Policy and Risk in May 2015. He leads the Central Bank’s work on prudential and markets conduct regulatory policy and its supervisory risk framework (PRISM). A member of the Board of Supervisors of EBA, and alternate member of EIOPA Board of Supervisors, Gerry co-chairs EBA’s Standing Committee on Regulation and Policy.

Gerry has had an extensive career in the area of financial services regulation. Before joining the Central Bank he has worked at the European Commission, the UK Financial Services Authority, Fortis Group, the Institute of International Finance, and the Association for Financial Markets in Europe. 

Nick Miller is head of the Asset Management Department within the Investment, Wholesale & Specialist Supervision Division at the Financial Conduct Authority. In this role, Nick is responsible for the FCA’s oversight of over 3,000 firms across the asset management and custody bank sectors. Previously, Nick was head of the EU & Global Department, responsible for managing the FCA's strategic relationships with counterpart regulators and other stakeholders throughout Europe and globally. He was also responsible for the FCA’s strategy in relation to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

Prior to joining the regulator, Nick was Executive Director and Head of Public Policy, EMEA at Morgan Stanley, where he spent four and a half years. He previously worked in a government relations role at Thomson Reuters and as a trade policy expert at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). He holds an MSc in Finance from the London Business School and an MA in European Politics from the College of Europe in Belgium. He holds a BA in Modern European Studies from University College London (UCL).

Oliver has been working at HSBC in Jersey for almost 8 years. He was diagnosed with autism in 2018, and dedicates any spare time to raising awareness of autism, driving change within the workplace to ensure an inclusive culture is embedded. He currently sits on the Advisory Council for Autism Jersey, and is the lead of HSBC’s Ability Employee Resource Group in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man, in this function he tries to raise awareness/support for people with mental or physical disabilities/conditions along with people who care for them.

Paul is responsible for RBC Investor & Treasury Services’ core product set and is based in London. He is a seasoned leader with 30 years of global experience in securities services and banking, including senior roles in management, product, sales and relationship management, risk management, internal audit, and private banking.

Paul joined RBC Investor & Treasury Services in February of 2012 from HSBC Securities Services, where he was Global Head, Business Development, Fund Services & Global Custody. Previously he held a number of other senior roles at HSBC and RBC in business building, operations, risk management and audit.

He holds a BA Honours degree in Accounting and Economics from the University of Waterloo in Canada.

Andy Alabaster Director, is a senior member of BlackRock's Cash Management team based in London.

Mr. Alabaster leads the Financial Institutional Sales team, responsible for key account management, business development and strategy with Financial Institution clients internationally.

Mr. Alabaster's service with the firm dates back to 2007, including his years with Barclays Global Investors (BGI), which merged with BlackRock in 2009. Prior to his current role, Mr. Alabaster served as a key relationship manager with BlackRock's International Retail team.

Prior to joining BlackRock, Mr. Alabaster held client facing and portfolio management roles with Fidelity International.

Teni joined the FAIRR Initiative in March 2020 and leads its investor outreach activities. She is responsible for raising awareness of FAIRR’s research and engagement initiatives with a focus on educating investors on the potential risks and rewards in the global protein industry as it relates to their investment universe.

Prior to this, she worked in private wealth management as an Executive Director at Hassium Asset Management and in institutional asset management as a Vice President on the Equities desks at both Lehman Brothers and ING Group.

Teni holds a BSc Hons in Economics & Accounting from the University of Bristol and is IMC qualified as well as a CFA Charterholder.

Sonali is the Head of Sustainability Regulation and Policy for Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM). Sonali is a Solicitor and has 14 years’ of industry experience and leads strategic projects to support MSIM’s transformation in this area including implementing key regulatory and industry ESG frameworks, representing MSIM in related ESG-focused industry fora and developing MSIM’s approach to key sustainability themes.

Previously, Sonali was an investment funds specialist at White & Case LLP where she was as an advisor to fund sponsors, banks and endowment funds. Sonali currently chairs the UK Investment Association’s SFDR Implementation Forum and also serves on the IA’s Working Group on Responsible Investment, and the Irish Funds’ ESG Policy, Legal & Regulatory Working Group.

Sonali is also the Vice Chair of Social Investment Business (SIB) and sits on the board of Social and Sustainable Capital (SASC), two social lenders focused on providing affordable and patient financing to local charities and enterprises in the UK.

Andrea has over 20 years’ experience in the investment funds industry working across the full end-to-end value chain, including product development and life cycle. She has worked with asset managers and asset owners across Europe, the US and Asia with responsibility for growing and generating revenue.

Andrea is responsible for the growth and success of Crestbridge Ireland including developing and implementing the firm’s country strategy whilst providing the highest levels of client care.

Prior to joining Crestbridge, Andrea was a Director at a leading third party UCITS Management Company and AIFM, providing services for European funds. Here, Andrea had responsibility for supporting the firm’s blue chip client base through oversight and management of large complex operating models and protecting and generating revenue through building and retaining relationships and marketing the full array of services to global fund managers with European products.

Andrea holds a diploma in Financial Services and a certificate in Investment Funds. She is also the holder of the Claritas/CFA Certificate in Investment Management and is a Prince2 Certified Project Manager. Andrea is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland as PCF 1, PCF 2, PCF 8 and PCF 11.

As an Executive Director within the relationship management and client solutions team of Waystone Management Company (IE) Ltd., Vanora provides corporate governance advice leading and developing business relationships including the design and implementation of internal controls and operating procedures associated with regulated investment funds.

Vanora has extensive experience in UCITS, AIFMD, and alternative investment vehicles and brings with her a background in legal investment and client relationship management with over six years spent at Fidelity Worldwide Investment in Dublin, servicing corporates, banks, pension funds and financial institutions. She previously served as a stockbroker with Cantor Fitzgerald and as an FCA regulated advisor at Lehman Brothers and with UBS Private Banking in London.

Vanora is Vice Chairperson of the Irish Funds Marketing and Promotions Steering Group and Chairperson of the Irish Funds Publications and Communications Working Group. Vanora is a committee member of 100 Women in Finance in Ireland with responsibility for the input to the Irish Government’s ‘Ireland for Finance’ Action Plan.

Vanora is a qualified solicitor and is a member of the Law Society of Ireland where she also holds a diploma in Investment Funds & Compliance.

She studied Business Economics and Social Studies (BESS) at Trinity College Dublin with business French. As part of her degree Vanora spent a year at the EM Strasbourg Business School, a grande école in Strasbourg, France. She also holds a Master’s degree in Business and Economics from Trinity College Dublin.

Byron is the Business and Professional Services practice leader and is responsible for co-ordinating our efforts in the industry for Deloitte. He has extensive experience of a wide range of corporate finance work, including corporate and private equity M&A, disposals, secondary MBOs, refinancing and strategic advisory.

Nicholas is based in Walkers' Ireland office where he is a partner and head of the Asset Management and Investment Funds group in Ireland.

Nicholas has in excess of twenty years' experience in the area of asset management and investment funds and has worked in both legal and finance related positions during this time. Nicholas has extensive experience advising funds, promoters and service providers on a wide range of asset management and investment fund related matters, including on the establishment, authorisation and operation of all types of Irish investment funds including UCITS, QIAIFs, RIAIFs, fund of funds, ETF's, master-feeder structures and closed-ended funds. Nicholas has experience advising across a wide range of asset classes and investment strategies including hedge fund, private equity and real estate strategies as well as more traditional liquid investment strategies, with particular expertise in advising managers of fixed income and debt focussed investment strategies.

Nicholas also has extensive experience advising on cross-border asset management and investment fund related matters and has previously advised on the establishment of investment fund platforms involving funds in jurisdictions outside of Ireland, including parallel investment fund structures.

Nicholas has participated in various industry association working groups and committees (including those at the Investment Association, ICI Global and EFAMA) and has attended meetings at ESMA in Paris in order to provide technical guidance on investment fund related matters. Nicholas currently sits on the AIF Regulation Working Group, the ILP Implementation Working Group and Brexit Steering Groups at Irish Funds.

Marie Dzanis is the senior managing executive for EMEA. She has responsibility for overseeing the governance, operations, business development and talent of Northern Trust Asset Management.

Marie is on the boards of Northern Trust Global Funds, PLC; Northern Trust Funds Managers (Ireland) Limited, Northern Trust Investment Funds, Northern Trust Securities Inc. She serves on the Northern Trust Asset Management Executive Committee, and the Northern Trust EMEA Executive Committee.

Prior to joining Northern Trust in 2011, she held executive and leadership positions at iShares/Blackrock, JPMorgan Asset Management and Smith Barney. Marie’s comprehensive business acumen is demonstrated by having successfully managed multiple channels and the profitable growth of several lines of business in the institutional, intermediary and wealth channels. Her multifacted career began as a financial advisor and subsequently includes experience in securities lending and trading, product development, product sales, sales management and branch management.

As a recognized industry leader with more than 25 years of investment management experience, Marie has been awarded a top "Women To Watch" award from Investment News in 2017 and “Top Women in Asset Management” award by Money Management Executive in May 2015. In addition, she is on the women’s board of the University of Chicago Cancer Foundation, involved in Women in ETFs, is on the Advisory Board for BlinkNow Foundation and is a producer for the Maggie Doyne documentary called “Love Letters to my Children.”

Valeria Dinershteyn, Director of Sustainable Investing Client Engagement for EMEA at Northern Trust Asset Management, is responsible for education and innovation in the firm’s sustainable investing capabilities. Within her role, she helps clients in developing new strategies incorporating ESG and climate considerations in their portfolios and investment philosophies. She is a frequent presenter on sustainable investing solutions at firm and industry meetings and events.

Prior to joining Northern Trust Asset Management in 2019, Valeria worked at Kempen Capital Management as a responsible investment specialist. In this role, she covered environmental engagement activities, helped clients develop and implement their responsible investing policies and contributed to the company’s award-winning annual responsible investment (RI) report.

Valeria has broad international experience having studied in Russia, the U.S. and the Netherlands. She holds a bachelor’s degree in linguistics and social studies from St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University (Russia), a master’s degree in financial management from Nyenrode Business University (the Netherlands) and is a CFA charterholder. Valeria is fluent in English, Russian and Dutch.

Sarah is a Commercial Director at Intertrust Group based in Ireland. Sarah has over 15 years’ experience in financial services, working with clients across capital markets and asset management. Sarah is experienced working with international investment fund structures in designing, implementing and evolving their businesses to meet on-going investor demands and regulatory changes.

Prior to joining Intertrust Group, Sarah held senior roles at a UCITS management company and AIFM and spent 6 years in New York with a corporate trust and fund services company.

Sarah is a qualified accountant (FCCA) and holds degrees in economics and structured finance.

Colin is an international tax director in PwC Ireland's asset & wealth management practice. Colin regularly advises on the taxation implications of cross-border investment structures. He has a vast amount of experience advising international clients on the tax efficient structuring of a range of traditional and alternative asset classes in multiple jurisdictions. Colin also works closely with global asset managers in the structuring of their corporate operations.

Katie Thurston is Vice President with responsibility for Financial Services for the UK market for IDA Ireland. Previously Katie was the Head of the Banking and Payments Team, and prior to that she was a founding member of the Growth Markets Division with responsibility for attracting foreign direct investment from Emerging Markets including Brazil, Russia, India and China. She was instrumental in establishing the office in Mumbai, India. She has also worked in the IDA New York office, as Vice President, Financial Services. Previously she worked in the Information Communications and Technology Division and the Press and PR Division of IDA Ireland.

Katie has a Postgraduate Diploma in Strategy and Innovation (2011) from the Irish Management Institute, a Master of Science in Strategic Management (2002) from Dublin Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business and Politics (2000) from Trinity College Dublin.  

He joined the firm in 2019 from Pemberton Asset Management, where he was a Partner focusing on business development and investor relations. Current responsibilities include working with Insurers and Pension Funds to provide them access to Funding Circle’s SME loans in a managed account and fund format. Prior to joining Pemberton in 2011, Mr. Sullivan was a Partner at Grisons Peak LLP from 2004 where he advised asset managers and insurers on M&A and capital raising. Prior to this, he had a 15 years career at JP Morgan Chase and he was latterly a Managing Director and Co-Head of European Financial Services M&A.

Mr. Sullivan holds a BA in Economics from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Northeastern University.

Formerly Director of Financial Crime Compliance at LexisNexis® Risk Solutions, Michael Harris is now semi-retired but acts as an independent financial crime risk consultant with a few select clients including LexisNexis Risk Solutions.

Drawing on his extensive experience of KYC/AML processes in both financial and professional services regulated sectors, he helps firms understand and manage financial crime risk and their regulatory obligations. He writes on a range of topics related to Know Your Customer (KYC), Anti-Money Laundering (AML),Anti-Bribery and Corruption (ABC) compliance and data privacy covering current regulatory themes, global risk events and trends in technology and data. In particular, encouraging firms to embark on a journey of digital transformation of their compliance operations and how to harness the power of innovation in Regtech.

With a career spanning four decades in international business, Michael offers unique insights into the changing geo-political risk landscape, the evolution of financial crime regulation, the genesis and development of AML and ABC regulation and how data and technology can empower organisations.

Michael is a regular speaker and contributor on financial crime topics in the media. 

Marion Mellett is Head of the Global Fund Registrations Solutions team in the Asset Management & Investment Funds department of William Fry in Dublin, Marion is a fund distribution and marketing compliance specialist.

Her primary area of expertise is investment funds and in particular the overseas regulatory registration (passporting) of Irish, Lux, Swiss and UK domiciled UCITS, UCITS ETFs and AIFs (whether by way of private or public offering) in EU and non EU jurisdictions (including South Africa), including the listing of UCITS ETFs on stock exchanges across Europe, LatAm and Switzerland. Extensive experience in the ongoing maintenance, regulatory compliance and filing requirements of UCITS and UCITS ETFs in order to maintain registration status and compliance with all regulatory and exchange obligations.

Marion has particular expertise in completing due diligence of new markets prior to the passporting, distributing and/or listing of investment funds. More specifically relating to regulatory/exchange initial and ongoing regulations.

Marion is the current chair of the Irish Funds Europe Distribution Working Group and also Irish Funds representative on EFAMA’s Distribution & Client Disclosures Steering Committee.

Kimberly LaPointe is the Head of PGIM Investments International, responsible for accelerating PGIM’s growth internationally as well as for business strategy, governance, operations, and distribution, since January 2019. Since joining the firm in October 2005, Kimberly has successfully driven the expansion of PGIM Investments’ footprint into new channels and markets, and forged strong relationships with key distribution partnerships. These efforts have contributed to the firm’s overall rank as the industry’s 10th-largest investment manager globally.

Before joining the firm, Kimberly spent 10 years at JP Morgan as a senior member of the team that developed JP Morgan Asset Management’s third-party distribution business. She began her career at Dean Witter as a global fixed income analyst and has 25+ years of experience in the financial services industry. 

Kimberly is chair of the PGIM Financial Ltd. Board and director on the PGIM Funds plc and PGIM Limited Boards. She is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, with a BA in economics management, and she holds U.S. FINRA Series 7, 63, and 26 licenses.

Frank Paone is responsible for the strategic direction of Lord Abbett’s international business, which includes sales and client service efforts. In this role, he co-manages Lord Abbett’s dedicated International Investor Services team, which serves the distinct needs of the firm’s international clients. He is based in our London office. Mr. Paone also serves on the firm’s Partnership Committee. 

Mr. Paone joined Lord Abbett in 1998 and was named Partner in 2013. Prior to his current role, he managed Lord Abbett’s national retail sales team in the Eastern Region of the United States. In this role, he oversaw regional managers in the field, supported by the senior regional managers. In addition, he led the Advisor Consultant team. His previous responsibilities include serving as Director of Institutional Investor Services; Regional Manager; Divisional Sales Leader for the Northeast, while also covering Connecticut and Rhode Island, and Advisor Consultant. He has worked in the financial services industry since 1998. 

He earned a BS in economics and marketing from Boston College. He also is a holder of the Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF) designation and Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) designation

Alexandre has more than 20 years of professional experience in the asset management and fund business, where he worked as an analyst, fund manager, board member and entrepreneur. He created and managed several funds, some of which have received international awards. Alexandre previously spent 15 years at the Edmond de Rothschild Group (EDR) where he was leading the fund management and research department. He managed the external fund selection team and the EDR Group fund of funds. In 2014 he co-founded Iteram Group, an asset manager and wealth manager based in Switzerland and Luxembourg. Alexandre holds a Degree in Economics from HEC Lausanne and a Master Degree in International Economics and Management from the SDA Bocconi of Milan.

Kieran Fox joined the Association in August 2007 and is the Director - Business Development for Irish Funds. As well as being responsible for working with investment managers and developing our membership offering, Kieran participates in a number of our steering groups including Distribution, Marketing & Promotion and Front Office and has led engagement on specific regulatory matters. Kieran has a BSc Finance and holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Information Systems. Prior to joining us he gained significant experience both in industry and within the regulator. He was a senior regulator and risk specialist with the Central Bank of Ireland for almost two years and prior to this spent seven years in a variety of roles across the front office within the hedge fund industry in London. Kieran represents the Association on the Summit Finuas Network Steering Committee.