Annual Global Funds Conference 2018
The 2018 Irish Funds Annual Global Funds Conference took place on Thursday, 17 May 2018 at the Convention Centre Dublin, Spencer Dock, N Wall Quay, North Dock, Dublin 1.
For more details on what the 2018 programme covered, view the agenda further below. The Irish Funds Annual Global Funds Conference 2019 will take place on Thursday, 23 May 2019.

Breakfast kindly sponsored by MUFG.
Elena Canavan, William Fry
Brian Forrester, Deloitte
This panel of business leaders will provide a macro overview and discussion of the key issues affecting the asset management industry including fee compression, demographic trends, investor education, Brexit planning, sustainability, diversity & inclusion, big data & digitalisation and the future direction and shape of the industry.
Moderator:
- Olwyn Alexander, PwC
Panelists:
- Gareth Murphy, Standard Life
- Joe LaRocque, Legg Mason
- Ann Prendergast, SSGA
- Steven Yadegari, Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn
Paschal Donohoe, TD, Minister for Finance & Public Expenditure and Reform
Innovative products encapsulate the growth of illiquid investments in Private Markets defined as PE, real estate, private debt and infrastructure. Fundraising, AUM, and dry powder are at record levels as institutional investors continue to allocate to private markets in search of alpha. The panel discussion will include an assessment of allocation trends in private markets by considering investment opportunities and the impact of post 2008 regulation on traditional bank lending.
Moderator:
- Ileana Sodani, BNY Mellon
Panelists:
- Philip Doyle, AMP Capital
- Michael Looney, Carysfort Capital
- Ranesh Ramanathan
- Luke Benjamin, Deutsche Bank
Kindly sponsored by The Panel
Ruairi O’Healai, EMEA COO and CEO, Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM) Ltd.
- Derville Rowland, Director General, Financial Conduct, CBI
Following an intense period of regulatory implementation, this year's panel will look ahead and focus on the key issues and evolving policy debates that are shaping the future of the Funds Industry in Ireland, Europe and on the Global stage. What are some of the key initiatives to look out for? What direction is the work on ETFs taking? What can be expected in the area of fees and distribution? How is the European regulatory landscape going to evolve? What's the outlook for international regulatory and supervisory cooperation and coordination?
Moderator:
- Sven Kasper, State Street
Panelists:
- Gerry Cross, CBI
- Robert Taylor, FCA
- Adrian Whelan, Brown Brothers Harriman
Justina Deveikyte, Cerulli Associates
James Norris, International Managing Director, Vanguard Asset Management
Kindly sponsored by Northern Trust
Panel Discussion: Diversity
(Liffey A- Main Seminar Room)
The Financial Services industry is increasingly focusing on diversity and inclusion in their operating models, particularly in leadership positions. How are firms addressing pay gaps and upward mobility across gender? What are the challenges and how can they be overcome? Does diversity bring benefits to the end investor? These are some of the talking points that our panellists will be addressing while sharing their own experiences when dealing with diversity and inclusion.
Moderator:
- Revel Wood, FundRock
Panelists:
- Olivia McEvoy, EY
- Paul Flynn, Lincoln
- Carol Widger, Maples and Calder
- Prof. Linda Doyle, Trinity College Dublin
Panel Discussion: Board Governance
(Liffey Hall 1)
Moderator:
- Dan Morrissey, William Fry
Panelists:
- Dr. Margaret Cullen, CIFDI
- Daniel Lawlor, Aquest
- Enda Roche, Fidelity
- Conor Molloy, IFDA
Panel Discussion: Digitalisation & Fintech
(Liffey Hall 2)
Innovation does not need to be puzzling. Join our panel of experts to discuss Digitalisation & Fintech, and what it means to the Asset Management industry. Our panel will discuss Cryptocurrencies, Distributed Ledger Technology, and Artificial Intelligence. We will look at how these revolutionary technologies are transforming the industry today.
Moderator:
- Anne-Marie Bohan, Matheson
Panelists:
- Ulrich Koall, TOBAM
- Chris Mills, Stradegi Consulting
- Keith Fingleton, IDA
- Colin Platt, CGP Consulting
Panel Discussion: Millennials and Investment Trends
(Liffey Meeting Room 2).
This panel discussion is around millennial investor preferences including the products and distribution channels they are trending towards such as ETF’s and ESG Funds. What is the asset management industry doing to meet the needs of this demographic and is it enough to stay ahead of the future disruptors potentially entering this space? The panel includes millennial industry participants and senior management with a particular interest in this area.
Moderator:
- Valarie Daunt, Deloitte
Panelists:
- Marie-Louise O' Callaghan, Trinity Student Managed Fund
- Adrian Mulryan, marketβeta
- Ryan Frater, BlackRock
- Dan Hedley, Fidelity
Panel Discussion: Diversity
(Liffey A- Main Seminar Room)
Panel Discussion: Board Governance
(Liffey Hall 1)
Panel Discussion: Digitalisation and Fintech
(Liffey Hall 2)
Panel Discussion Millennials and Investment Trends
(Liffey Meeting Room 2)
Kindly sponsored by Morgan McKinley
An Tánaiste Mr. Simon Coveney T.D. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade,
Senior figures from within the political and financial services arenas will provide insights into how the current Brexit negotiations may develop in the coming months and what the future may hold in a post-Brexit environment. This will include a discussion around both challenges and opportunities in asset management and possible scenarios for the future relationships between Ireland, the EU and UK.
Moderator:
- Willem Buiter, Citigroup
Panelists:
- James Wharton, Hume Brophy
- John Looby, KBI
- Padraig Sherry, Barings
- Lord Dick Newby, Liberal Democrats, House of Lords
Pat Lardner, Irish Funds
Kindly sponsored by Carnegie Fund Services
Kindly co-sponsored by Intertrust and BlackRock