Programme

The Future of Investment Festival is building on the success of the Sustainable Investment Festival - which has taken place over the past few years - to explore how this part of the market is evolving, identify investment opportunities and help delegates respond to new regulations. 

The 2024 agenda will focus on how investors can sustainably take advantage of global megatrends such as the energy transition, societal change and digitalisation, including the rapid development of AI.

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Delegate Registration
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Chair Welcome
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CEO panel: How asset management leaders are navigating an age of disruption

Investment leaders discuss their future strategic priorities and explore how long-term objectives can being achieved whilst responding to short-term conditions and challenges.

  • What do you identify as key trends shaping the investment landscape and how are you future-proofing your business?
  • What are the biggest threats and how are you mitigating these risks?
  • What matters most to your clients for the future and how are you addressing their needs?
  • How do you plan to capitalise on innovation and technological advancements in the industry?
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Plenary: How are investors thinking about the future?

Against a backdrop of market volatility and ongoing global geopolitical uncertainty, investors must navigate an increasingly complex environment. We explore their changing priorities, attitudes and approaches to diversification in response to market trends, economic uncertainty, and technological transformations. We also look at how the investment industry can respond to their changing needs and how this will impact product development.

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Plenary: Are ESG fund product sets fit for the future?

Considering whether product shelves are sufficiently comprehensive, how asset managers are building with the end client needs in mind, and how regulations are impacting product offerings.

Speaker
Director, Sustainability Research, Global Manager Research
Morningstar
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The role of investors in protecting the natural world for future generations

A nature-positive economy will improve biodiversity, climate, health, food security and create long-term prosperity. We assess the impact of developments (such as the TNFD framework) to help investors better assess nature-related risks, as well as take advantage of investment opportunities in nature-based solutions.

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Networking Break

Fund Selectors

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Session info coming soon
Speaker
Head of Sustainable Investments
Royal London Asset Management
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Panel: Unlocking future opportunities in emerging markets

Emerging markets rely heavily on foreign private investment to finance their climate transition but, despite an ongoing boom in sustainable investment, investment funds are directing only a small share of allocations into emerging markets. This panel explores the role of investment funds in financing green companies and fostering economic growth, the markets and sectors that provide most potential, overcoming barriers to greater allocation in emerging markets, and the metrics used to measure the impact of investment on environmental sustainability and social goals.

Speaker
Co-Head of Impact Investment & Senior Portfolio Manager
Union Bancaire Privée, UBP SA
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Beyond a good story: What to look for when selecting a thematic fund

Europe is the largest market for thematic funds in the World. Assets surged in the wake of the global pandemic and these once niche funds now represent around 6% of all equity fund assets in the region. Funds targeting themes with a sustainable angle have been some of the biggest winners. Assets in European Energy Transition funds grew by 6x over the three years to the end of 2023 and yet many investors have been left out of pocket. Thematic funds allow investors to make granular bets on emerging trends like solar or wind while reducing some of the risks connected with single stock investments. They can also be expensive, highly volatile and given their distinctive characteristics require additional due diligence from investors. In this session we will address some of the questions we are frequently asked about thematics and present a framework for evaluating these often poorly understood investments.

Speaker
Senior Fund Analyst, Passive Strategies
Morningstar
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Lightning sessions

A quickfire focus on new funds, themes and sectors - why they were launched, what makes them stand out, their investment teams, key parts of the sustainable investment process, key positions at launch, engagement approach, and how they fit in investors' broader sustainable portfolios.

Pensions Professionals

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Future of DB schemes

As the majority of UK defined-benefit pension schemes mature, trustees and sponsors of schemes are considering how best to navigate and approach their endgames. What are the options for endgame and what investment strategies should be considered?

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Responsible investing for UK pension schemes

In a challenging year, UK pension schemes navigated integrating sustainable investments amid geopolitical and economic turmoil. Despite this, the role of UK pension assets in driving net zero and sustainability remained crucial. We examine the progress made, improvements, and priorities in the coming year.

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Improving impact with private markets

How are pension funds integrating impact into their investment mandate to include private markets such as infrastructure, private debt and real estate? How to assess and measure the achieved impact?

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Mansion House reform and investing in growth assets

The Mansion House reforms propose a dynamic shift in pension investment that have the potential to impact significantly on trustees and sponsoring employers. We explore the key aims, changes, and requirements of trustees.

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Networking Lunch

Fund Selectors

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Investing in the climate transition - taking old industries into the new world

With an urgent need to accelerate climate action, businesses are increasingly under pressure to adapt and transition towards more sustainable practices. How can investors make assessments of transition plans if data is not standardised? What sectors offer most opportunity? Demonstrating how engagement is making a difference.

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Making food affordable and sustainable

Affordable and sustainable food systems are fundamental to support healthy communities. We examine the opportunities that are now emerging in agriculture and food systems, as firms and societies look towards more efficient agriculture.

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Capturing Artificial Intelligence to future-proof portfolios

AI has been identified as a hugely significant long-term disruptive growth driver over the coming decades, that is set to be a key determinant in the success and survival of many of today’s companies around the globe. This session will explore how companies across sectors are adopting AI and managing risks, as well as long-term opportunities to future-proof investor portfolios.

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Panel: Future of fund selection

Technological advancements, evolving investor preferences, and challenging market dynamics are reshaping fund selection strategies and processes. This forward-looking session will explore a number of key discussion points including: the rise of big data and AI in decision making; future challenges and opportunities of ESG integration; how active managers can compete with passive investors by customising and tailoring offerings to better meet the needs of their clients; identify new and emerging asset classes; and explore how fund selection processes need to be adapted for the future.

Financial Advisers

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Future-proofing financial advice

Considering the evolving role of financial advisers in a digital age and what the financial planning firm of the future might look like. We will explore how advisers can adapt to the changing needs of their clients and use technology to support the evolution of their client proposition.

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How advisers can use SDR regime to help clients

The FCA’s Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR) have been positively received by the industry to curb greenwashing and ensure that funds are accurately labelled. This session will explore what the new rules means for advisers, the usefulness (and limitations of labels), how they sit with Consumer Duty requirements, and how this could affect investor behaviour. We will also explore what the FCA is looking for from advisers in this area and how this could evolve in the future. 

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Empowering advisers to advance client’s interests and drive positive sustainable change

We examine the pivotal role of engagement in driving sustainable outcomes for clients, communities, and the planet. Enabling advisers to enhance the client relationship and evidence the positive change investments are making.

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Future-proofing portfolios

Exploring the global megatrends shaping the investment landscape of tomorrow that should be on advisers’ radars. How are companies adapting to a rapidly changing environment and what are the risks to their businesses from disruptive forces? How can investors take advantage of these trends and how will they shape future client portfolios?

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Networking Break
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Plenary: How AI and big data is reshaping the investment landscape

Delving into the transformative impact of AI on the investment landscape – examining how investment strategies, decision-making processes and market dynamics are being reshaped, the ongoing risks to be managed, and how investment professionals need to adapt.

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Closing keynote: The world is warming up – how does that change the value of your assets?

As global temperatures rise and climate-related events become more frequent and severe, understanding the implications for asset value is paramount for investors, asset managers, and financial institutions. There is a concern that current economic models are based on assumptions that significantly underestimate climate risks – we examine whether modelling is fit for the future, the likely economic costs and impact on investors if scientific climate scenarios are correct, and the data and understanding needed to ensure clients and scheme members are protected.

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Chairs closing remarks
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Drinks reception