Agenda

Embracing Innovation and steering change- The Future of Private Equity Operations

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Registration, coffee & networking
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Chair’s welcome and opening remarks

Jon Whiteaker, Editor, The Drawdown

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Keynote: Industry attitudes on innovation

With persistent inflation, rising interest rates, and ongoing geopolitical issues a key industry professional will set the scene to how private capital markets are navigating their way through these challenges to create innovative opportunities.

Karim Palant, Director of External Affairs, BVCA

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Opening panel: Assessing the dynamic state of the private equity market
  • How has the definition of 'resilience' changed for PE firms in recent years We're seeing a growing appetite for specialised strategies and more flexible fund structures.
  • How are market conditions driving this innovation, and what are some of the most compelling trends being observed?
  • What are the key drivers behind the market moving towards consolidation, and how are firms navigating the complexities of managing multiple strategies and asset classes?

Speakers:
Alex Di Santo, European Head of Private Equity, Gen II
Hamish Mair, Managing Director and Head of Private Equity, Columbia Threadneedle Investments
Peter Northcott, Partner, Chief Operations Officer, Hereford Capital

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Panel: Weathering the storm of a challenging fundraising and valuations environment
  • Fundraising in the current low-liquidity environment: strategies for attracting capital and managing investor expectations.
  • Valuation challenges: the impact of updated ILPA guidelines, auditors' stricter stance on last-round pricing, and the need for transparency.
  • Tax structuring considerations in the current market: optimising fund structures and navigating evolving tax regulations.
  • Exploring the role of third-party valuation providers and their increasing scrutiny

Moderator: Nisha Raghavan, Partner & Chief Operating Officer, Actis Partners

Speakers:
Roland Graaf, CFO, Bencis Capital Partners
Daniel Minay, Head of Finance and Operations, Meron Capital
Matthias Dux, Managing Partner and Co-Founder, Avellinia Capital

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Coffee & networking
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Reg talk: Riding the regulatory wave: Private markets in a shifting world
  • How are recent amendments to AIFMD and other EU regulations reshaping private market operations? What are the key compliance priorities for firms today?
  • What operational strategies are firms implementing to stay ahead of regulatory shifts and maintain a competitive edge?
  • How are private equity firms adapting their workflows to meet evolving securities regulations, AML requirements, and KYC standards efficiently?
  • What’s next on the regulatory horizon, and how should firms prepare for future developments in private markets oversight?  

Speakers:
Jonathan Pugh-Smith, General Counsel - Funds and Compliance Officer, Bregal Investments
Anna Coutts-Donald, Commercial Director, Vistra

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Panel: Optimising operations through outsourcing vs. insourcing
  • How do you determine when to use insourcing vs outsourcing?
  • Considering the impact of increased regulatory requirements and the role of digitisation.
  • Discuss the challenges of selecting appropriate providers through navigating the crowded market and choosing systems that meet specific needs and budgets.

Moderator: Shuli Levy, CFO/COO, Expedition Growth Capital

Speaker:
Tom Seymour Mead, Chief Financial Officer, Signal Capital Partners
Bryan Astheimer, Head of IMS, SEI

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Panel: The future of investor reporting: Tech, transparency & trends for GPs
  • How can GPs leverage advancements in automation and data management to enhance reporting insights and efficiency
  • What trends are driving change in investor reporting?
  • How can GPs evolve their data and reporting functions to adapt to changing investor expectations?
  • With private equity increasingly focused on tapping retail markets, will DPI become more important?

Moderator: Chris Sparenberg Head of iLEVEL, S&P Global Market Intelligence

Speakers:
Alan Chu, Partner, Finance & Operations Director, Beachbrook Capital
Gilad G. Amir, Digital Operating Partner, Pollen Street Capital
Salman Shaikh, Director & Head of Transformation, Pemberton Asset Management

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Networking Lunch
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Panel: AI in the investment space: Revolution or hype?
  • The practical applications of AI in investment processes: market research, due diligence, portfolio management, and reporting.
  • Managing and policing AI usage within teams: protecting proprietary information and ensuring responsible AI implementation.
  • The challenges of verifying and critically assessing information obtained from AI tools like ChatGPT

Speakers:
Jan Beitner, Director, Data & AI, Inflexion Private Equity
Ties Boukema, Head of Data and AI, Dawn Capital
Tarak Gorai, Director and Operating Partner, Mavenswood
Julian Schickel, Managing Partner and Co-Founder, Avellinia Capital



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Roundtables

Entering the retail market: 
The case of ELTIF 

Facilitator:
Paul Bramley, CFO, Claret Capital

The new frontier: How GP stakes are shaping private equity markets

Facilitator:
Gustav Hoejmark-Jensen, Head of Platforms, Nordic Alpha Partners

Succession planning- what’s next?


Facilitators: 
Karen Swain, CFO, Kindred Capital
Simon Hirtzel, General Partner & COO, IQ Capital
Khuram Bajwa, Director, One Ten Associates


Changing role of the COO

Facilitators:
Aaron​​​​ Kienwald, Chief Operating Officer, Oakley Capital
Jessica Stewart, COO, Systemiq Capital 

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Closing panel: Secondaries- a market in motion
  • As secondaries and co-investments reshape portfolio construction, what operational adjustments are needed to manage deal execution, valuations, and investor reporting?
  • With market activity accelerating here, how should firms refine their operational models to handle increased transaction volumes, regulatory scrutiny, and investor expectations?
  • What role are innovative structures like continuation vehicles playing in this evolution?
  • What’s next for secondaries? As both supply and demand momentum builds what opportunities could this present

Speakers:
Thomas Hallinger, Managing Director, Secondaries, Golding Capital Partners
Adam King, COO, CVC Secondary PartnerMillie Silver, CFO, Clipway
Millie Silver, CFO, Clipway

Closing remarks and activities
Drinks reception
Dinner

Agenda

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Coffee & networking
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Chair’s welcome and opening remarks

Jon Whiteaker, Editor, The Drawdown

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Opening panel "War stories" session: Lessons learned across market cycles
  • Industry veterans share their experiences navigating past market downturns, boom periods, and other significant events.
  • Reflecting on past industry trends and their implications for the future of private markets.
  • Sharing insights on successful investment strategies, risk management, and leadership in challenging times.

Moderator: Diana Meyel, Managing Partner, Cipio Partners
Speaker: Karen Sands, COO, Federated Hermes Global Private Equity

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Fireside chat: The changing shape of fund finance
  • How is the relationship between LPs and GPs evolving in the context of fund financing?
  • Explore emerging fund financing trends, such as tech platforms, specialized lenders, and hybrid structures.
  • Assess how increased secondaries activity due to market dislocation creates challenges and opportunities for managers and investors, and the role of fund financing.

Moderator:
Ben James, Head of Lender Engagement, Fund Finance Alpha Group

Speakers:
Giovanni Pericolini, Co-Founder & Partner, Medicxi
Dan Beary, CFO, Bow Street

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Networking coffee
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Roundtables

Consolidation- is it good or bad for the industry? 

Facilitator:
Tom Miller, Director, Sales Real Estate, Alter Domus

Building a diverse and dynamic talent pipeline for the future

Facilitator:
Debojit Mukherjee, COO, Agilitas


ESG: Beyond compliance - Real impact or greenwashing?

Facilitator:
Rebecca Boscott, Head of Responsible Investing, Hanover Investors Management LLP


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Keynote: EUs competitiveness agenda – mobilising private capital. Too late, too little?

Since the publication of the Letta- and Draghi reports in 2024 it has been all hands on deck for the European Commission to revitalise a broad spectrum of regulatory and policy initiatives to fill the EU’s competitiveness gap. The policies and regulatory initiatives will have operational impact for venture-, private equity and infrastructure investors, but are the initiatives too late, too little and how will they fit into a geopolitical agenda radically changed since 2024.

Martin Bresson, Public Affairs Director, Invest Europe

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Fireside chat: Performance in private equity: where are we now?
  • Analyse global fund performance trends, regional variations, and sector-specific insights, focusing on DPI as a key indicator amid market shifts like illiquidity and valuation discrepancies.
  • Explore the role of alternative metrics (MOIC, PME) in assessing fund performance and addressing inconsistencies in calculation and benchmarking.
  • Discuss the evolution of private equity performance measurement with increased regulatory scrutiny, ESG integration, and advanced data analytics.
Lunch