Jon Whiteaker, Editor, The Drawdown

• 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?

Moderator: Aleksandra Cison, Director, Strategic Fund Solutions, HSBC Innovation Banking

Speakers:
Hamish Mair, Managing Director and Head of Private Equity, Columbia Threadneedle Investments
Peter Northcott, Partner, Chief Operations Officer, Hereford Capital
Hana Prochaska, Executive Director, Gen II

• 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
Peter Soliman, Managing Partner, Arosa Capital

• 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?  

Moderator: Matthias Ploetz, Reporter, The Drawdown

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

• 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
Teddy Ramarotafika, Head of Finance, Lunar Ventures

• 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

• 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

Moderator:
Tanya Kaushal, Reporter, The Drawdown

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

• As secondaries and co-investments reshape portfolio construction, what operational adjustments are needed to manage deal execution, valuations, and investor reporting?
• What role are innovative structures like continuation vehicles playing in this evolution?
• How does the risk profile of a secondaries transaction differ from a conventional deal? What can buyers and sellers do to mitigate risk?
• What’s next for secondaries? As both supply and demand momentum builds what opportunities could this present?
  

Moderator Steve Darrington, Chairman, Mactavish

Speakers:
Thomas Hallinger, Managing Director, Secondaries, Golding Capital Partners
Millie Silver, CFO, Clipway

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