Lonsec Symposium 2025 Recording
Opportunity through Change
Exploring the theme “Opportunity through Change”, Lonsec Symposium 2025 looks at the big themes and issues facing our industry – whether it’s the rise of AI and finding quality investing beyond the Magnificent 7 to the increased adoption of managed accounts.
Introduction – Lonsec Symposium 2025
🎤 Andrew Klein, MC
🎤 Lorraine Robinson, CEO Lonsec Research and Ratings
Session 1: Lonsec Investment Solutions CIO Session –
Navigating the next great change, Private Markets
🎤 Joel Thickins, Partner, Head of Australia and Co-Head of Asia, TPG
🎤 Edwin Chan, Client Solutions APAC, iCapital
🎤 Hosted by Nathan Lim, CIO, Lonsec Investment Solutions
The biggest change today to markets is the rise of private assets. Narrowing public markets, increased correlation between asset classes, crowded equity trades and the abundance of high quality investments outside the public markets has seen accelerating investor demand for private assets.
Who best to understand and navigate this world of private markets than one of the leading alternative asset managers globally and a rapidly rising global platform that is removing the friction between investors and these great opportunities.
Session 2: Demystifying Private Markets
🎤 Laura Stolfi, Managing Director, Senior Investment Strategist, Nuveen Churchill
🎤 Pete Robinson, Head of Investment Strategy, Fixed Income, Challenger Investment Management
🎤 Hosted by Darrell Clark, Deputy Head of Research & Manager – Alternatives, Lonsec Research and Ratings
Once the preserve of institutions and ultra-high net worth investors, private assets are becoming more attractive and accessible to advisers and their retail clients, offering diversification benefits and long-term return potential. However, investors often hesitate due to risks around liquidity, complexity, governance and transparency.
Our panel will share how leading investors in private markets deal with these risks and how education, innovation in product structures, and potentially more regulatory intervention can help address these concerns.
Session 3: Reassessing the Case for Traditional Bonds in a Private-Centric World
🎤 Adam Bowe, Head of Australia Portfolio Management, PIMCO
🎤 Roy Keenan, Co-Head of Fixed Income, Yarra Capital Management
🎤 Hosted by Michael Elsworth, Sector Manager – Fixed Income, Lonsec Research and Ratings
With the rise of private credit and alternative fixed-income strategies, traditional bonds have been overshadowed in recent years. But as market conditions shift, is there a renewed case for traditional fixed income?
A panel of experts will explore the evolving role of fixed income in portfolios, the challenges it faces against private alternatives, how investors should think about allocation in the next 12 months and when hybrids are phased out by 2028, what alternative income solutions should investors consider.
Session 4: Emerging Trends in Funds Management
🎤 Felicity Walsh, MD, Australia & NZ, Head of Institutional Business, APAC, Franklin Templeton
🎤 Chantal Giles, Head of APAC Strategic Clients & Head of Wealth Australasia, BlackRock
🎤 Hosted by Lorraine Robinson, CEO, Lonsec Research and Ratings
The one constant in financial services is change! There is change in the types of investment products, the way they are structured and the way investment returns are accessed.
Our panel will discuss some of the key evolving trends in the funds management industry both in Australia and overseas, exploring issues such as digitisation, fractionalisation and custom indexation, along with managing the potential shifts in the landscape arising from the impact of AI and the ESG disruptions emanating from the US.
Session 5: Beyond the Magnificent 7 – Searching for Quality in Global Equities
🎤 Helge Skibeli, Portfolio Manager, Global Core Portfolio Management Team Lead, JPMorgan Asset Management (Australia) Limited
🎤 Trevor Gurwich, Senior Portfolio Manager, VP, American Century Investments
🎤 Tom Allen, Portfolio Manager, Aikya Investment Management
🎤 Hosted by Hong Hon, Sector Manger – Global Equities, Lonsec Research and Ratings
This session will explore the pivotal role that ‘quality’ can play in investment portfolios. Our panel will discuss their definitions of quality, highlighting the criteria they use to identify investment opportunities, and how it has helped in navigating around the dominance of the ‘Magnificent 7’ to create more diverse portfolios.
Panellists will also outline how they incorporate quality metrics to enhance portfolio performance and manage risk and share their thoughts on what investors should consider in their portfolios to take advantage of investment opportunities.
Session 6: Australian Equities vs. Global Markets – Is Now the Time to Play?
🎤 Bradley Clibborn, Portfolio Manager, Bennelong Funds Management
🎤 Dushko Bajic, Head of Australian Equities Growth, First Sentier Investors
🎤 Vince Pezzullo, Head of Australian Equities, Perpetual Asset Management
🎤 Hosted by Matthew Turnbull, Sector Manger – Australian Equities, Lonsec Research and Ratings
Australian equities have lagged their global counterparts in recent years, raising questions about their long-term positioning in investor portfolios. With a market dominated by financials and resources, a shifting macroeconomic landscape, and growing global competition for capital, is there still a compelling case for Australian equities?
Our panel will dissect the factors behind this underperformance and uncover where the best opportunities lie.
Session 7: Evolution of ETFs – Beyond Beta and Into the Future
🎤 Cameron Gleeson, Senior Investment Strategist, Betashares
🎤 Marc Jocum, Product & Investment Strategist, Global X
🎤 Jamie Hannah, Deputy Head – Investments & Capital Markets, VanEck Investments
🎤 Hosted by Peter Green, Director of Research, Lonsec Research and Ratings
The ETF market has evolved far beyond traditional passive index tracking. Innovations in the ETF landscape, such as access to alternative assets, thematic investing, and factor-based strategies are reshaping how investors access markets. As investor demand shifts towards cost efficiency, transparency, and liquidity, where do ETFs fit in today’s portfolio construction?
Our Panel will unpack the future of ETFs, providing insights on the next wave of ETF innovation, bust the liquidity and trading myths around ETFs and outline the important role ETFs can play in portfolio construction.
Session 8: Capitalising on What’s Next in Advice
🎤 Nikki Cable, Head of Strategy & Development – Platform Product & Advice Enablement, Netwealth
🎤 Andrew Kennedy, Group Head of Advice, Count
🎤 Matt Lawler, CEO, Akumin
🎤 Hosted by Veronica Klaus, Head of Tailored Solutions, Lonsec Investment Solutions
As the advice industry continues to evolve, significant changes are reshaping how advisers serve clients and manage their practices.
Rounding out the day, this session brings together a panel of industry leaders to discuss the strategies needed to leverage these changes including managed accounts, AI, alternative investments, and productivity tools. With expert insights on emerging trends and practical applications, this discussion will explore how advisers can strengthen client relationships, enhance service offerings, and maintain a competitive edge in a rapidly changing environment.