Programme
This will be a full day conference with approximate timings of:
09.00
Registration & Fika
09.30
Session 1: Geopolitical and Macroeconomic Outlook
10.45
Session 2: Resilient by Design: Rethinking Strategic Asset Allocation
This session looks at the macro headwinds and geopolitical risks shaping the global backdrop, and what persistently higher inflation, the path of interest rates and fixed income positioning mean for your portfolio. Energy security is now at the forefront of many people's minds, and many pension funds have already invested in regional renewable infrastructure — hydropower, wind, battery storage — to strengthen resilience and meet net-zero goals.
Speakers announced to date:
Beyond Bonds
The session will explore the key themes shaping our investment approach, starting with our Asset Barometer and the inflation risks our clients are most concerned about, including how we manage these risks across the portfolios we oversee. We will discuss our macro outlook and the current geopolitical landscape, including our dynamic approach to bonds within multi-asset portfolios and the use of diversifiers to hedge risks across different timeframes and scenarios. The session will also cover commodities, how we access them and case studies from this year, alongside opportunities in infrastructure and private markets, particularly in European defence and resilience across cyber, healthcare and defence. Finally, we will provide a high-level overview of our protection toolkit, including options, FX and alternatives.
Building on the previous session, we look at how portfolios should evolve as geopolitical conflict, regulatory divergence and the climate crisis reshape risk and opportunity. How should diversification be reconsidered, where does the strongest potential lie across asset classes, and what role can defence and less conventional strategies, including structured credit, play? We also ask how ESG and climate commitments are holding up under pressure, and whether natural capital is becoming an investable opportunity.
Speaker announced to date:
11.45
Fika
12.15
Session 3: Investing in Private Markets and Real Assets – New and Emerging Opportunities, the Risks and Their Role in Portfolios
This session asks whether private markets are delivering the returns investors expect, and how risk has changed, particularly in private credit and equity. We will also consider whether real assets should now play a more prominent role given the higher and more persistent inflationary outlook, and how governance, transparency and measurement can be improved following recent losses on illiquid investments.
Speaker announced to date:
13.30
Lunch
15.00
Close of Conference
Cost
The conference is by invitation only for pension funds and other institutional investors and we welcome new attendees from these investors. Therefore if you are not already receiving an invitation please contact us. A limited number of Complimentary invitations are available to genuine pension fund representatives (executives and trustees) and other approved institutional investors. However, to ensure we have room for as many funds as possible, we have to limit free places to 3 attendees per approved organisation thereafter a reduced rate fee is payable per delegate. Furthermore, SPS always reserves the right of admission (free or paid) and our decision is final.
Venue
Media Partners
