Utilising quant in equity portfolios to improve returns, avoid unintended risk and integrate sustainability

Scott Bennett, Head of Quantitative Investment Solutions, APAC, Northern Trust Asset Management

Scott is responsible for the development and support of the Nothern Trust’s quantitative solutions across both Australian and global equity markets.

Scott shares how he and his team are working with clients to help improve returns, reduce risk and integrate sustainability through a time of heightened inflation and uncertainty, and how investors can navigate their portfolios through this environment to achieve their desired return outcomes in the long-run, in this exclusive interview with Global Investment Institute (GII).

Scott will also be presenting on how to navigate equity portfolios through the current inflationary environment at GII’s upcoming Equities & Growth Assets Investment Forum, taking place on Wednesday, 7 September 2022 at the Westin, Melbourne CBD, Victoria.

To register your interest in attending, click here or for more information email zlatan.kapetanovic@globalii.com.au.

Spotlight on Aylon Ben-Shlomo, Managing Director, Aristotle Capital Management LLC

“The current period of persistently high inflation in the developed world has presented many institutional investors with an environment not experienced in over 40 years. While certain traditional and alternative asset classes are often identified as inflation hedges, focusing on high-quality businesses can also provide inflation protection.

“While the term “quality” is common in the investment management industry, we would like to explain how we think about quality and how that may determine whether a company will remain high-quality regardless of the macroeconomic or political environment.”

Aylon will be presenting on how to navigate equity portfolios through the current inflationary environment at Global Investment Institute’s upcoming Equities & Growth Assets Investment Forum, taking place on Wednesday, 7 September 2022 at the Westin, Melbourne CBD, Victoria.

To register your interest in attending, click here or for more information email zlatan.kapetanovic@globalii.com.au.

Spotlight on Mark Perry, Managing Director & Head of Alternatives Manager Research, Wilshire

“There is an evolution toward specialisation occurring in the private credit market today – like that which occurred in the private equity market 15 years ago – where specialist managers have emerged to provide capital to areas of the market where competition is scarce and, in doing so, are creating compelling investment opportunities to yield-oriented investors.

Alternative yield strategies, born from the concept of uncorrelated return, delivered as expected through the stress test of the COVID crisis and are poised to generate attractive risk-adjusted yield going forward.”

Mark will be presenting on alternative yield strategies and why they are a compelling source of return and an important tool for risk management in the current, late-cycle environment at Global Investment Institute’s upcoming Fixed Income & Defensive Assets Investment Forum, taking place on Thursday, 8 September 2022 at the Westin, Melbourne CBD, Victoria.

To register your interest in attending, click here or for more information email zlatan.kapetanovic@globalii.com.au.

Spotlight on Meaghan Mahoney, Managing Director & Credit Team Business Leader, Artisan Partners

Meaghan will be presenting on the opportunity set across high yield and the pockets of value emerging in the current, uncertain environment at Global Investment Institute’s upcoming Fixed Income & Defensive Assets Investment Forum, taking place on Thursday, 8 September 2022 at the Westin, Melbourne CBD, Victoria.

To register your interest in attending, click here or for more information email zlatan.kapetanovic@globalii.com.au.

Stuart Birkett, appointed Head of Equities, VFMC

August 2022

GII congratulates Stuart Birkett on his appointment as the Head of Equities at Victorian Funds Management Corporation (VFMC).

VFMC is a public authority responsible for investing AU$75 billion on behalf of Victorians, managing the long-term investments of Victorian State Government entities, comprising of 31 Victorian public authorities and related organisations.

Stuart joins VFMC from industry superannuation fund, HESTA. Most recently, Stuart headed up the management of HESTA’s International Equity and Active currency programs.

He will commence his new role as the Head of Equities on Monday 22 August 2022 and will report to VFMC’s Chief Investment Officer, Russel Clarke.

We wish Stuart all the best in his new role and continued success to the team at VFMC.

Michael Stavropoulos appointed as the Head of Portfolio Construction & Strategy – Equities, AustralianSuper

July 2022

GII congratulates Michael Stavropoulos on his appointment as the Head of Portfolio Construction & Strategy – Equities at AustralianSuper.

AustralianSuper is the largest superannuation fund in Australia and one of the top 40 pension funds globally, with about AU$261 billion in assets under management, which it invests on behalf of 2.7 million members.

We wish Michael all the best in his new role and continued success to the team at AustralianSuper.

James Waldron appointed as the Head of Credit, Future Fund

July 2022

GII congratulates James Waldron on his appointment as the Head of Credit at the Future Fund.

Future Fund is Australia’s sovereign wealth fund, established in 2006. Today it manages six public asset funds totalling AU$248.9 billion in assets under management.

In his role as the Head of Credit, James leads the credit team, with responsibility for investment across all areas of credit including Investment Grade, High Yield, Leveraged Loans, Direct Lending, Structured Credit, Emerging Markets Debt and Distressed Debt. James reports to Alicia Gregory, Deputy CIO, Private Markets.

We wish James all the best in his new role and continued success to the team at the Future Fund.

Solving the macro puzzle

Rob Tucker, Managing Director & Portfolio Manager, Chester Asset Management

Only when we see signs of inflation peaking and unemployment rising will we see a change in language from central banks. The problem with both inflation and unemployment is that they are both lagging indicators.

Leading indicators (confidence, freight rates, new orders, inventory levels, hiring etc) are suggesting a far weaker outlook than lagging indicators.

Read on to find out why significant economic weakness will be seen as good news for equities in the July 2022 Quarterly Update from Rob Tucker, Managing Director, Chester AM. Access the full analysis at the link here.

Peter Laity appointed as the Chief Investment Officer of BUSSQ Super

July 2022

GII congratulates Peter on his appointment as the Chief Investment Officer of BUSSQ Super.

BUSSQ is an industry super fund for the building, construction and civil industries, with AU$6 billion in assets under management.

Previously, Peter was a Portfolio Manager, Equities and ESG Integration at IOOF-OnePath, now Insignia Financial; the Head of Equities at NSW Treasury Corporation; Head of Equities at State Super; and, Head of Investments at ESSSuper.

We wish Peter all the best in his new role and continued success to the team at BUSSQ Super.

Jonathan Armitage joins CFS as Chief Investment Officer

July 2022

GII congratulates Jonathan Armitage on his appointment as the Chief Investment Officer of Colonial First State (CFS).

CFS is one of the largest retail super funds in Australia with AU$145 billion in assets under management and a membership base of approximately 670,000.

Jonathan joins CFS from MLC which recently merged with Insignia Financial (formerly - IOOF Holdings). Following the merger, the investment teams were combined, with Daniel Farmer appointed as the investment head.

Jonathan’s appointment sees the departure of Scott Tully, general manager of investments who has been with CFS for 30 years.

We wish Jonathan all the best in his new role and continued success to the CFS team.

Catalysing investment in clean energy to accelerate Australia’s transition to net zero

Ludovic Theau, Chief Investment Officer, Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC)

Ludovic is the Chief Investment Officer of Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), where he is responsible for leading the investment team, including the origination and execution of CEFC investments.

As the world’s biggest ‘green bank’, the CEFC is able to draw on its considerable expertise, to unlock new opportunities across a diverse investment landscape and continue to develop new markets and build investor confidence to facilitate the transition to lower emissions.

In this exclusive interview with Global Investment Institute (GII), Ludovic shares how the CEFC is catalysing investment in clean energy to accelerate Australia’s transition to a net zero emissions economy by 2050.

Bruce Tomlinson appointed as Investment Director, Minderoo Foundation

July 2022

GII congratulates Bruce Tomlinson on his appointment to the role of Investment Director at the Minderoo Foundation.

The Minderoo Foundation is one of Australasia’s largest philanthropic organisations, with AU$2.6 billion funds invested in philanthropic causes that seek to accelerate positive impact outcomes.

Bruce is the Foundation’s first dedicated investment hire with the objective of helping to grow and evolve its investment portfolio.

We wish Bruce all the best in his new role and continued success to the team at the Minderoo Foundation.

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