Join us for Next Generation Forum 2025

We’re excited to announce that Next Generation Forum will be on Thursday 16th January 2025, at the renowned Hotel Café Royal, right in the heart of London. For over 15 years, we have proudly provided a platform for fresh perspectives - featuring managers, strategies, and funds - exclusively to a carefully selected group of fund selectors. This year’s event promises an inspiring showcase of emerging talent, innovative product launches, and unconventional asset classes.

Join us from 08:30 for registration, followed by a compelling keynote at 09:00. The day will include small, engaging boardroom sessions with only 6-7 peers per group. We’ll conclude at 17:30 with a relaxed drinks reception and canapés. Complimentary accommodation is available for out-of-town guests. With only 28 seats available, this sought-after event fills up quickly. We look forward to welcoming you in January.

Register now

Sponsors

Programme

Upon arrival, you'll receive a personal programme outlining your agenda. Following the opening keynote, delegates will be divided into four small groups, each attending sessions in separate breakout rooms. The groups will be mixed throughout the conference, however delegates will see all eight presentations by the end of the day.

The following programme is for illustrative purposes only and does not indicate the order in which you will see the speakers at the event.

Time Session Topic
08:30 - 09:00 Registration
09:00 - 09:45 Welcome Address & Keynote
09:50 - 10:30 Barings → Barings Income Navigator Fund – A comprehensive fixed income solution →
10:35 - 11:15 BlackRock → How to generate alpha in Asia through exposure to AI →
11:15 - 11:45 Coffee
11:45 - 12:25 Comgest → What Doesn’t Change In A Fast Changing World →
12:25 - 13:05 Janus Henderson Investors → Global Small Cap: a sea of opportunity →
13:05 - 14:20 Lunch
14:20 - 15:00 M&G Investments → India: a growing allocation for investment portfolios →
15:00 - 15:40 Ninety One → Investing in the next generation of EM business leaders →
15:40 - 16:10 Tea
16:10 - 16:50 PIMCO → Big flex, small fund →
16:50 - 17:30 Schroders Capital → Schroders Capital Global Energy Infrastructure LTAF (OEIC) →
17:30 Drinks Reception

Speakers

Barings

Barings Income Navigator Fund – A comprehensive fixed income solution

The global economy stands at a crossroads, with investors facing uncertainty around growth and inflation amid shifting messaging from the Federal Reserve. To help navigate this landscape, Barings presents the Income Navigator Fund, a comprehensive fixed income solution that combines the best ideas from their global fixed income strategies. The Fund aims to deliver steady income and the potential for capital appreciation. It does this through blending the stability of investment grade corporate credit with the attractive yield potential of high yield credit, while allocations to emerging markets debt and securitised credit provide potential opportunities for higher growth, income and diversification. The Portfolio Management team is also backed by a robust and experienced credit research division.

This multi-faceted and dynamic investment approach enables the team to adapt to shifting market conditions, making this strategy a compelling choice for investors seeking both income generation and portfolio diversification in a single, integrated fixed income solution.

Stephen Ehrenberg

Managing Director, Investment Grade Fixed Income Group

Stephen Ehrenberg is a Portfolio Manager for Barings’ Investment Grade Fixed Income Group. Steve has worked in the industry since 2002, and his experience has encompassed portfolio management and credit analysis for both investment grade and high yield corporate credit. Prior to joining the firm in 2004, he worked in capital markets at MassMutual as part of the firm’s executive development program. Steve holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point (Phi Beta Kappa), an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan Business School (High Distinction) and is a member of the CFA Institute.

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BlackRock

How to generate alpha in Asia through exposure to AI

Learn about AI as an investment, an investment tool, and as an investor, from those who have been using it for over a decade. BlackRock will give a live demo of their tools during an engaging session, highlighting the exciting opportunity presented by this technology. Senior PM, Tom Morris will lead the session and show how they have delivered strong and consistent returns through a very volatile time in Asia.

Tom Morris

Managing Director

Tom Morris is a senior member of BlackRock's Systematic Active Equity Investment Group. Tom is responsible for portfolio management and research for a number of the firm’s flagship hedge fund strategies. Before joining BlackRock in 2010, Tom was Head of Quantitative Research for Marble Bar Asset Management in London, where he founded the quantitative investment team and managed "mid horizon" portfolios in Europe, North America and Asia Pac from 2005. Prior to this Tom was a Quantitative Analyst and Investment Strategist with responsibility for developing systematic investment models within the Global Equity Strategy team at Deutsche Bank. Tom has a BSc in Industrial Economics from the University of Warwick in 2002.

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Comgest

What Doesn’t Change In A Fast Changing World

Within Comgest’s recently launched Europe ex UK Compounders Fund they seek companies that have consistent qualities; longevity, durability and visibility of their growth. Key characteristics that make excellent compounding stocks that can stand the test of time. These high-quality companies are typically global industry leaders who, despite financial, economic and geopolitical crises, continue to innovate, expand and achieve earnings growth, while staying true to their cultural values and long-term vision. Franz Weis, CIO and Portfolio Manager, will highlight the key elements of the strategy's investment approach, as well as some stock examples, demonstrating what makes a successful compounder.

Franz Weis

CIO, Portfolio Manager & Managing Director

Franz Weis joined Comgest in 2005 and is a Portfolio Manager specialising in European equities. In addition to being the Group’s Chief Investment Officer (CIO), he is Managing Director of Comgest Global Investors as well as a member of the Group’s Board of Partners and Executive Committee. Franz leads the firm's European research efforts and co-leads the management of the majority of Comgest’s European equity strategies. In his role as CIO, Franz oversees the firm’s investment teams and chairs the Investment Committee, which is responsible for applying Comgest’s philosophy on successful long-term investing. He started his career in 1990 at Baillie Gifford & Co. where he worked as a Portfolio Manager before joining F&C Asset Management as a Senior Portfolio Manager and Director of European Equities in 1996. Franz graduated from Heriot-Watt University (Scotland) with a Master’s degree in International Banking and Financial Studies and received the International Bankers in Scotland Prize in 1990.

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Janus Henderson Investors

Global Small Cap: a sea of opportunity

In their presentation, Janus Henderson Investors will be highlighting the opportunity set for Global Smaller Companies whilst using a unique approach to idea generation, stock selection and portfolio construction, that maximises the local knowledge they possess across key geographical small cap regions.

Nick Sheridan

Portfolio Manager

Nick Sheridan is a Portfolio Manager on the Global Smaller Companies and European Equities Teams at Janus Henderson Investors, a position he has held since 2009. Nick joined Henderson in 2009 as part of the acquisition of New Star, where he was a portfolio manager for two years. Before New Star, he was a director of European equities at Tilney for six years. He began his fund management career at BWD Rensburg in 1990 and entered the industry as a buy-side analyst at Ashton Tod McLaren in 1986. Nick graduated with a BA degree (Hons) in politics from Liverpool University. He received the Securities Institute Diploma from the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment and has 38 years of financial industry experience.

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M&G Investments

India: a growing allocation for investment portfolios

Vikas Pershad will discuss why he thinks India represents a unique opportunity to invest in one of the world’s most transformative economies. The team believes the country is at a pivotal moment, with its companies leading in innovation, digital transformation, and sustainable practices. The country is also growing in geopolitical importance, while domestically the government is focused on support for the private sector with initiatives like “Make in India”. A growing number of globally competitive tech firms and domestic leaders that are driving modernisation across industries can now be seen. Vikas will go into detail on the fund’s current positioning and how he and the team focus on identifying forward-thinking Indian companies.

Vikas Pershad

Portfolio Manager

Vikas Pershad joined M&G in 2019 as a Fund Manager in the Asia Pacific team, having previously worked for Port Meadow Capital Management. Prior to that, Vikas was a Portfolio Manager in UBS O’Connor, most recently in Hong Kong, and previously Chicago. Before this, Vikas held various fund manager and analyst roles in Veda Investment, Hound Partners, TPG-Axon Capital, and Madison Dearborn Partners, based in Hong Kong and United States. He started his career as an Analyst with Merrill Lynch & Co within the Mergers and Acquisitions Group. Vikas graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts in 1999 (Echols Scholar). Vikas also holds a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government.

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Ninety One

Investing in the next generation of EM business leaders

Emerging markets are in rapid flux as the development gaps to advanced economies shrink. As these countries transform, the dominant corporations of today will be swept aside by a new generation of business leaders.

The Ninety One Emerging Markets Leaders strategy invests in companies that not only represent the future of emerging markets, but are helping to create it.

The investment team focuses on sustainable businesses targeting the outsized growth potential of parts of emerging economies that are currently deeply underserved, but that are beginning to flourish as incomes rise.

Portfolio manager Juliana Hansveden will discuss where the next generation of EM leaders are likely to be found; how they are propelling emerging economies into a brighter future via the provision of modern healthcare, energy, financial and digital services, and more; and why a sustainable ‘EM Leaders’ investment approach can unlock differentiated alpha opportunities and result in a distinctive emerging markets equity portfolio.

Juliana Hansveden

Portfolio Manager

Juliana Hansveden is a portfolio manager in the Sustainable Equity team at Ninety One. Prior to joining the firm, Juliana was the lead portfolio manager of the multi-billion euro Emerging Stars and the Asian Stars equity strategies at Nordea Asset Management. Before this Juliana held roles with First Swedish National Pension Fund (AP1) as a global equity analyst and assistant portfolio manager, and at BlackRock analysing European equities before becoming an associate and covering Asia ex-Japan equities in the Global Emerging Markets Equity team. Juliana has a Master of Science in Economics & Business from Stockholm School of Economics and has also studied at Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales de Paris (HEC Paris). She is a CFA® Charterholder.

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PIMCO

Big flex, small fund

Navigate today's volatile markets with PIMCO’s Credit Opportunities Bond Fund. When uncertainty is high and credit spreads are tight, a truly active approach can craft a portfolio that is guided entirely by valuations and fundamentals, rather than benchmarks. That is when COB’s dynamic, benchmark-agnostic strategy thrives, boosting the flexibility of your credit exposures. A hidden gem within PIMCO’s lineup, the COB fund harnesses the best ideas across credit desks, with the freedom to express high-conviction trade ideas across investment grade, high yield, securitized credit, bank loans and select emerging markets. In credit, COB is your agile ally for uncertain times.

Charles Watford

Portfolio Manager

Charles Watford is an executive vice president and portfolio manager in the London office, focusing on high yield and multi-sector credit opportunities. He is a member of the diversified income, high yield, and credit research teams. Prior to joining PIMCO in 2007, Charles was a management consultant at McKinsey & Company and an investment banking analyst at Morgan Stanley. He has 21 years of investment experience and holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He also holds a master's degree in chemistry from the University of Oxford.

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Schroders Capital

Schroders Capital Global Energy Infrastructure LTAF (OEIC)

Schroders Capital is set to launch the first energy transition focused wealth LTAF in Q1 2025 with a structure specifically designed for advised and discretionary UK retail investors (RMMIs). The launch of this fund will open access to investment themes and risk premia not available in public markets in a structure specifically designed for UK wealth. Join Schroders Greencoat, energy transition specialist, as they discuss new ways to access energy transition infrastructure.

Duncan Hale, Lead PM, will introduce the strategy and discuss the specific opportunities in energy transition infrastructure. Covering investment characteristics and the portfolio benefits as well as the current market dynamic around pricing and deal sourcing. Everything from wind farms to battery storage and green hydrogen.

Duncan Hale

Lead Portfolio Manager

Duncan Hale joined Schroders Greencoat in 2022. He works within the private markets business, with a particular focus on enhancing Schroders Greencoat’s footprint in the Defined Contribution market. He has spent his career helping institutional investors get access to real assets. Prior to Schroders Greencoat, Duncan worked at WTW, where he most recently headed up their secure income assets capability, playing a key role in identifying, investing in, and managing a broad range of cashflow generating real assets for UK and European pension funds. He also assisted in the education and capital raising in these areas. Prior to this, Duncan spent time heading WTW’s global Infrastructure Research team, along with consulting to large DC corporate plans. Duncan holds a BComm (Hons) in Politics and International Relations from the University of Sydney, and is a CFA Charterholder.

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Venue

Hotel Café Royal
10 Air Street, London, W1B 5AB

We’re delighted to host the Next Generation Forum at the prestigious Hotel Café Royal, an iconic London venue.

Conveniently situated at the heart of London, Hotel Café Royal is easily accessible. Just steps away from Piccadilly Circus station, served by the Bakerloo and Piccadilly lines, it offers seamless connections to the London Underground. Additionally, Paddington, Victoria, Euston, King’s Cross, and Waterloo are all within a 20-minute commute by car or underground, ensuring hassle-free travel to this exquisite venue.

All of our meeting rooms are located within the dedicated meeting centre on the first floor of the hotel and the drinks reception is taking place opposite this space, in Domino.

Contact

For further information on NGF Events or Infusion Event Management, please contact:

Sally Doyle, Director
07881 957350

sally.doyle@infusionevents.com