Programme

Navigating An Evolving Landscape

IMAS Conference

Registration & Networking

8:00am

Arrival of Guest of Honour & Guests to be seated

8:50am

Welcome Speech by IMAS Chairman

9:00am

Jenny Sofian, Chairman of IMAS and Chief Executive Officer of Fullerton Fund Management

Opening Address by Guest of Honour

9:10am

Alvin Tan, Minister of State for the Ministry of Trade & Industry; Board Member of the Monetary Authority of Singapore

Reframing retirement: Building Resilience in the Longevity Era

9:30am

Longer lifespans are reshaping work, retirement, and financial planning. There is a growing need for a fresh approach that empowers individuals to maintain financial resilience sustainably, while also ensuring societies can flourish in response to evolving demographic shifts. As we discuss the longevity challenges and opportunities, join us in discovering how longer lifespans are reshaping the way we approach our investments and financial planning, understand the latest shifts in pension markets and the major thrusts of global pension reforms and their implications to Singapore. The panel will also explore adaptable and flexible strategies to accommodate modern retirement planning such as extended retirement periods and how advancements in technology can help businesses and governments support a changing demographic in the years to come.

Speakers / Moderator:

  • Jean-Jacques Barbéris, Director of the Institutional and Corporate Clients division & ESG, Amundi
  • Dr Mark Konyn, Group Chief Investment Officer, AIA Group
  • Ahmad Zulqarnain Onn, Chief Executive Officer, Employees Provident Fund
  • Kevin Bong, Board Director, Pacific Pension & Investment Institute
  • Jayne Bok, Head of Investments, Asia, WTW

Break & Networking

10:15am

Active ETFs: Reshaping the future of investing

10:45am

ETFs have often been linked to passive investing, providing investors a cost-effective way to track popular market indices. Yet, the last few years have seen the rapid growth of a different type of ETF that was once considered an unlikely pairing: Active ETFs. Increasingly, they are seen as a useful building block for portfolios among institutional and retail investors alike. The Active ETF vehicle is one of the latest innovations reshaping the asset management industry and redefining the investment landscape. This session will discuss the Active ETF revolution, unpack its structure and highlight its unique value proposition for investors.

Philippe El-Asmar, Managing Director, Head of ETF, Direct & Digital, Asia Pacific, J.P. Morgan Asset Management

Extracting Geopolitical Alpha in a Dynamic Political Landscape

11:15am

Catalysts and black swan events such as historic elections, geo-political tensions, major climate catastrophes and revolutionary technologies continue to shape and transform our financial industry. Over the next decades, the competition between US and China is likely to be a, if not the main driving force shaping geopolitics over the next decades. Other geopolitical hotspots in Russia-Ukraine, Middle East and South Africa as well as global challenges like climate change, mass migration and nuclear proliferation will determine how investors navigate an evolving landscape. As investors face a fragmented world transformed by political paradigm shifts, join us in discovering how investors might produce consistent alpha in face of extreme uncertainty and political noise.​

Speaker / Moderator:

  • Marko Papic, Author of Geopolitical Alpha, Macro-Geopolitical Chief Strategist, BCA Research
  • Mark Tan, Managing Director and Head, Macro Research, Economics & Investment Strategy, GIC Private Limited

Closing Remarks

11:55am

Sabrina Gan, Chairperson, IMAS Conference Organizing Committee, and MD & Head of Third Party Wealth (Asia Pacific ex-Japan), Goldman Sachs Asset Management

Lunch & Networking

12:00pm

IMAS Masterclass

Masterclasses

2:00pm - 3:30pm

Masterclass 1: Climate Transition Investing (Part 1)

Climate change stands as one of the most pressing challenges of our time, yet it presents an unique opportunity for investors to drive meaningful change. As the window to bridge the emissions gap and align with the Paris Agreement narrows,  the ability to navigate the complexities of the climate transition is increasingly important. This Climate Transition Masterclass will explore the various dimensions of climate transition investing, including frameworks, methodologies, stewardships, and actionable case studies.

Participants will gain insights into the application of climate scenarios, metrics, and the evaluation of strategies at the investment level, enabling them to assess the credibility and effectiveness of companies' decarbonization efforts. The Masterclass will emphasize the importance of effective stewardship and engagement in influencing corporate behaviour. By examining real-world case studies, participants will learn how to augment their investment strategies and develop engagement toolkits to effectively collaborate with companies on their transition journeys and measure the impact of their transition efforts.

Objectives and Learning Outcomes:

  • Provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of climate transition investing and its relevance in today's financial landscape.
  • Understand the practical aspects of structuring transition finance transactions in private and public markets.
  • Develop effective engagement strategies to influence corporate behaviour regarding transition.

Trainers:

  • Wong De Rui, Senior Vice President, Sustainability Office, GIC Private Limited
  • Viola Tang, Senior Vice President, Sustainability Office, GIC Private Limited
  • Sylvia Chen, Head of ESG, South Asia, Amundi
  • Maurits van Joolingen, Managing Director, Climate Scenarios & Sustainability, Ortec Finance
  • Dr Daryle Lee, Chief Data Officer, BlueOnion
  • Lawrence Ang, Managing Partner, Climate Smart Ventures

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Masterclass 2: Asset Allocation: Through the Lens of a CIO 2.0 (Part 1)

Building on the success of 2024’s asset allocation masterclass, “Through the Lens of a CIO 2.0” moves beyond the foundational concepts to explore how CIOs navigate today’s evolving macroeconomic landscape to construct resilient multi-asset portfolios.

In this interactive session, participants will step into the shoes of a CIO, guided by two seasoned investment leaders offering distinct yet complementary perspectives:

  • Fidelity International’s Global Head of Macro and Asset Allocation will examine the ongoing macroeconomic regime shift and the need to move beyond traditional asset classes into areas like liquid alternatives to enhance resilience in multi-asset portfolios.
  • HSBC Global Private Banking and Wealth’s Chief Investment Officer, Southeast Asia and India will connect these long-term investment themes with shorter-term macro insights that drive private wealth client decisions, translating them into real-world allocation strategies tailored for high-net-worth investors. 

Together, they will provide a holistic framework for asset allocation by connecting global macro perspectives with practical portfolio construction strategies that align with diverse client objectives.

Join us for this engaging masterclass to sharpen your decision-making skills as an investment professional. 

Objectives and Learning Outcomes:

  • Actionable insights on navigating today’s investment landscape
  • A deeper understanding of the role of liquid alternatives in multi-asset portfolios
  • Practical solutions for aligning asset allocation strategies into client-centric portfolios

Trainers:

  • Dr Salman Ahmed, Global Head of Macro and Strategic Asset Allocation, Fidelity International
  • James Cheo, Chief Investment Officer, Southeast Asia and India, HSBC Global Private Banking and Wealth

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Masterclass 3: Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs): Beyond Funds to Investment Vehicles

Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) have revolutionized the investment landscape, offering its users as means of versatile tools to meet investment objectives, optimize portfolios, and access to a range of diverse asset classes. As of 2024, the global asset under management of ETFs have grown to over US$13 trillion, playing a critical role in modern financial markets. This masterclass will provide insights into how ETFs and their multi-faceted utility transcended from being mere funds to tools and vehicles for innovation. Subject matter experts from CSOP Asset Management and Shorea Capital will share with participants on the topic deploying ETFs and Artificial Intelligence to navigate the evolving landscape of the global financial markets.

Objectives and Learning Outcomes:

  • Understanding the growth and uses of ETFs within Asia
  • Learn how Artificial Intelligence and ETFs can serve as tools for efficient portfolio management
  • Investor case studies of creating robust ETFs for access to specific markets and its underlying

Trainers:

  • Lee Weiloon, Singapore CEO, CSOP Asset Management
  • Wang Yi, Managing Director, Head of Investment, CSOP Asset Management
  • Tony Wong, Managing Director, Head of APAC Sales, CSOP Asset Management
  • Bruce Zhang, Head of Fixed Income, CSOP Asset Management
  • Leong Chin Lin, Managing Director, Shorea Capital

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Masterclass 4: Navigating the risk maze – Mastering portfolio risk management

The risk landscape for investors has become increasingly complex and multifaceted given the resurgence of inflation, unpredictable US economic policies, heightened geopolitical risks and trade wars. In building risk-aware portfolios, investors must understand traditional risk factors such as market, credit, and liquidity risks but also stay vigilant about non-traditional risks that could impact portfolio performance.

Join Eastspring Investments and Mercer for this Risk Management Masterclass where you will get a deep dive on how to measure and manage the risks of the core building blocks within investment portfolios. Understand the intricacies of risk modelling and learn about the benefits as well as limitations of risk models and common risk metrics. The Masterclass will also deliver a holistic view of total portfolio risks, incorporating hedge funds, public as well as private assets.

Objectives and Learning Outcomes:

  • Gain practical insights on how to approach risks when setting performance objectives.  Understand the importance of questioning risk metrics, challenging risk model assumptions and testing alternative risk models.
  • Discover how data and quantitative analysis can be harnessed to identify vulnerabilities in equity portfolios, including systemic risks and market disruptions.
  • Understand the importance of objective setting, implementation considerations and effective risk management from a total portfolio concept, while taking into account the interactions across asset classes.

Trainers:

  • Pierre-Julien Jandrain, Head of Investment Risk and Performance, Singapore, Eastspring Investments
  • Jerry Chee, Portfolio Manager, Fixed Income, Credit-Focused Solutions, Eastspring Investments
  • Shaun Tan, Head of Portfolio Intelligence, Asia, Investment Solutions, Mercer

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Masterclasses

3:45pm - 5:15pm

Masterclass 1: Climate Transition Investing (Part 2)

Synopsis as above
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Masterclass 2: Asset Allocation: Through the Lens of a CIO 2.0 (Part 2)

Synopsis as above

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Masterclass 5: Diversify and Conquer: Building Tomorrow’s Investment Portfolios Today

In an ever-evolving asset management landscape, institutional investors such as Family Offices and Endowments for example face the dual challenge of balancing risk and return while tackling new imperatives such as climate change. The broadening investment spectrum across public and private markets, coupled with the need to juggle liquidity with long-term goals and stringent governance, demands more from asset owners.

This dynamic masterclass equips participants with cutting-edge strategies to craft value-driven, diversified portfolios that align with institutional imperatives and pave the way for sustainable futures. Dive into strategic insights on portfolio diversification, decarbonisation integration, and climate transition management, all tailored to the unique objectives of long-term growth investments. Gain practical know-how on building and managing public-private portfolios, implementing robust risk management frameworks, and leveraging the expertise and resources of asset managers through solutions like OCIO.

Objectives and Learning Outcomes:

  • Command the art of leveraging a myriad of investment tools, perfectly aligning with institutional mandates and climate goals.
  • Gain unparalleled insight into harmonising risk, return, and climate dimensions within dynamic, mixed-asset portfolios.
  • Get actionable guidance on enhancing portfolio performance within Singapore's regulatory framework, using cutting-edge strategies.

Trainers:

  • Neil Walton, Head of OCIO and Specialist Solutions, Schroders
  • Pedro Moura, Head of Asia Solutions, Schroders

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Masterclass 6: The Rise of Total Portfolio Approach (TPA) – Case Studies and Observations from a Practitioner

As some of Strategic Asset Allocation’s shortcomings become clearer, several well-known global asset owners have begun experimenting and transitioning to a more holistic approach to building portfolios. Total Portfolio Approach (TPA) has become and extremely topical subject – with interest accelerating as early adopters validate the approach through the combination of a strong performance story and compelling theory. With the expectation that a growing number of asset owners will make the transition to TPA, a quiet revolution in investment practice seems at hand. This masterclass equips senior investment professionals and board members with a comprehensive understanding of TPA as an investment framework to holistically manage a portfolio rather than through traditional asset class silos.

Key Themes of the Masterclass

  • Understanding Total Portfolio Approach (TPA): Explore what TPA is, its key principles, and its connection to long-term sustainable returns.
  • Survey Insights on Best Practices: Review findings from WTW’s Asset Owner Peer Study (AOPS) on TPA adoption rates and performance compared to Strategic Asset Allocation (SAA).
  • TPA Variations: Examine different models of TPA through case studies from practitioners with firsthand experience.
  • Transitioning from SAA to TPA: Discuss essential elements for transitioning, including Governance, People, and Investment Models, along with practical steps for asset owners.
  • Interactive Engagement: Participate in discussions with asset owners at various stages of the SAA-TPA transition to share insights and experiences.

Trainers:

  • Jayne Bok, Head of Investments, Asia, WTW
  • Kevin Bong, Board Director, Pacific Pension & Investment Institute
End of Masterclass

5:15pm

IMAS Investment Conference & Masterclass 2025

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Contact Us
IMAS Secretariat
3 Phillip Street
Royal Group Building #07-01
Singapore 048693
Tel: +65 6223 9353
Fax: +65 6223 9352
Email: conference@imas.org.sg