DETAILED OUTLINE
8.30am
REGISTRATION OPEN
Rivershed - Howard Smith Wharves, Brisbane
9.00am
WELCOME
Tim Townsend
Partner & Private Wealth Adviser, Townsend Cobain Partners
9.15am
FAULT LINES AND FRONTLINES
Leadership in a Fractured World
As geopolitical tensions rise and alliances realign, understanding the forces shaping global policy and trade has never been more critical. In this session, former Australian Defence Minister Christopher Pyne unpacks the shifts driving market volatility—from escalating trade frictions and strategic competition to the growing complexity of global leadership.
With Australia’s federal election freshly settled, we’ll also examine how the new political landscape could influence domestic policy, economic priorities, and investor confidence.
As global risks and domestic shifts collide, investors face a complex new landscape. This session will explore the implications for asset allocation, policy-sensitive sectors, and long-term strategy—blending geopolitical awareness with practical investment thinking.
Key Issues:
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Global power shifts: How are evolving alliances and rivalries—especially in the Indo-Pacific—redefining economic and security priorities?
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Trade under pressure: What do intensifying trade tensions mean for markets, and how can businesses adapt to a fracturing global supply chain?
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Post-election Australia: How might the new government’s policies influence Australia’s economic trajectory and its role on the world stage?
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Leadership in crisis: What strategies can leaders deploy to navigate uncertainty and seize opportunities in a volatile geopolitical climate?
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THOUGHT LEADER:
Hon. Christopher Pyne
Former Australian Defence Minister
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The Hon. Christopher Pyne was Australia’s Defence Minister (2018-2019), driving a $200 billion military build-up, and a 26-year MP with senior roles in education, industry, and legislative strategy. Now chair of Pyne and Partners and the Australia-UAE Business Council, he advises on defence and geopolitics while speaking globally. A sharp insider, Pyne unpacks leadership and the shifting global order with unmatched insight.
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Presentation followed by moderated Q&A
10.15am
MORNING TEA
10.35am
ALL-IN OR SPREAD YOUR BETS?
US Exceptionalism at a Turning Point
Disruptive tariff policies, expansive government spending, and rising bond yields are reshaping the outlook for US exceptionalism. While recent policy shifts have eased near-term fears, deeper concerns remain—from entrenched protectionism to unsustainable debt levels—casting a shadow over the long-running narrative of American market dominance.
Yet amid the uncertainty, rapid advances in artificial intelligence are fuelling a new wave of optimism. US-led innovation is driving investment and reshaping expectations for productivity, profitability, and long-term growth—raising the prospect of a structural bull market driven by technological disruption.
With these competing forces at play, investors face a critical question: does the US remain the centrepiece of a global portfolio, or is it time to reduce concentration and broaden exposures? This session explores the intersection of policy risk, economic fragility, and AI-led growth—and what it means for portfolio strategy in a shifting world.
Key Issues:
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US Market Risks: Are valuations and economic fundamentals still aligned—or are investors underestimating structural vulnerabilities?
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Policy Shockwaves: How do tariffs, tax reform, and rising debt shape inflation, bond markets, and equity performance?
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AI-Driven Growth: Can innovation and productivity gains from AI offset macro and policy headwinds to sustain a new bull market?
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Rethinking Asset Allocation: Is it time to diversify away from US dominance—and where should portfolios seek new sources of return?
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THOUGHT LEADERS:
Christopher Demasi
Portfolio Manager, Montaka Global Investments (represented by Hillcrest Strategic Partners)
Alice Berriman
Senior Consultant, Frontier Advisers
IDEA EXCHANGE - Table Discussion
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The AI Offset: Can AI-driven innovation outweigh macro and policy risks enough to sustain US market leadership?
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Building Resilience: How are you adjusting portfolios to better handle volatility, policy shocks, or structural shifts in global growth?
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Where’s the Opportunity?: Which asset classes or themes look most compelling over the next 3–5 years as sources of differentiated return?
11.40am
THE CASE FOR AUSTRALIA
Growth Stagnation or Hidden Potential?
Australia’s markets are at a pivotal moment. After hitting record highs in recent years, valuations are under pressure as US tariffs on China—and broader trade tensions—ripple through the region, threatening export demand and economic momentum. Is Australia facing growth stagnation, or does hidden potential remain? In this challenging environment, our speakers will assess the opportunities and threats for core allocations to large caps, navigating trade fallout and macro headwinds, while exploring the emerging opportunity in microcaps, which, after a period of underperformance, look increasingly attractive.
Key Issues:
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Trade shockwaves: How are US tariffs on China and global protectionism reshaping Australia’s economic outlook and market resilience?
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Large-cap crossroads: Are Australian banks and blue chips still core holdings, or do tariff-driven headwinds signal a shift in their dominance?
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Commodity evolution: How are AI adoption and the energy transition driving demand for Australia’s resources, and which firms are poised to thrive?
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Microcap movers: Where can investors find growth and value in Australia’s small-cap space amid a volatile global backdrop?
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THOUGHT LEADERS:
Richard Maynier
Portfolio Manager, Northcape Capital (represented by Warakirri Asset Management)
Paul Palumbo
Portfolio Manager - Healthcare & Industrials, Acorn Capital
IDEA EXCHANGE - Table Discussion
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Equity Pivot: Is now the time to dial back on Australian equities or double down, given global headwinds versus attractive valuations locally?
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Sector Playbook: Which areas of the Australian market offer the best hedge or growth potential amid tariff fallout and commodity shifts, and how do you position them in a portfolio?
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Size Strategy: With trade tensions hitting Australian equities, how should investors reweight large-cap versus small/microcap exposure to balance risk and reward?
12.40pm
LUNCH
1.45pm
RETHINKING PRIVATE MARKETS
Building Resilience and Enhancing Returns in a Volatile Environment
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The case for including private markets in portfolios is increasingly well understood – offering potential benefits such as enhanced diversification and access to new return sources. But as fresh frameworks and strategies emerge to support their inclusion, a critical question persists: do private market assets actually improve portfolio outcomes?
In this session, our speakers will explore the evolving role of private markets in asset allocation, with a focus on how private credit and private equity may impact performance across various market conditions. We’ll examine the practical considerations, potential pitfalls, and key factors that determine whether these investments can deliver on their promise of improved risk-adjusted returns.​
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Key Issues:
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Defining the Role: Aligning private market allocations with your core investment philosophy—are they for growth, income, diversification, or downside protection?
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Framework & Fit: Establishing clear criteria and guardrails to assess which strategies, sectors, or asset types are suitable for your clients' goals and risk appetite.
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Managing the Risks: Navigating complexity, illiquidity, and portfolio-level cashflow implications to ensure private markets enhance, not hinder, overall outcomes.
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Implementation Insights: Exploring new access pathways – such as feeder structures, SMA wrappers, and platform availability, and the practical considerations they raise.
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THOUGHT LEADERS:
Tim Farrelly
Principal, farrelly's Investment Strategy
Steven Tang
Head of Portfolio Solutions, Zenith Investment Partners
IDEA EXCHANGE - Table Discussion
Group A:​
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What are the key benefits of including private credit in client portfolios?​
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What are the main concerns or limitations of investing in private equity?​
Group B:​
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What are the key risks or drawbacks of investing in private credit?​
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What are the strongest arguments in favour of allocating to private equity?​
Both Groups:​ ​
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Why would you include private markets and what role do they play in your portfolios?
2.50pm
BEYOND THE HORIZON
Structuring Investments for Longer-Term Goals
In a world of constant market noise and daily headlines, client conversations often skew toward the short term. While macro and market dynamics remain important, shifting regulatory requirements are reshaping how investments should be structured for the future. As advisers, is it enough to rely on legacy strategies, or do emerging innovations present new opportunities to better support client outcomes and long-term goals?
Key Issues:
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Reframing Focus: Encouraging clients to look beyond short-term market movements and anchor decisions around long-term objectives.
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Regulatory Response: Aligning investment strategies with evolving requirements, including the retirement income covenant and advice reforms.
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Liquidity vs Longevity: Weighing the trade-off between immediate access to capital and the benefits of committing to long-term investment strategies.
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Product Innovation: Adopting emerging tools and structures to deliver more personalised and future-focused portfolio solutions.
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THOUGHT LEADERS:
Mark Lapedus
Head of Product, Allianz Retire+
Chris Carrodus
Head of Asset Consulting, Evidentia Group
IDEA EXCHANGE - Table Discussion
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Innovation in Action: Have you embraced any product innovations or structures you were initially sceptical about? What shifted your thinking, and how have these changes impacted your client strategies?
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Positioning for Policy: How are you using recent policy changes—such as retirement income regulations or advice reforms—to initiate more meaningful client conversations about long-term planning?
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Designing for Trade-offs: How do you approach the balance between maintaining short-term liquidity and pursuing longer-term risk-adjusted returns? What opportunities or challenges are emerging in this space?​
3.55pm
AFTERNOON TEA
4.15pm
ADVICE EDGE
Scaling Australia’s Boom
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Australia’s advice landscape has transformed: a mass exodus of advisers has given way to a thriving focus on the high-net-worth segment, with many practices enjoying strong growth. Yet the road ahead could turn competitive—advancements in technology, regulatory shifts making advice more viable, and evolving client preferences are reshaping the playing field. How can advisers capitalise on today’s momentum and build practices that stand out in this dynamic new era?​
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Key Issues:
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Next-level growth: What cutting-edge strategies can we deploy to expand beyond our current client base into new revenue streams?
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Tech advantage: What tech innovations can streamline operations and elevate the client experience to stay ahead?
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Regulatory boost: How can we leverage changing regulations to expand services and attract new clients?
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Client evolution: What strategies align with shifting client demands for personalised, value-driven advice?
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THOUGHT LEADER:
Andrew Inwood
Founder & Global CEO, CoreData
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Andrew Inwood brings over 30 years of Australian financial services expertise, founding CoreData in 2002 to decode client behaviour and drive industry growth. A former AMP and Virgin Direct leader, he’s authored 50+ research papers on adviser-client dynamics. Now steering CoreData’s global reach—Sydney to London—he’s a sought-after speaker on scaling advice practices, blending data-driven insights with real-world strategy.
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Fireside chat discussion to be directly followed by open Q&A