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
Leading in a Fractured World
In an era of rising geopolitical uncertainty, grasping the forces driving global policy, trade, and leadership is essential. Join Christopher Pyne, former Australian Defence Minister, to unpack the trends shaking markets—from shifting alliances and trade frictions to the policy dilemmas confronting governments worldwide. With Australia’s Federal election freshly decided, we’ll assess how the new political landscape could reshape governance and economic priorities. As global risks and domestic shifts collide, investors and leaders face a complex new reality. An interactive Q&A will reveal leadership strategies to thrive amid change, blending sharp analysis with actionable insights at the nexus of geopolitics, markets, and decision-making.
Key Issues:
-
Global power shifts: How are evolving alliances and rivalries—especially in the Indo-Pacific—redefining economic and security priorities?
-
Trade under pressure: What do intensifying trade tensions mean for markets, and how can businesses adapt to a fracturing global supply chain?
-
Post-election Australia: How might the new government’s policies influence Australia’s economic trajectory and its role on the world stage?
-
Leadership in crisis: What strategies can leaders deploy to navigate uncertainty and seize opportunities in a volatile geopolitical climate?
​
THOUGHT LEADER:
Hon. Christopher Pyne
Former Australian Defence Minister
​
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.
​
Presentation followed by moderated Q&A
10.15am
MORNING TEA
10.35am
ALL-IN OR SPREAD YOUR BETS?
US Exceptionalism at a Crossroads
As 2025 progresses, ‘Trump 2.0’ is unsettling markets with bold tariffs and immigration restrictions, challenging the long-held view of the US as the bedrock of global growth. Equity markets are wavering under trade war pressures and economic slowdown fears, raising doubts about the resilience of American exceptionalism. Is the US still the best bet for investors, or is it time to rethink an all-in strategy?
Key Issues:
-
The limits of US exceptionalism: After years of dominance, US markets are faltering as tariff shocks and slowing growth expose underlying vulnerabilities. Can US companies hold their edge—or are investors overexposed to a narrative losing its grip?
-
Trump’s policy impact: Aggressive trade tariffs and tightened borders are stirring up tensions with key partners, threatening higher costs and softer corporate earnings. Will these moves derail market optimism or prove a temporary stumble?
-
Economic outlook in question: Inflation has cooled but could flare up again due to trade disruptions and labor shortages, while growth momentum fades. Will the global economy sustain its expansion, or is a recession looming on the horizon?
-
The case for diversification: With US markets under strain and global trade fragmenting, is now the moment to explore other markets or asset classes to balance risk and diversify drivers of return?
​
THOUGHT LEADERS:
Christopher Demasi
Portfolio Manager, Montaka Global Investments
Alice Berriman
Senior Consultant, Frontier Advisers
IDEA EXCHANGE - Table Discussion
-
Policy Payoff or Peril: Are Trump’s policies more likely to strengthen or fracture the US economy over the next two years? What key signals—like trade balances, corporate profits, or consumer confidence—would you track to decide?
-
New Global Champs: If US dominance fades, which countries or regions could emerge as new leaders, and what conditions—economic, political, or technological—would they need to overtake the US?
-
Beyond the US Bet: Beyond US equities, which markets or asset classes—like emerging markets, bonds, or gold—offer the most promise right now, and what risks might deter a shift away from the US?
11.40am
12.40pm
1.45pm
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:
-
Trade shockwaves: How are US tariffs on China and global protectionism reshaping Australia’s economic outlook and market resilience?
-
Large-cap crossroads: Are Australian banks and blue chips still core holdings, or do tariff-driven headwinds signal a shift in their dominance?
-
Commodity evolution: How are AI adoption and the energy transition driving demand for Australia’s resources, and which firms are poised to thrive?
-
Microcap movers: Where can investors find growth and value in Australia’s small-cap space amid a volatile global backdrop?
​
THOUGHT LEADERS:
Richard Mayiner
Portfolio Manager, Northcape Capital
Paul Palumbo
Portfolio Manager - Healthcare & Industrials, Acorn Capital
IDEA EXCHANGE - Table Discussion
-
Equity Pivot: Is now the time to dial back on Australian equities or double down, given global headwinds versus attractive valuations locally?
-
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?
-
Size Strategy: With trade tensions hitting Australian equities, how should investors reweight large-cap versus small/microcap exposure to balance risk and reward?
LUNCH
RETHINKING DEFENCE
Building Resilience in an Uncertain Market
​
Periods of heightened market volatility often expose the fragility of portfolio construction frameworks that lean too heavily on historical assumptions. As new frameworks and strategies emerge for building defensive allocations, the key question remains: do these innovations truly make portfolios more resilient? In this session, our speakers will explore the evolving role of bonds in a higher-rate, uncertain environment, the implications of shifting bond/equity correlations for asset allocation, and how to construct portfolios that can withstand a range of market scenarios—without compromising long-term goals.
​
Key Issues:
-
Bond Role Reframed: How to think about the role of bonds in portfolio construction amid a higher-rate, more volatile environment
-
Diversification Dynamics: The implications of changing bond/equity correlations for traditional diversification strategies
-
Defensive Alternatives: Evaluating alternative defensive assets and whether they offer reliable protection in times of stress
-
Resilience Frameworks: Practical frameworks for building resilience into portfolios without sacrificing long-term growth objectives
​
THOUGHT LEADERS:
Tim Farrelly
Principal, farrelly's Investment Strategy
Speaker TBC
IDEA EXCHANGE - Table Discussion
-
Portfolio Adjustments: Have you adjusted your portfolio construction approach in response to recent volatility or the breakdown in traditional correlations? If so, how?
-
Bond Market Outlook: What role do you see bonds playing in portfolios over the next 3–5 years? Are you rethinking duration, credit quality, or global exposure?
-
Defining Resilience: In your view, what does a truly resilient portfolio look like in today’s environment—and how do you measure its success beyond short-term performance?
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:
-
Reframing Focus: Encouraging clients to look beyond short-term market movements and anchor decisions around long-term objectives.
-
Regulatory Response: Aligning investment strategies with evolving requirements, including the retirement income covenant and advice reforms.
-
Liquidity vs Longevity: Weighing the trade-off between immediate access to capital and the benefits of committing to long-term investment strategies.
-
Product Innovation: Adopting emerging tools and structures to deliver more personalised and future-focused portfolio solutions.
​
THOUGHT LEADERS:
Mark Lapedus
Head of Product, Allianz Retire+
Chris Carrodus
Head of Asset Consulting, Evidentia Group
IDEA EXCHANGE - Table Discussion
-
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?
-
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?
-
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
​​
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?​
​
Key Issues:
-
Next-level growth: What cutting-edge strategies can we deploy to expand beyond our current client base into new revenue streams?
-
Tech advantage: What tech innovations can streamline operations and elevate the client experience to stay ahead?
-
Regulatory boost: How can we leverage changing regulations to expand services and attract new clients?
-
Client evolution: What strategies align with shifting client demands for personalised, value-driven advice?
​
THOUGHT LEADER:
Andrew Inwood
Founder & Global CEO, CoreData
​
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.
​
Fireside chat discussion to be directly followed by open Q&A