Embracing Disruption and Searching for Resilient Futures

Registration

Networking Breakfast

Welcome Remarks

Abdulsalam bin Mohammed Al Murshidi, President, Oman Investment Authority   
Obaid Amrane, Chair, IFSWF 

In Conversation with Elon Musk

Antonio Gracias, Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Investment Officer, Valor Equity Partners

Keynote Address

Robert Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Vista Equity Partners

Sovereign Wealth Funds and New Opportunities in AI

IFSWF members are increasingly looking at how they can leverage new AI technologies and analytics in their investment processes to predict market trends and asset valuations, and to manage and optimise their portfolios. However, integrating these new technologies also come with challenges, including ensuring data security and their responsible use. In this session, we will discuss the challenges and opportunities of implementing these new technologies.

Moderator: Will Kinlaw, Global Head of State Street Associates, EMEA

Panellists:  
Talal Al Mamari, Chief Executive Officer, Omantel  
Martin Kon, President and COO, Cohere 
Juan Sabater, Partner and Co-President, Valor Equity Partners

Coffee Break

Investing in a Dynamic Policy Environment

In an era characterised by escalating fractures in geopolitical and geoeconomic structures, how can IFSWF members ensure success? The global macroeconomy and international capital markets have been under duress since 2008, and the pandemic has plunged them into a period of unparalleled uncertainty. Years of consistent policymaking and globalisation have been disrupted, ushering in a new phase of global policy and multilateralism. Technology, demographics, green economics, and investments in space and blue economies are adding complexity to the responsibilities of sovereign wealth funds. As they navigate through unpredictability and confront unforeseen challenges, their preparedness for uncertainty is put to the test.

This panel discussion aims to explore how they are adapting to these changes and will delve into the lessons learned in coping with a dynamic policy environment and strategies for building portfolio resilience amidst these shifts. The discussion will also highlight emerging0000 opportunities in this new landscape.  
 

Moderator: Udaibir Das, Special Advisor, IFSWF

Panellists:  
Dhaen Al Hameli, Executive Director, Core Portfolio, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority 
LIU Haoling, Vice Chairman, President, and Chief Investment Officer, China Investment Corporation 
HH Dr Adham Al Said, Assistant Professor, Sultan Qaboos University College of Economics and Political Science 
Aminu Umar-Saddiq, Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority 
 

Fireside Chat: What could the outcome of the US Presidential Election mean for sovereign investors? 

Moderator: Prof Adam Dixon, Adam Smith’s Panmure House, Edinburgh Business School 
Speaker: George Walker, Chief Executive Officer, Neuberger Berman

Lunch

Keynote Address

HE Salim Al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, Oman

From Fossil to Future: How Can the Energy Transition Influence the Investment Landscape for Developing Economies

How are IFSWF members from fossil fuel-producing countries, particularly those in the Gulf Cooperation Council, leveraging their revenues from non-renewable resources to pave the way towards a low-carbon future? Are they succeeding? 

This session will delve into the pivotal role that IFSWF members can play in this transition. The session will discuss how they can bolster and evolve local economies, facilitating their shift from brown to green. The conversation will also encompass how IFSWF members can foster early-stage green technologies to establish market leaders and ensure they can attract capital from their peers and other private sector investors, both locally and internationally. This session aims to shed light on the strategies and implications of this energy transition for developing economies. 

Moderator: Yarab Al Yarabi, Senior Advisor to the Executive Director, World Bank Group

Panellists:  
Ahmed Al Calily, Chief Strategy & Risk Officer, Mubadala Investment Company 
Ashraf Al Mamari, Group Chief Executive Officer, OQ 
Chandra Eastwell, Sustainable Investing Director, Qatar Investment Authority  
Israfil Mammadov, Chief Executive Officer, State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan

The Rising Importance of Enhancing Governance for Sovereign Wealth Funds

The governance of sovereign wealth funds has recently come under more scrutiny than at any time since 2008 when the Santiago Principles were promulgated. In the years since, this group of investors have evolved and become more diverse, fulfilling an ever wider set of mandates, including in some cases the management of SOEs. Consequently, IFSWF members are adapting and updating their governance models to adjust to the new investment environment and their government owners’ requirements while maintaining their independence and focus on financial returns. 
In this session, we will discuss the new trends and emerging issues that IFSWF members are tackling in the context of governance and how they can establish robust organisations to ensure they can deliver on the mandate for their citizens.

For example, we will consider some of the following topics:

• How members can strengthen the long-term focus in investment decision-making.
• The strategies members need to consider to enhance governance and independence in investment decisions.
• Training and induction programmes to improve the quality of board decision-making.
• Refining performance metrics to better align with regulatory requirements and capital allocation principles.
• How governance structures must adapt to new portfolio construction and investment strategies approaches.
• Managing upwards: Ensuring good owner relations between SWFs and the State.

Moderator/Facilitator: Will Hetherton, Head of Corporate Affairs, Future Fund

Panellists:  
Professor Dame Heather McGregor, Provost and Vice Principal, Heriot-Watt University Dubai 
Ayad Al Balushi, Assistant Deputy President - Finance & Assurance, Oman Investment Authority 
Nadir Mohamed, Regional Representative, World Bank Group 
Carine Chartouni, Deputy Division Chief, Financial and Fiscal Law Division, International Monetary Fund  

Fireside Chat: Sovereign Wealth Funds in the Current Investment Environment

Moderator: Duncan Bonfield, CEO, IFSWF 
Panellists:  
Tobias Adrian, Financial Counsellor and Director of the Monetary and Capital Markets Department, International Monetary Fund  
Yan Liu, Deputy General Counsel, International Monetary Fund

Tour of Old Muscat, the Al Alam Palace

Informal Dinner at Mirani Fort

Dinner Presentation

Networking Breakfast

IFSWF Annual General Meeting

IFSWF MEMBER INSTITUTIONS ONLY

Coffee Break

Parallel Session A: Harnessing Sovereign Wealth for Social Good: Strategic Approaches for Achieving Impact

In this discussion, we will seek to understand the different strategies IFSWF members are adopting to drive social impact. This panel will discuss how and why some sovereign wealth funds are using CSR programmes to ensure their countries’ citizens benefit from investing abroad. We will also look at the strategies of sovereign wealth funds that have started philanthropic foundations to ensure that they can support sustainable and socially responsible initiatives. We will also discuss how strategic investment funds integrate frameworks like the UN Sustainable Development Goals to contribute to broader social and environmental benefits. Finally, we will look to discover the degree to which sovereign wealth funds are carrying these principles into their own operations to enhance their social impact.

Moderator: Sarah Williamson, Chief Executive Officer, FCLTGlobal

Panellists: 
Deanna Ong, Chief People Officer, GIC
Gregory Dimitriadis, CEO, GrowthFund
Babacar Gning, CEO, FONSIS
Paul Katz, Vice President and Lead Researcher, Social Wealth, Jain Family Institute

Parallel Session B: How Supply Chains are Adapting in a Multipolar World 

The session will explore how the increasing diversification of supply chains is reshaping global manufacturing and shipping landscapes. It will discuss the emergence of “connector countries” such as Indonesia, Morocco, Poland, Mexico, and Vietnam and their pivotal role in the diversification of supply chains. The session will also examine the evolving shipping patterns and the rising uncertainty in key areas like Panama and the Red Sea. In a world where trade barriers are on the rise, the session will discuss strategies for companies to bolster the resilience of their supply chains. This session promises to provide valuable insights for anyone interested in the complexities and future trends of global supply chains.

Moderator: Sir Robin Niblett, Distinguished Fellow, Europe Programme, Chatham House

Panellists: 
Abdulrahman Al Hatmi, Chief Executive Officer, Asyad Group (Oman)
Arnab Das, Global Market Strategist, Invesco
Sunny Mann, Partner, Baker McKenzie
Craig Thorburn, Director – Research and Insights, Future Fund

Parallel Session C: Is Traditional Asset Allocation Broken?

Is traditional asset allocation broken? New structural forces of conflict, increasing geopolitical tensions, higher inflation, and interest rates are challenging many of the assumptions underpinning the way investors have generated returns over the last three decades. IFSWF members are asking questions about traditional asset allocation strategies as asset class correlations emerge. In this session, we will discuss new approaches to asset allocation, considering macroeconomic factors in asset allocation decisions, the challenges and opportunities of implementing a total portfolio approach, as well as leveraging new techniques and advances in computing power to tackle large-scale systematic portfolio optimisation problems for sovereign wealth funds.

Moderator: Clay Lambiotte, Partner, Lane, Clark, Peacock

Panellists: 
Wadhah Al Adawi, Chief Investment Officer (GCM & AUMs), OmInvest
Juan Antolin-Diaz, Chief Research Officer, Fulcrum Asset Management 
Peter Emmevid, Portfolio Construction Director, Investment Strategy, Qatar Investment Authority
Aown Al Bahrani, Director of Portfolio Management, Oman Investment Authority

Parallel Session D: The Opportunities of Green Hydrogen

As global energy transition programmes continue to gain traction, hydrogen has secured its place in the international spotlight as an important contributor to reducing carbon emissions. This nascent industry provides exciting new investment opportunities across the value chain, from production with renewable power through electrolysis or from natural gas with carbon capture, utilisation and storage to its global and local distribution and use. In this session, we will discuss the myriad opportunities for long-term investors, like sovereign wealth funds, in this exciting new sector.

Moderator: Will Jackson-Moore, Global Sustainability Leader, PwC

Panellists: 
Abdulaziz Al Shidhani, Managing Director, Hydrogen Oman (Hydrom)
Sam Hollister, Head of Energy Economics and Policy, LCP
Sanjeev Krishnan, Managing Partner, S2C Ventures

Lunch

Parallel Session E: Coinvesting and Cofinancing Frameworks for Sovereign Wealth Funds

In the dynamic landscape of global investments, IFSWF members are increasingly adopting coinvesting and cofinancing frameworks to enhance returns, diversify risks, and achieve strategic objectives. These collaborative investment strategies enable them to pool resources with like-minded partners, leverage expertise, and access larger, more complex opportunities that may otherwise be out of reach. By aligning interests and sharing insights, coinvesting and cofinancing arrangements offer a pathway to sustainable growth and long-term value creation for emerging economies.

Moderator: Andrew Yee, Head, IFC Emerging Asia Fund, International Finance Corporation

Panellists: 
Ibrahim Al Eisari, Private Equity Director, OIA
Nelson Barbosa, Director of Planning and Institutional Relations, Banco Nacional do Disenvolvemento (BNDES)
Ángela Pérez, Chair and Chief Executive Officer, COFIDES
Tarek Shoukri, Director, Strategy&, PwC
Ridha Wirakusumah, Chief Executive Officer, Indonesia Investment Authority

Parallel Session F: Navigating the Final Frontier: Sovereign Wealth Funds in the Space Sector

The space sector is undergoing a renaissance, with breakthroughs in technology propelling new developments and opening unprecedented investment opportunities. From satellite communications to rare earth mining and space tourism, the industry's potential is vast and varied. However, it also faces unique regulatory challenges as nations and private entities navigate a complex international landscape. Sovereign wealth funds are well-positioned to play a pivotal role in this dynamic sector by providing capital, fostering innovation, and shaping the regulatory frameworks that will ensure the sustainable and responsible use of outer space resources.

Moderator: Ammar Al Rawahi, Chief Commercial Officer, SatMENA

Panellists: 
Said Al Manthari, Chief Executive Officer, Ithca,
James Cross, Managing Director, Franklin Venture Partners
Juan Sabater, Partner and Co-President, Valor Fund 

Coffee Break

Synthesising Annual Meeting: Insights for the Future

Udaibir Das, Special Advisor, IFSWF

This closing session will encapsulate the insights and discussions from our previous sessions, weaving them into a comprehensive narrative. It’s an opportunity to reflect on what we’ve learned, identify key takeaways, and discuss how we can apply these insights moving forward.
 

Tour of Royal Opera House
Opera Performance

Gala Dinner