Nearly 400 investment management and financial services industry professionals have registered for the ‘Australian Investment Conference 2015’ (the Conference), which is hosted by CFA Societies Australia and will be held on 13 October in Sydney. CFA Societies Australia are member societies of CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals.
Recognised as a leading platform for thought leadership in investment and finance, this year’s theme of ‘Going Back to Fundamentals’ highlights the forces that are changing investment markets forever, and asks how investors can identify successful investment strategies in today’s low-growth, volatile global economy.
According to Paul Smith, CFA, president and CEO, CFA Institute, the lineup of international and local speakers are all influential leaders and specialists in their field.
“Delegates will hear from experts across the investment and finance market spectrum including research houses, investment managers and ethics specialists, as well as from Greg Medcraft, Chairman of the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC); Philip Lowe, Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA); and David Murray, AO, former CEO of the Commonwealth Bank, Chair of the Financial System Inquiry and now Senior Adviser at Credit Suisse.”
“The opportunity to benefit from their experience and insights will be invaluable,” he said.
Mr Smith will himself address the crucial theme of professionalism and in particular how to build a better investment profession. Drawing on his thirty years’ experience in investment and business management in Asia and the United States, he will talk about the need for a robust ethical framework.
“As a profession, we need to be able to better demonstrate to the world at large that we are committed to the highest standards of education, technical competence and professional conduct if we are to engender the essential ingredient we need to succeed, and that is trust,” he said. “CFA Institute has a multi-decade track record in setting global benchmarks for market integrity and ethics; we aim to use that expertise to partner with our industry around the world and in Australia to ensure that ‘best of breed’ practice is instilled as a way of working and on behalf of the community.”
In other presentations, issues as diverse as climate change, evolving demographics and the battle between increasing regulatory requirements and the demand for higher standards of ethics will be addressed, along with the likely repercussions on market movements and demand for investment products.
Philip Lowe, Deputy Governor of the RBA, will talk about Australia’s economic fundamentals, including the importance of flexibility. Investment specialists from Invesco, First State Super, Goldman Sachs and BT Investment Management, among others, will give their views on the state of the industry now, highlight future trends and debate whether or not financial bubbles are in fact a necessary evil.
Mr Smith concluded by saying that any investment professional had the opportunity to stay ahead of the game by educating themselves on developments in investment management and by hearing experts’ views on the future of the industry at the Conference.
“The low-growth, volatile global economy is proving challenging for investment professionals everywhere, so understanding how best to respond to the changing landscape, and to adapt traditional thinking to develop forward-looking investment strategies will be crucial for success,” he said.
Please visit CFA Societies Australia’s ‘Australian Investment Conference 2015’ for more information or to register for the event.
