Russell Investments

Summit 2022

Where others see uncertainty, these experts see potential.

In-person Summit | Tuesday 29 November 2022

IET London: Savoy Place

EMBRACE
THE POSS/BLETM

Thank you to our guests and speakers for joining us at this year’s first in-person Summit since 2019. We are pleased to share our Summit summaries with you below, highlighting the key takeaways discussed, along with the session recordings.

Summit summaries

Global Market Outlook

In this session, we look at the latest event and insights affecting the world markets and economic forecasts. Discussing the economic outlook and where opportunities may arise, we have Russell Investment’s Kate El-Hillow, President & Global Chief Investment Officer and Andrew Pease, Global Head of Investment Strategy, Russell Investments.

 


Sustainable investing - integration to impact

We have witnessed a rapid expansion of ESG solutions in recent years as a result of evolving regulatory requirements, growth in net-zero commitments as well as greater awareness of how ESG issues impact returns. In this session, Jihan Diolosa, Head of Global ESG Strategy, Russell Investments, Thomas Maretti, Senior Research Analyst, Global Equities, Russell Investments and Ryan Smith, Fund Manager, Artemis, explore best practice principles in defining your sustainable goals, how the investment landscape has evolved along with the range of solutions available to meet these goals, and the pitfalls to be aware of when selecting your optimal ESG solution.

 

 


The changing ecosystem of defined benefit pensions

Russell Investments is conducting a survey of pensions professionals to identify major trends and priorities driving the UK institutional market. Simon Partridge, Head of Fiduciary Management Solutions, Russell Investments, Philip Robinson, Consultant and Adviser, JPES Partners and Matt Rogers, Director and Co-Head of Investment Communications, JPES Partners share and discuss the insights provided from this research.

 

 


Mini budget, major ramifications

In this session, David Rae, Head of Strategic Client Solutions, Russell Investments looks at the market repercussions associated with Kwarteng’s mini budget in September, and potential implications for investment strategies. Including:

  • What are the implications of lower leverage for asset allocation?
  • What does the new control environment around LDI look like?
 

 


Are you ready for the next stage of your pension scheme’s journey?

Increased regulatory scrutiny, ESG requirements (net-zero obligations, climate alignment, TCFD reporting) and endgame discussions (journey planning, de-risking, risk transfers) are just some of the big issues trustees are having to deal with. This is leading more and more boards to think about their governance arrangements. This panel session with Simon Partridge, Head of Fiduciary Management Solutions, Russell Investments, Sarah Leslie, Director and Partner, ndapt, Chris Hogg, Chief Executive Officer, NGUKPS Trustee Executive Limited (TEL) and Dan Wooder, Principal and Investment Consultant, Barnett Waddingham, discuss the role that outsourcing can play, the importance of selecting the right partner and what the future is for the UK DB landscape.

 


Lightning talk – Managing factor exposures efficiently

Hiring best-in-breed external managers within attractive market segments is key to many investors’ portfolio construction. However, are the aggregate exposures representing value for money and aligning with your desired portfolio exposure? In this session, Chris Ellam, Associate Director, UK Institutional, Russell Investments, Patrick Egan, Senior Portfolio Manager, Investment Division, Russell Investments and Helena Hui Ravanas, Portfolio Manager, Investment Division, Russell Investments, explore a couple of common scenarios we see and how we fix them. This will include beta masquerading as alpha in fixed income and managing unintended exposure to volatility within equities.

 

 


How private market assets can help portfolios in a higher rate environment

In this interactive session, Aidan Quinn, Associate Director, UK Relationship Management, Russell Investments, Kate El-Hillow, President & Global Chief Investment Officer, Russell Investments, Richard Hope, Head of EMEA Global Investment Team, Hamilton Lane (UK) Limited and Michael Steingold, Director, Russell Investments, discuss how using private assets within a total portfolio management approach can keep your scheme on the journey to its ultimate destination, navigating through the uncertainties of rising interest rates and volatile inflation. This panel session will provide guidance on how you can maximise your use of private markets, tailored to your needs.

 

 

CPD Logo

5 hours CPD accreditation
Full attendance at this event

Request CPD Certificate


Speakers

Conference host

 

Thimon De Jong

Paul Wharton

Head of Relationship Management, Russell Investments

Paul Wharton is Director and Head of Relationship Management for Russell Investments. In this role, he has responsibility for the entire UK client book, while also managing a small number of accounts. Paul has over 20 years of experience in the field of pension scheme investments, having worked in advisory, asset management and fiduciary management roles throughout his career.

Keynote speaker

 

Professor Mike Berners-Lee

Prof. Mike Berners-Lee

Sustainability Expert and Best Selling Author

A leading researcher and adviser on carbon metrics, and on climate change and sustainability more broadly, Mike looks at how both individuals and organisations can play their part in keeping the planet habitable. In his talks, as in his books, he looks at the big picture on climate change as well as the small details around the effects of small everyday items (even a Google search), and the effect of the underlying political and economical dynamics surrounding the world's biggest challenge.

 

Panel hosts and panellists

 

Jihan Diolosa

Jihan Diolosa

Head of Global ESG Strategy, Russell Investments

Jihan is the Head of Global ESG Strategy and chairs Russell Investments’ Global Responsible Investing Steering Group. She has 20 years of industry experience and helps clients achieve their ESG goals, whilst also integrating Russell Investments’ approach to ESG across the investment process, and also at a firm-wide level to help ensure our corporate governance and sustainability efforts are reflected in our business strategy.

 

Patrick Egan

Patrick Egan

Senior Portfolio Manager, Investment Division, Russell Investments

Patrick Egan is a member of Russell Investments’ Global Equity portfolio management team and is responsible for managing the firm’s UK and European equity funds as well as a number of Global equity assignments. Aside from selecting sub-advisors and managing portfolio exposures, Patrick is involved in conducting reviews of funded managers and participating in the research of the firm’s broader manager universes and factor investing capabilities.

 

Michelle Seitz, CFA

Kate El-Hillow

President & Global Chief Investment Officer, Russell Investments

Kate El-Hillow serves as President & Global Chief Investment Officer for Russell Investments. Based in New York, Kate leads Russell Investments’ global investment team with responsibility for all aspects of the Investment Division including asset management, implementation and research. She also serves on the firm’s executive committee. Kate has more than 25 years of proven success in investment management roles. This includes deep expertise in outsourced CIO investment solutions and multi-asset portfolio management.

 

Aidan Quinn

Chris Ellam

Associate Director, UK Institutional, Russell Investments

Christopher (“Chris”) Ellam is an Associate Director within Russell Investments’ UK Institutional team. Based in London, he is responsible for business development for the firm’s UK fiduciary management business. He also leads conversations on the firm’s customised portfolio solutions offerings such as transition management, currency management, and overlay services, which are tailored to meet the needs of large institutional investors. Chris re-joined Russell Investments in 2022, having previously worked at the firm’s London office from 2013 - 2019.

 

David Rae

Chris Hogg

Chief Executive Officer, NGUKPS Trustee Executive Limited (TEL)

Chris Hogg is CEO serving the Trustees of one of the largest UK defined benefit pension schemes, the National Grid UK Pension Scheme (NGUKPS). An experienced corporate leader with more than 20 years of track record working in the UK pension fund industry, Chris is known to drive strategic change and lead governance effectiveness of trustee boards.

His particular area of expertise is in transforming internal pension scheme management, with a focus of driving governance and operating model restructure of traditional pension schemes. Before TEL, Chris was CEO of the Royal Mail pension schemes and led the transfer of £30bn of assets and corresponding liabilities to the UK Government in 2012.

Chris holds a BSc in Actuarial Maths and Statistics (First) from Heriot Watt University in Scotland. He is based in London.

 

David Rae

Richard Hope

Managing Director and Head of EMEA Global Investment Team, Hamilton Lane (UK) Limited

Richard is a Managing Director and Head of EMEA on Hamilton Lane’s Global Investment Team and member of the Investment Committee. Richard heads the firm’s London office and focuses on both direct equity and credit and secondary transactions. Richard represents Hamilton Lane on several fund advisory boards and is a regular conference speaker.

Prior to joining Hamilton Lane in 2011, Richard worked as a Director with Alliance Trust Equity Partners, where he helped establish a private equity fund investment business together with making a number of direct investments.

Previously, Richard worked in the UK at Noble Group, where he was responsible for making and managing venture and growth capital investments. Richard received a B.Com. from the University of Edinburgh.

 

Aidan Quinn

Helena Hui Ravanas

Portfolio Manager, Russell Investments

Helena Hui Ravanas is a portfolio manager in the fixed income team. Based in London, she manages the firm’s unconstrained bond funds and also serves as the backup portfolio manager for all EMEA fixed income funds, ranging from global bond and global credit, to multi-asset credit and floating bond fund. Prior to joining the portfolio management team in 2021, Helena spent six years as a manager research analyst researching European/global fixed income and volatility strategies. She also developed Russell Investments’ credit systematic strategies which were implemented across all investment grade corporates, high yield, fallen angels and LDI portfolios.

 

David Rae

Sarah Leslie, AMAPPT

Partner and Director, ndapt

An investment professional with 20 years of pensions and fiduciary management experience, Sarah has a sharp focus on governance, performance, risk and fees. She has worked as a trustee with charities (regulated by both the FCA and charities commission), as a Sole Trustee, Chair of Trustees and a Chair of the Finance Committee, as well as with a range of pension schemes to address their challenges and deliver positive results.

 

Thomas Maretti

Thomas Maretti

Senior Research Analyst, Global Equities, Russell Investments

Thomas Maretti is a senior research analyst for Russell Investments. Based in London, his primary responsibility is evaluating global equity strategies. In this capacity, Thomas meets with investment managers, carries out quantitative and qualitative analysis of their products and provides investment advice to Russell Investments’ multi-manager funds and consulting clients. Before transferring to the global equities team in 2019, Thomas was a research analyst on the firm’s emerging markets equities team for five years.

 

Thomas Maretti

Alexandra McClelland

Senior Manager, UK & Middle East Institutional, Russell Investments

Alexandra (“Alex”) McClelland is a Senior Manager in the UK & Middle East Institutional team at Russell Investments. She acts as a key contact for fiduciary management clients across the UK and Ireland, with a focus on assessing the suitability of clients’ investment strategies to meet their long-term objectives and reduce risk. Alex has a particular interest in adapting and enhancing client solutions to best meet the evolving market environment.

 

David Rae

Simon Partridge

Head of Fiduciary Management Solutions, Russell Investments

Simon is Head of Fiduciary Management Solutions and leads the evolution and growth of the firm’s fiduciary management offering for UK pension schemes. Based in London, he works with prospective clients to design custom solutions, bringing together our fiduciary strategy, investment and client teams. Simon is a qualified actuary and has 18 years’ experience serving UK defined benefit and defined contribution pension schemes.

 

Andrew Pease

Andrew Pease

Global Head of Investment Strategy, Russell Investments

Andrew Pease is the Global Head of Investment Strategy for Russell Investments. He is responsible for the cycle, value and sentiment framework that guides the tactical positioning of Russell Investments’ actively managed funds. Andrew oversees Russell Investments’ global team of investment strategists in Seattle, London and Sydney. He is based in London and joined the firm in 2006.

 

Aidan Quinn

Aidan Quinn

Associate Director, UK Institutional Relationship Management, Russell Investments

Aidan is an Associate Director within the UK Institutional team at Russell Investments, based in the London office. Aidan leads and advises on a number of Institutional client relationships with mandates across multi-asset, multi-strategy and implementation services.

 

David Rae

David Rae

Head of Strategic Client Solutions, Russell Investments

David Rae is Head of Strategic Client Solutions with Russell Investments. Based in London, he leads the team responsible for developing investors’ portfolio strategies in light of their specific circumstances. David works with pension fund, insurance, and other clients across EMEA to build portfolio solutions to manage risks, including liability hedging, and generate the required level of returns.

 

 

David Rae

Philip Robinson

Consultant and Adviser, JPES Partners

With more than 30 years’ experience working in the asset management industry, Philip has held a range of roles within portfolio management, investment consulting, manager selection and management consulting. After managing pension fund portfolios at Baring Asset Management, he became a senior investment consultant at Watson Wyatt where he was head of global asset research comparing pension fund behaviour world-wide. He was also responsible for manager selection for financial service clients. More recently, Philip has worked as a management consultant to asset managers and has been involved in hundreds of consulting assignments ranging from client audits, whereby pension fund respondents adjudicate on services provided by asset managers, to investment process consulting advising managers on effectively communicating investment messaging to institutional clients.

 

Matt Rogers

Matt Rogers

Director and Co-Head of Investment Communications, JPES Partners

A founding member of JPES Partners, a specialist consultancy advising investment industry participants on a range of strategic business and communications issues, Matt works with clients across a range of international markets to support the development of content and insights that will increase their profile among target audiences. Over the course of almost 20 years working in the financial services sector, he has advised a range of leading investment businesses including global asset management firms, investment consultants, fiduciary managers and wealth managers to support their long-term business development efforts. Matt also leads JPES Partners’ own proprietary research efforts, which includes detailed studies of leading asset owners to understand their preferences and priorities.

 

Matt Rogers

Ryan Smith

Fund Manager, Artemis

Alongside Craig Bonthron, Neil Goddin and Jonathan Parsons, Ryan is part of Artemis’ impact equities team and co-manages global equity funds focusing on positive impact, a field he has specialised in since 2000. Ryan joined Artemis in 2020 from Kames Capital, where he worked extensively on a range of ESG strategies, including the Kames Global Sustainable Equity Fund. Following an MSc and a BSc, in 2000 Ryan joined what was then Aegon Asset Management as a SRI (socially responsible investing) analyst. In 2002 he was promoted to be Kames’ Head of Corporate Governance & SRI; and then from 2015 Kames’ Head of ESG Research.

 

Joe Linhares

Michael Steingold

Director, Russell Investments

Michael Steingold is a Director in Private Markets for Russell Investments. Based in the London office, he leads the firm’s research of unlisted infrastructure managers globally and serves as portfolio manager for the Russell Investments Global Unlisted Infrastructure Fund. Michael also manages select client portfolios investing in infrastructure, real estate and private debt.

 

Dan Wooder

Dan Wooder

Principal and Investment Consultant, Barnett Waddingham

Dan works primary with UK defined benefits schemes on a range of investment strategy and related matters including long-term de-risking. He has practical experience in a wide range of related areas, including manager research, performance assessment and asset-liability modelling. In addition to advising clients on investment strategy, Dan has spent a considerable amount of time helping clients with fiduciary management mandates and is a key member of Barnett Waddingham’s FM Evaluate Team. His experience in this area spans setting investment governance structures, research of providers, competitive tender exercises, ongoing monitoring and reviewing existing portfolios. As well as working with trustees and employers on a range of schemes, ranging from £10m to multi-billion.

 

Charitable donation

Thank you. As a direct result of this event, Russell Investments donated to the following charity.

One Tree Planted
 

One tree planted

132

trees planted

Find out more here.

Any questions?

If you have any further questions surrounding the event, please get in touch.

* Asterisks indicate required fields.

Feedback survey

Your feedback is important to us as it will help us improve on future events. Please spare a few minutes of your time to complete the feedback survey.

Complete survey