CFO
Network
Europe Forum
13 - 14 November 2024,
Sofitel London St James, London
Earn CPD credits!
Optimising your global finance and operations strategies
Join us at the Private Funds CFO Network’s Europe Forum in London on 13-14 November, 2024.
The Forum will bring together operations and finance professionals across all key asset classes while giving you the opportunity to network with and benchmark against your peers.
Secure your Private Funds CFO Network membership to gather with the most influential CFOs, COOs and their teams in Europe.
Discount pricing ends 6 September | CPD credits available
2024 keynote speaker
Dabinder Hutchinson
CFO
National Trust
Dabinder joined the National Trust in May 2023, bringing extensive Chief Financial Officer experience gained in large multi-national corporations, with particular experience in renewable energy, media and technology companies. Topics of discussion include:
- As the demands of leadership evolve, how can executives develop their resilience throughout their careers and navigate challenges when things don’t go to plan?
- In high-intensity roles, what are the benefits of cultivating inner stability? How can leaders remain present-minded amidst various distractions and pressure?
- How can perseverance in times of adversity strengthen leadership effectiveness as well as the resilience and cohesion of a team?
- And more…
2024 featured speakers
What our attendees say about the Forum
Vantage Infrastructure
Alex Geach, Finance Director
An excellent conference offering a wide range of relevant panel discussions and the opportunity to effectively network
NTR
Marie Joyce, Chief Financial Officer
An excellent mix of peers – never a wasted journey to this conference, learn something new and make new connections every time
StepStone Group
Stephen Penny, Partner & CIO
Great coverage of current relevant topics for COOs/CFOs with good balance between high-level intro to broader issues and deep dives into most topical issues
Why the Private Funds CFO Europe Forum?
Connect year-round
Build lasting relationships with your peers not only through the two-day event but also year-round with the Private Funds CFO Network membership.
Unrivalled content
Hear from leading experts as they offer a mixture of insightful, data-driven presentations, topical panel discussions and interactive debates.
More than an event
Use your Private Funds CFO Network membership year-round to stay ahead of the markets and connect with your peers.
Past attendees included:
2024 agenda
Download the 2024 agenda to get a glimpse of what the Forum will look like. If you are interested in a speaking role, please contact Hannah Ogunlowo at Hannah.o@pei.group.
Agenda
Day One - Wednesday 13th
Registration & coffee
Invite-only women’s CFO & COO networking breakfast
Chairperson’s Welcome Address
Opening Panel: CFO/COOs outlook- Preparing operations for the future
- Predictions for the future of the CFO role to manage a fund
- Preparation for future operational & finance challenges in a high inflation and rising rate
climate. - Impact of AI on fund operations and portfolio business models
- Operational trends and best practices to help GPs make the most of opportunities?
- Key operational challenges (Data operating models etc.)
Moderator: J. Scott Carpenter, Executive Vice President, Global Head of Private Markets, Credit & Hedge, State Street
Panellists:
Brendan Dolan, CFO-Europe Operations, H.I.G. Capital
Thomas Lack, CFO/COO, All Seas Capital
Karen Sands, Chief Operating Officer Private Equity, Federated Hermes
![Carpenter, Scott CFO24 CROPPED A speaker photo for Scott Carpenter](https://www.peievents.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Carpenter-Scott-CFO24-CROPPED.png)
![Dolan, Brendan CFOE24 CROPPED A speaker photo for Brendan Dolan](https://www.peievents.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Dolan-Brendan-CFOE24-CROPPED.png)
![Lack, Thomas CFO COO 23 CROPPED A speaker photo for Thomas Lack](https://www.peievents.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Lack-Thomas-CFO-COO-23-CROPPED.png)
![Sands, Karen CFO23 CROPPED A speaker photo for Karen Sands](https://www.peievents.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Sands-Karen-CFO23-CROPPED.png)
Keynote Address: The resilient leader- Cultivating inner stability in the face of adversity
![Hutchinson, Dabinder CFOE24 CROPPED A speaker photo for Dabinder Hutchinson](https://www.peievents.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Hutchinson-Dabinder-CFOE24-CROPPED.png)
Jumping global ESG hurdles and meeting investor demands
- Is the pace of change towards sustainable investing practices in private markets on track?
- What are the current challenges faced under SFDR?
- How do CFOs approach the unique challenges which investment funds face with limited ESG
data? - Are there enough ESG standards & metrics?
Networking coffee break
In-Focus Fireside chat: The rise of co-investments
- What’s shaping the growing use and future of co-investments?
- How is the highly competitive environment impacting new and emerging managers getting their operations off the ground?
Panellists:
Gaurav Saxena, CFO, Fremman Capital
Richard Kirkby, CFO, Veld Capital
Panel: Managing Cybersecurity risks and IT infrastructure
- How are private funds getting DORA compliant?
- Cybersecurity metrics when integrating a new tool: key risks & what is important to know?
- How is artificial intelligence being used to improve cybersecurity tools?
- Prevention of the cyber threat: does the responsibility extend across the enterprise?
- What are today’s threats and how are firms responding?
Panellists:
Christian Scott, Managing Director of Cybersecurity, Abacus Group
Ash Patel, Director of IT and Head of Cyber, ECI Partners
Networking Luncheon
Track A Panel: Key Compliance and Enforcement Considerations
- Frequent compliance issues in the private fund area
- Best practices and policies against the backdrop of evolving regulatory and enforcement concerns.
- Impact of democratisation of private markets on regulatory scrutiny
- How are GPs approaching SEC and global regulatory reporting requirements and updates to policies?
Panellists:
Haris Vrahliotis, Compliance Director, TowerBrook Capital Partners
![Vrahliotis, Haris CFOE24 CROPPED A speaker photo for Haris Vrahliotis](https://www.peievents.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Vrahliotis-Haris-CFOE24-CROPPED.png)
Track B Panel: Fund formation and structuring trends
- Impact of the rise in demand for semi-liquid and evergreen products
- Overcoming challenges from non traditional fund structures
- Structural limitations of evergreen funds and their potential for committed ticket solutions
- Challenges and experiences when marketing alternative investment funds in Europe and cross-border
Moderator: David Sarfas, Co-Head of Fund Solutions, CSC
Panellists:
Christophe Tasiaux, Funds CFO, Kartesia
Adrian Lüönd, Head of Finance and Corporate Operations, SUSI Partners
Track A Panel: Fund Finance and the growing market for NAV loans
- With rising rates and increasing implementation costs are investors turning against nav financing and long dated facilities?
- Is the market limited to funds of a certain size?
- How do sustainability practices apply to NAV financing?
- Setting up multi strategy and multi jurisdiction/
expanding into asset classes and new geographies
Panellists:
Emad Shahin, Partner, 17 Capital
Slade Spalding, Founding Partner, No Limit Capital (NLC)
Track B Panel: Navigating fundraising challenges in an inflationary climate
- What are the different types of structures to secure capital and how is this evolving?
- Accessing DC/401k capital?
- Impact of fundraising headwinds on the operational side of fund management
- Expanding and managing fundraising efforts across the globe
- How has a tight fundraising environment impacted the power dynamic between LPs and GPs at the negotiating table e.g. key person clauses pressure
Track A Panel: Adapting to new technology and AI
- How are funds embracing generative AI systems to increase operational efficiency?
- What’s the next phase of technology integration within private market funds?
- How can CFOs build the optimal tech and operational structure to meet their firm’s most pressing needs?
Moderator:
Vera Huang, Head of Data Solutions, IQ-EQ
Panellists:
Jurij Pervjakov, Finance and Technology Director, BaltCap
Track B Panel: Good practices in Liquidity and Funding Risk Management
- Key frameworks to manage liquidity risk
- What is the best approach in managing currency exchange rate risks with evolving FX markets?
Panellists:
Kyri Yiannakis, Head of EMEA, Hazeltree
Chaim Langer, Chief Operating Officer, Vintage Funds, Goldman Sachs Asset Management
Networking coffee break
Enhancing operational efficiency through target operating models
- How to link transformation with target operating model aims
- Key operating model challenges in private markets
- How do private market managers involve their operating models in an ever increasing complex environment
- Navigating and designing a operating model that is the foundation of the business
- Mapping out end to end value claim
- How do you create something to scale
- how to access data at the portfolio, fund and client level and manipulate to suit stakeholder needs – is there a scalable solution? The impact of data strategies on the CFO/COO functions? Overlay of AI?
- Case study example
Co-Facilitated by:
Sahem Gulati, Head of Strategy & Consulting, M&G
Patrick Spicer, VP, Senior Principal Solution Architect, Arcesium
Valuations in alternative assets
- Why should GPs consider third-party valuation in alternative assets?
- How can managers demonstrate the right oversight when it comes to private markets?
- Best approach to deal with the regulatory scrutiny on valuations.
- How do you have true independence when it’s an inhouse valuation?
- How do valuations differ across different markets/regions?
Co-Facilitated by:
Roland Graaf, CFO, Bencis Capital Partners
Stephen Campion, Head of Finance, NTR
Operational Due diligence 101
- What approaches should be taken when conducting Financial Due Diligence?
- What happens when the data is limited?
- Challenges and practical examples.
Networking reception
Agenda
Day Two - Thursday 14th
Registration & Coffee
CFOs & COOs think tanks (GPs only)
Our series of GP think tanks provide a space for CFOs/COOs to share and learn from their personal experiences on a Chatham House basis. An open arena to discuss a range of issues with peers from your asset class such as financial terms, service providers plus more.
Room 1: Private equity
Room 2: Private debt
Facilitated by:
Paul Bramley, CFO & Operating Partner, Claret Capital Partners
Room 3: Infrastructure
Room 4: Real estate
Facilitated by:
Melinda Knatchbull, CFO, Sellar
Chairperson's day 2 welcome remarks
Panel: Benchmarking and Performance measurement
- How do you undertake like for like benchmarking?
- The rise of the PME in benchmarking
- Managing the inherent limitation of benchmarking eg: Preqin data sets, Cambridge Associates
![Horton, Dean CFO20 CROPPED A speaker photo for Dean Horton](https://www.peievents.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Horton-Dean-CFO20-CROPPED.jpg)
PEI Data Presentaion
![Taylor, Evie CFO23 CROPPED A speaker photo for Evie Taylor](https://www.peievents.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Taylor-Evie-CFO23-CROPPED.png)
Debate: Outsource vs insource model challenges
- Key technology implementations to drive automation
- Which focal areas are you seeing new investment?
- Which technology benefits do CFO/COOs place most value on?
Networking coffee break
Panel: Building the right firm culture and managing the ever-increasing value of human capital
- How to attract talent and keep talent?
- What are GPs doing to win the right people?
- Building the right culture in an organisation
- How to ensure diversity of thought, background, culture to drive a high performing team?
- How to reflect DE&I in senior hires?
- How is the operating environment for GPs impacting the types of skills firms are looking for in relation to finance recruits?
- How are firms taking into account cultural and generational differences in the workforce?
Panellists:
Marion Buten, COO Europe – BXCI PCS Europe, Blackstone
Tina Page, COO, Atempo Growth
George Velikov, Partner & Chief Operating Officer, Cordet Capital Partners
Lessons learned: Building and scaling a good organisation (LP vs. GP view)
- How to find the right strategy and the right niche?
- Key scalability and organisational requirements
- How are GPs adhering to global corporate governance
- How to ensure diversity of thought, background, culture to drive a high performing team?
- Post merger motivation?
- Incentive schemes
Panellists:
Paul Bramley, CFO & Operating Partner, Claret Capital Partners
Alex Goodway, CFO, Dawn Capital
Networking Lunch
Pre-Event Resources
2024 Speakers
Contact Hannah Ogun at hannah.o@pei.group for speaking opportunities in 2024.
Connect with a community of CFOs, COOs and senior finance executives
The Private Funds CFO Europe Forum offers a unique opportunity for providers to engage and connect with senior compliance professionals in the private equity sector through thought leadership, networking, and more.
For exclusive sponsorship packages for 2024, contact Josh Stoller at joshua.s@pei.group or call +1 646 970 3923.
2024 Sponsors
Where CFOs, COOs and CCOs connect, learn and grow
Drive success through the Network
The Private Funds CFO Network provides senior finance, operations, and compliance professionals in private markets an exclusive hub to connect, learn, and grow year-round.
By joining the Network, you’ll gain access to a community of peers actively seeking solutions to shared challenges, along with our year-round series of networking events, regular peer meetups, and monthly meetings led by industry experts, providing opportunities to earn CPE credits.
Got questions? Our membership team is here to help!
Monthly meetings
From risk management to AI and automation, members can catch up on timely topics every month with peers.
Member Circles
Connect with like-minded peers in your field, such as Women, Emerging Managers, Venture Capital and more.
Executive Coaching
The Network offers five free hours of virtual executive coaching with our vetted coaches.
Think Tanks
Extend the in-depth discussion of monthly meetings, or ad-hoc topics need to be discussed.
In-person meetups
Local members gather regularly to catch up and connect.
Earn CPE credits
The Network offers 20+ CPE credits throughout the year.
Current members include:
Sofitel London St James
6 Waterloo Pl,
St. James’s, London SW1Y 4AN, U.K.
All conference sessions will take place at the Sofitel London St James. View accommodation options below: