Setting the standard for private equity finance and operations
Join the Private Funds CFO Network at the 22nd annual New York Forum on February 4-5, 2025.
Connect with the most influential finance and operations decision-makers in private markets at the Hilton Midtown.
You will leave the two days of unrivalled networking and content with:
- A benchmark against your peers about how your firm stacks up
- Understanding of current and future regulations direct from SEC powerbrokers
- Ideas and actions on how to optimize your back office
Joining the New York Forum is more than just the event day. You will be connected to peers year-round through the Private Funds CFO Network.
Join with your team of senior executives
2024 keynote speakers included:
Drew Maloney
President and Chief Executive Officer
American Investment Council
American Investment Council’s President and CEO gave an exclusive interview as he looked at the state of private equity and what was to come in the year ahead.
Amit Kachhia-Patel
Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Cyber Program
FBI
Paul Roberts
Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Complex Financial Crimes Branch
FBI
Attendees heard straight from the FBI as they discussed their initiatives for financial risk management and more.
Meera Pandit
Executive Director, Global Market Strategist
J.P. Morgan Asset Management
Keynote speaker Meera Pandit discussed understanding current and future global economic markets, analyzing the global economy’s impact on private equity and more.
2025 Featured speakers
Past attendees include:
What attendees say about the Forum
Lisa Costello
HCI Equity Partners
I have attended the CFOs and COOs Forum in NYC for many years. It is a great way to stay abreast of the myriad of topics that affect the PE industry. You will f…
Bernadette Mentor
Prysm Capital
The learning sessions and networking opportunities are invaluable. All of the topics are relevant and relatable and PEI’s ability to facilitate these disc…
Blake Bennett
Revelstoke Capital Partners
I really enjoy this conference. I can always count on the who’s who of private equity professionals to be in attendance.
Why the Private Funds CFO New York Forum?
Benchmark against peers
Understand how your peers are overcoming common challenges. The Forum will provide senior finance and operations executives with actions that can make a tangible impact at their firm.
Explore new services
Discover ways to streamline and improve your processes with a vetted group of private market service providers onsite and eager to assist you ease pain points in day-to-day activities.
Year-round intelligence and networking
As a member of the Private Funds CFO Network, you will have exclusive access to the New York Forum and stay connected with like-minded peers through our member’s activities across the year. Learn more.
Key discussion topics
Transformation/evolution of the CFO role
Tackling today’s fundraising climate
Managing the current regulatory environment
Adopting the right technology solutions to advance the firm
AI and the use of innovative technologies in private markets
Conducting cash and risk management
2025 Agenda
Download the 2025 agenda to see the timely and relevant topics covered at the New York Forum.
If you are interested in a speaking role please contact Kellie Green at kellie.g@pei.group.
All times are listed in Eastern Time (ET)
View agenda page
Agenda
Day 1 - Tuesday 4th
08:00 - 09:00
Registration – breakfast
Plenary
09:00 - 09:10
PEI welcome
Seth Kerker
Seth Kerker, Director of Memberships & Events, PEI Group
09:10 - 09:15
Chair’s welcome
09:15 - 10:05
Keynote interview
Michael S. Chae, Sr. Managing Director & Chief Financial Officer, Blackstone
10:05 - 10:45
Data debrief: Forecasting & benchmarking for the CFO and COO
In this session, we will review extensive data from the 2025 Private Funds CFO Insights Survey conducted by PEI Group, which contains findings on people, processes, and planning for the future. These insights will provide the foundation for a robust discussion with an esteemed panel of CFOs and COOs representing a broad spectrum of private funds.
10:45 - 11:15
Networking break
State of the industry fireside chats
11:25 - 11:45
Part 1 | Understanding where the regulatory environment is heading
Norm Champ
Three part series of 20 minute informal interview-style sessions highlighting representatives from top firms and will provide attendees with advice for weathering thorough an evolving industry.
Speaker:
Norm Champ, Former Director of the Division of
Investment Management, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Norm Champ
Former Director of the Division of Investment Management, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Read bio
11:45 - 12:05
Part 2
12:05 - 12:25
Part 3
12:25 - 01:25
Networking luncheon
Breakout panels with peer-to-peer workshops
13:30 - 14:30
Track A | Preparing for present day SEC exams | Peer-to-Peer Compliance Workshop
These sessions will be more interactive than a traditional breakout panel discussion. The sessions start with a 20-minute panel discussion and will be followed by a 30-minute interactive peer-to-peer workshop.
- Unpacking 2025 exam priorities
- Are GPs seeing any common themes over the past couple of years?
- Internal and external practices to ensure you are ready for a potential visit from the SEC
- Preparing all necessary information (documents, data, presentations)
- How frequently should mock exams be taking place?
Speakers:
Jon Franke, Partner, Rubicon Technology Partners
13:30 - 14:30
Track B | Creating an innovative and vital fund management technology stack | Peer-to-Peer Valuations Workshop
Matt Norris
These sessions will be more interactive than a traditional breakout panel discussion. The sessions start with a 20-minute panel discussion and will be followed by a 30-minute interactive peer-to-peer workshop.
- Trial and error: when is it the right time to investigate new vendors and solutions
- Is cheaper always the best solution?
- How are firms delivering more in transition as workloads increase with limited resources?
- Manage and project ownership and sensitive information during an interim period of transitioning between providers
- What to look for in providers to help carry firms forward into an evolving market?
Speakers:
Matthew Norris, Senior Partner, Chief Financial Officer & Chief Compliance Officer, The Edgewater Funds
Matt Norris
Senior Partner, Chief Financial Officer & Chief Compliance Officer, The Edgewater Funds
Read bio
13:30 - 14:30
Track C | Driving effective data management practices across the firm | Peer-to-Peer Data Management Workshop
Joann Barsky,
Dina DeMarco
These sessions will be more interactive than a traditional breakout panel discussion. The sessions start with a 20-minute panel discussion and will be followed by a 30-minute interactive peer-to-peer workshop.
- Best practices and methods for collecting data from different areas of the firm
- The challenges with developing data repositories
- Outside of fundraising and portfolio company decision making, where are firms using their data to make informed decisions?
- How to ensure that you are collecting valuable data?
- Understanding the role AI plays in data management
- Effectively collecting portfolio company data both timely and accurately
Speaker:
Joann Barsky, Head of Finance and Operations, Townhall Ventures
Dina Colombo, Partner, COO & CFO, GreyLion Partners
13:30 - 14:30
Track D | Scaling your firm as private markets evolve | Peer-to-Peer Data Scaling Workshop
These sessions will be more interactive than a traditional breakout panel discussion. The sessions start with a 20-minute panel discussion and will be followed by a 30-minute interactive peer-to-peer workshop.
- What does scaling look like to different asset classes and firms AUMs?
- What are the different operational buckets that are vital or top of mind in relation to scaling the firm? (i.e., staffing, portfolio company monitoring, technology, cashflow, etc.)
- Balancing resourcing and staffing the firm to solve immediate needs while also having a strategic mindset for future growth
- Investor inquires: what do new and existing investors want to see from firms as they scale?
13:30 - 14:30
Track E | Creating credible and creative carried interest programs | Peer-to-Peer Carried Interest Workshop
Berat Rifati
These sessions will be more interactive than a traditional breakout panel discussion. The sessions start with a 20-minute panel discussion and will be followed by a 30-minute interactive peer-to-peer workshop.
• Finding the right vesting structure and allocation methods for your firm
• When is it the best time to make changes to an existing carry program?
• What is the younger generation expecting from carry?
Speakers
Tara O’Grady, Chief Financial Officer, Paceline Equity Partners
Berat Rifati, Chief Financial Officer & Chief Compliance Officer, Heartwood Partners
Breakout panel discussions
14:35 - 15:25
Track A | Preparing for present day SEC exams | Peer-to-Peer Compliance Workshop
Tracy Pizzi,
Katherine Gomer
- Establishing KPIs and performance metrics for different types of portfolio companies
- Where can the GP CFO step in?
- How can the CFO assist when you do not have direct contact/communication with the portfolio company?
- Ensuring portfolio companies are aware of their stakes and risks from a financial
perspective
- Finding the best solutions and tools to feed
information between firms and portfolio
companies
Speakers:
Tracy Pizzi, Partner, Yellow Wood Partners
Katherine Gomer, COO & Managing Director, Maverick Ventures
14:35 - 15:25
Track B | Proactively mitigating cybersecurity risks
Joshua Gilbert
- Ensuring that all firm employees truly understand and are aware of their risks
- What can team members do outside of
regular trainings and mock cyber attacks to be on alert? - How are firms handling off-channel
communications?
- What can team members do outside of
- Portfolio company cyber protection
- Fully unpacking the GP’s fiduciary duty
Speakers:
Gary Marshall, Director of Technology, Paine Schwartz Partners
Joshua Gilbert, CFO, Freestyle
14:35 - 15:25
Track C | Present and future of AI in private markets
- Current:
- Using AI for risk assessment
- Using AI to process financial data and
valuation models - AI for investment discovery and deal
sourcing
- Future:
- Will AI be used to optimize investment
portfolios based on current market
conditions
- Will AI be used to optimize investment
- How will AI be used to automate some compliance
processes
14:35 - 15:25
Track D | Exploring new geographical markets and domiciles as a U.S. firm
- The ins and outs of raising funds in different
regions like Cayman Islands, Isle of Man, Jersey, Bavaria, etc.- Working with multinational providers and
banks
- Working with multinational providers and
- Utilizing and establishing cross-border fundraising tactics
- Unpacking regulatory impact when working in different domiciles
- How and where does the SEC come into
play?
- How and where does the SEC come into
- LP communication
- How are firms communicating their
product offerings? - Assessing client needs as client bases are diversifying
- How are firms communicating their
- Ensuring that your team is equipped to handle the workload and requests that come with investing and working in different geographical regions
- Weighing the risks and rewards and
potential pain points when venturing into the international market
- Weighing the risks and rewards and
15:25 - 15:55
Networking break
Interactive Working Groups
15:55 - 16:45
IWG A | The trials and tribulations of taxes post election
These deep dive discussions designed solely for GPs will allow the audience to join an interactive and dynamic discussion with designated facilitators.
• The impact of the 2024 election on taxing on the
fund and portfolio company level
• Understanding tax efficiencies about fund
structuring cha
15:55 - 16:45
IWG B | Managing today’s compliance workload as the CFO
These deep dive discussions designed solely for GPs will allow the audience to join an interactive and dynamic discussion with designated facilitators.
- How are you keeping your financial records in
place?- Are there different needs to meet
compliance protocols? - At different firms stages and AUM
parameters, what are you most concerned with?
- Are there different needs to meet
- Managing the role of a dual-hatted professional
- Is the dual hatted CFO/CCO going away?
Facilitator:
Fang Fang Fu, CFO, Turnspire Capital Partners
15:55 - 16:45
IWG C | Getting a grasp on investor reporting
Jeffrey Gilbert
These deep dive discussions designed solely for GPs will allow the audience to join an interactive and dynamic discussion with designated facilitators.
- Understanding LP reporting expectations
- Aligning current reporting timelines with regulatory pressures
- Are ESG metrics still top of mind?
- What does each investor type expect (i.e., institutional investor, individual investor, etc.)
- Facing requests for additional information outside of reports
Facilitators:
Jeffrey Gilbert, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Legal Officer, Carnelian Energy Capital
15:55 - 16:45
IWG D | How are CFOs managing their management company
These deep dive discussions designed solely for GPs will allow the audience to join an interactive and dynamic discussion with designated facilitators.
- How are firms organizing management fees and
expenses?- Where are you allocating your cash?\
- Budgeting efficiently to keep the firm afloat
- Getting the download on the benefits of various fund types as a manager
Plenary
16:50 - 17:40
Vendor voices: how to work together a create successful partnerships with firms
- Collaboration and cooperation – working with firms as their workloads are everchanging
- Ensuring that you are getting your client’s full attention
- Adhering to compliance and due diligence from the vendor’s perspective
- How are providers working with firms as they go through different life cycles and their needs evolve
- Considerations providers have when they take on new clients
- How are solution providers ensuring they are keeping up with industry needs and demands?
- Considerations when building and launching new programs or services for private markets
17:40 - 17:45
Closing remarks
End of Day One
17:45 - 18:45
Cocktail reception
Agenda
Day 2 - Wednesday 5th
08:00 - 09:30
Breakfast
Private Funds CFO Network Membership Circle Breakfasts (Network members only)
08:15 - 08:55
Women
Delegates will enjoy breakfast at breakout sessions based on membership circle involvement.
08:15 - 08:55
Venture Capital
Delegates will enjoy breakfast at breakout sessions based on membership circle involvement.
08:15 - 08:55
Emerging Managers
Delegates will enjoy breakfast at breakout sessions based on membership circle involvement.
Jesse Knapel, CFO & CCO, Prelude Growth Partners
08:15 - 08:55
Secondaries
Delegates will enjoy breakfast at breakout sessions based on membership circle involvement.
Invite-only think tanks
09:00 - 09:50
CFO & COO Think Tank for Emerging Funds (GP only)
Delegates will have the opportunity to break into think tank sessions by job function to discuss what is keeping them up and night and to share best practices for addressing those problems. Designed to facilitate candid discussion, the closeddoor session for senior finance and operations professionals will top of mind issues and challenges impacting their firms today.
09:00 - 09:50
CFO & COO Think Tank for Established Funds (GP only)
Delegates will have the opportunity to break into think tank sessions by job function to discuss what is keeping them up and night and to share best practices for addressing those problems. Designed to facilitate candid discussion, the closed door session for senior finance and operations professionals will top of mind issues and challenges impacting their firms today.
09:00 - 09:50
Senior Finance & Operations Executive Think Tank (GP only)
Delegates will have the opportunity to break into think tank sessions by job function to discuss what is keeping them up and night and to share best practices for addressing those problems. Designed to facilitate candid discussion, the closeddoor session for senior finance and operations professionals will top of mind issues and challenges impacting their firms today.
Plenary
10:00 - 10:05
Chair’s opening remarks
10:05 - 10:50
Keynote interview
10:50 - 11:20
Networking break
Professional Development Workshops
11:20 - 12:05
Track A | Steering teams forward with leadership in mind
These sessions are designed to provide insights and tips for individual success in their roles and how to best support their firms.
- Defining leadership and what it means to be a leader in today’s working world
- Understanding where and when to voice your opinions
- Team building
- Striking a balance between creating independent and collaborative team members
11:20 - 12:05
Track B | Enhancing your project management skills
These sessions are designed to provide insights and tips for individual success in their roles and how to best support their firms.
- How are CFOs staying on top of their workloads?
- How to prioritize tasks?
- Delegating work amongst team and firm members
- Ensuring work assigned to other teams is accomplished
- How to be adaptable throughout a project life cycle?
- Identifying when it’s time to take on a new project
11:20 - 12:05
Track C | Supporting and aligning with next generation talent
These sessions are designed to provide insights and tips for individual success in their roles and how to best support their firms.
- Adjusting to culture changes when employing younger people (i.e., communication styles, working environments, etc.)
- How to re-establish a culture?
- Getting an understanding of employee expectations before it’s too late
- What can CFOs do to coach and mentor junior colleagues?
11:20 - 12:05
Track D | Powerful approaches to change management
These sessions are designed to provide insights and tips for individual success in their roles and how to best support their firms.
- Presentation preparation
- How to communicate persuasively and efficiently?
- Steering conversations in a productive, strategic manner
- Proactive negotiation tactics
Breakout Panel Discussion Series: Fund and Cash Strategies
12:10 - 13:00
Track A | Market overview: secondaries
Hear from industry experts as they discuss their approaches to implementing new fund types and accessing cash in today’s market.
- Understanding the demand for this fund type in the market
- Steps to take when launching a first-time secondaries fund
- What is the regulatory perspective on traditional and GP led secondaries?
- Continuation funds
- Assessing valuation strategies and methods in
light implementing new fund vehicles
12:10 - 13:00
Track B | The lowdown on NAV loans
Hear from industry experts as they discuss their approaches to implementing new fund types and accessing cash in today’s market.
- Understanding LP and regulator concerns
- How the proceeds are used? Reinvested back into the portfolio or used to create a synthetic distribution?
- How mitigate some of the concerns around the use of NAV loans
- Greater transparency from potential and existing managers
12:10 - 13:00
Track C | Current trends in subscription line lending
Hear from industry experts as they discuss their approaches to implementing new fund types and accessing cash in today’s market.
- What are the trends with subscription lines
- What is the demand and availability in
the market? - Evolution of lender protection in fund
documents - ESG-linked financing
- What is the demand and availability in
- Negative consequences of funds relying on
subscription lines- Liquidity challenges the investors face as a result of the less frequent, but significantly larger, capital calls
- Distortive effect subscription line lending can have on reported fund performance figures
12:10 - 13:00
Track D | Launching a first-time private credit investment strategy
Hear from industry experts as they discuss their approaches to implementing new fund types and accessing cash in today’s market.
- Steps to take when launching a first-time private
credit fund? - Establishing fee amounts and structures
- Fund lifecycle considerations
- Assessing valuation strategies and methods in light implementing new fund vehicles
00:00 - 14:00
Networking luncheon
Carousel Discussions
14:10 - 15:30
Carousel 1 | Optimizing your finance team for emerging funds
Following our popular roundtable and think tank formats, peers will sit down at tables to determine best practices on specific topics and their sharing ideas. At the end of the session, each table will report back to the whole room on their finalized approaches to addressing their challenges.
- Trial and error: how are you establishing the best processes and procedures to drive success?
- What tasks should and can be outsourced?
- Determining when it’s time to expand the team
internally
14:10 - 15:30
Carousel 2 | Optimizing your finance team for established funds
Following our popular roundtable and think tank formats, peers will sit down at tables to determine best practices on specific topics and their sharing ideas. At the end of the session, each table will report back to the whole room on their finalized approaches to addressing their challenges.
- Trial and error: how are you establishing the best
processes and procedures to drive success?- What tasks should and can be outsourced?
- CFO supervision: overseeing workloads and tasks to ensure teams are well staffed and meeting goals
14:10 - 15:30
Carousel 3 | Addressing fundraising in today’s economy for emerging funds
Following our popular roundtable and think tank formats, peers will sit down at tables to determine best practices on specific topics and their sharing ideas. At the end of the session, each table will report back to the whole room on their finalized approaches to addressing their challenges.
- Is the fundraising market slowing down?
- What can the finance team do to elevate the fundraising journey and process across the firm?
- Using existing and predictive data to make sharper decisions
- Building prosperous relationships with banks and lenders
- The impact global affairs have on the private market fundraising environment (i.e., U.S. presidential election, global conflict, inflation, regulatory scrutiny, etc.)
14:10 - 15:30
Carousel 4 | Addressing fundraising in today’s economy for established funds
Following our popular roundtable and think tank formats, peers will sit down at tables to determine best practices on specific topics and their sharing ideas. At the end of the session, each table will report back to the whole room on their finalized approaches to addressing their challenges.
- Is the fundraising market slowing down?
- What can the finance team do to elevate the fundraising journey and process across the firm?
- Using existing and predictive data to make sharper decisions
- Building prosperous relationships with banks and lenders
- The impact global affairs have on the private market fundraising environment (i.e., U.S. presidential election, global conflict, inflation, regulatory scrutiny, etc.)
15:30 - 16:00
Networking break
Plenary
16:35 - 17:20
New Faces of Finance 2025
The private markets industry is embracing a younger, more diverse talent pool. This session will feature CFOs and COOs who have been recognized in our Private Funds CFO 2025 New Faces of Finance list. We’ll dive into topics such as:
- Major accomplishments they’ve been crucial in bringing about at their firms
- How to approach leadership and innovation as younger professionals
- What it takes to become a future leader in private funds finance
17:20 - 17:25
Closing remarks
2025 Speakers
Contact Kellie Green at kellie.g@pei.group for 2025 speaking opportunities.
Norm Champ
Former Director of the Division of Investment Management, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Kristen Laguerre
Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, MPM BioImpact
Connect with CFOs, COOs and their teams
The Private Funds CFO conferences enable providers to highlight their unique expertise to private equity’s most influential network of c-suite decision-makers. Sponsorship gives you:
- VIP access
- Thought-leadership opportunities
- High-profile branding
- And much more …
For more information on available sponsorship opportunities please contact Josh Stoller at joshua.s@pei.group.
2024 sponsors
Hilton Midtown, New York
1335 6th Ave, New York, NY 10019
All conference sessions will take place at the Hiton Midtown, New York.
Where CFOs, COOs and CCOs connect, learn and grow
Succeed through the Network
Expand your network, build lasting relationships and discuss opportunities that will help take your firm to the next level with the Private Funds CFO Network.
The Network’s dedicated membership team will ensure your experience at the New York Forum is first class with personalized introductions, timely roundtable discussions and much more.
Unlock your firm’s potential at the Forum and beyond when you join the Private Funds CFO Network.
Got questions? Our membership team is here to help!
Our network makes decisions that shape markets
We are a professional peer-to-peer membership offering a wide range of resources, thought leadership and networking opportunities. The Network provides members with essential information on market trends, compliance topics, regulatory insights, useful tools, online and in-person events and a comprehensive resource library. Members have access to behind-the-scenes, closed-door conversations among a community of peers who share their knowledge and expertise within our trusted Network.
Pre-Event Resources
2025 Advisory Board
Contact Kellie Green at kellie.g@pei.group for 2025 speaking opportunities.
