Akhil Bansal is Head of Asset-Backed Finance for Carlyle Global Credit. Carlyle Asset-Backed Finance seeks to invest across the risk-return spectrum of private credit financings backed by diversified portfolios of credit assets as well as private high grade corporate financings. Mr. Bansal is also Co-Portfolio Manager for Carlyle’s Revolving Loan strategy, which seeks to invest in senior secured revolving credit facilities. In addition, Mr. Bansal works closely with Fortitude Re, Carlyle’s strategic insurance investment, on asset allocation and optimization and portfolio construction in connection with Fortitude Re's reinsurance activities. Mr. Bansal is a member of the Investment Committee for Carlyle Structured Solutions, Carlyle Asset Finance and Carlyle Revolving Loan Fund. He is based in New York.

Prior to joining Carlyle, Mr. Bansal was a Director at KKR, where he worked across the credit asset management, capital markets and balance sheet segments in a variety of projects spanning principal investing, strategy, joint ventures, and other strategic initiatives. Prior to joining KKR, he worked in investment banking at Bear Stearns and J.P. Morgan in a multi-disciplinary role across structured products, M&A, leveraged finance and equity and debt capital markets. Mr. Bansal holds Series 7, 63 and 24 licenses. He earned a B.B.A. from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.

Carlyle is a global investment firm with deep industry expertise that deploys private capital across three business segments: Global Private Equity, Global Credit, and
Global Investment Solutions. With $441 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2024, Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, portfolio companies, and the communities in which we live and invest. Carlyle employs more than 2,300 people in 29 offices across four continents.

Nicole Byrns is an accomplished asset-backed finance investor with 20+ year track record of private investing and financing experience at funds and financial institutions. Ms Byrns is currently a senior advisor to funds considering launching a structured finance strategy and to specialty finance companies looking to optimize their capital structure. Previously, Ms Byrns was Managing Director at Canada’s largest pension plan, CPP Investments (CPPIB). She was a senior leader in CPPIB’s Capital Solutions Group where she focused on developing and growing the fund’s private structured credit platform. She managed $3.5bn credit portfolio that focused on asset-backed lending, specialty finance, renewables, CLOs and fintech sectors. She also led the division’s financing practices that oversaw a $47bn leverage portfolio. She was a member of the Real Assets Credit, Capital Solutions and Leveraged Finance Investment Committees.

Prior to CPP Investments, Ms. Byrns was at Deutsche Bank’s Global Credit Trading group where she developed innovative financing solutions for her clients in the fintech, aviation, mortgage and esoteric industries. Previously, she was at Garrison Investment Group and Citi where she was responsible for originating and executing asset-based financings and whole loan purchase programs.

Ms. Byrns is a distinguished writer, contributor, and conference speaker, known for her engagements at industry-leading events such as the Kayo Women’s Group and ABS East. She regularly publishes insightful articles for "Credit Check," a forum dedicated to discussing trends in the asset-based finance industry. A strong advocate for women's advancement in financial services, Ms. Byrns frequently contributes to "Balancing the Books," where she explores themes affecting women in private credit. Additionally, she has collaborated with the Structured Finance Association on various research publications and is an editorial board member for SFA’s Structured Finance Journal.

Ms Byrns received a BA from Wellesley College and an MA from the Fletcher School at Tufts University. She also studied at L’Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po) as a Rotary Scholar. She serves on the board of Jacob Riis Neighborhood Settlement.

Nirav Dangarwala is currently a portfolio manager at Resolution Life. He primarily manages the Public and Private Credit, along with the infrastructure strategies for the US balance sheet. Prior to Resolution Life, Nirav was at Prudential as a Junior Portfolio Manager as part of the Chief Investment Office overseeing Prudential's Closed Block business. Nirav earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics with a minor in Political Science from Rutgers University. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Resolution Life is a Global Life insurance group focusing on reinsurance and the acquisition/management of portfolios of life insurance policies. Headquartered in Bermuda with customers in primary life insurance markets including North America, Europe, Australia and Asia.

Anna Dayn is a Managing Director and US head of New End, where she partners and invests in high-growth companies, sponsors and investment platforms in private markets. New End, launched in 2018 and undergirded by a multi-family-office, anchors asset managers and facilitates future access to institutional capital. Anna has over 20 years' experience in funding, designing, and implementing private equity investment programs. Before New End, Anna established the North American platform of XTP, a cost analysis platform serving institutional investors. Anna previously served as the head of Private Equity at Cardano, a UK pension consultant, where she built a private equity program spanning $2bn of invested capital. Prior to that, Anna worked at Capital Dynamics in Switzerland and Rothschild in New York.

Anna has served on the limited partner advisory boards of several private equity funds across North America and Europe, is a published author, media commentator, and a frequently featured speaker at investment industry conferences. She sits on the Executive Board of WAVE, the Women’s Association for Venture and Equity, and serves on the New York Steering Committee for PEWIN, the Private Equity Women’s Investor Network.

Anna received an MBA from the Wharton School and a BA in Economics from the College of Arts and Sciences, both at the University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Eliasek is President and Chief Operating Officer of Prospect Capital Corporation (PSEC) and a Managing Director of Prospect Capital Management (PCM) and Prospect Administration. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Prospect Capital Corporation.

At Prospect Capital, Mr. Eliasek is responsible for leading the Prospect team of professionals in the origination and assessment of investments. Prior to Prospect Capital, Mr. Eliasek served as a Managing Director with Prospect Street Ventures, an investment management firm which, together with its predecessors, has invested in excess of $1.5 billion in senior loan, mezzanine, bridge loan, private equity, and venture capital structures through publicly traded closed-end funds and private limited partnerships.

Prior to joining Prospect, Mr. Eliasek served as a consultant with Bain & Company, a global strategy consulting firm, where he managed engagements for companies in several different industries. At Bain, Mr. Eliasek analyzed new lines of businesses, developed market strategies, revamped sales organizations, and improved operational performance.

Mr. Eliasek received his MBA from Harvard Business School. Mr. Eliasek received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia, where he was a Jefferson Scholar and a Rodman Scholar.

Prospect, founded in 1988, is an $11.8 billion private debt and private equity manager. Prospect has a 37-year history managing private assets for investors with an emphasis on preserving capital and providing attractive current income and total returns. Prospect’s core investment strategies include middle-market direct lending, buyouts, structured credit, and real estate. Prospect targets sole and lead investments and has a track record of success across multiple economic cycles. Prospect has had the same management team for 25 years. Prospect employs over 150 total professionals and is an SEC-registered investment adviser with an institutional-quality and Sarbanes-Oxley process compliant infrastructure.

Luke Fernandes joined Swiss Re Asset Management in January 2022 to build out the firm's investment platform and team focused on direct origination of investment grade/sub investment grade infrastructure debt in North America, Latin America, and Australia. Prior to Swiss Re, he spent 8 years at Legal and General Investment Management America where he was a founding member of the US Private Credit platform focused on investment grade infrastructure debt, corporate private placements, and structure credit. Luke also spent 3 years on the Liability Driven Investment Solutions team constructing asset liability matching investment portfolios for corporate defined benefit pension plans. Luke began his career at Citigroup where he was on the Project Finance and Infrastructure team focused on structuring project finance loans and/or capital market bond solutions for Sponsors.

Swiss Re

Swiss Re is one of the world’s leading providers of reinsurance, insurance and other forms of insurance-based risk transfer. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, where it was founded in 1863, the Swiss Re Group operates through a network of around 80 offices globally. Swiss Re has a combined balance sheet of USD 110 billion that is managed by the Asset Management division that sits across Europe and the US. Asset Management creates value for Swiss Re and its shareholders by managing the assets generated from the core insurance and reinsurance business. Swiss Re drives sustainable performance by following a disciplined, long-term oriented investment approach and focusing on a high quality investment portfolio.

H.T. Flanagan is a debt finance partner in the Dallas and New York offices of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. He advises private credit funds, alternative lenders and other investors in traditional private credit financings and bespoke capital solutions. He counsels such credit-oriented investors on direct originations, secondary market opportunities, complex intercreditor issues and novel structured capital investments. In addition to his private credit-focused lender-side practice, H.T. also advises private equity firms and their portfolio companies on a range of borrower-side leveraged finance transactions. He has extensive experience representing both lender and borrower private capital clients on acquisition financings, liability management transactions, debtor-in-possession financings, hybrid capital instruments and special situations investments.

Guy is a Director within bfinance’s Chicago office, consulting with US institutional investors across Pensions, Insurance and E&Fs, amongst others. Guy was previously in bfinance’s Private Markets research team. His research focused on infrastructure, real estate and other real asset strategies including agriculture and timber. He joined from JLT Investment Consulting (now Mercer), where he was an Investment Consultant and Head of Alternatives Manager Research, advising clients on portfolio construction and manager selection across alternative asset classes. Guy graduated with an Economics degree from Rollins College having also spent part of his course studying in Shanghai, China.

bfinance works for asset owners around the globe on the implementation of investment strategy, from fund manager research and selection to portfolio design and monitoring. For the past 23 years the primary focus has been on customized search and selection projects, with the firm having conducted 1250+ searches for institutional investors in 46 countries. These investors have cumulative assets in excess of $7 trillion. bfinance strives to put power in investors’ hands by doing things differently; offering full customization, fully transparent analysis and an independent, conflict-free business model.

Mr. McCormick joined Meketa Investment Group in 2025 and has been in the financial services industry for more than 25 years. As a senior vice president of the firm, he serves as the Head of Client Portfolio Management focusing primarily on private markets and investment strategy and education for Meketa Capital clients. He is a member of the firm’s Global Macroeconomic, Asset Allocation, and Co-Investments Committees.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. McCormick was a senior consultant with the investment consulting firm, NEPC. He also spent two decades with various asset management firms in lead and senior client portfolio manager and product specialist roles.

Mr. McCormick received a BA in Business Administration and Russian Studies from Principia College and holds the Chartered Financial AnalystÒ designation. He is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society Colorado, and has earned the Private Markets and Alternative Investments Certificate and the Certificate in ESG Investing from the CFA Institute.

Christian enjoys exploring new cultures and countries with his family and friends. He took up drumming late in life to play alongside his son and was hooked. He loves participating in obstacle course races.

Since 1978, Meketa has served a broad range of clients to provide the advice, support, and execution that help them realize their investment objectives. We serve as trusted
partners and valued advisors in both non-discretionary and discretionary capacities across institutional and private wealth clients including public funds, Taft Hartley, endowments, foundations, corporates, and RIAs. Our smart, relationship-focused professionals
develop deep knowledge of each client’s investing challenges, operational environment, and constraints faced in both the short- and long-term. Meketa is an independent, fully employee-owned firm with approximately $2.3 trillion of AUA/AUM and over 250 clients

As Chief Investment Officer and Deputy Comptroller for Asset Management, Steven Meier oversees investments for the five New York City retirement systems.

Mr. Meier brings over 40 years of experience in both the public and private sectors, previously serving as Assistant Treasurer and Interim Chief Investment Officer for the Connecticut Office of the State Treasurer Shawn T. Wooden, overseeing the investments of Connecticut’s $40 billion public pension system. Previously, Meier spent 17 years at State Street and State Street Global Advisors, where he rose to Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer for Global Fixed Income, Currency, and Cash Management, overseeing over $900 billion in assets. In addition, he was a member of SSGA’s Investment Committee for over 10 years, with responsibility for more than $2.3 trillion in Global Investments.

Prior to his time at State Street, he worked at Credit Suisse First Boston as Director, Global Head of Fixed Income & Money Market Electronic Trading and Senior Trader in their Global Financing Group. His experience also includes roles at Oppenheimer Capital, Merrill Lynch Capital Markets, and Irving Trust Company.

Meier is a CFA Charter Holder and certified Financial Risk Manager. He holds an MBA from Indiana University’s Kelly School of Business and a BBA from Hofstra University’s Zarb School of Business.

Pramit Mukherjee is a Senior Director, Investments, at Legal and General America, and manages US PRT and Protection portfolios. He leads research on new asset classes and
executes investment strategies and structuring across multiple regulatory jurisdictions, including RBC, BSCR, and Solvency II. He focuses on deal origination, due diligence, and underwriting in alternative credit, PE, infrastructure, and real estate, globally
and cross-divisionally at Legal & General. Previously, he was a Senior Analyst and Portfolio Manager at Converge Re, the reinsurance business of Lightstone Group, where he led investment evaluation, due diligence, and portfolio management. At Converge Re,
he focused on alternative credit and real estate investments for insurance portfolios in a capital efficient manner. Prior to Lightstone, he was an analyst and strategist at Goldman Sachs leading thematic equity research and portfolio strategy for institutional
investors. At Credit Suisse, he advised leading global consumer & retail companies on M&A and IPO transactions valued at over $5 billion. He is a Board member of the Fixed Income Investor Network by IMN. Mr. Mukherjee received his MBA (Beta Gamma Sigma honorary)
with distinction from New York University’s Stern School of Business. He graduated magna cum laude from the Indian Institute of Technology with an MS and BS in Industrial Engineering.

Legal & General Group plc (L&G) is a financial services and asset management company, known for its investment management, pensions, life insurance, and retirement income products and services, operating globally with a strong presence in the UK and the US.
Legal & General Retirement America (LGRA) specializes in customized pension risk solutions for institutional clients in the US market. Established in 2015,LGRA is a business unit of L&G. Legal & General America life insurance and retirement products are underwritten
and issued by Banner Life Insurance Company, Urbana, MD and William Penn Life Insurance Company of New York, Valley Stream, NY. The company works with companies, DB pension schemes, and their advisors to de-risk DB pension schemes with prudent investment management,
risk management, and capital allocation.

Eric is a Trustee on Stamford’s Classified Employees Retirement Fund Board, Vice Chairman Other Post-Employment Benefit (OPEB) Board, Defined Contribution Plan Board and Chairman of the City’s Investment Advisory Committee.

Eric serves as a Trustee on the Town of Fairfield Employee Retirement Board and Joint Retirement Investment Board. Member of the NASP Africa Institutional Investor Advisory Council and served on the USAID MiDA Institutional Investor Delegations to Senegal, Kenya and South Africa.

Prior to entering government finance, Eric held finance positions at Royal Bank of Scotland, IBM Global Financing, Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder, Price Waterhouse and Soros Fund Management.

Eric received his B.B.A. in Accounting from Adelphi University; Certificate in Investment Banking from New York University; M.B.A. in Finance from Sacred Heart University and is currently pursuing graduate studies in Global Development at Harvard University. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a Chartered Global Management Accountant.

Alexander Popov is a Partner, Head of Credit Opportunities at the Carlyle Group. He joined the firm in 2017 to establish Carlyle Credit Opportunities. Since inception in 2017, Carlyle’s Credit Opportunities strategy has deployed nearly $22 billion, leveraging Carlyle’s areas of expertise and market connectivity. Mr. Popov is a member of Carlyle’s Global Credit Investment Committee.

He serves on the Boards of Content Partners, Litmus Music Group, Seattle Reign and the National Women’s Soccer league (NWSL).

Prior to joining Carlyle, Mr. Popov was a Managing Director at HPS Investment Partners from 2008 to 2016. At HPS, he led investment activities in the United States for HPS Mezzanine Funds I & II and was a member of the Investment Committee for HPS Mezzanine Fund III and HPS’ firm-wide Credit Committee. Mr. Popov founded and led the firm’s real estate credit platform and served as a member of the Board and Investment Committee of the joint venture between HPS and The Related Companies. Earlier in his career, Mr. Popov worked at Oaktree Capital Management, American Capital Strategies and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette.

Mr. Popov received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and his MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business. He is Member of the Board of Trustees of the Women’s Sports Foundation. He is based in New York.

Jennie is currently Head of American Private Credit based in New York having joined AustralianSuper in 2022. The Private Credit business is focused on real asset-backed lending opportunities across real estate and infrastructure issuers (predominantly across North America, UK and Europe) and a growing US middle market lending senior debt strategy focused on private equity sponsored corporates.

Prior to joining AustralianSuper, Jennie spent over three years as a Managing Director in the Global Infrastructure Debt team at Barings. Prior to that she worked for thirteen years at GE Energy Financial Services, a division of GE Capital, focused on equity investing and lending across the energy spectrum. Jennie commenced her career at Deutsche Bank in the Project and Structured Finance group in both New York and London.

Jennie holds a B.A. from Boston University and a M.A. in International Political Economy from University of Warwick, England.

AustralianSuper

AustralianSuper manages more than A$355 billion in members’ retirement savings on behalf of more than 3.4 million members from more than 476,000 businesses (as at 30 September 2024). The Fund is an active investor across global financial markets, real assets, private credit and private equity, with the aim of delivering sustainable, long-term performance for its members. AustralianSuper is the 16th largest pension fund in the world by total assets, and the fastest-growing among the global top 20 (Thinking Ahead Institute, Global Top 300 Pension Funds, based on 5-year CAGR 2019-2024). The Fund is forecast to exceed A$500 billion of assets under management within the next five years. The Fund expects to deploy almost 70% of these new inflows into global markets.
For more information, visit: www.australiansuper.com

Andy has been with PEI Group since 2003, working on a number of titles including as Editor of Private Equity International and Senior Editor of Infrastructure Investor. Since H2 2015, he took over responsibility for Real Estate Capital and, in the first half of 2016, became Editor of Private Debt Investor. He is a regular writer for the magazines and websites and has also often contributed to our events as a panel moderator. Prior to joining PEI, Andy had senior roles at venture capital portal Venturedome.com and at Thomson Financial. Andy was voted State Street’s Alternatives Journalist of the Year in 2022.

Jiří is Global Head of the Alternative Credit Council, a trade body which was established to represent the interests of private credit and non-bank finance participants in asset management. The role of the Alternative Credit Council is to provide direction on the developments and trends in the alternative and private credit strategy space, through thought-leadership, research, education, high-level advocacy and policy guidance.

Jiří started his career at the Czech securities market regulator. He then moved to the European Commission’s Internal Market Directorate-General, where he was responsible for the drafting and negotiation of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) implementing measures. Jiří was then appointed financial markets policy director in the Czech Ministry of Finance in 2007. In 2009, he led the Czech European Union Presidency’s work in the area of financial services. After the presidency, Jiří returned to the European Commission and worked on the coordination of financial services policy in relation to the Financial Stability Board and G20. Jiří studied International Relations, Economics and Politics at Tufts University, London School of Economics and Sciences Po.

Alternative Investment Management Association

The Alternative Credit Council (ACC) is a global body that represents asset management firms in the private credit and direct lending space. It currently represents 250 members that manage over US$800bn of private credit assets.
The ACC is an affiliate of AIMA and is governed by its own board which ultimately reports to the AIMA Council.
ACC members provide an important source of funding to the economy. They provide finance to mid-market corporates, SMEs, commercial and residential real estate developments, infrastructure as well the trade and receivables business.
The ACC’s core objectives are to provide guidance on policy and regulatory matters, support wider advocacy and educational efforts and generate industry research with the view to strengthening the sector's sustainability and wider economic and financial benefits.
Alternative credit, private debt or direct lending funds have grown substantially in recent years and are becoming a key segment of the asset management industry. The ACC seeks to explain the value of private credit by highlighting the sector's wider economic and financial stability benefits.