Speakers

Tunku Alizakri Alias

28 September 2021 | Panel Discussion: International diversification vs “Home bias” in pension fund investing.

Alizakri Alias is the Chairman of Malaysia Venture Capital Management Berhad (MAVCAP) which is tasked by the Government to develop and add value to the VC ecosystem of Malaysia. Alizakri also sits on the board of notable public listed companies such as Sime Darby Plantation Berhad, IHH Healthcare Berhad and Bumi Armada Berhad as well as Prudential BSN Takaful Berhad .

Alizakri was the Chief EPF Officer of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) which is one of the largest provident funds in the world (USD250bn AUM as at Dec 2020). He joined the EPF on 1 January 2014 as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer for the Strategy Division, overseeing national policies on social protection, and developing EPF products and services. He was also an ex-officio member of the EPF Board and Investment Panel.

Alizakri has extensive experience covering fund management and the financial industry, public sector administration and central banking, media and telecommunications, property development, plantations and oil and gas. He is also passionate in the areas of social security where he served as Vice Chair of Technical Commission on Organisation, Management & Innovation of International Social Security Association (ISSA) and the Secretary-General of Asean Social Security Association (ASSA).

Alizakri is also the proud founder of PAN Productions Kuala Lumpur which has won multiple awards for excellence in the musical theatre genre since 2010. Other than producing musicals, Alizakri also performs onstage (for which he was nominated for Kakiseni’s Best Supporting Actor award in 2016).

Pablo Antolin

27 September 2021 | Keynote Address: Global Pensions Perspective

Pablo Antolin is Principal Economist, Head of the Private Pensions Unit and Deputy Head of the OECD Consumer Finance, Insurance, Pension Division. He manages the research and policy programme of the Working Party on Private Pensions (http://www.oecd.org/daf/fin/private-pensions/), a body that brings together policymakers, regulators and the private sector of almost 40 countries around the world. His work covers issues related to the operation, regulation and design of funded retirement income systems.

Mr. Antolín has a PhD in Economics from the University of Oxford and an undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Alicante (Spain).

Rob Bauer

27 September 2021 | A candid conversation on Responsible Investing – supporting sustainability

Rob Bauer is Professor of Finance (chair: Institutional Investors) and holder of the Elverding Chair on Sustainable Business, Culture and Corporate Regulation at Maastricht University School of Business and Economics in The Netherlands. His academic research is focused on pension funds, strategic investment policy, sustainable finance, responsible investing, shareholder activism and corporate governance. Rob publishes regularly in professional and academic journals and is a frequent speaker on national and international conferences. Rob is also Co-Founder and Director of the European Centre for Sustainable Finance (ECCE) at Maastricht University, Executive Director of the International Centre for Pension Management (ICPM) in Toronto, Co-founder of GRESB (real estate benchmarking company) and Co-Chair of the Global Research Alliance on Sustainable Finance and Investment (GRASFI).

Eric Bouyé

28 September 2021 | Panel Discussion: International diversification vs “Home bias” in pension fund investing

Head of Products, Knowledge and Research

Eric Bouyé, is Manager, heading the Products, Knowledge and Research unit at the World Bank Treasury. He has been with the World Bank for 10 years, previously leading the asset allocation and quantitative solutions team. Eric has over 20 years of asset management and capital markets experience. Prior to joining the Bank, Eric was Senior Strategist at the Fonds de Réserve pour les Retraites (FRR). He was previously Director, Investment Products and Strategies, and, Director, Structuring Team for Asia (based in Tokyo) at Sociéte Générale. Eric holds a Ph.D. in Finance from Cass Business School, London, a Magistere in International Economics and Finance from the University of Bordeaux, and a MSc. in Banking and Finance from the University of Birmingham. He has been Adjunct Professor in various universities, including the University la Sorbonne (Paris 1) and the University of Evry. He has also published in academic journals and participated to various conferences.

Richard Patrick Byarugaba

27 & 28 September 2021 | Panel Discussion: International diversification vs “Home bias” in pension fund investing.

Mr. Byarugaba is the Managing Director (MD) of the National Social Security Fund (the Fund), a provident fund with over USD 4 Billion in Assets Under Management.

He has led the Fund since 2010. He has also previously served as MD at Global Trust Bank and Nile Bank. He has an enviable record in the stewardship of financial institutions spanning three decades in a career that started in 1983 at Standard Chartered Bank (SCB). He rose through the ranks to Executive Director Finance in 1992. In 1994, Mr. Byarugaba moved to their London office as Finance Manager in charge of Africa, where he implemented a multi-million pound accounting software project.

He is a professional accountant (FCCA), holds a BSc degree in Statistics & Economics from Makerere University, an MBA from Edinburgh Business School, and a management diploma from Henley Management College. He is currently a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level II candidate.

He is currently a board member of the Fund, Uganda Clays and the Uganda Stock Exchange. He also previously served on the boards of SCB, Global Trust Bank, Nile Bank, and Uganda Institute of Banking & Financial Services.

Mr. Byarugaba is married with two daughters, an avid sports fan and an accomplished athlete. He supports Arsenal FC and indulges in running as a pastime, regularly appearing at famous marathon competitions in Uganda and abroad.

Andrew Canter

27 September 2021 | A candid conversation on Responsible Investing – supporting sustainability

Andrew is an Executive Director of Futuregrowth Asset Management and the Chief Investment Officer (CIO). He provides a strategic perspective to the business and oversees the investment processes.

Andrew came to South Africa in 1990 from the U.S.A. During his career in South Africa, he assisted in co-founding RMB Asset Management before joining Futuregrowth in 1998. He was a fixed interest dealer, portfolio manager, head of fixed interest, and later CIO. Andrew has been part of the team that made Futuregrowth a leading Fixed Interest Manager, Responsible investor and Developmental investor (with a range of developmental portfolios) in South Africa.

In addition, Andrew has sought to play a role in development of South Africa’s financial industry, capital market and national infrastructure. Some Directorships/Involvement:

• Director of several infrastructure and development companies ranging from toll roads to low income housing finance and municipal finance.
• A CFA Charterholder since 1989 and was a founding Director of CFA South Africa in 2001, where he served until 2014.
• A founding member of ASISA’s Standing Committee on Capital and Money Markets.
• Undertakes public speaking and lecturing engagements, frequently on the subjects of fixed interest management, ethics in financial services, developmental investing, and Governance.

Andrew lists scripophily and travel amongst his hobbies, and he is a regular cyclist.

Thérèse L. Couture

28 September 2021 | Closing remarks.

Director, Asset Management & Advisory , World Bank

Ms. Thérèse L. Couture is responsible for leading the World Bank Treasury’s newly created Department of Asset Management and Advisory. In her capacity as Director, Ms Couture oversees the asset management of $70 billion of liquidity and fixed income portfolios for Trust Funds and clients, including central banks, pension funds, and International Financial Institutions. She also provides strategic leadership for the technical advisory and capacity building under the RAMP program.

Thérèse joined the World Bank in 2018 as Director of Treasury Operations. She managed a team responsible for back-office functions supporting Treasury and the processing of over $7 trillion cash flows on behalf of the World Bank. Thérèse previously served as Senior Director for Banking Operations in the Funds Management and Banking Department at the Bank of Canada. She held management positions in different organizations prior to her tenure at the Bank of Canada.

Ms. Couture holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce from the University of Ottawa. She is a Chartered Professional Accountant and Certified Internal Auditor.

Nicolas J. Firzli

28 September 2021 | Panel Discussion: Infrastructure investing: harvesting long term capital

Director-General, World Pensions Council (WPC),
Co-Chair, Singapore Economic Forum (SEF),
Cofounder & Advisory Board Member, World Bank Global Infrastructure Facility (GIF)

M. Nicolas J. Firzli is director-general of the World Pensions Council (WPC), the global think-tank & asset owners association. He is a graduate of Canada’s McGill University (Stats), an alumnus of the HEC School of Management and the University of Paris Law School and has conducted research at the Louvain (UCL) Doctoral School of Economics.

Mr. Firzli is co-chair of the World Pensions Forum (WPF) held annually in a G12/EU capital, coordinator of the G7 Pensions Roundtable held on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, co-chair of the Singapore Economic Forum and cofounding-member & advisory councillor of the World Bank Group Global Infrastructure Facility (GIF). He has chaired the main asset owners roundtable of the 2015 Climate Change Conference (Paris COP 21 Summit) and helped develop notions such as “Modern Trusteeship and Fiduciary Capitalism”, “The SDG–Driven World Economy”, “The Pension Wealth of Nations” and “Infrastructure as an Asset Class”

Anita Marangoly George

28 September 2021 | Panel Discussion: Infrastructure investing: harvesting long term capital

Executive Vice-President, Deputy Head – CDPQ Global CDPQ India

Anita M. George is Executive Vice-President and Deputy Head of CDPQ Global. She fills a key role in developing CDPQ’s activities in its three priority international areas: the United States/Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific. She actively participates in positioning CDPQ internationally, as well as developing and executing its globalization strategy. In addition to her role managing the international offices, Ms. George contributes to diversifying the portfolio by taking a holistic view in approaching the various markets. She sits on CDPQ’s Investment-Risk Committee.

Ms. George joined CDPQ in April 2016 as Managing Director, South Asia. She was then appointed as Executive Vice-President, Growth Markets and prior to her current role was Executive Vice-President and Head of Strategic Partnerships, Growth Markets. She has extensive knowledge of several of these markets, in addition to possessing a strong ability to develop and strengthen enduring and quality partnerships.

She has a strong track record in managing infrastructure investment portfolios on a global scale. Prior to joining CDPQ, she was Senior Director of the World Bank’s Energy and Extractive Industries Global Practice. She also held the positions of Director, Infrastructure and Natural Resources of the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, and Head of Siemens Financial Services in India. Her various roles have led her to work in several regions of the world, including Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.

Ms. George holds a BA in Economics and Spanish from Smith College, in Massachusetts, and a Masters in Economics and an MBA in Finance from Boston University.

Jacqueline Irving

27 September 2021 | Panel Discussion: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the financial position of pension funds as well as the global economy and financial markets..

Jacqueline Irving is Senior Economist in IFC’s Sector Economics and Development Impact Dept. and the department’s focal for capital markets including related to development of pension funds and insurers as asset managers. Previously, as Director of the Center for Financial Markets at the Milken Institute, she led the Capital Markets for Development unit’s policy research and advisory work. In this role, she worked directly with Rwanda’s Capital Markets Authority and capital markets stakeholders to prepare a 10-year Capital Markets Action Plan for developing Rwanda’s capital markets. As a Senior Economist with the U.S. finance ministry, she was responsible for the desk portfolio for financial inclusion. Prior to this, she colaunched the Thought Leadership Research division for Oxford Economics, serving as the practice manager for OE’s evidence-based research programs on emerging markets finance. As a Senior Economist with the World Bank from 2005-11, Irving led and contributed to data-driven policy research and advisory work on capital markets development, infrastructure finance, and remittance markets. This included leading an assessment of the potential for African financial sectors to raise longer-term finance for infrastructure, as part of the NEPAD-driven Africa Infrastructure Country Diagnostic. She joined the WB initially on secondment from the IMF, where she had led and contributed to TA/operational work and relevant research on development of African securities markets and local institutional investors. During the 1990s, she managed the Economist Intelligence Unit’s country financial markets content and analysis, leading a team of 50 regional analysts and in-country finance experts in 45 countries including in Africa. Early in her career, she was an Assistant Manager with the Dreyfus Corporation, an investment management firm and pioneer in the U.S. mutual fund industry. She has authored and coauthored policy research papers, policy briefs, books, and articles on topics related to capital markets development and financial inclusion. Irving has a Master’s degree from Columbia University with a specialization in international economic policy and a research focus on regional economic and financial integration.

Anshula Kant

27 September 2021 | Keynote address: Pensions Funds in a COVID-19 world – Impacts and Policy considerations

Anshula Kant was appointed Managing Director and World Bank Group Chief Financial Officer on October 7, 2019. In this role, she is responsible for financial and risk management of the World Bank Group, reporting to the President. Among other key management duties, her work includes oversight of financial reporting, risk management and mobilization of IDA and other financial resources.

Through her work at the State Bank of India (SBI), Ms. Kant has more than 35 years of experience in banking, including retail and corporate banking, mortgage finance, local currency and foreign exchange instruments, and a diverse array of leadership challenges covering finance, risk, operations, treasury, funding, regulatory compliance and general management. As CFO of SBI, Ms. Kant managed $38 billion of revenues and total assets of $500 billion. Stewarding the organization, she greatly improved the capital base and focused on the long-term sustainability of SBI within her mandate.

She was a Managing Director and member of the Board of SBI from September 2018 till August 2019. With direct responsibility for the SBI’s Risk, Compliance, and Stressed Asset Portfolio, Ms. Kant led the creation of investment opportunities while empowering risk management throughout the bank.

Ms. Kant, a native of India, earned her bachelor’s degree with honours in Economic from Lady Shri Ram College for Women and a master’s degree in Economics from Delhi School of Economics.

Daniela Klingebiel

27 September 2021 | A candid conversation on Responsible Investing – supporting sustainability

Ms. Klingebiel is Manager of the World Bank Treasury Reserve Advisory and Management Partnership (RAMP) Program. RAMP offers advisory, training, and assets management services to central banks, public pension funds, and sovereign wealth funds to enhance asset management policies, frameworks, and practices. It also provides thought leadership and applied research in reserve and asset management, including through the global central bank survey. RAMP now has 78 clients globally with assets under management of $26 billion.

Before her current position, Ms. Klingebiel was a Principal Portfolio Manager in the World Bank’s Pension and Endowment Department and a member of the investment leadership team. She also worked in the World Bank’s Research and Financial Sector Policy and Strategy Departments and the East Asia and Africa regional departments.

Ms. Klingebiel has published extensively on pension management, capital markets, banking, financial crises, and enterprise and financial sector restructuring in leading professional and academic journals.

Claudia Kruse

27 September 2021 | A candid conversation on Responsible Investing – supporting sustainability

As Managing Director Global Responsible Investment & Governance Claudia Kruse is part of the management team of the investment function reporting into the Chief Investment Officer on the Board of APG Asset Management. APG manages pension assets of ca 515 billion euro (April 2020) on behalf of Dutch pension funds. The twenty people strong global RI & Governance team based in Amsterdam, New York and Hongkong, safeguards the implementation of the clients’ responsible investment policies across all asset classes.

Before joining APG in 2009, she worked on the buy and sell-side in London for almost a decade. She is an experienced non-profit board member and serves on the Board of the International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN). Since 2016 she has been appointed to the German Corporate Governance Code Commission, and she was a member of the EU Expert Group on Sustainable Finance (2017) whose recommendations inspired the EU Action Plan on Sustainable Finance. In 2016 she was voted CIO Europe’s Next Generation CIO Award winner.

In July 2020, APG together with PGGM, AustralianSuper and British Columbia Investment Management launched the Asset Owner Platform, setting a global standard for investing into the Sustainable Development Goals. Claudia co-chairs the Principles for Responsible Investment’s Advisory Committee on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and APG is also a member of the UN initiative Global Investors for Sustainable Development (GISD) which seeks to advance investment into the SDGs.

Claudia studied International Management & Chinese, and has an MSc Tourism & Development (UCL, London). She has lived in Germany, China, the UK and now the Netherlands. She has inter alia published on the Governance of Sustainability and the integration of sustainability into remuneration which reflects her strong belief in the connection between good governance and sustainability.

Musa Mabesa

27 & 28 September 2021 | Welcome

Principal Executive Officer (PEO) – Government Employees Pension Fund

Musa Mabesa is currently the Principal Executive Officer (PEO) of the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF). He is a seasoned finance professional with over 17 years’ experience, 10 of which is in the pension fund industry, specialising in financial management and reporting, governance and corporate services. Prior to joining the GEPF, Mr Mabesa worked for various private and public sector institutions in various positions. In 2011 he joined the GEPF as a Finance Manager and was subsequently appointed as Head of Corporate Services in 2017. The Board of Trustees appointed Mr Mabesa Principal Executive Officer of the GEPF in November 2020.

Mr Mabesa holds a Master of Science (MSc) degree from University of London and Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting Science (BCompt) from University of South Africa (UNISA). He is a Chartered Certified Accountant through the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and is a member of the Institute of Directors Southern Africa.

Langa Madonko

28 September 2021 | Panel Discussion: Infrastructure investing: harvesting long term capital

Langa Madonko is Co-Founder of Summit Africa a Niche Alternative Investment Manager in South Africa. He is also the Deputy President of the Association of Black Securities and Investment Professionals which champions transformation in the Financial Services Sector. Langa is also a Director of the Southern Africa Venture Capital and Private Equity Association and co-chairs two of the Board Sub Committees. He writes and speaks on issues of Leadership, Transformation, Alternative Investment across various platforms.

Olano Makhubela

27 September 2021 | Panel Discussion: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the financial position of pension funds as well as the global economy and financial markets.

Olano Makhubela has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of KwaZulu-Natal; Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Witwatersrand; BCom Honours (Economics) (cum laude) from University of South Africa; and a Masters in Science in Development Economics from the University of London.

Olano Makhubela has been with the National Treasury since 2000. In his 17 years at the National Treasury, he has assisted with the development of Government policy on retirement reforms, insurance, investment funds, financial integrity, prudential regulation, capital controls and flows, first tier banking and financial inclusion. He has represented the National Treasury at the G20 Financial Access Working Group, Financial Sector Charter and Nedlac processes. He is currently (as of 1 October 2017) the Divisional Executive for Retirement Funds Supervision at the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (previously the Financial Services Board).

Dr Renosi Mokate

27 September 2021 | Opening Remarks

27 September 2021 | Panel Discussion: A candid conversation on Responsible Investing – supporting sustainability

Dr. Renosi Mokate is a highly experienced economist and policy analyst of international repute, specialising in development economics and finance.

Renosi gained her academic qualifications in the United States of America, where she was based during her early academic career. She returned to South Africa in the early 1990s, serving in the multiparty negotiations process, and as Chief Executive of the Independent Electoral Commission in the run-up to the South Africa’s first democratic election in 1994.

She became a key adviser on macro-economic and fiscal policy to the Government, and later Chief Executive of the Central Energy Fund (the South African Government’s State-owned energy exploration, production, refining, and investment group).

She was Deputy Governor of the South African Reserve Bank between 2005 and 2010, and a key member of the Monetary Policy Committee and the G20 Group of Nations Central Bank Forum.

Renosi left the Reserve Bank to become an Executive Director of the World Bank Group, based in New York, where she represented the interests of Angola, Nigeria, and South Africa at Board level.

Since joining Concentric Alliance, Renosi has primarily been involved in strategy planning on behalf of clients, where her twenty years of experience at the highest levels of policy formulation in South Africa, and internationally, come into full play.

Gabriel Petre

28 September 2021 | Panel Discussion: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the financial position of pension funds as well as the global economy and financial markets.

Gabriel Petre leads the team responsible for developing the asset allocation and ESG integration strategy for the World Bank’s post-retirement benefit funds. As part of his work he is also involved in advising public pension funds of developing countries on governance, investment policy and asset allocation issues and official institutions of commodity-rich countries in setting up sovereign wealth funds.

He joined the World Bank Treasury in July 2006. Before joining the World Bank, he worked for the National Bank of Romania, as part of the team in charge of the Foreign Reserves portfolio. He has an MBA from Georgetown McDonough School of Business and is a CFA and CAIA charterholder.

Eduardo Piquero

27 September 2021 | A candid conversation on Responsible Investing – supporting sustainability

Eduardo has more than 15 years of experience in carbon markets at an international level. He has focused in environmental markets, including the development of greenhouse gas emission reduction projects and has worked on climate change projects in several countries in Latin America, Asia and Africa in the following sectors: forestry, renewable energy, energy efficiency, oil and gas, aluminium, mining, landfills, agriculture, refrigerants, fertilizers, cement and construction.

He is currently the CEO of MÉXICO2, a Mexican Stock Exchange company where he oversees the development of environmental markets (carbon markets, clean energy certificates and green bonds markets).

Eduardo led the incorporation of the CCFV (Consejo Consultivo de Finanzas Verdes, or Green Finance Advisory Board), a financial focused NGO to green the Mexican financial system with more than 350 participating entities. The CCFV works on capacity building, stakeholder dialogue and building new green infrastructure instruments. From the CCFV, Eduardo has supported the issuance of many Mexican green and sustainable bonds. The CCFV is a member of FC4S, Financial Centres for Sustainability, led by UNEP FI.

Since 2017, he has led the development of the simulation exercise of a Mexican emissions trading system as a preparation for the regulated emissions scheme in the country. He has been a speaker at several conferences and events related to climate change and climate finance, and he is member of the Working Group on Green Finance of the United Nations Initiative for Sustainable Stock Exchanges.

Eduardo also has several specializations in the development of emission trading systems extended by the International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP), organization in which he is trainer on carbon markets in Latin America.

University of Buenos Aires (2001-2006)
BSc. Political Science

University of the Argentinian Centre for Macroeconomic Studies (2007-2008)
MSc. State Science

International Carbon Action Partnership (2014)
Diploma on Emission Trading for Emerging Economies

International Carbon Action Partnership (2015)
Diploma on Emission Trading Masterclass

Fiona Reynolds

27 September 2021 | A candid conversation on Responsible Investing – supporting sustainability

Fiona Reynolds is the CEO of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). The PRI is a UN supported organisation, with more than 4,000 signatories who collectively represent over US $100 trillion in AUM. She is responsible for the PRI’s global operations. Appointed in 2013, Fiona has 25 years’ experience in the financial services and pension sector. She joined the PRI from the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST), where she spent seven years as CEO.

Fiona was named one of the 20 most influential people in sustainability globally by Barron’s magazine and has twice been named one of Australia’s one hundred women of influence by the Australian Financial Review.

Sifiso Sibiya

28 September 2021 | Panel Discussion: Infrastructure investing: harvesting long term capital

Head of Investments
Government Employees Pension Fund.

Mr. Sibiya has 13 years of experience within financial services, specialising in investments, financial risk management and employee benefits. Prior to joining the GEPF; Mr. Sibiya worked at Alexander Forbes as an Investments Actuary and led the Actuarial Investments function. He also worked at Deloitte Financial Services Advisory as an Actuarial Manager.

He holds Honours degree in Mathematical Statistics and a degree in Actuarial Science from the University of the Witwatersrand and he is currently finalising his Master’s degree in Finance and Investments. Mr. Sibiya is a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, a Charter Enterprise Risk Actuary and a CAIA Charterholder.

Abel Sithole

28 September 2021 | Panel Discussion: International diversification vs “Home bias” in pension fund investing.

Abel Sithole is currently the Chief Executive Officer of South Africa’s Public Investment Corporation (PIC) and Executive Director on the Board of Directors.

Previously Abel was the Principal Executive Officer (PEO) of the Government Employees Pension fund and a Senior Researcher and Deputy Director with the Institute for Futures Research at the University of Stellenbosch. He served two terms as Chairman of the Institute of Retirement Funds, served on the Boards of the Financial Planning Institute (FPI) and the Savings Institute of South Africa (SISA). He has served in the financial sector in roles of a principal, trustee, advisor, regulator and policy developer, and spent over 20 years in the insurance and retirement fund industries.

He was the chairperson of the Financial Services Board and the Commissioner of the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA). He has also served as a member of the Investment Committee of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund.

Abel holds an MA (International Relations) and MPhil (Futures Studies) (University of Stellenbosch) and an MBA (Wits Business School).

Fiona Stewart

28 September 2021 | Panel Discussion: International diversification vs “Home bias” in pension fund investing.

Fiona Stewart, Lead Financial Sector Specialist, is part of the Long-term Finance Team in the World Bank’s Finance, Competitiveness & Innovation Global Practice. Fiona provides policy advice on pension and insurance market reform to governments around the world. She also coordinates the Bank’s work on sustainable finance, including representing the institution at the G20 Working Group on Sustainable Finance and Co-Chairing the Finance Taskforce under the UN Decade on Restoration. Previously, Fiona worked for the OECD’s Financial Affairs Division and led the Secretariat of the International Organisation of Pension Supervisors (IOPS). Prior to the OECD, Fiona worked in the pension fund industry. As head of American Express Asset Management in Japan she was responsible for investing $2bn in Asian equity markets, and, as part of an international team, for managing $20bn globally. She holds degrees from Oxford and Johns Hopkins Universities and a Chartered Financial Analyst qualification. She also served on the advisory board of one of the OECD’s own pension funds.

Hyup Son

28 September 2021 | Panel Discussion: International diversification vs “Home bias” in pension fund investing.

Hyup Son, Head of Investment Strategy Division at NPS Republic of Korea. Mr. Son’s service with the firm dates back to 2014.

Prior to joining NPS, Mr. Son was a portfolio manager at Korea Investment Management and Samsung Asset Management.

Mr. Son earned an MBA from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and a BS in Chemistry Education from Seoul National University.

Pauli Prince Suhren

28 September 2021 | Panel Discussion: International diversification vs “Home bias” in pension fund investing.

Chief Executive Officer Chairman – Pacific Islands Investment Forum

Pauli has been CEO of SNPF since 2017 and Chairman of PIIF since 2019. He is an accountant and an IT specialist by profession having graduated in 2011 with a Masters in Business and IT from Bond University, Gold Coast Australia. Pauli is also a Fellow of the Institute of Public Accountants, Australia and a Fellow of the Institute of Financial Accountants, United Kingdom.

Rodrigo Valdés

28 September 2021 | Panel Discussion: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the financial position of pension funds as well as the global economy and financial markets.

Rodrigo Valdés is with the School of Government of Catholic University of Chile. He was Minister of Finance of Chile between 2015 and 2017. Previously, he had experience in both the private and public sectors. In the private sector, he worked in investment banking in both New York and Santiago. In the official sector, he was deputy director for the European and the Western Hemisphere departments at the IMF. He also was the director of research and chief economist of the Central Bank of Chile. He holds a BA in economics and a commercial engineering title from Universidad de Chile, and a Ph.D. in economics from MIT.

Dr. Srikanya Yathip

27 September 2021 | Keynote Address: International diversification vs “Home bias” in pension fund investing

Secretary General
Government Pension Fund, Thailand

Prior to joining Government Pension Fund (Thailand) or GPF, Dr. Srikanya spent more than 1 O years studying and working in Japan and the United Kingdom. She joined GPF in 2010 and was appointed Secretary General in 2020.

Dr. Srikanya is at the forefront of responsible investing in Thailand. She introduced her vision that GPF should become the leader in ESG investing and initiatives in Thailand in 2019. Her successes include integrating PRl’s ESG integration framework and OECD’s responsible business conduct into GPF’s investment process. She has also headed development of ESG valuation framework, formula and methodology – the project that got technical assistance from the World Bank.

Moving GPF ahead towards SDG, she has initiated the revision of Strategic Asset Allocation of GPF to include both an investment paradigm shift and SDG compliance. Her current project, through cooperation with UN Financial Initiatives, is developing the Human Rights heatmap and common Human Rights integration framework for the Thai capital market.