International
Investor Relations, Marketing & Communications Forum Europe 2023
27 - 28 September 2023,
Grand Connaught Rooms, London
Driving the evolution of Europe’s private market fundraising
The Investor Relations, Marketing & Communications Forum: Europe takes place in London on 27-28 September 2023.
Join your industry peers to learn about best practices for strengthening your relationships with investors, communicating with prospects, marketing your firm and more. Discover how to differentiate your fund in a crowded market and explore separation strategies between fundraising, business development and client management.
Plus, find solutions to your biggest challenges and discuss industry trends with your peers from leading private market firms during extensive networking opportunities.
What can you expect at the forum?
Event content with value
Explore key strategies, discuss industry trends and carve out your niche by attending panels and participating in the many networking sessions.
Gain exclusive insights
Hear 50+ experts speak about how the holistic private asset landscape affects your fundraising efforts and marketing strategy.
Meet leaders in private markets
Gather with a community of private market professionals to build lasting relationships, discuss best practices and benchmark against competitors.
Key event themes for 2023
- Keeping the IR function alive in times of distressed markets
- How to maintain brand consistency and alignment across the firm
- The benefits of outsourcing placement agents
- ESG demands, expectations and frameworks
- Embracing new digital tools and capabilities
- And more!
2023 speakers
Browse the 2022 attendees
Connect with IR professionals in private markets
Testimonials
Antin Infrastructure Partners
Catherine Campbell, Director
The content was top quality and agenda was well-executed.
Mercator
Steven Rothberg, Partner
The panels were all informational and stimulating, and the scale of the event made it manageable, in terms of meeting other attendees.
QIC
Lindsay Scully, Principal
Great event; informative and timely content.
Pre-Event Resources
Be part of industry-leading events for global private equity professionals
Engage with networking sessions, thought leadership, and more to build lasting relationships and meet your business goals. Sponsorship gives you:
- VIP access
- Thought-leadership opportunities
- High-profile branding
- And much more…
For information about sponsorship opportunities, contact Jimmy Kurtovic at jimmy.k@pei.group or call +1 646 356 4504.
2023 sponsors
Our leading advisory board for 2023

Andrew Harris
Managing Director, Head of Investor Relations and ESG, Tiger Infrastructure Partners

Danai Musandu
VP Investor Relations, HPE Growth

Priya Nair
Senior Director, abrdn

Sarah Odds
Head of Client Services, ATLAS Infrastructure

Harriet Rae
Head of IR & ESG, Pioneer Point Partners

Alexandra Simkin
Head of Client Services, Park Square Capital

Philippe Taillardat
Head of Investor Relations, RIVE Private Investment

Vidya Verlkumar
Head of Marketing & Communications, IK Partners
Agenda
Day 1 - Wednesday 27th
Women-only breakfast
Introduction from PEI
Kitty Watson, Producer, PEI Group
Chairperson’s welcome address
Danai Musandu, Vice President, Investor Relations, HPE Growth

Opening keynote: What are the current market trends and the impact on investor relations?
- How to navigate the pressure of ticket size reductions and decreasing pace in fundraising
- How to exploit the newfound transparency in communication between investors and GPs to deploy capital and make a positive contribution to their returns
- Exploring the proliferation of the diversification of strategies and products such as secondaries and co-investments
Speakers:
Daria Litvinova, Partner, Head of Investor Relations, Vauban Infrastructure Partners
Corinne Schreiber, Principal, Investor Relations, Pantheon
Ellinor Schrewelius, Director, Investor Relations, Verdane
What differentiates your fund in a crowded market?
- Developing a unique value proposition and articulating this effectively
- The importance of maintaining brand consistency and alignment across the firm
- How marketing channels must adapt to the changing fundraising landscape
Speakers:
Priya Nair, Senior Director, abrdn
Vidya Verlkumar, Head of Marketing & Communications, IK Partners
Amber Hilkene, Partner, Chief Growth Officer, Stanley Capital
What are the necessary building blocks for a successful IR function?
- Fundraising, business development, client relationship – exploring the separation strategy between the three functions
- Keeping the IR function alive in times of distressed markets
- To what extent do GPs understand the value of structured IR function
Moderator: Carmela Mendoza, Senior Reporter, Private Equity International
Speakers:
Eleanor Miller, Investor Relations Principal, Actis
Patrick Raffard, Partner, Head of Business Development, Rivage Investment
Alexandra Simkin, Head of Client Services, Park Square Capital
Gerald Carton, Partner, Coller Capital





Networking break
Industry-led presentation
Panel debate: Going solo vs. outsourcing agents
- Using regional agents vs global mandates
- How to measure the value of placement agents against their fees
- When is it the right time to let go of a placement agency?
Moderator: Philippe Taillardat, Head of Investor Relations, RIVE Private Investment
Speakers:
Kristina Kuhnke, Partner & Head of Investor Relations, RoundShield Partners

Working group A: Reporting–a one size fits all scenario?
- How to have a streamlined process for prospecting and due diligence
- What are the limitations of ESG reporting?
- Navigating big data requests and the integrity of data
Working group B: The evolution of virtual relationships and investor communications
- Finding the ideal blend of in-person and virtual communication with investors
- Comparing AI and data analytics with human insight and personal interactions
- Dissecting the extra layer outsourcing adds to the relationship management piece
Working group C: How to successfully build a career in investor relations
Hear from members of the Next Generation in Investor Relations Network.
- How to stay aware of the rapidly changing requirements of investors
- How to successfully transition from a junior to a mid-level IR professional
Speakers:
Stephen Bradnam, Investor Relations Officer, LeapFrog Investments
Harry Elliott, Vice President, MV Credit
Working group D: The evolution of the AGM
- Content – addressing the changes in investor demands and expectations of the AGM
- Structure – identifying the optimum style of the meeting; a series of meetings, road trip style and beyond
- Connections – prioritising exposure at the meeting to the portfolio companies vs the management team
Lunch and networking break
How to build the optimum investor relations team
- Identifying which skill sets are required and prioritised when building an IR team
- Finding the difference between hiring for business development and for client services
- Representation in fundraising – why we have more women in the role
Speaker: Jonathan Aiach, Director, Capman

Tech tools and where to use them
- The influence of technology on portfolio management, fund operations, deal origination, IR and fundraising
- Comparing reporting tools, CRM, RFP and marketing systems
- The effect of increased competition for assets on driving firms to reassess their use of data and technology
A deep dive into client services
- What is the best practise and how is it positioned within the organisation
- How the current climate reflects the change in resourcing for the client services function
- What are the operational challenges within client services within larger organisations?
Speaker: Sarah Odds, Head of Client Services, ATLAS Infrastructure

How to effectively rebrand
- Reasons why you might rebrand and when this could be appropriate
- Types of rebrand: name change, visual refresh, new website development etc
- Developing brand ambassadors and effecting change
Speakers:
Lydia Kalia, Director of Marketing & Communications, Livingbridge
Claudia Urquiola, Head of Marketing & Communications, Nauta Capital
How the marketing mix evolves with the democratisation of private assets
- The current mix vs future mix
- The importance of a customer experience
- Identifying the changes and developments of the marketing function and the benefits of outsourcing
Challenging longstanding behaviours internally and externally
- Highlighting the importance and role of senior buy-in on social media
- How to ensure your marketing message and communications are not blurred across asset classes
- Using social media as a way to connect with your target audience
Networking break
Fireside chat: An expert perspective on the evolution of investor relations
Audience roundtable discussions (Off the record)
- The most suitable disrupter tech platforms
- The democratisation of private equity
- The value of rich media
- The role of BCorp in private investments
- Tapping into new pools of capital and how to access or enter those markets eg. Asia Middle East etc
- Private wealth and family offices their role in fundraising specifically in the current market
Networking drinks reception
Agenda
Day 2 - Thursday 28th
Room 1: Investor relations, business development & client services
Room 2: Marketing messaging & communications
Chairperson’s welcome back address
Investor keynote panel: LP requirements under the microscope
- Navigating LP reluctancy to disclose investment information
- How to navigate the impact of increasing interest rates on your private market portfolio
- How satisfied are investors with their GP’s ESG performance
How to weather the ESG data dilemma
- Identifying practical measures to deliver meaningful ESG data and reports
- How automated the ESG data-gathering process is
- Joining the dots between ESG and DEI
Speakers:
Erika Gucfa, Managing Director, North Sky Capital
Andrew Harris, Head of ESG & Investor Relations, Tiger Infrastructure
Merary Soto-Saunders, Global Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, CVC Capital Partners
Fireside chat: An expert perspective on the evolution of marketing & communications in private investment
Networking break
Navigating the maze of external data platforms
- Discussing the digital opportunity within the capital raising ecosystem
- Exploring the integrity of data providers to enhance intelligence
- Identifying the security risks of digitalisation
Networking lunch
IR, marketing & communications in private equity
IR, marketing & communications in real estate
IR, marketing & communications in infrastructure
IR, marketing & communications in private debt
Close of conference
Connect with Europe's leading industry professionals
The forum is the optimal environment to cultivate lasting and valuable relationships with investor relations, marketing and communications professionals in private markets.
Exchange best practices and discuss solutions to pressing industry challenges with your peers during the forum’s networking sessions and interactive roundtable discussions.
Access Europe’s private markets community
Join your peers at the only event in Europe specifically for private market professionals focused on investor relations, marketing, branding and communications.
Discover solutions to your daily pain points
Join interactive roundtable discussions with experts in private markets to brainstorm solutions to the most pressing challenges facing investor relations professionals.
Learn from fellow industry professionals
Get up to date on the latest marketing trends and discuss best practices for communicating with investors by participating in the forum’s many networking sessions.
Browse the 2022 attendees
Network with your peers from these firms and more...
2023 speakers
Have a topic you would like to discuss at the Investor Relations, Marketing & Communications Forum: Europe 2023? Contact Kitty Watson at kitty.w@pei.group to discuss available speaking opportunities.

Jonathan Aiach
Director Client Solutions & Business Development, CapMan

Stephen Bradnam
Investor Relations Officer, LeapFrog Investments

Gerald Carton
Partner, Investor Relations, Coller Capital

Harry Elliott
Vice President, MV Credit

Erika Gucfa
Managing Director, North Sky Capital

Andrew Harris
Managing Director, Head of Investor Relations and ESG, Tiger Infrastructure Partners

Amber Hilkene
Partner, Chief Growth Officer, Stanley Capital Partners

Lydia Kalia
Head of Marketing & Communication, Livingbridge

Daria Litvinova
Partner, Head of Investor Relations, Vauban Infrastructure Partners

Carmela Mendoza
Senior Reporter, PEI

Eleanor Miller
Principal, Investor Solutions Group, Actis

Danai Musandu
VP Investor Relations, HPE Growth

Priya Nair
Senior Director, abrdn

Sarah Odds
Head of Client Services, ATLAS Infrastructure

Patrick Raffard
Partner, Head of Business Development, Rivage Investment

Corinne Schreiber
Principal, Investor Relations, Pantheon

Ellinor Schrewelius
Director, Investor Relations, Verdane

Alexandra Simkin
Head of Client Services, Park Square Capital

Merary Soto-Saunders
Global Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, CVC Capital Partners

Philippe Taillardat
Head of Investor Relations, RIVE Private Investment

Claudia Urquiola
Head of Marketing & Communications, Nauta Capital
