Chairperson:
Richard Melville, Editorial Director U.S., PEI Group

Faced with inflation and higher interest rates, the post-pandemic surge in deal volumes and fundraising is under pressure. Despite a substantial inventory of dry powder, investors are additionally struggling with overallocation challenges, dislocation in asset prices, lower availability, and rising cost of debt. PEI Group’s Research Director will dissect the present landscape, drawing on the findings of PEI Group’s annual LP survey: Private Equity International LP Perspectives 2024 report, followed by a panel of investors who will add their insight to the findings.

Dan Gunner, Research Director, PEI Group

Followed by an investor panel:

Moderator:
Jennifer Choi, Chief Executive Officer, ILPA

Panelists:

Lamar Taylor, Interim Executive Director & Chief Investment Board, Florida State Board of Administration 

Bei Saville, Chief Investment Officer, Advance Treasury and Fingerboard Family Office 

Geeta Kapadia, Chief Investment Officer, Fordham University 

Robert Burd, Deputy Chief Investment Officer, Maryland State Retirement and Pension System 

Interviewee:
David Rubenstein, Co-Founder & Co-Chairman, The Carlyle Group

Interviewer:
Toby Mitchenall, Senior Editor, ESG & Sustainability​, New Private Markets

Moderator:
Richard Melville, Editorial Director U.S., PEI Group  

Panelists:
Elizabeth Burton, Managing Director and Senior Client Investment Strategist, Client Solutions Group, Goldman Sachs Asset Management
Eric Liu, Partner, Head of North American Private Equity, and Co-Head of Global Healthcare, EQT

Thoma Bravo is the world’s largest tech buyout firm – with more than $134 billion in AUM. Last year, the firm generated more than $13.5 billion in total realizations. Exits included the sale of Adenza to Nasdaq, Syntellis to Roper and Imperva to Thales. The firm’s recent flagship acquisitions include Coupa, Ping/ForgeRock and Anaplan. In this Fireside Chat, firm co-founder Orlando Bravo and PE Hub editor-in-chief Mary Kathleen (MK) Flynn will discuss the current climate for tech deals and the role private equity plays in building tech companies. We’ll also find out Thoma Bravo’s take on cybersecurity, GenAI and other promising technologies.

Interviewee:
Orlando Bravo, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Thoma Bravo

Interviewer:
Mary Kathleen (MK) Flynn, Editor-in-Chief, PE Hub & PE Hub Europe  

How do we get to $1 trillion in annual secondaries market deal volume? Senior editor Adam Le sits down with secondaries market veteran Yann Robard to discuss what needs to happen for higher turnover of secondhand private markets exposure and assets, as well as the great valuation conundrum.

Interviewee:
Yann Robard, Managing Partner,   Whitehorse Liquidity Partners

Interviewer:
Adam Le, Senior Editor, EMEA, PEI and Secondaries Investor

As we develop a better understanding of how extensive the downturn will be for 2024, we will measure where PE compares within the diversification strategy and explore opportunities to generate strong portfolio returns, making a strong case for private equity or diverging away from the asset class. Learn best practices for developing resiliency, mitigating exposure to loss, and testing investment concepts that bridge asset returns and investment values.

Moderator:
Bill Kelly, Chief Executive Officer, CAIA Association

Panelists:
Lori Hall-Kimm, Senior Managing Director, Head of Global Private Equity, Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)
Dana Johns, Head of Private Equity, The New Jersey Department of the Treasury’s Division of Investment
Harj Shoan, Senior Managing Director, Private Capital, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP)

In a world that values speed to market and digital prowess, the emergence of generative AI systems, like ChatGPT, will create a paradigm shift that not only enhances our roles but may intelligently spearhead our investment decisions. Considering the pervasiveness of this disruption, we will explore how best to assess AI’s increasingly expansive significance, where it interfaces, how to take advantage of the rapidly changing landscape, and the ramifications of adopting AI into investment decision-making processes.

Moderator: Tim Tracy, Private Equity Leader, Americas, Ernst & Young 

Panelists: 
Prasanna Ramaswamy, Managing Director, Head of Technology & Data, CPP Investments 
Ercan Ucak, Vice President, Cerberus Capital Management
Adebisi Oje, Sales Director Data, Advanced Analytics & Artificial Intelligence US Financial Services, Microsoft
David Enriquez, Partner, Clipway

Chaired by:
Graham Bippart, Editor, Private Funds CFO & Private Equity International

From recruitment to development, learn how these titans build the most successful talent pathways to drive strong company performance and create value. Deep dive into identifying and implementing operational interventions that help create opportunities for talent advancement and inclusive business environments.

Moderator:
Toby Mitchenall, Senior Editor, ESG & Sustainability​, New Private Markets

Leaders:
Tarrus Richardson, Founder and CEO, IMB Partners
Marcus Felder, Principal, Portfolio Operations, Blackstone

Hear from the nation’s leading Heads of Alternatives as we dive into how allocations in private assets investing are being considered – we will additionally review relative value assessments, liquidity planning and portfolio monitoring.

Moderator:
Raelan Lambert, Senior Partner and Global Alternatives Leader, Mercer

Panelists:
Peter Keehn, Senior Managing Director, Private and Alternative Assets, Allstate Investments
Robert Mellema, Managing Director, CPP Investments 
Venus Phillips, Managing Director, The Kresge Foundation

What LPs need amid challenging market conditions to secure more transparency, unique fund structures and favorable terms. We address the timing and dynamics at play between LPs, SPs, GPs amidst market shifts.  

Moderator:
Gregg Gethard, Reporter, Buyouts

Panelists:
Samantha Davidson, President & Head of Global Investing, Cambridge Associates
Eric Lang, Senior Managing Director, Private Market, Teachers Retirement System of Texas
Ya Tung, Chief Investment Officer, The Jeffries Family Office 

Determine the availability for co-investments as GPs raise bigger funds.

Moderator:
Carmela Mendoza, Senior Reporter, Private Equity International 

Panelists:
Todd Abbrecht,Co-Chief Executive Officer, Thomas H. Lee Partners
Chris Eckerman, Senior Portfolio Manager, Head of Co-Investments, State of Wisconsin Investment Board
Anne Philpott, Managing Director, Junior Capital & Private Equity Solutions, Churchill Asset Management
Allen Waldrop, Director of Private Equity, Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation

Chaired by:
Adam Le, Senior Editor, EMEA, PEI and Secondaries Investor

“The man behind the continuation fund boom” was how one headline described Evercore’s global head of private capital advisory, Nigel Dawn, in 2020. Learn from Dawn the biggest issues in the secondaries market and what’s in store for the future of GP-led and continuation fund transactions. 

Interviewee:
Nigel Dawn, Senior Managing Director, Head of Capital Advisory Group, Evercore

Interviewer:
Adam Le, Senior Editor, EMEA, Private Equity International & Secondaries Investor 

Sponsor-initiated secondaries transactions have grown from a niche area of the market to roughly half of all secondaries trading activity. In 2024, the strategy faces headwinds from regulatory pressures, as well as tailwinds from wider liquidity and distribution issues in the private equity market. What’s the outlook for these deals and where will future growth come from? Optionality for investors or an unnecessary conflict of interest?  

Moderator:
Adam Le, Senior Editor, EMEA, Private Equity International & Secondaries Investor 

Panelists:
Tom Kapsimalis, Managing Director, Secondaries, CPP Investments
Steve Poliner, Senior Investment Counsel, Teacher Retirement System of Texas
Paul Sanabria, Senior Managing Director & Global Co-Head of Secondaries, Manulife
Sebastiaan van den Berg, Partner, Co-Head GP Equity Solutions, Astorg 

How should LPs approach the secondaries market? Tips from NYCRS’ former head of PE-come-AI-enhanced secondaries buyer.

David Enriquez, Partner, Clipway

Interviewer:
Madeleine Farman, Senior Reporter, Private Equity International and Secondaries Investor  

What does the growth of continuation vehicles mean for investors, and how will they back them in the long term? What steps can LPs take to help decide whether to roll or sell when faced with continuation funds?

Moderator: 
Mark Boyagi, Partner, Investment Funds Group, Kirkland & Ellis LLP 

Panelists:
Tori Buffery, Partner, Morningside Capital
Tjarko Hektor, Partner, New 2ND Capital
David Herbers, Managing Director, Secondaries Group, Ares Management
Ben Perl, Managing Director and Global Co-Head of Secondary Private Equity, Neuberger Berman

Emerging managers & sector specialists 

 Chaired by: Chris Witkowsky, Editor, Buyouts 

As deal flow begins to pick back up, how do we make the co-investment pace work?  Assess how best to review overallocations, find the solid GP led deals, remain selective and push the right assets as we aim to incorporate a thorough diversification process. We also consider, how GPs are parsing CVs with co-investment opportunities in the midst of this continuation fund rise. 

 Kyongdo Min, Senior Portfolio Manager, Maryland State Retirement and Pension System  

 David Fann, Vice Chairman, Senior Managing Director, Apogem Capital 

As market conditions make capital deployment more difficult, investors are keeping selective in their search for emerging managers who can diversify their strategy, deal size, and industry specialization. How do our emerging managers recreate the investment playbook for collaborating uniquely and delivering on LP expectations. 

Moderator: Steve Russo, Executive Director, Indiana Public Retirement System 

Panelists: 

Sherrese Clarke Soares, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, HarbourView Equity Partners 

Stephanie Geveda, Founder and Managing Partner, Coalesce Partners 

Elizabeth Weymouth, Founder and Managing Partner, Grafine Partners

Panel: The entrepreneurial mindset – Building for strong performance and true partnership potential

The real value creation for LPs- our leaders establish what it takes to: formulate the right team, partner for unique terms and execute on emerging opportunities for sustainable outperformance. 

Moderator: 

Robert Blaustein, Partner, Investment Funds Practice Group, Kirkland & Ellis LLP 

Panelists: 

Tyler Zachem, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Broad Sky Partners  

 Kendra Corbett, Partner, Cloverlay 

Alok Singh, Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Bridge Growth Partners 

Andy Unanue, Founder and Managing Partner, AUA Private Equity Partners 

Learn successful, yet unconventional strategies to forming a diverse manager program that can identify and access firms with the most attractive investment returns of their generation. Further, understand what it takes to create a lucrative open-door policy for partnerships that have exceptional potential.

Moderator: 
Carl Williams, Partner and Co-Founder, Sandbrook Capital 

Panelists:
Anna Dayn, Managing Partner and US Head, New End
Neal Graziano, Managing Director, Private Assets, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Michelle Jacobi, Managing Director, Gatewood Capital Partners LLC 

Chaired by:
Mary Kathleen (MK) Flynn, Editor-in-Chief, PE Hub & PE Hub Europe

Learn about the current landscape for biopharma investing including current challenges and opportunities and hear how the complementary skill sets between a GP and LP have led to an accretive decades long partnership in a the highly specialized investment sector that is biotech.

Patrick Jordan, Managing Partner and Chief Operating Officer, NovaQuest Capital Management

Dean Giovanniello, Senior Principal, Financial Institutions Consulting Services, IQVIA

PE firms have turned inward to focus on getting the most out of portfolio companies. Explore the optimal strategies for

• Determining LP needs
• Driving powerful operations and growing the portfolio organically (Add-ons considered)
• Maximizing capital efficiencies via technology value creation

Moderator: 
Matthew Coyne, Managing Director, Portfolio Advisory, Aksia

Panelists: 
Zorian Rotenberg, Operating Partner – GTM & Revenue Growth, Charlesbank Capital Partners   
Drew Scielzo, Operating Partner, Acon Investments 
Daniel Perry, Director, Sales and Commercial Excellence, Parthenon Capital 

Top producing firms will contextualize their sourcing process and how it has evolved since Covid and their battle plan for securing new deals in this competitive landscape, including the use of generative AI.

Moderator:
Mary Kathleen (MK) Flynn, Editor-in-Chief, PE Hub & PE Hub Europe 

Panelists:
Anna Barath, Chief Investment Officer, Bite Investments
Kim Hourihan, Chief Investment Officer, CBRE Investment Management
Agha Khan, Managing Director and Co-head of Private Equity, Stone Point Capital

Deep dive into where to find the most compelling returns and flexibility in exit plans, sale drivers, and sectors ripe for dealmaking.

Moderator:
Mary Kathleen (MK) Flynn, Editor-in-Chief, PE Hub & PE Hub Europe 

Panelists:
Kate Faust, Partner, Rockwood Equity Partners 
Pamela Hendrickson, Vice Chairman, The Riverside Company
Andi Klein, Managing Partner, Head of Triton Smaller Mid-Cap, Triton Partners 
Suzanne Yoon, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Kinzie Capital Partners 

Guest of Honor and Keynote:
Jonathan Gray, President and Chief Operating Officer, Blackstone

Interviewer:
Richard Melville, Editorial Director U.S., PEI Group 

As democratization of private markets expands investor types drastically, rethink how traditional forms of alignment and the rules for of engagement may change for certain product types. This is a discussion that addresses the broader opportunities for alternatives, RIA’s, Family Offices, including packaging and distribution options.  

Moderator:
Carmela Mendoza, Senior Reporter, Private Equity International

David Fann, Vice Chairman, Senior Managing Director, Apogem Capital   

Anna Barath, Chief Investment Officer, Bite Investments 

Chairperson:
Bill O’Conor, Managing Director- Americas, PEI Group

With:
Eneasz Kądziela, Deputy Chief Investment Officer and Head of Private Equity, Office of the New York City Comptroller’s Bureau of Asset Management
Chip Kaye, Chief Executive Officer, Warburg Pincus

Chaired by:
Craig McGlashan, Editor, PE Hub Europe

Can institutions still expand far beyond their borders, or is the era of globalization over – and what does that mean for investment strategies?

Moderator:
Carmela Mendoza, Senior Reporter, Private Equity International 

Panelists:
Tadasu Matsuo, Managing Director, Head of Global Alternative Investments, Japan Science & Technology Agency
Claire Ngo, Advisory Director, Temasek
Sophia Tsai, Managing Director, Trinity Church Wall Street

The famed Christopher Ailman, a celebrated leader who has empowered, innovated and served laudably as an industry titan, will provide a more nuanced look at where the energy sector is heading, as well as provide insights into the greatest emerging market opportunities internationally as interest in China wanes.

Interviewee:
Christopher Ailman, Chief Investment Officer, California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS)

Interviewer:
Carmela Mendoza, Senior Reporter, Private Equity International 

Interviewee:
David Mussafer, Chairman and Managing Partner, Advent International

Interviewer:
Madeleine Farman, Senior Reporter, Private Equity International and Secondaries Investor 

Gain real-time insights into what the economic recovery might look like and where the opportunities exist to sustainably diversify your portfolio/pursue exits and liquidity events.

Interviewee:
Isabelle Scemama, Global Head, AXA IM Alts

Interviewer:
Richard Melville, Editorial Director U.S., PEI Group 

Chaired by:
Toby Mitchenall, Senior Editor, ESG & Sustainability​, New Private Markets

Asset owners are under pressure to position their portfolios for the energy transition and capture upside from arguably the largest economic shift since the industrial revolution. But while the scale of the investment opportunity is vast, the level of uncertainty, as well as technological, political and regulatory risk, is daunting. We speak with founders of established leading private markets firms, whose strategies are driving change in global energy markets, to find out where they believe most attractive risk-adjusted returns can be earned. 

Moderator:
Toby Mitchenall, Senior Editor, ESG & Sustainability​, New Private Markets 

Panelists:
Joost Bergsma, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Glennmont Partners from Nuveen
Pierre-Ettienne Franc, Chief Executive Officer, Hy24
Doug Kimmelman, Founder and Senior Partner, ECP
Hans Kobler, Founder and Managing Partner, Energy Impact Partners

Increased fund performance via shared prosperity? These powerful changemakers provide their perspectives on how to successfully implement ESOPS. 

Leaders:
Daniel Goldstein, Chief Executive Officer, Go ESOP LLC  
Regina Carls, Managing Director, ESOP Advisory Group Head, J.P. Morgan
Mark Buchanan, Managing Director, Head of ESOP, Investment Banking Group 

Is the ESG backlash significantly changing how we invest, or is it just political histrionics? What is driving sustainable capitalism? We speak to ESG leaders about how their organisations view anti-ESG rhetoric and whether they are adapting the way they execute their ESG programmes or how they communicate them. Further, what should GPs say – and more importantly what should they not say – to make sure they are on the same page as the LP across the table.

Moderator:
Toby Mitchenall, Senior Editor, ESG & Sustainability​, New Private Markets 

Panelists:
Ken Pontarelli, Global Head of Sustainable Investing, Goldman Sachs Asset Management
Anna Totdahl, Investment Officer, ESG & Sustainability, Oregon State Treasury 

Impact investing has come a long way in a short space of time, with substantial private markets funds being deployed and starting to generate returns for LPs. What do limited partners look for in a leading edge impact fund, where do they fit into a portfolio and what is best practice when it comes to managing impact alongside financial returns? 

Moderator:
Toby Mitchenall, Senior Editor, ESG & Sustainability​, New Private Markets 

Panelists:
Reuben Munger, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer, Vision Ridge
Andrew Siwo, Head of Sustainable Investments and Climate Solutions, New York State Common Retirement Fund
Jan Stahlberg, Founder & Managing Partner, Trill Impact

Chaired by:
Lawrence Aragon, West Coast Bureau Chief & Editor, Venture Capital Journal, PEI Group

Take a more integrative approach to expanding your VC program and executing on the new standards that support innovation. Understand what it takes to reevaluate the portfolio in this environment.

Moderator:
Lawrence Aragon, West Coast Bureau Chief & Editor, Venture Capital Journal 

Panelists:
Mary D’Onofrio, Partner, Bessemer Venture Partners
Max Miller, Managing Director, Growth Equity, CPPIB
Rudina Seseri, Founder and Managing Partner, Glasswing Ventures

With new debt and capital becoming scarce amidst a declining valuation environment, discover if now is the time for growth equity to shine and compare performance across strategies.

Panelists:
Amol Helekar, General Partner, TCV
Allen Waldrop, Director of Private Equity, Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation

As a seasoned VC, advisor, attorney and accomplished leader, Lorine Pendleton deep dives into MoCaFi’s infrastructure is a turnkey fintech platform for government and philanthropic organizations to provide individuals and families with cash assistance, mobile banking, and financial programming that create pathways to wealth led by the brilliant executive Wole Coaxum. Learn the green flags for fast growth potential and strong impact investing, as Lorine explains the “why’s and how’s” behind her Portfolia Rising America Fund’s success, as they invest in this great company.  

Lorine Pendleton, Founder & Managing Partner, 125 Ventures
Wole Coaxum, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, MoCaFi

Coming off of a year of highs and lows for climate ventures, we assess the growth ecosystem and the market/geopolitical  conditions that will enable or inhibit the most anticipated climate tech. 

Moderator:
Lawrence Aragon, West Coast Bureau Chief & Editor,  Venture Capital Journal 

Panelists:
Zach Barasz, Partner, G2 Venture Partners
Lydia Guett, Head of Growth, Systemiq Capital
Dr. Lucas Joppa, Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Managing Director, Haveli Investments
Veronica Li, Head of North America, Primavera Capital Group 

Chaired by:
Robin Blumenthal, Americas Editor, Private Debt Investor 

Private debt appears better positioned and compared with other asset classes, with robust fundraising and strong returns, despite a challenging climate. Further explore the private debt landscape that is shaping our investment decisions.  

Moderator:
Robin Blumenthal, Senior Editor, Private Debt Investor 

Panelists:
Michael Bologna, Chief Investment Officer, NovaQuest Capital Management

Grady Frank, Partner and Head of Private Credit Origination, GoldenTree Asset Management 
Chris Semple, Partner, US Credit, Crestline 

Panel: End of Easy Money -Executing the Vision via Flexible Capital Solutions  

With difficulty in accessing traditional forms of capital, assess how LPs and GPs need to evolve in today’s economy and which flexible capital solutions are emerging as strong alternative for companies with customized needs. 

Moderator: Robin Blumenthal, Senior Editor, Private Debt Investor 

Panelists: 

David Miller, Global Head of Private Credit & Equity, Morgan Stanley 

John Stott, Partner, Arctos Partners 

Bryan High, Head of Capital Solutions, Barings  

Fireside Chat with Daniel Pietrzak, Partner, Global Head of Private Credit, KKR 

Interviewer: Robin Blumenthal, Americas Editor, Private Debt Investor 

With capital becoming scarcer and costs of debt increasing, assess how GPs are adapting through NAV loans to deliver liquidity back to LPs or reinvest back into a portfolio.

Moderator:
Graham Bippart, Senior Editor, Capital Markets and Compliance, Private Equity International  

Panelists:
Felix Zhang, Partner, Alternative Credit, Ares Management
Milwood Hobbs, Jr., Managing Director and Head of Sourcing & Origination, Oaktree Capital