Premier Luncheon: Pension Investment in Emerging Global Dynamics

Join us for this Premier Luncheon where we have the privilege to invite Zak May, Executive Director for Strategy & Policy at IFM Investors to share his insight on the topic of Pension Investment in Emerging Global Dynamics.

While the global pandemic continues to reverberate, a host of other dynamics are influencing investment decision making -- global instability and political risk, rising interest rates, rising inflation and of course, the global push to net zero.  Even with this turbulence, Australia is currently a safe harbour on those issues with its government stability, a respected central bank, and a renewed focus on climate change.

Australia has a sophisticated financial services sector and is ideally positioned as a hub for the Asia-Pacific region. This is demonstrated by deep and liquid financial markets and regional leadership in investment management as well as in areas including infrastructure financing and structured products. The strength of the financial services sector is underpinned by a mandated retirement savings scheme, a highly skilled and multilingual workforce, and advanced business infrastructure.

Topics

• Themes in pension investment in global turbulence: Infrastructure, Private Investments, Sustainability
• The Australian pension industry: understanding the 3rd largest pool of private pension assets in the OECD
• Australian regulation: behind the curtain on what keeps Australian investment secure

Date & Venue

Time: 12:00-14:00

Date: Thursday, 23 February 2023

Venue: Metro Suite, Shangri-La Far Eastern Taipei (Address: B1, No. 201, Section 2, Dunhua South Road, Da’an District, Taipei City

Agenda

12:00 - 12:30  Registration and Networking

12:30 - 12:35  Welcome Remarks

12:35 - 13:00  Lunch & Networking

13:00 - 13:30  Pension Investment in Emerging Global Dynamics

13:30 - 14:00  Lunch & Networking

14:00              Conclusion of Event

About the speaker

Zak May is an Executive Director at IFM Investors, and is part of IFM’s global management team. Zak is responsible for developing and leading IFM’s public policy program and supporting the firm’s strategy to represent a distinct form of capital that delivers superior sustainable long-term investor returns in a manner that respects the environment, labour rights and the communities in which IFM’s assets operate. He is also the co-lead of the IFM firm-wide climate change strategy.

Zak joined IFM with significant experience in both the public and private sector. Prior to joining IFM, Zak was Director of Policy for Industry Super Australia, where Zak led the development and advocacy of the industry superannuation sector’s policy positions, the organisation’s research function, and strategic projects on matters of common interest among the industry superannuation funds. Before relocating to Australia, Zak served on the executive staff of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, after working as an attorney at Shearman & Sterling in San Francisco and at Weil, Gotshal & Manges in New York. Zak is a frequent participant in industry, government, and civil society expert panels.

Zak holds a doctor of law from New York University, and is admitted to practice law in several jurisdictions.

About IFM Investors

IFM Investors was established more than 25 years ago with the aim to protect and grow the long-term retirement savings of working people. Owned by 17 Australian pension funds, the organisation has over US$140 billion under management as of 31 December 2022 invested around the world on behalf of 640 like-minded institutional investors. Because IFM is owned by industry pension funds, it prioritises the interests of investors by focusing on assets that combine excellent long-term risk/reward characteristics with broad economic and social benefits to the community.

As a signatory to The United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment, IFM actively engages on ESG issues with the companies in which it invests with the aim of enhancing their net performance while minimising investment risk. Operating globally from offices in Melbourne, Sydney, London, Berlin, Zurich, Amsterdam, New York, Hong Kong, Seoul and Tokyo, IFM manages investments across infrastructure, private debt, listed equities and private equity assets.

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Members $1,400

Non-members $1,600

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*This event is a Premier Luncheon organised by the Australian New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Taipei (ANZCham) in collaboration with the Australian Office.