Opening keynote – Oil, Allies, and Aftershocks: The UK Economy in the wake of Trump’s war

Ben Chu, policy and analysis correspondent at BBC Verify, and former economics editor of Newsnight

W1: “Cents & Sensibility” - the 2026 macro story for charity portfolios
A practical look at the forces shaping the UK and global economy in 2026 - inflation, interest rates, growth and market sentiment - and what they really mean for long‑term charity investors.  Helping trustees link macro trends to portfolio positioning, spending plans and risk stewardship.

Ajay Johal, client director and Sid Mehta, investment strategist, CCLA

W2: Charity investment policy best practice  
Over the past decade, the investment landscape for charities has changed significantly. There has been an expansion in the range and sophistication of investments, rapid progress in sustainable and values-aligned investing, and stronger governance expectations. Alongside these shifts, the Charity Commission for England and Wales updated its CC14 guidance in summer 2023, followed by the Charity Investment Governance Principles in early 2025. In response, we launched our peer-reviewed, best-practice Investment Policy Framework to support well-governed, mission-aligned decision-making. This session complements our written publication, with hard copies available on the day. Together, these materials offer a structured approach that trustees can adapt to their charity’s needs.

Tom Holbrook, portfolio director and Tom Montagu-Pollock, co-head of charities, Cazenove Capital

W3: Aligning investment with values: how charities can navigate rising human rights risks

Global democracy has been in steady decline for more than a decade, while conflict globally has been increasing.  Investors are more exposed than ever to human rights risks embedded in their portfolios. At the same time, expectations of investors are shifting. Regulators, beneficiaries, and the public increasingly demand accountability for how capital is allocated and the impacts it enables. Human rights risks are no longer peripheral ethical concerns - they are material, salient, and financially relevant. This session offers a practical guide to integrating human rights due diligence (HRDD) into the investment process.

Matt Crossman, stewardship director and Agnes McAfee, senior ESI researcher, Rathbones

W4: Balancing mission, ethics and returns

If you are a charity trustee feeling the pressure to generate sustainable returns while remaining true to your organisation’s purpose and values, this session is for you.  It will explore how charities can take a structured, well-governed approach to investment decision-making - balancing financial resilience with mission-based ethical considerations. This includes approaching controversial sectors thoughtfully and defensibly, rather than prescribing “right” or “wrong” answers. The discussion will focus on governance, proportionality and decision-making processes, helping trustees evidence that decisions are informed, considered and aligned with their duties.

Charles Mesquita and Nicola Toyer, charities directors, Quilter Cheviot

W5: Global markets in 2026 seem more complicated than ever

In a market driven by AI headlines and geopolitical conflict, what should investors really be worried about? Answer: productivity gains. Come listen to Barclays’ Chief Market Strategist, Julien Lafargue, who will explain in simple terms why the question of productivity is so crucial in order to better understand how to position charity investment portfolios over the coming years.

Julien Lafargue, chief market strategist, Barclays Private Bank

W6: Risk, resilience, and opportunity: Investing in an era of disruption

The world is changing at an unprecedented speed. AI, new technology, and global uncertainty are creating both challenges and opportunities for investors. For charities, this can make it harder to balance short-term pressures with long-term goals. In this session, Bhavin will look at how charities can respond to a more uncertain investment environment. He will share practical ideas for managing risk, staying focused during periods of market volatility, and building balanced, robust investment portfolios for long-term outcomes.

Bhavin Shah, portfolio manager, mixed assets and charities team, BNY Investments Newton

W7: “A Room with a Yield” - Why property pays for charities

Why property remains a compelling source of sustainable income in 2026. We’ll discuss rental resilience, valuation dynamics, sector trends and how thoughtfully managed property allocations can support predictable cashflows and long‑term funding needs for charities.

Matthew Meaden, deputy head of property and Richard Sankey, client director, CCLA

W8: Navigating a more uncertain world

The global investment environment has entered a more complex phase. Heightened geopolitical tensions, including the recent Middle East conflict, and renewed supply chain pressures have reintroduced inflation risks just as markets were anticipating easier financial conditions. We will explore what geopolitical risk means for inflation, interest rates, and asset markets; how recent volatility should be interpreted by long-term investors; and where risks and opportunities are emerging. We will also examine strategic implications for charity portfolios, including diversification, liquidity, and maintaining discipline during uncertainty. Drawing on experience with charities, foundations, and endowments, we will discuss how trustees and executives can stay focused on long-term objectives while remaining flexible in changing conditions.

Tom Montagu-Pollock, co-head of charities, and Hugo Ure, portfolio director, Cazenove Capital

W9: Markets in a Fractured World

Geopolitics is now a core driver of market behaviour, influencing inflation, energy security, supply chains and volatility. This session provides trustees with a practical framework for understanding geopolitical risk, stress testing portfolios, and avoiding reactive, headline led decisions while still responding appropriately as global risks evolve.

Ian Burrows and Alex Dow, senior investment directors, Rathbones

W10: Understanding private equity: what the asset class means for charities

It’s hard to ignore private equity – now a significant part of the global investment landscape. Global private equity outperformed public equity by approximately 4.5% a year between December 2006 and December 2024 (source: MSCI), yet many charities remain cautious about how it fits within a diversified strategy. On the one hand, trustees are drawn to the potential returns, on the other, they are concerned about liquidity, risk, cost and ethical alignment. This session offers a clear, balanced and practical introduction to private equity. We will provide a whistle-stop tour of the asset class, exploring its growth and why charities might consider an allocation as part of their overall investment strategy. The discussion will cover key issues such as liquidity, risk, governance and time horizons, and how these relate to charitable objectives and spending needs.

Howard Jenner, executive Director and fund manager of the Quilter Cheviot Global Income & Growth Fund for Charities and Caroline Simmons, chief investment officer, Quilter Cheviot

W11: Collective decision-making for charity investments: behavioural insights and guidance for more productive discussions and outcomes

Charity trustees, leadership and finance executives bear responsibility for investments without full economic ownership. Every effort is made to make decisions for the benefit of the charity, but these decisions are largely driven by individual emotions, social context, and accountability structures. Outcomes are also judged not just on returns, but on process, prudence, and values alignment. How, therefore, should charity’s address these challenges without succumbing to behavioural biases that could undermine their investment and sustainability objectives?

Alex Joshi, head of behavioural finance, Barclays Private Bank

W12: Risky Business (But not that kind!)” - A trustee’s guide to risk in 2026
A clear, modern framework for understanding investment risk through a trustee lens. This session covers market volatility, inflation risk, liquidity, governance responsibilities and how to balance fiduciary duties with mission and values - helping trustees make confident, well‑informed decisions in a fast‑changing world.

Rorie Evans, client director, CCLA

W13: Growing income in a volatile world

In a world where volatility is the norm, delivering reliable income without compromising long-term growth is an increasing challenge - especially for charities balancing today’s needs with tomorrow’s. This workshop explores how thoughtfully constructed portfolios can navigate uncertainty while generating sustainable income. Nicoleta will highlight where global income opportunities are emerging, how flexible portfolio design can build resilience, and the trade-offs trustees should consider when seeking both stability and growth. Designed for charity trustees, this session aims to spark fresh thinking on whether portfolios are truly aligned with a rapidly changing world.

Nicoleta Dumitru, investment manager, Baillie Gifford

W14: From volatility to stability: the case for property as a portfolio diversifier

In an era defined by geo-political uncertainty and shifting macroeconomic cycles, UK real estate offers investors a compelling route back to stability. As a tangible, actively managed asset class, property provides resilient, contractually backed income and the potential for sustainable rental growth. Its low correlation with equities, gilts and cash enhances diversification, helping portfolios weather uncertainty while accessing a predictable income stream. With sustainability now central to tenant demand and long‑term value, high‑quality, climate-resilient property stands out as a compelling diversifier. This session explores why UK real estate continues to deliver balance, resilience and impact for charity and endowment multi‑asset portfolios.

Simon Martindale, fund director, PITCH, Tim Munn, co‑CEO & CIO, Swiss Life Asset Managers UK and Laura Sweet, fund manager, PITCH

W15: Artificial Intelligence, Real Accountability

Artificial intelligence is advancing quickly, but so too are the ethical questions surrounding it. For investors, the challenge is no longer simply whether AI will create value, but at what human, social and environmental cost. This session will consider the key areas of concern for responsible investors, including bias, surveillance, labour disruption, misinformation, energy demand and the growing concentration of technological power. It will ask what real accountability looks like when innovation moves faster than governance.

Rev Dr Andrew Harper, deputy chief executive, Epworth

W16: Infinity & Returns: A Toy Story of Equity Investing

A playful but practical look at equity investing - exploring themes, factors, and growth opportunities, while helping charities understand how to position portfolios for the long term.

Speaker TBC, L&G

Closing keynote – Who Decides? Rewriting the rules of investment

This thought-provoking session reflects on recent work by Friends Provident Foundation to challenge how investment decisions are made, and who gets to make them. Even though investment impacts young people and future generations the most, they are often the most excluded from decision-making; this work seeks to change that. Focusing on the power of collaboration and participation, the session will explore what happened, what was learned, and what charity investors might do differently to create more inclusive, future-focused approaches to investing.

Speaker TBC