• Sonia Sodha

  Political, economic and social commentator and columnist

  Sonia Sodha is chief leader writer and columnist at the Observer and a political, economic and social commentator on TV and radio. She has worked across politics and policies for think tanks, in the charity sector and as a senior adviser to Ed Miliband when he was the leader of the Labour party.
  
  Prior to her career in journalism, Sonia worked for two centre-left think tanks, IPPR and Demos, where she led programmes on education, families and social
  policy. After a stint working for the Labour party advising Ed Miliband, she then held a series of senior strategic roles for charities such as Which?, the Dartington Social Research Unit and Generation Change. As well as writing for the Observer she also covers stories for the Guardian and is a sought after media commentator, appearing regularly on news segments and BBC’s flagship politics shows and news segments.
  
  She is also passionate about social issues and has made Analysis documentaries for BBC Radio 4 on a diverse range of subjects from Brexit and immigration, to the future of work and the university system. Away from journalism and broadcasting, Sonia is a trustee of the Trust for London
  and the Indigo Trust, and is also a former primary school governor

• Welcome drinks reception
• Formal three course dinner
• After-dinner networking reception
• A choice of 16 expert sessions
• Opportunity to network with leading sector professionals
• A complimentary room and access to venue facilities

Monday 27 June

Tuesday 28 June

Workshops: 
 

W1: CCLA - Refreshing your investment policy

Trustees should review their investment policy on a regular basis, and with good reason. Whether or not your own organisation’s circumstances and requirements change much over time, the investment world in which you operate certainly does. It’s essential that your policy provides your investment manager with a clear understanding of your priorities, and that you are able to assess their performance against those priorities.
 
We will be covering three key elements of investment policy:
 
•    How should you describe your ESG requirements and any ethical screens?
•    Distribution policy – establishing a reliable, sustainable spending level 
•    Specifying your risk tolerance – is asset allocation a good indicator?
 
Oliver Jones-Davies, Director, Client Investments 
Daisy Mannifield, Client Relationship Manager
Celia Waring, Client Relationship Manager

W2: Ruffer - Environmental change and your portfolio - are you prepared?

With 2050 rapidly approaching and still a lot of work to be done, this presentation will explore how climate change is helping to fundamentally reshape the global political economy and the ramifications this will have for investors.  It will also look to identify future risks and opportunities that charity investors may face in the coming decades.

Ajay Johal, Investment Manager

W3: Rathbones - Basic rules for long-term investors

Creating a long-term investment management strategy is essential in helping a charity to build a portfolio that has the potential to meet its financial needs and increase the value of its assets over time, while guarding against inflation. 
In this session we will provide a set of rules for setting objectives, building an investment strategy, investment selection as well as ongoing portfolio management and reporting.

Libby Barrett, Investment Manager
Alex Dow, Investment Director 

W4: Cazenove Capital - Geopolitics and Inflation: how can charities prepare and protect capital over the long-term

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in late February caused a global shock. In addition to the tragic human implications, there were also impacts on markets and inflation. Concerns are elevated over the return of global inflation, amid supply shocks and soaring energy prices as the economy recovers from Covid-19 which have been amplified by the conflict in Ukraine. Inflation is a significant unknown risk for long-term charity portfolios, building resilience to protect against it is a vital to growing perpetual portfolios for future generations. In this session we will discuss our current views, including geopolitics and inflation, as well as how your charities can position investment portfolios and access long-term themes to protect against the erosive effects of inflation over the long-term

Tom Montagu-Pollock, Co-Head of Charities and Fund Manager

W5: Newton Investment Management - Your journey to Net Zero – choosing the right path

In March 2021, Newton joined the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative. In this session we will look at our obligations, as well as the implications for the management of charities’ assets. We will explore how to manage for better climate outcomes, examining developments in common data and comparative standards, and what needs to happen to reach the goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Lloyd McAllister, Head of ESG research
Antoine Najm, Stewardship analyst

W6: Smith & Williamson - What works when in equities: The impact of changes in growth and inflation

Prevailing global growth is strong, but the cyclical nature of economies suggests it will moderate from here.  At the same time there are historically high levels of inflation caused by post-Covid re-openings and unwelcome geopolitical developments, meaning investors may have cause for concern.  We examine nine scenarios for growth and inflation, and suggest how we should be positioned in the global equity market.

David Goebel, Investment Strategist
 

W7: CCLA – Deglobalisation

What is meant by deglobalisation, what does it mean for investors and long-term investment trends?  Are there any benefits to having a less globalised world?

James Ayre, Co-Head Investments
Joe Hawkes, Portfolio Manager
Charlotte Ryland, Co-Head Investments

W9: Rathbones - Demystifying responsible investment 

Responsible investment – thinking about ESG issues an investor and shareholder – is becoming more popular with every passing month, as people wake up to the opportunities it presents to reduce risks and identify opportunities. Through responsible investment, investors can also play their part in making the world a better place. But this is a field rife with confusing thinking and jargon. In this session Andrew and Gareth talk about why responsible investment matters, the different types, and how to work out which type might be right for your charity.

Gareth Pearl, Investment Director
Andrew Pitt, Head of Charities 

W10: Cazenove Capital - Transitioning portfolios to net zero: how charities can align their portfolios with net-zero decarbonisation pathways

The challenge ahead is immense. We will face risks and opportunities, the magnitude and timing of which cannot be predicted precisely. Re-aligning the global economy, which has been built on carbon intensive foundations for centuries, to a net zero alternative in less than a generation will demand human ingenuity on a scale as yet unseen. However, I am optimistic that by channelling capital into sustainable and durable businesses, we can play a fundamental role in revealing the creativity and unlocking the solutions we need to safeguard our future.” Peter Harrison, CEO Schroders – Climate Transition Action Plan 2021
 
In this session Kate and Emily will discuss how your charities can play a part in decarbonising the economy. 

Emily Petersen, Portfolio Director
Kate Rogers, Head of Sustainability

W11: abrdn - Assessing Alternatives – Inflation, Interest Rates and Impact

Surging inflation and rising interest rates are leading to questions being asked about traditional charity portfolio structures. Are alternative investments the answer? With inflation-linked income streams and high-quality assets, do alternatives provide a “middle-way” between bonds and equities, whilst also enabling the economic, social and renewable infrastructure society needs? Focussing on listed alternatives, this session will provide a broad overview of this diverse asset class, its place in portfolios and a deeper understanding of why these investments are increasingly attractive in today’s market environment.

Ben Turner, Senior Charity Portfolio Manager
Ben Ward, Senior Investment Manager

W12: Newton Investment Management - Spending now, preserving the future – considering a sustainable spending rate for long term endowments

What might a long-term endowed charity be able to spend while protecting its endowment against inflation? Investment returns have been broadly generous since we first addressed the topic in 2013, as monetary policy has helped raise the valuations of many financial assets, but less favourable winds may now be blowing. How should trustees think about distribution policies now? 

Alison El-Araby, Portfolio manager, multi-asset
Rorie Evans, Client Director

W13: CCLA:  What is Good Investment?

By the time the Charity Investment Forum rolls around again, CCLA will be coming to the end of its extensive triennial consultation of charity investors regarding their investment priorities.  The workshop will include an advance briefing of the early qualitative and quantitative findings of CCLA's 2022 survey, along with further insights into their work on climate change, modern day slavery, mental health and the common good.
 
Andrew Robinson, Director, Market Development
Elizabeth Carter, Director, Client Investments
James Corah, Head of Sustainability

W14: abrdn - Investment Policy Statements – back to basics but future focussed

Is your investment policy statement doing what it needs to? When did it last get a refresh? A session looking at how to update and refresh your investment policy statement in the context of new guidance and the regulatory regime. Your investment policy sets out what you are trying to achieve and how, and as a living document should be reviewed regularly. In this back-to-basics session we will examine the purpose of an investment policy statement, how to update it, what to include (and exclude), as well on how organisations might incorporate mission-specific issues. We will look at some practical examples of investment policy statements and cover the most common pitfalls when writing and reviewing them. But we will also look forward, assessing the direction guidance and regulation are likely to take. Can your investment policy statement be future-proofed?  We want this to be an interactive session, so sharpen your pencils, dust off your own policy, and bring it along. 

Miranda Richards and Laurence Gagen 

W15: Investec - Meeting your Mission – the non-financial aspects
This will be a fast-paced interactive workshop, focused on listening to your priorities. What non-financial investment goals do you want your investment manager to focus on?  You may value ESG integration; exclusions, engagement; impact, perhaps a specific goal, such as climate change, or even “all of the above”.  But what are the priorities, and how have they been impacted by global macro events such as the war in the Ukraine and subsequent sanctions. What more should your investment manager be doing to help?  You have the floor - you get to decide! 

Mark O’Connor, Business Development Director 
Nicola Toyer, Head of Charities

W16: Goldman Sachs - Black swan events and the impact on investment strategy and pace of the ESG evolution

We will look at the ESG implications of events such as geopolitics, inflation, Covid-19 and markets. Are they slowing down or speeding up the path of change? Will this change government policy on climate transition? Will also consider how they have changed asset allocation strategy.

Andrei Banu, Executive Director – Investment Strategy Group, London

W17: Baillie Gifford - Can adopting a growth mindset generate a truly sustainable income for the long term?

High yielding companies are generally the focus for charities looking to generate income from their investments, but is this the best approach to generating income that can be truly sustainable over the long-term? During this workshop, we will explore why adopting a growth mindset across different asset classes could help to balance today’s income requirements with sustainable income growth and protect against inflation. 

Lucie Majstrova, Income Investment Specialist
Rebecca Fenton, Client Manager

W18: Barclays Private Bank - Learnings from the COVID pandemic, current inflation spike and what that means for your investments.

The last two years has seen two external market shocks (Covid-19 & War in Ukraine) and with potentially greater levels of volatility in the world what has the charity sector learnt? How do you ensure the resilience of your overall investment strategy? Should time horizon be the main deciding factor on your investment strategy? Join us as we provide insight on what your peers have been through, overcome and how they are now focused.

Ian Chesham, Director 
Nandu Patel, Head of Charities and Asset Consultants

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