01 December 2025

• 3.00PM - 5.00PM
  Arrive and check in
• 5.15PM - 6.20PM
  Networking drinks reception
• 6.20PM - 6.25PM
  Welcome address: Matthew Nolan, chief executive, Civil Society Media
• 6.25PM - 7.00PM
  Opening keynote – Bridging finance and civil society in a changing world

  With a rare career spanning high finance and grassroots development, Sony Kapoor brings deep insight into how markets and civil society can work together to tackle global challenges. From introducing financial rigour into the NGO sector to advising the world’s most powerful institutions, he has seen both the promise and the pitfalls of economic policymaking up close. His talk will explore how investment expertise and civic action can be bridged to build more resilient economies, drawing lessons from both developing and advanced nations.

  Sony Kapoor, economist

• 7.00PM - 9.00PM
  Dinner
• 9.00PM - 12.00AM
  Informal networking

02 December 2025

• 7.00AM - 8.30AM
  Breakfast
• 8.30AM - 9.10AM
  W1: CCLA

  Strategy, stewardship and impact: how our attitudes to risk, duty and emotion get in the way of good investment

  Join us for an engaging and practical workshop looking at how our attitudes to risk, duty and emotion can get in the way of keeping our investment strategy on course. We will examine how cognitive biases and emotional predispositions shape risk perception and investment behaviour – drawing on real-world missteps and lessons learned.

  Through pacademic papers on psychology, a century of investment data, live polls, and open discussion, we’ll discuss how to navigate reputational risk, values-based stewardship, and the tension between inflation, liquidity, and mission delivery. Attendees will gain actionable insights on aligning investment strategy with time horizons, communicating complex decisions to boards and stakeholders, and embedding robust, mission-aligned stewardship for future generations.

  Hamish Dudgeon, client relationship manager
• 8.30AM - 9.10AM
  W2: Barclays Private Bank

  Demystifying structured notes: considerations for charity investors

  
  Following a period of market volatility, structured notes have been gaining attention as a tool for investors seeking to manage risk and diversify returns. Join us for an engaging and practical session designed to break down the misconceptions surrounding structured notes and explore their potential role in charity investment portfolios.

  This session is designed to support informed decision-making around incorporating structured notes into a charity’s long-term investment strategy. It will provide: a clear understanding of what structured notes are and how they work; real-world examples and case studies from the charity sector; and insights into how structured notes can complement asset allocation strategies.

  Ryan Lopez, senior investment adviser
• 8.30AM - 9.10AM
  W3: Cazenove Capital

  Trump, tariffs & turmoil: navigating geopolitical risks
   

  The geopolitical landscape is entering a period of heightened uncertainty. Shifting trade relationships, renewed tariff policies, and the wider impact of unpredictable political leadership and economic realignment are shaping the outlook for charity investors. How should trustees and investment committees respond to these seismic changes? What are the implications for asset allocation, return expectations, and portfolio volatility? This session will examine the impact of current geopolitical trends on economic prospects and market dynamics. The discussion will cover our latest macroeconomic views, likely scenarios, and the risks and opportunities these developments may pose for your charity’s investment portfolio.

  Tom Montagu-Pollock, co-head of charities

  Hugo Ure, portfolio director
• 8.30AM - 9.10AM
  W4: M&G

  Asset allocation and investor psychology

  This session will explore how we view markets through the lens of behavioural finance, including a belief in the role of active asset allocation. We will discuss the market dynamics of the post-Covid period, through the lens of human emotion, the role played by passive and machine-driven products, and how we assess the issues of the day: why were markets so stable despite all the uncertainty?; what is the role for fixed income in a portfolio today?; and are stocks in a bubble?

  Stuart Canning, fund manager & head of research
• 8.30AM - 9.10AM
  W5: Rathbones

  Institutional charities face the unique challenge of balancing current income needs with the preservation and growth of capital for future generations. In this session, we will explore how endowments and long-term portfolios can be structured to deliver both financial resilience and mission-aligned impact. Drawing on real-world examples, we will examine how trustees can navigate economic uncertainty, integrate ESG principles meaningfully, and ensure investment policies remain fit for purpose. Ideal for those overseeing significant assets or planning strategic investment reviews, this session offers a practical roadmap for building portfolios that serve both today’s and tomorrow’s beneficiaries.

  Laura Hobbs, investment director, Greenbank (part of the Rathbones Group)

  One other speaker, TBC
• 8.30AM - 9.10AM
  W6: Epworth

  Investing at the edge: ethics, power, and the cost of complicity

  Global markets don’t exist in a vacuum. Instead, they are shaped by war, exploitation, and climate breakdown. For charities, the question is no longer simply “are our investments aligned with our values?” but “are we complicit in sustaining a broken system?” This workshop will provoke senior leaders to wrestle with the moral fault lines of finance: from funding conflicts to enabling surveillance capitalism, from profiting off planetary destruction to ignoring the world’s poorest. We will explore how ethical investors can move beyond box-ticking exclusions to active participation - pressuring markets, challenging corporations, and reshaping capital flows - so that investments become not just compliant, but courageous.

  Rev Dr Andrew Harper, deputy chief executive
• 9.20AM - 10.00AM
  W1: CCLA – as above
• 9.20AM - 10.00AM
  W2: Barclays Private Bank – as above
• 9.20AM - 10.00AM
  W3: Cazenove Capital – as above
• 9.20AM - 10.00AM
  W4: M&G – as above
• 9.20AM - 10.00AM
  W5: Rathbones – as above
• 9.20AM - 10.00AM
  W6: Epworth – as above
• 10.00AM - 10.40AM
  Refreshment break and networking
• 10.40AM - 11.20AM
  W10: M&G

  Sustainable and impact investing – long-term sustainable returns for charities

  Following a period of geopolitical twists and challenging headwinds, now is the time for charities to reengage with sustainable and impact investing. We will showcase the compelling long-term investment opportunity for companies building a more sustainable and equitable future, and those helping to deliver on our long-term decarbonisation goals. These companies remain as committed as ever to this critical agenda, helping to align our investment strategies with the values of our charity partners and their work in the field. We will highlight the benefits of businesses contributing actively to sustainable outcomes while also demonstrating strong investment fundamentals. 

  Ben Constable Maxwell, head of impact strategy, equity impact lead
• 10.40AM - 11.20AM
  W11: Baillie Gifford

  AI and your investments

  The revolutionary potential of AI has captured the world's imagination. In this session, we will look beyond the hyperbole at how AI is changing the companies we invest in and how it is making us better investors. Join us as we explore AI's potential to transform companies and industries across the investment landscape.

  Stewart Hogg, investment specialist director
• 10.40AM - 11.20AM
  W12: TBC
• 10.40AM - 11.20AM
  W7: CCLA

  Spare change? The charity investor’s role in driving change

  Considering more than just financial returns is no longer optional - charity investors are uniquely positioned to drive meaningful change. This seminar explores how investment portfolios can be leveraged to advance environmental and social progress, even amid shifting ESG narratives. We’ll show why ESG is far from dead and how charities can use their voice and capital to influence corporate behaviour, advocate for better standards, and deliver impact beyond their direct activities.

  We will also unpack the implications of the upcoming SORP 2026, which introduces tiered ESG reporting expectations for charities. Learn how to align your investments with your mission, engage effectively with companies, and demonstrate leadership in responsible stewardship. Join us to explore how your organisation can be a catalyst for change - not just on the ground, but in the markets themselves.

  Celia Waring, client investment director
• 10.40AM - 11.20AM
  W8: Barclays Private Bank

  Stock market indexes and the rise of meme stocks

  For charity investors, today’s equity markets present new challenges - meme stock volatility, index concentration, and the rise of passive investing all carry reputational and financial risks that trustees must carefully manage.

  This session will explore the structural dominance of major indexes like the FTSE 100 and S&P 500, the rise of meme stocks driven by retail sentiment and social media, and how passive strategies can lead to unintended exposures in increasingly concentrated markets.

  Attendees will gain practical insights into how these trends affect portfolio construction, governance, and alignment with mission-based principles.

  Mike Topley, head of sustainable portfolio management

• 10.40AM - 11.20AM
  W9: Cazenove Capital

  How can we push for progress against the backdrop of political challenges?

  Amid political turbulence and the prospect of continued pushback on ESG, especially under the Trump presidency, how can investors keep driving progress? This session will explore the real-world levers of change, showing how effective engagement with companies, done at the right frequency and with clear milestones, can deliver progress even when policy headwinds are strong. Politics may set the backdrop, but investors still have the power to shape the future.

  Tom Montagu-Pollock, co-head of charities

  Emilie Shaw, portfolio director and sustainability lead
• 11.20AM - 11.30AM
  Transit time
• 11.30AM - 12.10PM
  W10: M&G – as above
• 11.30AM - 12.10PM
  W11: Baillie Gifford – as above
• 11.30AM - 12.10PM
  W12: TBC – as above
• 11.30AM - 12.10PM
  W7: CCLA – as above
• 11.30AM - 12.10PM
  W8: Barclays Private Bank – as above
• 11.30AM - 12.10PM
  W9: Cazenove Capital – as above
• 12.10PM - 12.20PM
  Transit time
• 12.20PM - 1.00PM
  17: HSBC

  Portfolio diversification: unlocking the benefits of private markets

  As we enter a period of structural market changes, charity investors are finding that a traditional equity/bond portfolio may no longer be diversified enough. We believe charities need to diversify their diversifiers by considering private markets, which can provide differentiated exposure and attractive risk/return profiles. Industry changes mean that private markets are accessible at lower entry levels and with greater flexibility than ever before. Join us to learn more about private credit, private equity and real assets and how they could fit into your investment portfolio.

  Sophie Ward, head of charity investments

  Emma Cory, alternatives specialist
• 12.20PM - 1.00PM
  W13: CCLA

  We’ve lost interest! – make your reserves work harder for your beneficiaries

  In today’s higher interest rate environment, many charitable trusts and foundations still hold substantial reserves in low-yield bank accounts - missing opportunities to support their mission more effectively. This seminar explores why so much charity cash remains idle, the risks this poses, and how to adopt a more strategic approach to reserve management.

  We’ll cover the regulatory context, including CC14 and the forthcoming SORP updates, and share benchmarking data and insights from over 40 years of sector experience. Learn how to balance liquidity, security, and return, without compromising your values. Discover practical steps to unlock greater value from your reserves, including short-term investment options like common deposit funds and money market instruments. This session will inspire you to rethink your cash strategy and ensure every pound works harder for your beneficiaries.

  Willie Hartley-Russell, client investment director

  Start Freeman, head of cash management - director, investments
• 12.20PM - 1.00PM
  W14: Rathbones

  CC14 in practice: aligning charity investments with trustee duties
   

  CC14, the Charity Commission’s guidance on investment, remains the cornerstone for trustees making financial decisions. Yet applying it in today’s complex environment - balancing financial returns, responsible investment, and reputational considerations - can feel challenging. This interactive workshop will break down CC14’s key principles, highlight recent updates, and explore how trustees can apply the guidance confidently in practice. Using real-life case studies, we will examine common dilemmas, from ethical exclusions to managing risk and return, and provide practical steps for trustees to evidence robust decision-making in line with CC14.

  Andy Pitt, head of charities

  One further speaker, TBC

• 12.20PM - 1.00PM
  W15: Baillie Gifford

  The end of ESG as we know it: why that’s a good thing

  Over the last 30 years, the term ESG has become the hydra of our industry. A multi-headed beast that means different things to different people. To some, it represents the incorporation of E and S factors into investment decisions. To others, it's about allocating capital with impact. Critics argue that it's social engineering, or greenwashing. Or both. Set against this backdrop, now is the time to revisit ESG. We will discuss how the investment management industry can, and should, grapple with its own role in society.

  Lindsey Knight, ESG specialist director
• 12.20PM - 1.00PM
  W16: Brown Advisory

  What’s the future of the world’s biggest economy?

  As the world continues to transition from the industrial age to the information age, America’s competitive edge - from its world-class technology ecosystem, access to capital, entrepreneurial culture, regulatory flexibility, and dominance in key digital sectors - are strengths that are easy to understand but very difficult to replicate. The US certainly has an ability for self-harm, but one that is also matched by a persistent pivot towards self-correction. It’s an economic system built on a structure and supersedes any political divide. In contrast, Europe faces structural stagnation and demographic decline, limiting their ability to compete effectively with the US, for the foreseeable future.

  Christopher “Kif” Hancock, chief investment officer, international

• 1.00PM - 1.15PM
  Transit time
• 1.15PM - 2.45PM
  Lunch and networking
• 2.45PM - 3.15PM
  Closing keynote – Inside Westminster: power, politics, and the stories that shape Britain

  As one of the UK’s most respected political journalists, Pippa Crerar has spent years uncovering the inner workings of Westminster and holding those in power to account. From exposing scandals that reshaped governments to analysing the forces driving policy and party politics, she offers a rare, behind-the-scenes perspective on how decisions are really made. Her talk reveals the dynamics, rivalries, and pressures that define Britain’s political landscape - and what they mean for the country’s future.

  Pippa Crerar, political editor, The Guardian

• 3.15PM - 3.30PM
  Event close

• 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

 Headline sponsor:

Associate sponsors: 

Supporters:

• "Very informative and well organised event that was tailored well to charity trustees." - Kidney Care UK
• "An excellent event for both Charity Trustees and finance professionals from the charity sector. An opportunity to meet a wide range of investment managers and for networking." - Gary McKenzie, IMarEST
• "Topics this time were excellent and good spread of topics. This has been the best I have attended due to the workshops." - Simon Ward, Royal Entomological Society
• "Always useful meeting with other Trustees and learning about how their charities operate." - Alan Ewart-James
• "Enjoyable and useful - a refreshingly diverse mix of topics." - Dave Hawes, Devon Air Ambulance Trust
• "It was a very useful opportunity to keep up to date on the thinking behind charity finance and to talk to other trustees and charity staff about best practice." - David Fullman, Norwich Charitable Trusts