LONDON and NEW YORK – 21 October 2019 – 100 Women in Finance (“100WF”), a global finance industry organization of more than 15,000 professionals, produced its European FundWomen Conference in London on October 11. This follows its corresponding conference, the East Coast FundWomen Conference in New York on September 9. Both conferences were hosted by J.P. Morgan.
100WF’s FundWomen Investment Conferences connect top-tier institutional investors and consultants with investment funds managed or led by women. To find new and diverse sources of alpha, growing numbers of institutional investors have prioritized investment with women and minority managers. 100WF’s FundWomen conference platform and network of investment professionals is a valuable resource in addressing this mandate.
Between the two conferences, which were similar in scale, 69 fund managers and 73 institutional capital allocators engaged in hundreds of one-on-one introductory meetings for discussion of investment strategy, portfolio construction and performance attribution. Both conferences also featured a panel discussion on investment themes.
In London, the panelists (pictured below left to right) were Edoardo Rulli, Managing Director, Head of European Investments, UBS Hedge Fund Solutions, Amy Flikerski, Senior Portfolio Manager, External Portfolio Management, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Trudi Boardman, Senior Investment Director, Pension Practice, Cambridge Associates, Sandra Robertson, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Executive Officer, Oxford University Endowment Management, and moderator Kumar Panja, Managing Director, Head of EMEA Capital Advisory Group, J.P. Morgan.
Panelists at European FundWomen Conference
View more photos from 2019 European FundWomen Conference (London)
At the New York conference, panelists (pictured left to right) were Claudia Jury, Global Head of Investor Client Management and Platform Sales, J.P. Morgan, Jim Dunn, Chief Executive & Chief Investment Officer, Verger Capital Management, LLC, and Hope Pascucci, President & Principal, Rose Grove Capital Management, LLC.
Panelists at East Coast FundWomen Conference
View more photos from East Coast FundWomen Conference (New York)
Reflections from Volunteer Organizers
According to Marta Cotton, director of client development at Matarin Capital Management and a lead volunteer organizer of the East Coast FundWomen Conference, “The conference delivers a compelling and efficient opportunity for institutional investors to connect with top talent outside the traditional, established lanes. Anyone wishing to generate diverse, non-correlated sources of alpha must start to think and behave differently. The decision of where, and with whom, to place assets is a critical consideration in serving client interests.”
Drianne Benner, managing director at Appomattox, an OCIO firm, and Ms. Cotton’s colleague in organizing the East Coast conference, noted, “This year was a turning point for the forum. With the FundWomen brand and increased visibility of female fund managers, we are reaching a wider audience. Interest has been overwhelming and for the first time, we had more people wish to participate than we could accommodate. I expect this momentum will encourage many more women to launch funds and will help them to grow.”
Speaking for the European FundWomen Conference volunteer committee, chair Ulrika Robertsson remarked, “The FundWomen conference is truly empowering as it goes beyond just talking about the change we want to see in our industry. By putting female investment talent in front of institutional investors, the conference is a practical step towards helping make change happen.”
“Allocators are increasingly interested in finding diverse sources of alpha-generating investment talent. The 100WF FundWomen conference series makes it easier to identify women-owned or led funds in the alternatives space. It’s very gratifying to see the initiative continue to grow worldwide” said volunteer organizer Libbi Ross, EMEA Alternative Investment Mandates, Bloomberg L.P.
A Growing, Global Conference Platform
These conferences were the 12th and 13th in a global series organized by 100WF since 2014. Earlier this year, the organization’s West Coast conference was produced on April 11, 2019 in San Francisco, led by co-chairs Marianne O and Nadine Terman. 100WF further plans to expand its FundWomen conference platform to include Asia-based fund managers and allocators.
Amanda Pullinger, Chief Executive Officer of 100 Women in Finance, explained how FundWomen Conferences serve the organization’s mission to strengthen the global finance industry by empowering women to achieve their professional potential. “Our FundWomen conferences shine a strong light on the accomplishments of female investors. We’ve created a platform for women at the top of the investment ladder, expecting that their enhanced visibility will be a source of inspiration for the next generation of female investment professionals.”
Participation by institutional investors was particularly robust. Eric Hoerdemann, chief of research and risk at Stride Capital, attended the September 9 FundWomen Conference in New York and noted, “I have to say it has been a while since I was that invigorated and excited about what is happening in our industry. We are big believers in entrepreneurship and innovation and that was on full display. What an impressive group of passionate professionals focused on the future of our business.”
According to Teresa Heitsenrether, Global Head of Security Services at J.P. Morgan and conference host, “Our partnership with 100 Women in Finance is symbiotic as we hold many of the same values around diversity, inclusion and the advancement of women within the financial services industry. At J.P. Morgan, our “Women on the move” initiative has three main pillars that focus on engagement – expanding women-owned businesses, education – improving women’s financial health, and empowerment- helping women’s career growth.”
100WF expresses appreciation to all firms and speakers who helped to make these events a success, and especially to J.P. Morgan for hosting the conferences, to Schulte Roth Zabel, and to our volunteer committee members.
Participant Fund Management Firms
European FundWomen Conference, October 11:
Anchor Capital, Ardevora Asset Management LLP; Beach Point Capital Management; BlueBay Asset Management LLP; CANDRIAM; Canyon Capital; CIAM; Cirera Capital; Columbia Threadneedle; CQS; Devet Capital; EMSO Asset Management; Enko Capital Management; Gemcorp Capital LLP; Hambro Perks; HSBC Global Asset Management; Man GLG; Morgan Stanley Investment Management; Muzinich & Co; Pelham Global Financials LTD; Pictet Asset Management; Pollen Street Capital; Rathbone Unit Trust Management; Robeco; SPX Capital; thirdACT; Tiara Capital; Trium Capital LLP; Unigestion; Wellington Management; Wincrest Capital
East Coast FundWomen Conference, September 9:
Academy Investment Management LLC; Alpine Peaks Capital LP; BlackRock; Blue Harbour Group L.P.; Burrage Capital Management; Crestline Investors, Inc.; Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP; Excelsior Energy Capital; FERN Impact Partners LLC; Gagnon Securities; Impactive Capital; Iridium 77 Management LLC; Kinzie Capital Partners; Lumen Advisors, LLC; Neo Ivy; One Tusk Investment Partners; Opti Capital Management, LP; Palmer Square Capital Management LLC; Paradigm Capital Management, Inc.; Quadratic Capital Management LLC; Rose Grove Capital Management, LLC; Sancus Capital Management LP; Sandglass Capital Management; Skipjack Global Capital Management LLC; Snowcat Capital Management LP; Sonya Capital Management; Stone-Goff Partners; Taconic Capital; Tse Capital Management; Turning Rock Partners; Vassalou Capital Management LP; Vihren Capital Management, LP; VWH Capital Management, LP; W Capital Partners; York Capital Management; Yulan Capital Management LLC; ZAIS Group; LLC
Participant Institutional Investors and Investment Consultants
European FundWomen Conference, October 11:
Aberdeen Standard Investments; Albourne Partners Ltd; Altus Investment; Architas; Aspen; Aurum; Bainbridge Partners; BlackRock; Cambridge Associates; Canada Pension Plan Investment Board; Canica International AG; Church Commissioners; Coutts; Deutsche Bank; DWS; FQS Capital; FSG Ltd.; Fulcrum Asset Management; Hoxha Investments; Hypathia Capital; J.P. Morgan; Mercer; OUEM; Partners Capital LLP; Rose Hill Park Alternative Asset Managers LLC; Rothschild & Co Proprietary Investments; Russell Investments; Stable Asset Management; Stamford Associates; Stonehage Fleming; Titan Advisors UK; UBS; Willis Towers Watson
East Coast FundWomen Conference, September 9:
Alternative Investment Management, LLC; Aksia LLC; Aon Hewitt Investment Consulting; Appomattox Advisory; Bessemer Trust, Brown Advisory; Cambridge Associates; Carnegie Corporation of New York; Colonial Consulting, LLC; Commonfund; Confidence Wealth Management Partners; Corbin Capital Partners; Disciplina Capital Management; DNA Partners; Forester Capital, LLC; Goldman Sachs Asset Management; J.P. Morgan Alternative Asset Management; J.P. Morgan Private Bank; Kin Group; Lyxor Asset Management Inc.; Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Momentum Advisors; NYC Bureau of Asset Management; NYS Common Retirement Fund; Oikos Holdings LLC; Old Farm Partners; Papamarkou Wellner Asset Management ; Pivotal Path; Princeton University Investment Company; Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; Rockefeller Capital Management; Rose Hill Park Alternative Asset Managers LLC; Stable Asset Management; Stride Capital; TAG Associates; The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; Titan Advisors, LLC; TSWII; UBS; Verger Capital Management Inc.
FundWomen Conference Committees
East Coast Conference Committee
100WF: Drianne Benner, Marta Cotton, Carolina de Brigard Wey, Sarah Dyer, Meredith Jones, and Soobin Yoo. J.P. Morgan: Laura Anker, Meghan Brindley, Medina Jahovic, Siobhan Turano and Lucy Wallace
European Conference Committee
100WF: Ulrika Robertsson, chair, Sarah Finley, McKenna Forrest, Lydia Guett, Zara Jamil, Libbi Ross and Claire Tucker. J.P. Morgan: Jueta Kurar, Ashley Racine and Niamh Taylor
West Coast Conference Committee
100WF: Nadine Terman, Marianne O, Sandra Southworth; PwC: Melissa Maher; Progress Investment Management: Mona Williams; Bloomberg: Emily Perrucci, Marilee Shea
FundWomen Visibility Initiative
100WF elevates the public profile of female investment professionals via advocacy with conference organizers, the media, and with institutional investors. Female fund managers and institutional allocators are encouraged to join 100WF’s public directory for greater professional visibility, and to receive invitations for suitable public speaking and peer engagement opportunities. Additional information is here.
About 100 Women in Finance
100 Women in Finance’s more than 15,000 members strengthen the global finance industry by empowering women to achieve their professional potential at each career stage. Its members inspire, equip and advocate for a new generation of industry leadership, in which women and men serve as investment professionals and executives, equal in achievement and impact. Through Education, Peer Engagement and Impact, the organization furthers the progress of women who have chosen finance as a career, and enables their positive influence over pre-career young women.
Media contact: media@10women.org