CFA UK

In this week’s episode, hosts Ben Ashby and Tom Threlfall spoke with Patrick Bloomfield, who sadly passed away in September. Patrick was a leading figure in the pensions industry for more than 25 years, joining Humans Robertson in 2004 and being made a partner of the firm in 2006. Alongside his work at Hymans Robertson, he chaired the Association of Consulting Actuaries between 2020 and 2022. In this conversation, Ben, Tom, and Patrick covered a broad range of topics, from the endemic effects of Covid-19 on life expectancy and the data used to map it, to the ongoing ramifications of the conflict in Ukraine, to what the pensions industry may look like in decades to come. As you’ll hear from the conversation, Patrick was a joy to speak to, and while podcasts like these often focus on the technologies and new frontiers of our industry, it’s important to remember that it’s the people and connections you make that make working in investment worthwhile.

Arun Kelshiker, CFA and vice-chair of the CFA UK DEI committee, caught up with Natalie Gill, Head of DEI Strategy & Industry Engagement, PGIM, and Sarah Maynard, Global Senior Head, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, CFA Institute, about Sexism in the City - a new inquiry looking at barriers faced by women in financial services. In this conversation, they discuss what the inquiry is looking into, what it includes and why it’s happening now. The discussion also picks up on what the inquiry means, the idea of gender as the universal diversifier, and the complexities in the difference between equality and equity.

Meet John Cummins - Managing Director, Group Investments at Aviva Group plc. Over the last 30 years, John has been brought in to solve some of the trickiest banking situations in the UK. In this episode, John talks to Ben Ashby and Tom Threlfall, CFA to discuss the future of banking and some of the key learnings on treasury management he's learned over the years. Plus, he reveals his predictions for what the global investment space will look like in 18 months, as well as 10 years, including the potential reduction in inflation rates and the emerging opportunities in India and Africa.

Natalie Gregoire-Skeete, HSBC’s Head of Sustainability in Europe caught up with Pamela Hutchinson OBE, Global head of Diversity at Bloomberg. From working out of a portacabin in Folkstone as part of a legal team for Eurotunnel to heading up DEI for a global institution, Pamela is one of the pioneers embracing DEI in the UK and working for real industry change. Pamela’s parents’ invaluable advice of ‘You have to be it in order for others to see it’ was an impetus as a black woman to succeed in industries dominated by white men. In this insightful and open discussion Pamela shares what inspires her to keep going every day. Pamela and Natalie discuss the impact of Windrush on UK society and multi-generational experiences of being black and British.

Christian Koch is on the portfolio management team at BB Biotech, the Swiss-based investment company. For CFA UK’s ‘In Conversation Podcast’, Koch talked to Maha Khan Phillips about innovations in the world of biotechnology, and the opportunities it presents for investors.

In the second part of John Teahan's discussion with Harlan Zimmerman, Harlan sets out how to incorporate Net Zero commitments into executive remuneration plans. The need for significant, measurable and transparent metrics to support decarbonisation and clear links to public commitments on Net Zero.

John Teahan speaks to Harlan Zimmerman, Senior Partner of Cevian Capital, about Cevian's activist investment approach, how the company incorporates sustainability issues and early moves by the industry to align remuneration with sustainability.

Arun Kelshiker, CFA the vice-chair of the CFA UK DEI committee, spoke to Baroness Helena Morrissey, founder of The Diversity Project - Investment Industry. When Helena entered the world of fund management early on in her career she soon realised the industry lacked inclusivity and diversity which led her to set up The Diversity Project in 2016. The new Safe Space initiative was then formed this year for investment professionals to openly and anonymously share their negative experiences. This includes situations of poor behaviour, bullying, discrimination, and harassment. Helena discusses the crucial role of fostering transparency and addressing critical issues within the investment community.

Dominic Endicott, Partner NorthStar Ventures and author, begins his lively discussion with Ben Ashby and Tom Threlfall, CFA with a tussle over whether Crypto and Blockchain are just a distraction or solving a real economic problems. Dominic emphasises the importance Venture Capital (VC) has had in the UK over the last 10 years: $150 billion VC money has gone into startups generating upwards of a $billion in value which becomes £2 trillion in wealth, which meaning around a third of all wealth in the last decade has come from VC as a source. However, this is concentrated in London and the South East. Dominic believes it in the next decade we will see a more even spread across the UK leading to an opportunity for wealth creation and economic models. The discussion also touches on how VCs can have a critical role in regions, while still generating returns.

Marisa Hall is Head of the Thinking Ahead Institute. For CFA UK’s ‘In Conversation Podcast’, Hall talked to Maha Khan Phillips about what innovation in asset management looks like, and how it is transforming the landscape.