Agenda

17 March 2026

10:30 - 11:00: Registration and refreshments

11:00 - 11:10: Chairman’s welcome

Huw Evans, Partner, Head of Insurance, KPMG UK

11:10 - 11:35: Unlocking the power of Direct Lending: An educational deep dive into the European lower-mid market (sponsored by Franklin Templeton) 

David Wilmot, Partner, Apera Asset Management (by Franklin Templeton)

The European Lower Mid-Market (LMM) is increasingly a feature of Institutional Private Debt (PD) portfolios, with LPs seeking to diversify their PD exposure in what continues to be the largest market segment in Europe by deal count. The session will cover what makes the European LMM so attractive, including the supply/demand imbalance, key structural features and current market dynamics, providing participants with practical insights to navigate this market segment.

11:35 - 12:00: Navigating Regulatory Shifts in European ABS & ABF (sponsored by Royal London Asset Management) 

Jeremy Deacon – Head of Leveraged Finance and ABS, RLAM

This presentation will explore how new European regulations could reshape asset-backed securities (ABS) and asset-based financing (ABF) markets. Learn what these changes may mean for your portfolio and where the next investment opportunities could lie.

12:00 - 12:40: PANEL DISCUSSION: Exploring the Fixed Income Environment (Sponsored by Nuveen)

Chair: Laura Cooper, Head of Macro Credit and Global Investment Strategist, Nuveen

Panellists: 

Anjali Doshi, Head of Sovereign and Emerging Markets Corporate Research, Nuveen
Stephen Marsh, Head of Investment Oversight, Lloyd’s of London
Sumit Mehta, Head of Strategy, L&G
Richard Roberts, Chief Finance and Investment Officer, Pool Re

Fiscal and monetary policies across the globe mean insurance investment leaders have to continuously navigate uncertainties and remain competitive. Impacts on investment strategies mean a number of tactics must be deployed to ensure portfolio resilience in a complex macroeconomic environment. This panel will explore this environment.

12:40 - 13:05: Alternative Credit: Unlocking alpha with quality and diversification (sponsored by HSBC Asset Management)

Borja Azpilicueta, Head of Capital Solutions, HSBC Asset Management
Deepak Seeburrun, Head of Global Insurance & Key Partnerships, HSBC Asset Management

Demand for diversification is increasing allocations on Investment Grade Private Credit as it can offer compelling returns, resilient risk profile and potentially efficient capital treatment. Bank Partnerships continue to offer insurance investors access to distinctive investment opportunities tailored to specific investor outcomes. Please join HSBC Asset Management’s Deepak Seeburrun, Head of Global Insurance, and Borja Azpilicueta, Head of Capital Solutions for an insightful discussion on the complementary strategies in today’s dynamic market environment.

13:05 - 14:05: Lunch break

14:05 - 14:30:  Bespoke Multi‑Strategy Illiquid Solutions for Insurers (sponsored by Pinebridge Investments)

Geert Henckens, Head of Private Fixed Income, MetLife Investment Management

As insurers seek to achieve more from the external investment management partners – there is a trend of insurers working with fewer managers across multiple illiquid asset classes. In his presentation, Geert Henckens, Head of Private Credit at MetLife Investment Management, will outline how the combined MetLife Investment Management and PineBridge platform offers a comprehensive suite of private-market capabilities—including public and private fixed income, asset‑backed finance, infrastructure debt, real estate debt, private placements, and middle‑market lending—designed to meet the needs of insurers across all liability profiles.

Drawing on our experience managing MetLife’s general account alongside more than $300 billion* in third‑party capital, we are able to design tailored portfolios across the full spectrum of private assets. Supported by the global experience of working with insurers across regulatory regimes - including Solvency UK, Solvency II, Bermuda, US NAIC, and APAC frameworks - the platform helps insurers navigate regulatory and rating‑agency capital considerations while aligning assets to liabilities across the duration spectrum. As insurers increasingly look to work with fewer partners across a broader range of strategies, this integrated model provides a more efficient and coordinated approach to portfolio construction.

14:30 - 14:55: Working Capital and Inventory Finance: Defensive Liquidity in an Uncertain World (sponsored by Pemberton Asset Management) 

Peter Ullmann, Managing Director - Credit, Working Capital Finance, Pemberton Asset Management

Pemberton’s Working Capital Solutions fund and its joint venture with Santander provide investors with an attractive open ended liquidity product which provides good risk adjusted returns for short term cash.

14:55 - 15:15: Coffee break 

15:15 - 15:55: PANEL DISCUSSION: Alternative opportunities for insurers (sponsored by Invesco)

Chair: Michael Craig, Managing Director, Head of European Senior Loans, Invesco

Panellists: 

Prasun Mathur, Head of Private Assets, Aviva UK Life
Peter McGloughlin, Chief Investment Officer, Canada Life Reinsurance
Corrado Pistarino, Chief Investment Officer, Foresters Friendly Society
Cecile Retaureau, Head of Private Markets, Standard Life UK

Having endured huge fluctuations in central bank policies in recent years, CIOs are now more comfortable embracing investment strategies outside of traditional fixed income instruments that are helping to not only generate better returns but also diversify their risk profiles in today’s increasingly complex world. This panel will look at current opportunities within the alternatives space and how these fit within portfolio strategies.

15:55 – 16:20:  Navigating Emerging Markets Debt  (sponsored by Artisan Partners) 
Darren Goldman, Business Leader for EMsights Capital Group, Artisan Partners

Emerging market debt requires agility and conviction. The EMsights Capital Group invests across sovereign and corporate hard and local currency debt with a benchmark-agnostic approach . Backed by deep country research and active positioning across currencies, rates and spreads, the teams three portfolios (Blended, Local, Global Unconstrained) demonstrate disciplined risk management and consistent alpha generation.

16:20 - 16:30: Chairman’s closing remarks

16:30: End of conference Day 1/ Networking pre-dinner 

Three course dinner

18:30 - 18:55: Drinks reception

18:55 - 19:00: Welcome from the Editor of Insurance Asset Management, Adam Cadle 

19:00 - 20:30: 3 Course dinner

21:00 - 21:30:  After Dinner speaker – Dennis Taylor

21:30 - 22:00:  Post dinner drinks 

18 March 2026

09:20 - 09:40: Registration and refreshments

09:40 - 09:50: Chairman’s welcome

Huw Evans, Partner, Head of Insurance, KPMG UK

09:50 - 10:30: PANEL DISCUSSION: ESG – PROGRESSION OR MORE WORK NEEDED?

Chair: Hetal Patel, Head of Sustainable Investment Research Office, Standard Life UK

Panellists:

Andrew Bailey, Investment Director, Bupa Group
Ben Howarth, Assistant Director, Head of Sustainability and Climate, The ABI
Sindu Krishna, Partner and Head of Sustainability, Aon 

Like any other, the insurance industry stands to reap significant benefits from embracing ESG in strategy execution. Insurers must take advantage of ESG opportunities to propel their growth strategy, future viability, and long-term sustainable delivery of dividends for stakeholders. This panel will explore how the insurance industry can drive sustainable finance, how it can address the ‘S’ in ESG and how investments in this area are evolving.

10:30 - 10:55:  Spread Diversification for Insurers: From Cash to Carry (Sponsored by Aviva Investors)
Todd Cutting, Portfolio Manager, Aviva Investors

This session will provide a practical guide to how to diversify credit spreads. Rather than relying on corporate‑heavy, BBB‑tilted carry, this session explores the benefits of accessing high‑quality global spread premia across sovereigns/SSAs, covered bonds and ABS, with risk controls designed to minimise unintended market exposures. Using Aviva Investors ReturnPlus strategy as a case study, we’ll show how a capital efficient allocation can be built from multiple spread engines.

10:55 - 11:20:  The Wildly Unglamorous and Predictably Boring: Infrastructure Investment for Insurance Portfolios (sponsored by Principal Asset Management) 

Anders Amundson, Director - Origination and Structuring, Private Infrastructure Debt, Principal Asset Management

Private infrastructure assets are the backbone of the modern world, operating with high barriers to entry and steady cash flows. For insurance debt portfolios, this means attractive yields, long dated duration, and structural protection. Principal’s process - understanding cash flows, protecting the downside, and evaluating risk-reward - is explained through three examples: a clean-power line supplying NYC, a hyperscale data center in Northern Virginia, and a new sports stadium in the UK.

11:20 - 11:50: Keynote: The Rules of Politics
Lord (Daniel) Finkelstein OBE, Broadcaster and Columnist, The Times

Drawing on his long experience on the inside of British politics, Daniel Finkelstein will explain how politics work and how the rules will impact upon the investment environment.

11.50 - 12.00: Chairman's closing remarks

Huw Evans, Partner, Head of Insurance, KPMG UK

12.00 - 13.00: Lunch break

13.00: End of conference