8:00 AM – 8:25 AM

REGISTRATION & MORNING TEA

8:25 AM – 8:35 AM

WELCOME & OPENING REMARKS

Daphne van der Oord, Head of Australia and New Zealand, S&P Dow Jones Indices

8:35 AM – 9:00 AM

THE GLOBAL FORCES SHAPING INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

Macroeconomic trends, from inflation and interest rates to geopolitical and technological shifts, continue to redefine global and Australian markets. How can indices shed light on current market dynamics and how are they impacting portfolio construction and risk management?

Speaker: Aries Poon, Head of Asia-Pacific & Latin America Analysis, Global Insight, S&P Global Market Intelligence

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

BEYOND THE BENCHMARK: INNOVATION, INCOME AND GROWTH

Indexing has evolved beyond benchmarks to become a driver of product innovation and market growth. In this session, explore what’s behind the continued expansion of passive investing, Australia’s fixed income revolution and how index-based solutions are helping shape asset allocation strategies. Panel to follow.

-        How are indices being used to navigate volatility?

-        How are index-based solutions supporting diversification and helping a wide range of investors potentially mitigate risk?

-        What are the most important trends to watch across fixed income, digital assets and other emerging facets of the investment landscape?

Speaker: Sue Lee, Director and APAC Head of Index Investment Strategy, S&P Dow Jones Indices

Panelists

·       Daniel Kelly, Chief Investment Officer, Viola Private Wealth

·       Jessica Tan, Principal, Fixed Income Indices, S&P Dow Jones Indices

·       Jan-Carl Plagge, Global Head of Indexing, Active and ESG Research and Head of Investment Strategy Group, APAC, Vanguard

·       Stephen Ead, Head of Global Product Solutions, Australia & New Zealand, BlackRock

10:00 AM – 10:15 AM

GLOBAL ETF LANDSCAPE: KEY TRENDS AND MARKET SHIFTS

A snapshot of global ETF trends, highlighting growth patterns across regions, shifts in product demand and the expanding role of ETFs in liquidity and portfolio construction.

Speaker: Tom Digby, Head of ETF Business Development and Capital Markets, Asia Pacific, Invesco

10:15 AM – 10:45 AM

MORNING TEA

10:45 AM – 11:30 AM

ETF EVOLUTION: FROM FIRST TRADE TO MARKET EFFICIENCY

Since Australia’s first ETF launched in 2001, the market has grown to over AUD 300 billion across more than 400 products, driving the development of a broader indexing ecosystem. Industry leaders will explore the milestones behind this growth, the competitive dynamics shaping investor behavior and the innovations defining the next phase.

-        How did the launch of Australia’s first ETF impact market structure and how have product offerings evolved since then?

-        How are ETFs reshaping portfolio management and liquidity management in Australia?

-        How can exchanges and market makers contribute to market efficiency?

-        How can derivatives play a role in strengthening market efficiency?

-        What are the challenges associated with integrating digital asset exposures into ETFs and how is AI changing the landscape?

Moderator: Sean Freer, Director, Global Exchange Indices, S&P Dow Jones Indices

Panelists

·       Tim Brennan, Managing Director, Global Head of Capital Markets and Exchange Strategy, S&P Dow Jones Indices

·       Jonathan Shead, Head of Investments, Australia, State Street Investment Management

·       Alistair Mills, Executive Director, Investments Capital Markets, Betashares

·       Andrew Weaver, Senior Manager, Investment Products, ASX

11:30 AM – 12:15 PM

BUILDING RESILIENT INCOME: STRATEGIES FOR A CHANGING RATE ENVIRONMENT

While retirement planning has become increasingly complex, constructing resilient income strategies across asset classes is often the primary goal. Explore how an index-based approach may help build diversified income streams, manage risk and meet the evolving needs of income seekers.

-          How can index-based strategies target diversification, growth and dividend income, while mitigating income rate risk and supporting long-term retirement goals?

-          How can strategies like covered calls offer income potential while adding a layer of downside protection?

-          What are some practical ways to incorporate index-based strategies when seeking efficient, cost-effective retirement income planning solutions?

Moderator: Jessica Tan, Principal, Fixed Income Indices, S&P Dow Jones Indices

Panelists

·       Jason Ye, Senior Director, Factors and Dividends, S&P Dow Jones Indices

·       Marc Jocum, Senior Product and Investment Strategist, Global X Australia

·       Andrew Wielandt, Director, DP Wealth Advisory

12:15 PM – 1:00 PM

LUNCH

1:00 PM – 1:45 PM

REIMAGINING MODEL PORTFOLIOS: CORE AND SATELLITE RENAISSANCE

As model portfolios continue to evolve, the well-established core plus satellite framework is experiencing a resurgence. We’ll take a fresh look at growth trends and asset allocation strategies, exploring how managers are balancing a wide range of exposures in their models amid the growing need for greater portfolio customisation to meet best interest duty requirements.

Moderator: Toby Potter, Chair of Institute of Managed Account Professionals (IMAP)

-          How are asset allocation strategies evolving within managed accounts?

-          In what ways are advisers balancing passive, active, factor and thematic exposures using model portfolios?

-          How are ESG, alternatives and innovative strategies being integrated into model portfolios?

Panelists

·       Kathleen Gallagher, Head of ETF Model Portfolio Solutions EMEA & APAC, State Street Investment Management

·       Jonathan Tolub, Partner and Portfolio Manager, Trellia Wealth Partners

·       Michael Karagianis, Principal Consultant and Head of JANA Wealth

1:45 PM – 2:00 PM

CLOSING REMARKS

Julie Ballard, Director, Client Solutions Group, Australia, S&P Dow Jones Indices

4:30 PM – 6:30 PM

(Sydney only)

S&P/ASX AFTER MARKETS: NETWORKING & COCKTAILS

Masterclass attendees, speakers and industry professionals are invited to connect.