Michael Block is Chief Investment Officer of Bellmont Securities and Adjunct Industry Professor at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), where he helped establish the UTS Anchor Fund. The UTS Anchor Fund is a live investment portfolio managed by students to give them hands on experience with managing portfolios. In this episode, we take a look at Michael's extensive career in investing, spanning roles with Future Plus, Nambawan Super, Australian Catholic Superannuation & Retirement Fund...
Jun 30, 2025•59 min•Season 8Ep. 114
Eduard van Gelderen is Head of Research for Focusing Capital on the Long Term (FCLT), an organisation that was established in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis, or Great Recession as it is known in the US, to move away from a so-called “quarterly capitalism”, which arguably contributed to the crisis, and towards a true long-term mind-set. Van Gelderen joined FCLT in 2024, after spending over six years as the Chief Investment Officer of pension fund PSP in Montreal, Canada. He is also well-...
May 06, 2025•45 min
Suhail Shaikh is Chief Investment Officer of Fulcrum Asset Management and is the portfolio manager of Fulcrum’s Discretionary Macro and Diversified Absolute Return strategies. In today’s incredibly volatile environment of tariff wars and deglobalisation, investors tend to be more sensitive about the level of their absolute returns, than their performance against the benchmark. In this episode, we delve into the philosophy of absolute return investing, we talk about the role of skill versus luck,...
Apr 29, 2025•47 min
In episode 111 of the [i3] Podcast, we speak with Michael Weaver, who is the Head of Global Real Assets with the Australian Retirement Trust. We discussed the role of real assets in the context of a multi-asset, pension portfolio, the ever-lurking threat of inflation, the return of office property and more. Please enjoy the show! Overview of Podcast with Michael Weaver, Head of Global Real Assets, ART 02:00 Role of real assets in a multi-asset portfolio 03:30 We don’t call them mid-risk, but it ...
Apr 02, 2025•35 min
In episode 110 of the [i3] Podcast, we speak with Jamie Newton, Head of Global Fixed Income Research and Deputy Head of Sustainability at Allspring Global Investments. We discuss why now is a good time to add duration to fixed income portfolios, concerns over the lack of experience with high default rates in private credit and opportunities in data centres and other digital assets. Enjoy the Show! Overview of Podcast with Jamie Newton: 02:00 I was not going to spend 16 weeks looking through a mi...
Mar 04, 2025•31 min
In episode 109, we are back with Will Liang, Executive Director at MA Financial, to discuss the introduction of DeepSeek and the impact on the future development of artificial intelligence and the global economy. Are tech firms going to scale back their investments due to this low cost model, or is it all a bit of a hype? Enjoy the Show! Overview of Podcast with Will Liang on DeepSeek 01:00 First impressions of DeepSeek 03:00 Is DeepSeek really a revolution? 04:00 OpenAI did not spend billions o...
Feb 12, 2025•28 min
Private credit has evolved significantly since the global financial crisis, and Brendan Carroll, Senior Partner at Victory Park Capital, has been at the forefront of that transformation. In this episode, we explore how private credit investments are adapting to meet the needs of insurers, the growing role of asset-backed lending, and why insurance companies are becoming the fastest-growing investor base in the space. Brendan also shares insights on navigating competitive market dynamics, the res...
Jan 02, 2025•36 min
In episode 107 of the [i3] Institutional Investment Podcast, we speak with Scott Donald, Associate Professor at the School of Private and Commercial Law of the University of New South Wales, about his research into governance and the now mandatory annual member meetings of superannuation funds. How do funds field questions from members? How can we check they answer all questions? What impact do these meetings have on the corporate culture and brand of a fund? After collecting nearly five years o...
Dec 19, 2024•39 min
In episode 106 of the [i3] Institutional Investment Podcast, I speak with Craig Dandurand, Chief Investment Officer of the Tuckwell Family Office. Craig has an impressive career in the investment industry that spans time with US pension fund CalPERS and Australia's the Future Fund. We talked about his background in credit investing, setting up a hedge fund program and the world of private wealth. Enjoy the show! Overview of Podcast with Craig Dandurand 01:00 You initially worked in the legal pro...
Nov 18, 2024•59 min
In episode 105 of the [i3] Institutional Investment Podcast, we speak with Jessica Sclafani, a Global Retirement Strategist with US fund manager T. Rowe Price, which manages $1.6 trillion in total assets on behalf of clients. Retirement is a more complex phase than wealth accumulation and it needs a more sophisticated approach to deliver good outcomes. Sclafani discusses a 5 dimensional approach to retirement and the tradeoffs that come with choosing a suitable approach Overview of Podcast with ...
Oct 25, 2024•29 min
John Livanas is the Chief Executive Officer of State Super, the $37 billion superannuation fund for public service and public sector workers in NSW. In this episode, we talk about the use of defensive overlays, dealing with the COVID drawdown and machine learning in investments. Enjoy the show! Overview of podcast with John Livanas, Chief Executive Officer of State Super 01:30 Peter Drucker’s book, The Unseen Revolution, provided inspiration to enter the pension fund industry 03:00 We are actual...
Oct 08, 2024•45 min
Matthew Culley is a Portfolio Manager on the Emerging Market Equity Team at Janus Henderson Investors. In this podcast, we talk about the best performing markets, tensions around China, the impact of the US elections and fighter jets. Enjoy the Show! Overview of [i3] Podcast with Matt Culley, Janus Henderson Investors 02:00 I initially wanted to become a fighter pilot, but then got glasses and that dream went out the door 06:00 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu taught me to stay calm under pressure and not pa...
Sep 03, 2024•44 min
In episode 102 of the [i3] Podcast, we speak with Andrew Spence, Chief Investment Officer of the $9 billion corporate super fund Qantas Super. Qantas Super recently announced to merge with ART and we took the opportunity to look back at the investment strategy that Spence put in place as the fund's first CIO, the innovations along the way and lessons learned. Overview of podcast with Andrew Spence, CIO of Qantas Super 02:00 I came on board when Qantas Super decided to split the CEO and CIO role ...
Jul 30, 2024•45 min
In episode 101 of the [i3] Podcast, we speak with Damon Callaghan and Sam Byrnes of asset management firm ECP. ECP was established by Dr. Manny Pohl of Hyperion Asset Management fame and in this episode we talk about the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence when investing in Australian equities. Enjoy the show! 01:00 How we got started in investing 04:00 Sam: My dad was CEO of Bega Cheese and that got me both interested in business and also made clear that I didn’t want to wor...
Jul 02, 2024•47 min
It is our 100th episode of the [i3] Podcast and we are celebrating this with an in-depth discussion on innovation in private equity, especially mid-life transactions, with David Morse, Managing Director and Global Co-Head of Private Equity Co-Investments at Neuberger Berman. Enjoy the show! Overview of Podcast with David Morse of Neuberger Berman 01:00 Starting in mid-market lending, but liking what the guys on the other side of the table did more 03:30 Deal flow in Private Equity has been low a...
Jun 04, 2024•42 min
In episode 99 of the [i3] Podcast, we speak with Julian McManus, who is a Portfolio Manager on the Global Alpha Equity Team at Janus Henderson Investors. We spoke about global equities, the role of the Magnificent 7, Japanese equities and hybrid cars. Enjoy the show! Overview of Podcast with Julian McManus, Janus Henderson Investors 02:00 Getting into Japanese equities fresh out of law school 04:00 We still invest in Japan 07:00 Abe’s reforms and book value quant trades 08:00 The Japanese govern...
Apr 30, 2024•40 min
In episode 98 of the [i3] Podcast, we are speaking with Will Liang, who is an executive director at MA Financial Group, but is also well-known for his time with Macquarie Group, where he worked for more than a decade, including as Head of Technology for Macquarie Capital Australia and New Zealand. We discuss the application of AI in financial services and wealth management, ChatGPT and how to deal with AI hallucinations. Overview of Podcast with Will Liang 02:30 When I was young I contemplated b...
Apr 17, 2024•1 hr 2 min
In this episode of the [i3] Podcast, we speak with Felicity Walsh, Managing Director and Head of Australia & New Zealand for Franklin Templeton about leadership, fostering a great work culture, mentorship and lab coats. Enjoy the show! Overview of Podcast with Felicity Walsh, Franklin Templeton 01:00 Hanging up the chemistry lab coat and safety specs, and joining Watson Wyatt 05:00 Defined benefit post GFC and getting into client acquisition work 07:00 Differences between UK and Australian p...
Apr 02, 2024•49 min
In episode 96 of the [i3] Podcast, we speak with Maria Elena Drew, Director of Research – Responsible Investing, at T. Rowe Price about the challenges and opportunities of transforming investments into net zero portfolios. How does it affect your objectives and engagement with companies? Enjoy the show! Overview of Podcast with Maria Elena Drew, T. Rowe Price 01:00 When I was at school, I didn’t think this was a career path that was out there. At university I studied economics and geology. 04:00...
Mar 05, 2024•42 min
John Bowman is President of the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) Association. In this episode we look back at the growth of the alternative investment industry, in particular private equity, discuss ESG and take a look at the upcoming paper on the total portfolio approach Overview of podcast with John Bowman, CAIA 02:00 I got involved in international equity investing through a few Boston wealth managers at SSGA. 6:45 I’m integrated by the power of capital allocation to solve some...
Feb 28, 2024•52 min
Andrew Fisher is the Head of Investment Strategy at the Australian Retirement Trust (ART), a $260 billion pension fund in Australia. In this episode of the [i3] Podcast, we reflected on the merger with QSuper and the implications the larger scale of the fund has on the investment strategy. Enjoy the show! Overview of Podcast with Andrew Fisher, 2024 01:00 Merging two funds with different investment philosophies 04:00 YFYS performance had already started to impact QSuper’s investment management’s...
Jan 30, 2024•37 min
In episode 93 of the [i3] Podcast, we speak with Michael Bonte-Friedheim, the Founding Partner and Group CEO of NextEnergy Capital, a firm that specialises in investing in solar energy plants. We talk about the role of subsidies, the growth of the sector and the fact that ESG in solar isn't just about renewable energy Overview of Podcast with Michael Bonte-Friedheim 01:00 The genesis of NextEnergy Capital 04:00 Solar is our choice of technology 05:00 The technology of solar hasn’t changed a lot,...
Jan 02, 2024•38 min
Mike Comparato is Managing Director and Head of Real Estate at Benefit Street Partners, a credit-focused alternative asset management firm owned by Franklin Templeton. In this episode, we cover Mike's views on the turmoil that the commercial real estate market is facing and the impending debt maturity wall that could set off a hurricane. Overview of Podcast with Benefit Street Partners’ Mike Comparato 01:00 Our family has been in the real estate sector since 1946 04:00 There is a storm out there...
Dec 05, 2023•33 min
This year we celebrate 20 years of New Zealand Super. We speak to the fund's CEO, Matt Whineray, about the evolution of the fund throughout the years, do a deep dive into its strategic tilting program and cover responsible investing, AI and much more. Enjoy the show! Overview of Podcast with Matt Whineray, CEO of NZ Super on 20 years of the fund 01:00 NZ Super started investing in September 2003 and now has a 20 year track record 03:00 One of the key starting points was to get the risk position ...
Nov 23, 2023•48 min
In this episode of the [i3] Podcast, we speak with Jay Sivapalan, Head of Australian Fixed Income at Janus Henderson about the company's 2023 Australian Insurance Report, a survey of insurance companies and their plans for their investment portfolios. The survey found that no less than 9 out of every 10 insurers plan to change their strategic asset allocation! Overview of podcast with Jay Sivapalan: 01:00 Discussing the 2023 Australian Insurance Report by Janus Henderson Investors 04:00 Every 9 ...
Oct 31, 2023•37 min
In episode 88 of the [i3] Podcast we speak with Dr. Michael Kollo about artificial intelligence and large language models such as chatGPT. We talk about their application to the institutional investment industry and discuss why Australia is so distrustful of AI. Please enjoy the show! Overview of Podcast with Dr. Michael Kollo 01:00 Getting involved in artificial intelligence 03:30 Australia doesn’t trust AI, why is that? 06:30 AI in the investment industry; any edge is quickly adopted 08:30 If ...
Oct 17, 2023•41 min
David Di Pilla is Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of HMC Capital, a diversified alternative investment firm. In this episode, we speak about the challenges of building a new investment firm during the COVID-19, the attraction of healthcare real estate and the taking a private equity approach to listed markets. Please enjoy the show! Overview of Podcast with David Di Pilla: 1:00 The founding of HMC Capital 4:00 Building a business in the pandemic 5:30 We are looking for busine...
Oct 03, 2023•31 min
In this episode, we speak with Thomas Haugaard, Portfolio Manager for Emerging Market Debt at Janus Henderson Investors. Haugaard, a former economist, talks passionately about why emerging markets form such an interesting investment universe, the influence of geopolitics on debt securities and the risks from climate change. Please enjoy the show! Overview of Podcast with Thomas Haugaard: 01:00 My investment journey started with an academic interest 03:00 I shared an apartment with one of the aut...
Aug 31, 2023•44 min
Craig Roodt is Director of Investment Governance and Risk at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and is also known for his time with the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). In this episode, we speak about the governance challenges of in-sourcing asset management functions by pension funds, the Your Future, Your Super performance test and some the worst governance failures he has seen during his time with the regulator. Overview of Podcast with Craig Roodt: 01:00 Governance pitfalls in intern...
Aug 01, 2023•52 min
In episode 85 of the [i3] Podcast, we speak with Jakob Wilhelmus, who is Director of Thematic Research at PGIM about their new report into food security and the changing food system. We spoke about the impact on the global economy and investment opportunities for institutional investors. Please enjoy the show! Overview of Podcast with Jakob Wilhelmus, PGIM 01:00 PGIM published the report ‘Food for Thought: Investment Opportunities Across a Changing Food System' 02:00 The current food system is i...
Jul 04, 2023•30 min
