AGENDA
Wholesale Forum, Sydney 2026
08:30
REGISTRATION
The Lands by Capella Ballroom
SPEAKERS
Wholesale Forum, Sydney 2026
Charlie Viola
Chairperson
Charlie Viola is the Executive Chair, Adviser and Founding Partner at Viola Private Wealth, with over 24 years of experience in investment management. He specialises in advising high-net-worth individuals, family offices and institutional investors, as well as managing significant portfolios with a focus on delivering tailored and high-touch services. Prior to founding Viola Private Wealth, Charlie was a Partner and Managing Director at Pitcher Partners Sydney Wealth Management, where he was instrumental in growing the business from less than $50 million in AUM in 2001 to over $3.5 billion by 2022, personally managing over $2 billion in AUM.
At Viola Private Wealth, he ensures clients benefit from exclusive investment opportunities and strategic, long-term wealth planning. His client-centric approach emphasises education and trust, key elements in achieving exceptional outcomes.
Recognised as a leader in the industry, Charlie is consistently ranked on Barron’s Top 100 Australian advisers list. Under Charlie’s leadership, Viola Private Wealth sets the standard for excellence in servicing high-net-worth clients and families.
09:15
GODS, GUNS & GOLD | FROM MACRO SIGNALS TO ALLOCATION STRATEGY
Today’s market presents a profound paradox, meeting long term return targets requires bold, high conviction bets, yet a fragile macro environment demands caution. From secular booms, to talks of expensive markets, to managing liquidity against sudden volatility spikes, the margin for error continues to thin out.
A session to discuss the current state of capital deployment, market outlooks and what asset classes represent relative value.
SPEAKERS:
Richard Felice, Partner, Belay Advisory
James Gouldson, Head of Managed Portfolios & Partner, Koda Capital
Lydia Kav, Non-executive Director, BilaEmpower Ltd
SPEAKERS
Wholesale Forum, Sydney 2026
Richard Felice
Partner
Belay Advisory
Richard is also the co-Founder at Belay Advisory; a boutique wealth-management and tax advisory business that provides services to ultra high net worth families.
The Belay team is 20-people strong and based across Sydney and Melbourne. Belay applies a whole of balance sheet approach to their clients, with a focus on governance and private market opportunities. Richard maintains a number of family board and investment committee roles amongst his clients, which often include multi-generational family members.
Richard spends his time with his family including 3 young kids and in the local community, also as the Treasurer of his local soccer club!
James Gouldson
Head of Managed Portfolios & Partner
Koda Capital
James has delivered investment solutions for high net worth individuals for over 16 years.
He is responsible for the ongoing management of Koda’s PDS-orientated solution including manager selection, as well the oversight of one of the firm’s direct Australian equity portfolios. In addition, James works closely with the Chief Investment Officer and Head of Core & Opportunistic Portfolios in the management of the Koda’s suite of private market investments.
Prior to joining Koda Capital, James led Perth-based Redwood Wealth’s investment function as the Head of Investment Management. In this role he conducted detailed investment analysis on both direct and managed opportunities across a diverse range of asset classes and geographies. His advice also included asset allocation and other portfolio construction activities.
James holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Corporate Finance & Investment Finance) from the University of Western Australia. He is a CFA® Charterholder and a member of the CFA Society Australia.
Lydia Kav
Non-executive Director, BilaEmpower Ltd
Lydia Kav (nee Serafim) is an experienced investment leader and capital steward with 30 years in financial markets, including two decades supporting Boards and Investment Committees. Lydia is currently a Non-Executive Director for BilaEmpower Ltd, member of the St Joseph’s College Foundation Board, and on the Economic Council of the De La Salle Brothers ANZPPNG District.
Her career spans senior leadership roles at AMP Capital Investors and Perpetual Ltd, as a Head of teams focusing on portfolio management and manager research across diversified and single-sector portfolios. She has deep expertise in multi-asset, multi-manager investing across public and private markets, including traditional and responsible (ESG) strategies, serving clients in superannuation, philanthropy, insurance, and wealth management. Lydia is recognised for her empowering leadership, and rigorous approach to asset allocation, risk oversight, and valuation governance.
She has been a standing and voting member of multiple Investment Committees and fund manager LPACs — Multi-Asset, Equities, Fixed Income, Unlisted Assets Valuations, and chairing Alternatives committees — and regularly reports to Boards on strategy, asset allocation, performance, and risk. Lydia also has been instrumental in improving the quality of governance reporting and excels at stakeholder management.
Lydia is a First-Class Honours Economics graduate and member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Overall, Lydia combines strong contemporary and practical commercial acumen, independent ethical judgement, rigorous curiosity, broad strategic insight, and a commitment to long-term value creation in governance or advisory roles.
10:15
MORNING TEA
10:35
THE EFFICIENCY MANDATE | UNLOCKING RELATIVE VALUE
Client portfolios are faced with finite illiquidity budgets, so how do you go about finding the best relative value today to deploy unlisted capital efficiently?
This session unites global property and private debt to maximize your private allocation where we examine how pairing the tangible pricing power of premium real estate with the senior-secured cash flows of corporate lending captures superior risk adjusted returns. Our speakers explore how to execute the ultimate relative value trade, securing essential downside protection while generating robust returns.
SPEAKERS:
David Warneford, Senior Managing Director, Head of Australia and New Zealand, Hines
Aris Allegos, Head of Australia, Muzinich & Co.
SPEAKERS
Wholesale Forum, Sydney 2026
David Warneford
Senior Managing Director, Head of Australia and New Zealand
Hines
David is responsible for overseeing the firm’s management and investment activities across the two countries. His role encompasses capital transactions, asset management, and the delivery of refurbishment and development projects.
David joined Hines in July 2008, beginning his tenure in the firm’s Abu Dhabi office before returning to his native Sydney to establish Hines’ Australia office in 2012. With extensive experience in the commercial real estate industry, he has been instrumental in the development, acquisition, and management of a diverse portfolio across the office, retail, living, and logistics sectors for Hines in Australia.
David holds a Bachelor of Building (Construction Management), Honours Second Class, from the University of New South Wales, and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment from FINSIA.
Aris Allegos
Head of Australia
Muzinich & Co.
Aris leads the firm’s operations and expansion within the Australian market. With an extensive background in investment banking and fintech, Aris previously held leadership roles at Moula, a pioneering Australian non-bank lender, and directed teams at leading international banks including Credit Suisse, Nomura, and Dresdner Kleinwort across Asia and Europe. He holds an MBA from London Business School and dual degrees in Law and Commerce from Monash University, and is well-regarded for driving growth and innovation in financial services throughout his career.
11:35
BEYOND THE CYCLE | SOURCING UNIQUE ALPHA
Traditional risk premiums are stretched so how do you capture excess returns for your clients?
Navigating market risks and concentration demands unique sources of structural yield. This session pairs two distinct approaches to uncorrelated alpha as we dissect a systematic framework exploiting relative value and global macro inefficiencies, alongside insurance linked securities generating completely uncorrelated yields. Our speakers discuss combining dynamic capital allocation with non financial physical exposures to deliver a robust, diversified alternative allocation built to withstand severe macroeconomic turbulence.
SPEAKERS:
Sam Foster, Alternatives Strategist, PIMCO
Jehan Sukhla, Co-Head of Alternative Strategies, MLC Asset Management
SPEAKERS
Wholesale Forum, Sydney 2026
Sam Foster
Alternatives Strategist
PIMCO
Sam is a vice president in the Singapore office, focusing on PIMCO’s alternative investment strategies. He joined PIMCO in 2018. He has seven years of investment experience and holds an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Bath. He is a CFA charterholder.
Jehan Sukhla
Co-Head of Alternative Strategies
MLC Asset Management
Jehan oversees client assets across the Opportunistic Capital Solutions Strategy and the Insurance-Related Investments Strategy. Since joining MLC in 2003 as a Research Analyst, he has played a key role in managing fixed income and currency portfolios. In 2005, his responsibilities expanded to include alternative strategies and commodities, and by 2010, he transitioned to focus exclusively on Alternative Strategies. Jehan holds a Bachelor of Accounting from the University of Technology Sydney, is a CFA Charterholder, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).
12:30
LUNCH
13:30
CONSTRUCTING RESILIENCE | LIQUIDITY, STRUCTURING, AND THE TRUE PRICE OF RISK
Finding a competitive advantage in today’s market requires venturing out of core allocations but accessing managers is only half the battle. As the regulator demands that allocators lift the bar for operational due diligence, risk pricing has never been higher.
Moving past marketing narratives, this session analyses what it takes to actually execute a non-vanilla portfolio strategy today through a conversation about the critical importance of position sizing, the hidden governance risks across private markets, and how to ensure defensive assets actually defend when systemic liquidity dries up.
SPEAKERS:
Danielle Press, Non-executive Director
Michael Karagianis, Head of Wealth, JANA Investment Advisors
GUEST MODERATOR:
James Gouldson, Head of Managed Portfolios & Partner, Koda Capital
SPEAKERS
Wholesale Forum, Sydney 2026
Danielle Press
Non-executive Director
Danielle is a Non-Executive Director. Currently, she is Chair of Insignia Financial Superannuation Trustees, Chair of the Customer Owner Banking Association Code Compliance Committee and a Director of Income Asset Management. Danielle is a former Commissioner of ASIC and seasoned financial services professional. Her leadership experience includes being CEO of the Myer Family Company and Equip Super. Prior to that Danielle worked at UBS for 17 years in a range of roles focused on investment, risk management and client solutions in Australia, Singapore and Chicago. She is also the founder of Loki’s Lodge, a sanctuary based in Central Victoria dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing of animals.
Michael Karagianis
Head of Wealth
JANA Investment Advisors
Michael leads JANA Wealth, managing sector engagement, including Family Offices. Michael is also chair of the JANA’s Wealth Asset Allocation Committee.
He has a total of more than 36 years of industry experience. Prior to joining JANA, Michael was a Head of Private Investment Consulting at NAB. He previously held the role of Head of Asset Allocation at UBS Global Asset Management in Australia and Global Head of Asset Allocation and Investment Strategy at Aberdeen Asset Managers in London. He graduated with a BEc from the University of Adelaide, and subsequently joined the Department of Treasury in Canberra.
James Gouldson
Head of Managed Portfolios & Partner
Koda Capital
James has delivered investment solutions for high net worth individuals for over 16 years.
He is responsible for the ongoing management of Koda’s PDS-orientated solution including manager selection, as well the oversight of one of the firm’s direct Australian equity portfolios. In addition, James works closely with the Chief Investment Officer and Head of Core & Opportunistic Portfolios in the management of the Koda’s suite of private market investments.
Prior to joining Koda Capital, James led Perth-based Redwood Wealth’s investment function as the Head of Investment Management. In this role he conducted detailed investment analysis on both direct and managed opportunities across a diverse range of asset classes and geographies. His advice also included asset allocation and other portfolio construction activities.
James holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Corporate Finance & Investment Finance) from the University of Western Australia. He is a CFA® Charterholder and a member of the CFA Society Australia.
14:35
QUALITY VS. VALUE | BOTH CAN'T BE RIGHT (OR CAN THEY?)
Does the current market demand strict adherence to a single style, or the flexibility to exploit the gaps in between?
This session unites two distinct global equity lenses, structural quality and opportunistic value. Moving beyond textbook definitions, we explore how both approaches navigate a concentrated market in the light of equity volatility. Opportunity or cause for concern? From identifying mispriced assets during short-term dislocations to securing sustainable compounders, our speakers discuss where these differing philosophies surprisingly converge. A session exploring the global themes where patience, agility, and fundamental discipline are currently being rewarded.
SPEAKERS:
Douglas Isles, Investment Director, GCQ
David Palmer, Senior Managing Director, Partner, and Equity Portfolio Manager, Wellington Management
GUEST MODERATOR:
Jacqui Fernley, Founding Partner, arcpoint OCIO
SPEAKERS
Wholesale Forum, Sydney 2026
Douglas Isles
Investment Director
GCQ
Douglas Isles is an Investment Director with day-to-day responsibility for the workflow and professional development of the analysts and portfolio managers in the GCQ investment team. Douglas also works closely with the Distribution team.
Prior to joining GCQ Funds Management in 2026, Douglas was most recently Head of Investment at Platinum Asset Management where he worked closely with its founders for two decades. He previously built out their Investment Specialist capability for domestic advisers, introduced the firm to US-based investors and spent time as an analyst.
Douglas started his investment career in Scotland, where he qualified as an actuary, and has also worked in Singapore. He holds an MA in Mathematics from Trinity College, Cambridge and is a Graduate of the AICD.
David Palmer
Senior Managing Director, Partner, and Equity Portfolio Manager
Wellington Management
Dave is an equity portfolio manager and leader of the firm’s Opportunistic Value Team. Drawing on research from Wellington Management’s global industry analysts, equity portfolio managers, and team analysts, he manages the Opportunistic Value, Global Opportunistic Value, and International Opportunistic Value approaches. He works in our Radnor, Pennsylvania office.
Prior to joining Wellington Management in 1998, David worked in equity sales, trading, and research at Cantor Fitzgerald, Ltd. in London (1993 – 1996).
David earned his MBA in finance, with distinction, from the University of Pennsylvania (Wharton, 1998) and his BA in English, with distinction, from Stanford University (1993). He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA Society of Philadelphia.
15:30
AFTERNOON TEA
15:55
CREDIT QUALITY UNDER THE MICROSCOPE | ASIC, DEFAULTS & YOUR PORTFOLIO
Australia’s private credit market has boomed, but rising defaults, market stressors, and the ASIC review are forcing a reckoning. How do you build resilient portfolios when credit quality is under scrutiny and concentration risk is rising?
This session brings together the biggest investors to dissect the Australian credit landscape. Corporate lending faces headwinds from trade volatility, while commercial real estate grapples with inflation pressures. Our speakers provide insights and explore how to navigate subsector divergence and build well-rounded portfolios that deliver superior risk-adjusted returns without taking unnecessary concentration risk.
The key question: in a maturing market under regulatory scrutiny, how do investors continue to deliver strong risk-adjusted returns?
SPEAKERS:
Andrew Lockhart, Group CEO and Managing Partner, Metrics Credit Partners
Frank Danieli, Head of Global Credit Solutions, MA Financial Group
GUEST MODERATOR:
Lydia Kav, Non-executive Director, BilaEmpower Ltd
SPEAKERS
Wholesale Forum, Sydney 2026
Andrew Lockhart
Group CEO and Managing Partner
Metrics Credit Partners
Andrew Lockhart is a founder and one of the four Managing Partners who form the Investment Committee at Metrics Credit Partners. Andrew has 36 years’ banking, funds management and financial markets experience specialising in leverage and acquisition finance as well as corporate and institutional lending. Andrew’s considerable experience includes being responsible for the origination and portfolio risk management of large, diversified, and complex loan portfolios including corporate restructurings. Andrew holds a Bachelor of Business and Masters of Business Administration from the Queensland University of Technology.
Frank Danieli
Head of Global Credit Solutions
MA Financial Group
Frank is also a Managing Director and Group Executive at MA Financial Group, having joined the firm in 2013.
He is responsible for MA Financial’s Global Credit Solutions platform, which invests across asset backed lending, corporate debt and specialty credit verticals. Frank also collaborates on the strategic direction of the firm’s Lending businesses, which include non-bank lending and financial technology platforms, and its principal credit initiatives.
Frank’s background includes substantial experience in corporate advisory, where he focused on special situations, M&A and financial services transactions.
Frank previously worked as a corporate strategy consultant at Pottinger and in funds management at Challenger. He holds a Commerce / Law (First Class Honours) degree from Sydney University.
Lydia Kav
Non-executive Director, BilaEmpower Ltd
Lydia Kav (nee Serafim) is an experienced investment leader and capital steward with 30 years in financial markets, including two decades supporting Boards and Investment Committees. Lydia is currently a Non-Executive Director for BilaEmpower Ltd, member of the St Joseph’s College Foundation Board, and on the Economic Council of the De La Salle Brothers ANZPPNG District.
Her career spans senior leadership roles at AMP Capital Investors and Perpetual Ltd, as a Head of teams focusing on portfolio management and manager research across diversified and single-sector portfolios. She has deep expertise in multi-asset, multi-manager investing across public and private markets, including traditional and responsible (ESG) strategies, serving clients in superannuation, philanthropy, insurance, and wealth management. Lydia is recognised for her empowering leadership, and rigorous approach to asset allocation, risk oversight, and valuation governance.
She has been a standing and voting member of multiple Investment Committees and fund manager LPACs — Multi-Asset, Equities, Fixed Income, Unlisted Assets Valuations, and chairing Alternatives committees — and regularly reports to Boards on strategy, asset allocation, performance, and risk. Lydia also has been instrumental in improving the quality of governance reporting and excels at stakeholder management.
Lydia is a First-Class Honours Economics graduate and member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Overall, Lydia combines strong contemporary and practical commercial acumen, independent ethical judgement, rigorous curiosity, broad strategic insight, and a commitment to long-term value creation in governance or advisory roles.
16:55
THE NEW STATECRAFT | NAVIGATING THE WEAPONISATION OF TECH AND TRADE
As the US shifts from global policeman to strategic competitor, how do allocators price the new geopolitical reality?
This session explores how Washington’s 2025 strategic worldview is rewriting the rules of global investment. We cover the changing policy frameworks surrounding Iranian containment, how the US is leveraging domestic energy dominance and AI leadership as modern tools of statecraft. A candid conversation on translating complex geopolitics into actionable portfolio opportunities.
SPEAKER:
The Hon. Arthur Sinodinos, Chairman, United States Studies Centre
SPEAKERS
Wholesale Forum, Sydney 2026
The Hon. Arthur Sinodinos
Chairman
United States Studies Centre
The Hon. Arthur Sinodinos AO is Partner and Chair of The Asia Group’s Australia Practice and a leading expert on Australian public policy and politics who brings a wealth of public and private sector experience spanning national security, industry innovation, economic policy, and banking.
Ambassador Sinodinos most recently served as Australian Ambassador to the United States, where he was closely involved in Australia’s negotiations related to AUKUS, the Quad, and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. Ambassador Sinodinos previously worked as Australia’s Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science and was a Senator for New South Wales in the Australian Parliament from 2011 to 2019. During his parliamentary career, he also held other key roles in and outside Cabinet, including Cabinet Secretary and Assistant Treasurer.
Over a career spanning four decades, Ambassador Sinodinos has held a number of influential positions in public service. On the election of the Hon. John Howard AC as Prime Minister of Australia in 1996, Ambassador Sinodinos was appointed the Prime Minister’s Senior Economic Adviser and in 1997, the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, a position he held for nine years. Between 1987-1989 and 1995-1996 Ambassador Sinodinos also served as Senior Economic Adviser to Mr Howard while in opposition. He started his Australian Public Service career in 1979, rising to the Senior Executive Service in the Department of the Treasury.
In 2006, Ambassador Sinodinos left government to work with Goldman Sachs JBWere, followed by the National Australia Bank and various corporate appointments.
17:50
DRINKS & CANAPES
The Lands by Capella
