Agenda
Event Information
The Bodhi Research Group Annual Symposium 2025 has curated top-notch speakers to share their insights in different facets of alternative investments, asset management, and the economy. This special one-day Symposium will be content-rich featuring ideas that are top-of-mind.
Schedule
Upstairs - VIP Boardroom
(preferred access for sponsors & allocators)
8:10 AM - 8:50 AM
A powerhouse panel of pension veterans confer on top-of-the-house challenges and opportunities for today's pensions. Combining Legacy and Leadership, this strategic discussion will offer wisdom and durable solutions.
Keynote: The Pension Situation Room
Speakers:
Dave Finstad, CFA | Investment Consultant, Independent
Aaron Bennett, CFA | CIO of University Pension Plan Ontario
Jim Keohane, CFA, ICD.D. | Former President and CEO of HOOPP
Claude Lamoureux, FSA, ICD.D. | Former President & CEO Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan
8:50 AM
Welcome
Dr. Ranjan Bhaduri, PhD, CFA, CAIA | Founder and CEO of Bodhi Research Group
9:00AM - 9:20AM
Seaweed has the potential to become one of the most transformative crops of our lifetime and a catalyst for the emerging blue economy. Its unparalleled ability to sequester carbon and nutrients makes it a powerful tool in tackling global climate challenges. From addressing food security and enabling sustainable textiles to methane reduction in livestock and eliminating microplastics, ocean-based solutions are reshaping industries and creating immense economic opportunities.
Seaweed: The World’s Secret Weapon
Speaker:
John Soukas | CEO & Co-Founder, Norfolk Green Ventures
9:20AM - 9:40AM
NowTalk: Peeling Back the Premium: Unpacking Risk
Private assets offer diversification benefits, access to illiquidity risk premiums, and exposure to a variety of alternative sources of alpha. As a result, privates have become a mainstay in the well diversified portfolios of sophisticated investors around the world. Quantifying the true risks inherent to investing in private assets is challenging, but vital when it comes to considering optimal portfolio and asset allocations. This presentation will take a look at alternative ways to think about the risks inherent in illiquidity risk premiums.
Speaker:
Chris Schindler, CFA | Co-Founder, CEO & CIO, Castlefield Associates
9:40AM - 10:10AM
Tariffs, Tweets, and Turbulence: Navigating the New Volatility Landscape
This presentation examines how investors are navigating the recent market turmoil, as equity-bond correlation breaks down and cross-asset volatility surges. What are the notable themes, trends, and dislocations in the derivatives market?
Speaker:
Mandy Xu, CFA | Vice President & Head of Derivatives Market Intelligence, Cboe
10:20AM - 10:50AM
Risk Management and Operational Due Diligence in Turbulent Times
This panel explores how market volatility is reshaping risk management and operational due diligence. Panelists will discuss ODD best practices, private asset valuation challenges, and how advanced stress-testing and AI-driven scenario planning enhance portfolio durability.
Speakers:
Safiya Bannister, CFA | Director, Treasury & Middle Office, Mastercard Foundation Asset Management
Ju Hui Lee, CFA, CAIA, FSA, FCIA, FRM | Head of Investment Risk, United Nations
Andrew Biggs, CFA, CAIA | Head of Due Diligence, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
Cordell W. Thomas, II | Director of Operations, New York State Nurses Association Pension Plan
Brian Digney, CAIA | Research and Content Director, SBAI
11:10AM - 11:40AM
Due Diligence Live: An Introduction to Casualty ILS
This interactive educational session simulates a live investment due diligence meeting, with experienced allocators exploring the fundamentals of Casualty Insurance-Linked Securities (ILS). Designed as an introduction, it will cover the core investment thesis, key risks, and portfolio relevance of this emerging strategy.
Speakers:
Hazlitt Gill | Managing Director, Partnership Portfolios, BCI
Vincent Zhou, CFA, FRM | Portfolio Manager, RedJay Asset Management
Suk Inthirarajah, FCA, CQF, CFA | Director of Strategic Relationships, Fermat Capital Management
11:40AM - 12:05PM
The Fixed Income Focus and Credit Compass
This session will explore the latest perspectives on fixed income and credit markets, examining current trends, risks, and opportunities. This panel will provide insights into the evolving landscape of rates, bonds, and credit, offering valuable outlooks on how these markets are shaping investment strategies moving forward.
Speakers:
Zarqaa Shaikh, CFA | Managing Director, OPTrust
Pierre-Philippe Ste-Marie | Managing Director of Investment Research, Bodhi Research Group
Dr. Dhivya Krishna, PhD | Head of Research Metacapital Management
Jonathan Duensing, CFA | Senior Managing Director, Head of US Fixed Income, Pioneer Investments (A Strategic Partner of Amundi Investment Solutions)
Main Floor
8:00 AM
Breakfast + Brainstorm
Enjoy a delicious breakfast and network with Symposium delegates.
Master of Ceremonies:
Niall Whelan, PhD | Managing Director, Bodhi Research Group
Dr. Davide Sabatini, OD | Solutions Engineer, Bodhi Research Group
9:00AM
Brave New World: Macro and Markets Outlook
We are living in a brave new world with growing uncertainty regarding international trade, inflation, geopolitical problems, and market valutations. This panel of experts discusses how these factors may affect the markets and the macroeconomic landscape in the second half of 2025.
Speakers:
Jens Foehrenbach, CFA | President and Co-CIO, Graham Capital Management
Elizabeth Burton, CAIA | Managing Director, Goldman Sachs
Brandon Gill New, CFA | Managing Director, Head of External Partnerships, AIMCo
Michael Medeiros, CFA | Partner, Senior Managing Director, and Macro Strategist, Wellington Management
Chad Myhre, CFA, CAIA | Managing Director, Alfred I duPont Charitable Trust
9:30AM
Frontier Markets: Investments & Life in the MENA Region
A panel of resident experts demystifies the Middle East & North Africa (MENA), a region too often overshadowed by outdated narratives. With strong macroeconomic fundamentals, twin surpluses, and expanding capital markets, MENA offers compelling opportunities. This session explores both the investment potential and daily life across these frontier markets—and why the region may merit renewed attention today.
Speakers:
Sami Robbana | Head of Business Development, Metacapital
Yazid Ben Salem | Managing Director, Waha Capital
Suhaib Jamjoom | Co-Founder & CIO, Isometry Capital
Chavan Bhogaita | Managing Director and Head of Client Outreach & Market Insights, First Abu Dhabi Bank
10:00AM
The Co-Investment Code: A Case Study in Infrastructure
This session features a walkthrough of the University Pension Plan's approach to building a high-performing private markets portfolio. It explores how UPP uses co-investments, in-house expertise, and strategic partnerships to unlock opportunities—illustrated through recent infrastructure investments.
Speaker:
James Wong | Head of Infrastructure Investments, University Pension Plan Ontario
10:25AM
NowTalk: The Power Play - How Physical Uranium Can Drive Portfolio Growth
The global energy landscape is witnessing an unprecedented nuclear revival, with both emerging economies and former nuclear-skeptic nations like Japan and Germany making decisive returns to atomic power.
While reactor construction accelerates worldwide, uranium prices remain surprisingly subdued - creating a rare disconnect between surging demand and lagging prices.
This presentation examines uranium's evolving role in the energy transition and its implications for long-term investors.
Speaker:
John Segrich | Portfolio Manager, Lombard Odier Investment Managers
10:45 AM
Coffee & Connect
11:10AM
Return & liquidity can matter more than return & risk, to a portfolio with a perpetual timeframe. In addition to the goal of maximum Sharpe ratio, it is possible to set a goal of optimal illiquidity also. Liquidity needs, feasibility factors and risk appetite differ from one institution to another. Including those factors in a probabilistic framework allows for a more purpose-built asset allocation.
Allocating for Optimal Illiquidity
Speakers:
Niall Whelan, PhD | Managing Director, Bodhi Research Group
Maria Garrahan | Director of Research, Senior Investment Officer, PRIM
11:30AM
The Portfolio Playbook: Real-World Lessons in Asset Allocation
Join a distinguished panel of experts as they explore the complexities of asset allocation during times of market stress. They will cover the balance between strategic and tactical asset allocation, challenges in private markets, liquidity management, and frameworks for optimization. With a focus on practical applications and real-world challenges, this discussion will provide valuable perspectives on managing diversified portfolios in evolving market conditions.
Speakers:
Mark Hannoush, CPA, CFA | Managing Director, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
Danilo Simonelli, CFA | Managing Director, Mastercard Foundation Asset Management
Wayne Kozun, CFA | Co-Chief Investment Officer, Forthlane Partners
Carolyn Tsen, CFA | Senior Director, Hydro One
12:05 PM
Lunch & Liaison
1:00 PM
Voice of a Giant: Creative Expression On and Off the Stage
Sameer Gadhia, lead singer of Young the Giant and host of SiriusXM’s Point of Origin, will discuss the intersection of creativity, music, and the changing music industry. Drawing from his own journey and his podcast, which amplifies diverse voices in alternative and indie rock, Sameer explores how the music business is evolving — highlighting the role of venture capital, music rights, and the new creative opportunities shaping the future of the genre. The talk will also explore how to unlock creativity as a powerful tool for innovation and problem solving.
Speakers:
Sameer Gadhia | Recording Artist, Young the Giant
Confidy Kong | Creative Director, Bodhi Research Group
1:40 PM
Keynote: Advancing Along the Human / Machine Frontier
From the telegraph, to the Bloomberg terminal, to quantitative investing, humans have profited by integrating technological advances into the investment process. The "efficient frontier" of human and machine inputs is constantly moving outward. The right mix of human and machine inputs and the skills required to deploy them evolve over time. This panel discusses what it will take to be a next generation winner in fundamental investing at a time of rapid technological change.
Speakers:
John McCormick, JD | CEO, Tc43 LLC
Jason Beverage | CIO, Taproot Management
Keynote: Building and Leading World-Class Teams: An Elite Warrior’s Perspective
2:10 PM
In this exclusive fireside chat, a retired U.S. Navy SEAL shares insights on building and leading high-performing teams under pressure, drawing parallels between military and finance sector. This keynote will focus on talent selection, decision-making under uncertainty, and the role of culture in creating elite teams. Gain actionable lessons from high-stakes environments to enhance team dynamics, leadership, and portfolio performance.
Speakers:
Andrew Sullivan | Retired US Navy SEAL, Founder & CEO, Community First Project
John Soukas | CEO & Co-Founder, Norfolk Green Ventures
2:50 PM
Afternoon Tea & Talk
3:20 PM
Keynote: Achieving win-win outcomes for pension funds and governments
Pension funds face increasing pressure from financially constrained governments to invest domestically and in particular types of assets. However, domestic assets available to pension funds often lack the risk-return properties that the funds require in their investments. How do we achieve win-win outcomes for pension funds and the Canadian economy?
Speaker:
Sebastien Betermier, PhD | Associate Professor of Finance, McGill University
3:50 PM
Absolute Return Portfolios - Its Purpose, Leading Best Practices, and Innovation
This panel of experienced experts examine the role of the absolute return portfolio within the total portfolio. They share leading best practices in portfolio construction, manager selection, and running a world-class external manager program. Finally, they discuss what they are seeing and doing that is innovative.
Speakers:
Puneet Kohli, CFA | Investment Executive, Independent
Christophe L'Ahelec, CFA | Managing Director, University Pension Plan Ontario
Mario Therrien, CFA | Senior VP, Head of Investment Funds, CDPQ
Dimitar Marmarov, CFA | Manager Director, External Portfolio Management, CPP Investments