Wealth. Wisdom. Happiness.
“Wisdom is the supreme part of happiness.”
– Sophocles
Program
FAMILY OFFICE CONGRESS XV PROGRAM
FAMILY OFFICE CONGRESS XV
PRE-CONGRESS MASTERCLASSES
Tuesday 7 May 2024
Masterclasses
Rising Gen Masterclass: A new pathway for finding your unique place in the world
“What is it like to grow up in the Land of Giants?”
This workshop will explore some of the unique challenges faced by the rising generations as they strive to emerge from the shadow of a prominent family and make their mark on this world.
It is designed for rising gen family members but is equally relevant to all those involved in family enterprise, family business or family offices who want to be supportive to rising gen family members.
Managing Currency Risk: Mitigate, Avoid, or Exploit?
On average, 25% of investment portfolio risk comes from currency exposure or foreign exchange, In this interactive session, Andrew Harrex shares his 35 years of experience as an investor.
Collectively, we will compare different investments and asset classes side-by-side and discuss which is more risky, how to mitigate currency risks and ways of minimising losses.
Masterclass Registrations:
*Please note registrations for the Masterclasses are separate from Congress.
Members: Please register for the Masterclasses via our PWN Community Hub below
Rising Gen Masterclass Registration
Managing Investment Risk Masterclass Registration
Non-Members: Please reach out to PWNrsvp@pwnetwork.com.au if you are interested in participating
PRE-CONGRESS PRIVATE MEMBER & GUEST DINNER
Tuesday 7 May 2024
Private Member & Guest Dinner
Private Member & Guest Dinner
Reconnect with fellow PWN members and welcome new families in the network at our annual Family Office Congress XV Dinner. We invite you to step into the grandeur of The State Library Victoria, Australia’s oldest public library for an unforgettable evening of culinary delights and cultural enrichment.
*To our guests and non-members, please kindly note this dinner is by invitation only.
CONGRESS DAY 1
Wednesday 8 May 2024
7:30AM - 5:10PM
7:30am – Registration
8:40am – Welcome to Congress
8:50am – Keynote Presentation | ARE WE LIMITING OUR TRUE WEALTH, WISDOM AND HAPPINESS?
Evana Lithgow, Managing Partner, Working Minds NZ
Drawing on insights and observations from her own client work over the years, Evana will consider if the approaches and thinking used in family wealth advising to date have been helpful or not.
- What is true wealth? What does it require to grow?
- What are some of the pros and cons and success rate of approaches used to advise families of significance over time?
- Where should we be investing our time and energy to achieve the desires of our hearts?
- Some practical dos and dont’s which may surprise you!
9:40am – Keynote Presentation | FROM BUILDING A GLOBAL BEER EMPIRE TO A PURPOSE-DRIVEN LEGACY
Frederic De Mevius, 9th Generation family member and Executive Chairman and Managing Partner, Planet First Partners (BEL)
In this session, we are joined by Frederic de Mevius, a ninth-generation member of the AB-Inbev family ownership. Hear how he transitioned from helping AB-InBev become the world’s largest brewer to crafting a new narrative in sustainable investing.
COFFEE BREAK & NETWORKING HUB
10:30am – 11:20am
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
11:20am – 1:30pm
Member Stage
Hear from members and their different perspectives on how they are making their wealth meaningful.
Future Gen & Innovation Stage
Look into the future and hear about entrepreneurship, business innovation, impact and more.
Investment Stage
Learn how other families are investing for their Family and Family Office.
Member Stage:
DOES 'HAVING IT ALL' MAKE US HAPPIER OR SADDER?
Ren Barlow, PWN Member (AUS)
David Werdiger, PWN Member (AUS)
Suparna Bhasin, PWN Member (AUS)
Money creates freedom to enjoy the best things in life, yet statistics show that levels of wealth have an extremely modest impact on our happiness. Why is this? Our panel discuss the paradox of having it all yet still feeling discontent. What are we doing wrong?
Future Gen & Innovation:
DANGEROUS DISCUSSIONS
Patrycja Slawuta, Founder, UnLab & Self Hackathon
Navigating taboo topics like money, sex, and power can seem daunting. Yet, engaging in meaningful and thought-provoking conversations about them can spark vitality, creativity, and authentic self-expression in our private, social and professional lives. Join renowned behavioural scientist Patrycja Slawuta to explore why and how we can restore love and affinity in conversations with our family.
Investment Stage:
HEADWINDS & TAILWINDS: WHAT'S IN STORE FOR 2024
Warren and Mary Naphtal, Founders, PE Investments (USA) in conversation with PWN facilitator Grace Mathew
Warren and Mary Naphtal turned a family-owned business into one of the world’s most successful dedicated currency managers. In this fireside chat, they share their proprietary research and unique insights into the factors driving markets and impacting your investments, and how they built this into a successful business.
Member Stage:
TRIGGER HAPPY: WHY BELIEFS AND BEHAVIOURS ARE THE KEY TO FAMILY UNITY
Douglas Family, PWN Members (AUS) in conversation with Francesco Lombardo
The greatest risks to family harmony and a successful transfer of wealth are the behaviours and beliefs of each family member. In this session, Francesco Lombardo and members of the Douglas family explore their experience in coming to understand and transform their own beliefs and behaviours, and how this has transformed their dynamics as a family.
Future Gen & Innovation:
EMPOWERING THE RISING GEN TO OVERCOME SUCCESSION ANXIETY
Lauren Baird, PWN Member (AUS)
Aimee Mensink, PWN Member (AUS)
Jamie Weiner & Russ Haworth, Founders, Quest for Legitimacy (US/UK)
In this open discussion, we explore some of the key issues and myths which can lead to succession anxiety amongst the rising generation. How do we navigate an ageing patriarch as well as deal with challenges such as self-doubt, isolation and finding our own path?
Investment Stage:
IT'S TIME TO REVISIT BITCOIN AND DIGITAL ASSETS
Dean Serroni, Co-founder, Merkle Tree (AUS)
Gabriel Carey, Director, Merkle Tree (AUS)
Have you missed the boat? Is this asset class now investable?
Larry Fink and most of Wall St have changed their mind on digital assets – is it time for investors to take another look? The Bitcoin ETFs launched earlier this year are the most successful launches ever, Sovereign wealth funds and global pension funds are circling. This informative session will provide you with a deeper understanding on the investment case for digital assets. Discover the benefits of this emerging asset class, learn safe strategies, and understand their potential impact on your family office portfolio.
Member Stage: WEALTH TO WELLBEING
Arun Abey, PWN Member (AUS)
Enriching lives is the true purpose of money, but how do we succeed when so many families (90% by Gen 3) fail in this quest? Join us for a special interactive presentation with members guided by PWN Member and author Arun Abey AM, who has been advising families globally with multi-generational wealth for decades.
Future Gen & Innovation:
RECLAIM YOUR HAPPINESS IN THE AGE OF DISTRACTION
Dr Kristy Goodwin, Digital Wellbeing & Neuro-productivity Speaker, Author & Researcher (AUS)
Technology is increasingly stealing our time and attention, including those precious moments of connection with family and friends. In this practical session, Dr Kristy Goodwin shares research-based strategies to help us own our attention and focus on the things that really matter in life and work.
Investment Stage:
CONTINUATION FUNDS: EXTENDING THE JOURNEY OF INVESTMENT SUCCESS
Ankita Baheti, Investment Director, Schroders Capital Private Equity (SING)
Claire Smith, Head of Private Asset Sales, Schroders (AUS)
Continuation funds have emerged as a popular technique to extend exposure to “crown jewel” companies within private equity funds. Better understand the benefits and risks, and why families are increasingly drawn to this dynamic sector of the private equity market.
NETWORKING HUB
1:30pm – 2:50pm
Connect and collaborate with fellow PWN members and peers over the lunch break.
Craving more content? Join our lunchtime session
See below
LUNCHTIME SESSION
The next wave of category defining software, powered by AI
1:45pm – 2:30pm
Matt Browne, PWN Member (AUS) and Managing Partner, Black Nova
With every wave of technology from the Industrial Revolution, the invention of the silicon chip, internet 1, smartphones, cloud computing and now AI, giant leaps in the way we work have generated category defining companies and created significant opportunities for those brave enough to build or invest. Hear from 3 x software founder and seasoned software investor Matthew Browne as he unpacks the latest and most significant wave of technology innovation and investment.
2:50pm – MEMBER CONNECT
Our Peer Group and Member Connect table discussions allows you to reconnect with your peer group and others with similar interests early into your Family Office Congress XV experience. Engage and share your ideas with other PWN Members on a variety of topics suited to all interests.
4:10pm – Keynote Presentation | NAVIGATING WEALTH, WISDOM & HAPPINESS ACROSS GENERATIONS
O’Donnell family, PWN Members (NZ)
Join us for an inspiring fireside chat with the O’Donnell family. They will share their family history including some pivotal moments that have helped shape their family’s philosophy and passion for giving back to the local community. Learn how they navigated challenges, engaged their children and cultivated a mindset that goes beyond financial success.
END OF DAY 1 & NETWORKING DRINKS
5:10pm
CONGRESS DAY 2
Thursday 9 May 2024
7:00AM - 3:45PM
8:30am – Opening Remarks & Day 1 Reflections
8:45am – Keynote Presentation | CONNECT THE DOTS: CULTIVATING SERENDIPITY FOR INNOVATION, IMPACT, AND ‘SMART LUCK’
Dr Christian Busch, Business Professor at USC Marshall School of Business & London School of Economics; Bestselling Author, The Serendipity Mindset (USA)
What if being lucky wasn’t just chance but a skill you could master? In this session, the bestselling author of The Serendipity Mindset reveals the scientific framework behind the hidden force that rules our lives: serendipity. By learning to identify, act on and share serendipity, we can use uncertainty as a pathway to more joyful, purposeful, and successful lives for our families, businesses, and everywhere.
9:45am – Keynote Presentation | THE NEW GENERATION OF TECH WEALTH
Dom Pym, Founder, UP (AUS)
Antonia Ruffell, Co-Founder, StartGiving (AUS)
Around a third of PWN’s members are an emerging class of young Founders They tend to be ambitious venture capitalists, tech entrepreneurs and of a start-up mentality. We discuss some of the cultural differences and beliefs in the way these families approach their wealth, including (in some cases) a shift away from traditional secrecy surrounding finances, and a desire to educate the next generation and foster a sense of responsibility.
COFFEE BREAK & NETWORKING HUB
10:30am – 11:20am
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
11:20am – 1:25pm
Future Gen & Innovation Stage
Look into the future and hear about entrepreneurship, business innovation, impact and more.
Member Stage
Hear from members and their different perspectives on how they are making their wealth meaningful.
Investment Stage
Learn how other families are investing for their Family and Family Office.
Member Stage:
MANAGING FAMILY OFFICE TRANSITION
Gary McConaghy, PWN Member (AUS)
Gary will present the story of how his family are transforming the 55 year old family owned and operated business, McConaghy Properties, into a diversified investment corporation.
Future Gen & Innovation:
REIMAGINING SUCCESSION PLANNING WITH AI
Amanda Johnstone, CEO & Co-Founder, Transhuman (AUS)
Explore the transformative potential of AI in revolutionising succession planning. How can AI tools help facilitate data-driven decision-making and empower future generations to navigate complex succession challenges with clarity and confidence?
Investment Stage:
THE NEXUS OF IMPACT AND PROPERTY
Adam Murchie, PWN Member (AUS)
Adam Murchie explores the emerging interrelationship between Impact, ESG and Property investment. He will unpick where the major drivers are coming from, how they can be harnessed for both doing good and driving economic returns and provide practical examples and case studies on how such outcomes are being delivered.
Member Stage: FOCUSING ON WHAT MATTERS MOST: PUTTING FAMILY STRATEGY INTO ACTION
Speakers, Mutual Trust tbc
When families of wealth thrive, good things happen. Families flourish, businesses prosper and more private capital is deployed. This interactive session will uncover:
- Why your agreed Purpose of Wealth matters
- What makes a good Family Strategy
- How execution is essential to a thriving family
Future Gen & Innovation:
HOW TO LIVE A LIFE WITH NO REGRETS
Dr Christian Busch, Business Professor at USC Marshall School of Business & LSE Bestselling Author
What would you regret if you were on your deathbed right now? This session explores how to stay focused on creating connections and a legacy that is truly meaningful to us to ensure you can live a life with no regrets.
Investment Stage:
INVESTING IN THE NEW ECONOMY
Paul Chadwick, PWN Member (AUS)
Tom King, co-founder, Nanuk Asset Management (AUS)
In this session, Paul and Tom discuss their investment journey with particular focus on sustainable investing and what the ‘new world’ looks like today compared to 15 years ago. They will explore how various elements of their firm’s investment universe are positioned plus lessons learned along the way.
Member Stage:
BUILDING LEGACY: EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION FOR SUCCESS
Moderated by:
Jane Flanagan, Director of Family Office Advisory, Northern Trust Global Family & Private Investment Offices
Panellists:
- Chris King, Rising Gen Family Member and Manager, Investment & Philanthropy, CH Warman Group
- Felicity Spittle, CEO, CJQ Private
- Ryder Quinn, Rising Gen Family member
Engaging and preparing the rising generation is a subject consistently requested by PWN members. What do future family leaders need to feel empowered to manage their impending responsibilities? Jane Porter Flanagan moderates a conversation with rising gen members on their experiences as well as shares sample peer data from Northern Trust’s recent research on this topic.
Future Gen & Innovation:
ALIGNING YOUR RESOURCES WITH THE WORLD YOU WANT TO SEE
Raya Papp, Co-Founder, SAGANA and Senior Advisor to Circulate Capital (Switzerland)
The Hafenmayer family share their journey over the last decade of understanding their unique resources (skills, network, capital, passion) and linking that to their vision of the world. They will share personal examples of how this experience has led them to chart their own happiness journey.
Investment Stage:
POWERING AUSTRALIA FORWARD: INVESTING IN THE ENERGY TRANSITION
Ludovic Theau, Chief Investment Officer, Australian Ethical
Alex Ramsey, Co-founder and Investment Director, Infradebt
Join us for a dynamic fireside discussion on the Australian energy opportunity and aspects characterising the transition to net-zero.
This session will explore:
- Lessons learned from the COP28 and what this means for decarbonisation and investment in Australia in particular?
- Investment opportunities in the energy transition
- Insights into infrastructure debt assets, including defensive income, risk-return and diversification characteristics.
- Why there is limited opportunity in public/listed markets
NETWORKING HUB
1:25pm – 2:45pm
Connect and collaborate with fellow PWN members and peers over the lunch break.
Or hungry for more content? Join our lunchtime session.
See below:
LUNCHTIME SESSION
Unlocking Opportunities in Credit and CLO’s
1:45pm – 2:30pm
Karl Dasher, President, Head of Investments, Polen Capital (USA)
In conversation with Mark Pitcher, Executive Chair, Clevertar (AUS)
According to research, family offices around the world intend to allocate more capital towards private credit in 2024. Why the increased interest?
Hear from Karl Dasher, President at Polen Capital, a global investment leader in credit strategies, as he discusses the significant interest and growth in private credit and CLO’s (Collateralised Loan Obligations) and why more family offices are focused on this investment opportunity.
2:45pm – Keynote Presentation |ROOTS & WINGS: RESPECTING ANCESTRAL WISDOM WHILST SHAPING PERSONAL SUCCESS & HAPPINESS
HRH Don Francisco de Borbon Graf von Hardenberg, 50th GM Order of St Lazarus (SPAIN)
H.E. Don Sergio A. Fernandez de Cordova de Veyga, Chairman, PVBLIC Foundation (PERU/SPAIN)
We are delighted to welcome back two next gen members of prominent global families who first shared their fascinating family story at PWN’s 10th Annual Congress. This session represents a valuable moment to explore and reflect how their insights and perspectives have grown 5 years on, especially against the backdrop of recent global developments. They offer a forward-looking perspective on happiness and success in today’s complex world.
3:30pm – Closing Remarks
3:45pm – End of Congress
*Timings are subject to change.