Better Business
Virtual Panels

The full 2025 programme is now open for registration – choose your events now!

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Speakers

Our speakers will cover every major asset class and region, giving you a comprehensive overview of the latest news in the world's major markets.

Stuart Ryan

Moderator
Stuart Ryan | Head of Research | RSMR

Stuart graduated from the University of Wales Swansea with a degree in Law and commenced his career in finance in 2004 at HSBC in Canary Wharf. He has gained wide range of experience in finance ranging from investment management and investment banking to financial trading and market making. Prior to joining RSMR, Stuart worked for over 6 years at London based IFA Holden & Partners as Investment Manager leading the in-house investment team. This included portfolio construction (including SRI & ESG portfolios), investment research, conducting face-to-face meetings with both fund managers and clients and being a member of the internal investment committee. Stuart is a Chartered Fellow of the CISI and holds the Chartered Wealth Manager (level 7) qualification. Additionally, he holds the IMC and the CII Diploma in Financial Planning.

Alasdair McHugh, Investment Specialist

Alasdair McHugh | Investment Specialist, Baillie Gifford

Alasdair is an investment specialist on our Sustainable Growth Strategy. He joined Baillie Gifford in 2008 as a graduate trainee and initially focussed on the UK market and our longest-standing pooled vehicle, The Baillie Gifford Managed Fund. In 2015 Alasdair became a founding member of our Sustainable Growth Team where he now chairs the strategy’s Product Group. Since joining the firm, he has also been involved with internal environmental sustainability groups, looking at the firm’s own climate credentials and considering strategic positioning in an increasingly complex field. Alasdair previously trained as a Chartered Management Accountant after graduating from the University of Dundee in 2006.

Guinness Global Investors

| Guinness Global Investors

Michael Biemann

Michael Biemann | Product Strategist, PIMCO

Mr. Biemann is a senior vice president and fixed income strategist in the London office. He initially joined PIMCO in 2010, and previously worked as an associate on the emerging markets team and in the executive office. Prior to rejoining the firm in 2020, he was Founding Angel and CEO of the U.K. lender Selina Finance, and a strategy consultant for the Boston Consulting Group. He has also served in the U.S. Treasury Department in the Office of the Middle East and North Africa, worked as a teaching fellow of finance at Harvard University, and was an assistant to Dr. Carmen Reinhart. He has 10 years of investment and financial services experience and holds a master’s degree in economic policy from Harvard University and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He received an undergraduate degree from the University of Florida.

Paul Flood | BNY Mellon Investment Management

Paul Flood | Head of Mixed Assets, Newton Investment Management

Paul is a portfolio manager and strategist at Newton. He is a portfolio manager on the Newton Global Income strategy and is also lead manager of the Newton Multi-Asset Income strategy and the Newton Multi-Asset Diversified Return strategy. He also provides leadership and analysis on asset allocation, derivatives and convertible bonds for the wider firm, having spent the earlier part of his career working on strategic asset allocation and derivative strategy. Paul is responsible for generating ideas within alternative assets and has been leading in this area since 2008. He is a member of the asset class strategy group and provides feedback to the wider house on strategic and tactical asset allocation. Paul joined Newton in 2004. He is a CFA1 charterholder and has completed the certificate in quantitative finance (CQF) after passing with distinction. Paul studied Astrophysics at the University of St Andrews and is a keen cyclist and runner, having recently cycled the length of the UK from Land’s End to John O’Groats and often participates in marathons.

About RSMR

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RSMR facilitates straightforward, binary outcomes for advisers and their clients by providing impartial, forward looking, qualitative research using a rigorous, methodical and proven research process.

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