The Edwardian The Grand Hotel in York attracted a broad selection of seasoned LGPS investors for this year’s LGPS North Conference.
The event was opened by the chair, LGPS Central CIO Gordon Ross who invited delegates to take part in a journey across the globe.
The event was then kicked off by Tim Garratt investment specialist director and partner at Baillie Gifford who made the case for growth stocks.
He was soon joined by a panel including Peter Wallach, director of pensions at Merseyside Pension Fund, Jo Kempton, head of pensions at Lincolnshire Pension Fund and Mark Lyon deputy chief investment officer at Border to Coast Pensions Partnership who discussed investing in the UK.
LGPS North 2024, credit Mark Flynn
Rising rates have caused many LGPS investors to consider increasing their exposure to fixed income, Alex Temple senior portfolio manager, head of credit, global fixed income at Allspring Global Investments made the case for bonds.
He was joined on the fixed income panel by Laura Colliss pension fund manager at NESPF, Emmanuel Bocquet, CIO at Lothian Pension Fund and Leandros Kalisperas, CIO at West Yorkshire Pension Fund.
Jonathan Digges, CIO Octopus Investments picked up after a brief networking break to discuss opportunities in place-based investing.
Andrew Davey, UK affordable housing fund manager at CBRE outlined the role of housing in place-based impact investing.
They were joined by George Graham, director at South Yorkshire Pensions Authority and Neil Sellstrom, principal investment manager at Tyne and Wear Pension Fund who both shared their experience with making a local impact.
Alan Siow, portfolio manager at Ninety One then wrapped up the event by outlining opportunities in emerging market debt with a focus on funding the energy transition.
He was joined by Abdul Bashir, senior investment manager public markets at Greater Manchester Pension Fund and Iain Campbell head of LGPS investment at Hymans Robertson who shared their perspectives on investing in emerging markets.
