Learning & Development

CFA Institute Announces Speakers Headlining at Alpha Summit: A Meeting of Minds that Propel Finance Forward

#AlphaSummit Virtual Conference: Tuesday 18 May 2021

CFA Institute, the global association of investment management professionals, announces the line-up of speakers for its flagship event, the Alpha Summit (formerly known as the CFA Institute Annual Conference), which will take place virtually.

With a 73-year history of conference excellence, transforming this year’s event into the Alpha Summit will inspire and set the tone for how investment professionals can shape the future of finance in unexpected ways. The event will welcome delegates from investment management and related professions worldwide. More than 20 speakers—including successful investment practitioners, noted economists, leading researchers and best-selling authors—will lead highly informational, live conversations across diverse topics. 

The conference will begin with an Asia Pacific Special Preview, ‘The Role of Long-Term Investors in Fostering Sustainable Investing Geopolitical Risks’, during which two of the largest and most innovative asset owners will discuss how they are addressing global risks and allocating capital.

Headline speakers throughout the day will also include:

  • Hiro Mizuno, UN Special Envoy on Innovative Finance and Sustainable Investment
  • Vitalik Buterin, Founder and CEO, Ethereum
  • Michael Lewis, best-selling author of The Fifth Risk, Moneyball, The Blind Side, and The Big Short
  • George Serafeim, Charles M. Williams Professor of Business Administration and Faculty Chair of the Impact-Weighted Accounts Project, Harvard Business School
  • James H. Freis, Jr., CFA, Founder, Market Integrity Solutions LLC and Former CEO, Wirecard
  • Dan Heath, New York Times best-selling author and innovative business thought leader

 

The rest of the conference will feature TV style ‘Alpha Summit Shows’ in themed episodes that will take a fresh look at the role of finance in addressing the world’s most pressing issues:

  • Changemakers: Finance legends will discuss industry trends and the role that finance can play in providing innovative solutions to world problems and emerging investment opportunities.
  • Visionaries: A range of different viewpoints and perspectives on the consequences of unprecedented government and Central Bank policy decisions. Asset owners and asset managers who are disrupting traditional approaches will discuss the geopolitical landscape and potential risk factors to consider in managing investment portfolios.
  • Career Developers: The workplace, altered by Covid-19, continues to evolve. What does this mean for the future of work and for the leaders of organizations? How can employees enter, survive and thrive in the new workplace?
  • Inspirers: Practical ways to improve creativity and problem-solving by rethinking issues, questioning assumptions, adopting mental flexibility and avoiding common biases.
  • Trendmakers: Mary Childs, Co-Host, Planet Money, will explore how emerging technologies (artificial intelligence, machine learning and blockchain) are driving developments in the finance industry with the next generation of leaders, and how these technologies, together with the brightest minds in finance, can improve investment outcomes and benefit society.

 

Margaret Franklin, CFA, President and CEO, CFA Institute, said: “From the influence of government policy on our profession, to measuring the impact of ESG investing, and predictions on the way blockchain and decentralized finance will change asset management practices, these thought-provoking discussions are mission-critical for the modern investment professional. I personally can’t wait to take part.”

 

Please visit the Alpha Summit microsite for conference agenda, with details of sessions and speakers.