On 14 September, we hosted the 11th edition of the Portfolio Management course in Paris. The event kicked off the night before, with a dinner for all attendees at Brasserie La Lorraine. 35 participants and speakers attended the course, which covered key operational aspects for reporting and governance, monitoring the existing portfolio and assessing potential risks in line with objectives.
The course was led by Christian Delaire, Senior Advisor and Independent Board Member, and packed with a variety of interactive sessions:
- Andrew Strachan of PIMCO Prime Real Estate provided insights on how to monitor an existing portfolio of indirect real estate investments
- Sander Veltman from Achmea Real Estate discussed the importance of transparent reporting, and how to manage any deviations from expectations
- Maarten Jennen from PGGM reviewed the factors investors might use as part of their buy, sell and hold process
- Neil Harris of UBS Wealth Management discussed the importance of having a solid governance framework, including key challenges and potential conflicts of interest
- Marianne Hemon-Laurens from LaSalle Investment Management provided examples of how to manage liquidity in open-end funds, especially in current uncertain times
Participants then separated into groups for a portfolio case study, to identify strengths or weaknesses and concrete actions for optimisation. Each group presented their findings to a jury, and the most outstanding group was selected as the winner.
The day ended with a Q&A with senior investors Neil Harris and Minna Merilainen, where participants gained insights about current market conditions, career lessons and opportunities.
Participants provided positive feedback on the quality of the speakers, the wide range of topics covered, the interactive discussions, and the investor Q&A session. The location in Paris was also convenient for most participants, as they could easily attend by train.
The next run of this course will be held in Copenhagen on 20 June 2024.