100 Women in Finance (“100WF”), a global finance industry network comprising of nearly 30,000 subscribes will host its annual Global FundWomen Week Conference (“GFWW”) on December 11th, 2025 in New York City.
GFWW is part of 100WF’s FundWomen initiative, promoting and empowering female investment professionals by facilitating stronger networks within the institutional investment community and increasing allocations to female managers. Managers from around the world and across various asset classes are expected to participate in the high profile conference on December 11th.
GFWW combines virtual and in-person programming to promote thought leadership from industry experts, feature prominent speakers, and facilitate year round ‘spotlights’ – small-group interactive spaces where participants can discuss ideas, share opportunities, and build relationships. This year’s GFWW will feature an in-person one day capital introductions event in New York City on December 11th and will include 1:1 speed networking meetings between leading female fund managers and allocators, as well as CIO and allocator panels.
Speakers at the conference include:
- Libby Cantrill, Managing Director and the Head of Public Policy, PIMCO
- John Claisse, CEO, Albourne
- Rodney June, Chief Investment Officer at Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System
- Shoiab Khan, Director and Chief Investment Officer, State of New Jersey, Division of Investment
- Angela Miller-May, Chief Investment Officer, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund
- Michelle Morris, Managing Director and Head of Emerging & Diverse Asset Managers Business Development, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
- Divya Nettimi, Founder and Chief Investment Officer, Avala Global
- May Ng, CIO, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- Miguel Silva, Associate Investment Manager, California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS)
- Kirk Sims, Managing Director & Head of Emerging Manager Program, Teachers Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
Find much more details on the event here and see the full agenda and panels below. Can't make the event? Check back at this post and we will have full coverage of the event!
2025 Global FundWomen Week Agenda
8:30-9:00 - Registration & Breakfast
9:00-9:20 - Opening Remarks
- Priya Kaftan, Volunteer Chair of GFWW and Head of Investor Relations & Product Strategy, Heard Capital
Opening Keynote
- To be announced
9:20-10:00 - Opening Panel sponsored by Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
- Rodney June, Chief Investment Officer at Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System
- Angela Miller-May, Chief Investment Officer, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund
- May Ng, Chief Investment Officer, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- Moderator: Michelle Morris, Managing Director and Head of Emerging & Diverse Asset Managers Business Development, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
10:00-10:20 - Break
10:20-12:30 - 1:1 Manager Allocator Rotational Speed Networking Meetings
12:30-13:45 - Lunch sponsored by PIMCO
- Lunch Guest Speaker: Libby Cantrill, Managing Director and the Head of Public Policy, PIMCO
- Moderator: John Claisse, CEO, Albourne
13:45-14:00 - Transition Time
14:00-15:00 - Roundtable Discussions sponsored by NAV Fund Services, dakota, Willkie Farr & Gallagher, Albourne, Stable & Marex
Speakers include:
- Derek Drummond, Head of Strategy – Funds Alpha, State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB)
- Laura Kim, Senior Portfolio Manager, Mellon Foundation
- Christine Kelleher, Managing Director, Client Portfolio Management, Strategic Investment Group
- Alena Kuprevich, Managing Director, Founding Partner, Disciplina Capital Management
- Allie Levine, Associate Investment Director, Investment Office, The Kresge Foundation
- Kate Nevin, President and Portfolio Manager, TSWII Capital Advisors
- Agata Praczuk, Director, Head of Emerging Managers, MetLife Investment Management
- Miguel Silva, Associate Investment Manager, California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS)
- Kirk Sims, Managing Director & Head of Emerging Manager Program, Teachers Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
- Rob Rahbari, Senior Investment Officer and Assistant Treasurer, University of Rochester
- Sophia Tsai, Managing Director, Investments, Trinity Church Wall Street
View all speakers & full sessions details here
15.00-15.20 - Break
15.20-16.20 - Roundtable Discussions
16.20-16:30 - Transition
16:30-17.10 - Closing Leadership Armchair
- Divya Nettimi, Founder and Chief Investment Officer, Avala Global
- Moderator: Nancy Donohue, Chief Investment Strategist & Co-Founder, Summit Rock Advisors
17.10-17.15 - Closing Remarks GFWW
- Rehana Farrell, CEO, 100WF - Allocator Collective Leadership Team
17.15-18.00 - Closing Reception Sponsored by Jefferies
Table Topics 2025
Table Topics kindly sponsored by NAV Fund Services, dakota, Willkie Farr & Gallagher, Albourne, Stable & Marex
Kindly note sessions and speakers are subject to change
Table Topic #1: The Future of Alternatives: Where Emerging and Diverse Managers Can Carve Out Space Amid Economic Shifts
- Ashley S. Moore, Vice President – Emerging & Diverse Asset Managers, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
As global markets adapt to rising interest rates, evolving liquidity dynamics, and shifting investor priorities, the alternatives landscape is entering a new phase of opportunity and competition. This roundtable will explore how emerging and diverse managers can position themselves to thrive in this changing environment. The discussion will cover how innovation, specialization, and differentiated sourcing can help smaller and newer firms stand out in a crowded field. Participants will examine emerging trends across private markets, hedge funds, and real assets, as well as strategies for accessing institutional and high-net-worth capital in the next cycle.
Hosted by Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Table Topic #2: Emerging Manager Best Practices
- Maura Danko, Director, Business Development at Stable Asset Management
- Linda Luu, Managing Director, Blackstone
This roundtable will explore best practices for emerging investment managers seeking to build and scale successful firms in today’s competitive landscape. Drawing on the deep experience of Stable Asset Management and Blackstone: two leading platforms with distinct approaches to seeding and supporting new managers.
Participants will gain insights into how seeders evaluate talent, strategy differentiation, and operational readiness; how seeding partnerships are structured to align long-term interests; and what steps managers can take to become “seeding-ready.” The discussion will highlight the importance of building institutional infrastructure, maintaining investment discipline, and developing scalable business models that attract anchor capital.
Hosted by Stable
Table Topic #3: Fitting into an Endowment Portfolio: How Are Institutional CIOs Adjusting the 70/30 Asset Allocation
- Roger Vincent, Founder & CIO, Summation and Allocator Collective Steering Committee
- Deepika Sharma, Head of Multi-Asset Custom Solutions Outsourced CIO, Global Family Office, Northern Trust
The traditional 70/30 asset allocation model is being reexamined in light of shifting market dynamics, inflation pressures, and the evolving opportunity set across public and private markets. Learn how endowments and institutional CIOs are rethinking portfolio design to balance growth, liquidity, and risk in today’s environment. How are CIOs redefining diversification in an era of correlated assets? What roles are private credit, venture capital, and real assets playing in the modern endowment model? How can emerging and niche strategies fit within institutional portfolios? This session offers a candid look at the evolution of institutional asset allocation, providing both allocators and managers with insights into where capital is flowing and how to align with the next generation of endowment investing.
Hosted by Allocator Collective
Table Topic #4: Building Trust and Long-Term Relationships with LPs
- Laura Kim, Senior Investment Officer, Mellon Foundation
- Grace Reyes, CEO & Founder, TIDE
In an environment where capital is increasingly relationship-driven, trust remains the cornerstone of successful and enduring LP–GP partnerships. Learn how managers can build and sustain meaningful relationships with limited partners over time.The discussion will explore what LPs value most in ongoing manager relationships from transparency and communication to alignment of interests and consistent execution. Participants will gain insight into how to cultivate credibility, navigate difficult conversations, and create lasting partnerships that extend beyond individual fundraising cycles.
Hosted by The Investment Diversity Exchange (TIDE)
Table Topic #5: Building an Early Stage Investing Program
- Agata R. Praczuk, Senior Director, Head of Emerging Managers, MetLife Investment Management
For emerging fund managers, understanding how institutional investors build and manage early-stage investing programmes can be a game-changer. In this session, Agata shares how MetLife Investment Management structures its approach to discovering, evaluating, and partnering with emerging managers. Gain valuable insights into what institutional LPs look for when selecting early-stage partners from investment philosophy and operational excellence to track record development and alignment of interests.Learn how large allocators think about emerging manager programmes and portfolio construction. Understand key decision drivers and evaluation criteria used by institutional LPs Discover how to position your fund for long-term partnership and capital growth.
Hosted by MetLife Investment Management
Table Topic #6: Building Institutional Credibility from Day One
- Rea Caldeira, VVP, NAV Fund Services
- Anne Gibson, Research Associate, New Holland Capital LLC
Insights on how emerging and established managers can build trust through operational excellence and demonstrate institutional readiness. We will discuss how meeting key due diligence checks, creating scalable operational models can inspire investor confidence from the start.
Hosted by NAV Fund Services
Table Topic #7: Women in VC: The Opportunity to Unlocking Billions for the Economy
- Melanie Schwartz, Associate Director, Milken Institute
- Maggie Switek PhD, Senior Director, Milken Institute
- Troy Duffie, Director, Milken Institute
This roundtable will discuss the findings of the Milken Institute’s most recent paper, The Missing Billions: Analyzing the Impact of Women-Led Fund Managers. Topics will include key data findings and insights the team gleaned from the 30+ interviews with the Industry’s leading voices.
Hosted by Milken Institute
Table Topic #8: Bridging the Gap: Connecting Pensions with Emerging Manager LPs
- Miguel Silva, Associate Investment Manager, CalPERS
- Taffi Ayodele, Head of Diverse and Emerging Manager Strategy, Office of New York City Comptroller
As institutional investors seek to diversify portfolios and capture new sources of alpha, emerging managers are playing an increasingly critical role in delivering innovation, access, and performance. Yet, many pension funds still face challenges in identifying, evaluating, and partnering with these next-generation managers.This session brings together leading pension fund allocators, emerging manager program leaders, and investment consultants to explore practical strategies for building effective relationships and expanding access to emerging manager talent. Discussion topics will include: Best practices for structuring and scaling emerging manager programs. Overcoming barriers to entry due diligence, operational readiness, and governance. Case studies of successful pension emerging manager partnerships
Hosted by CalPERS
Table Topic #9: Storytelling – How to Pitch to LPs
- Derek Drummond, Head of Strategy – Funds Alpha State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB)
- Rob Robertson, President, dakota Marketplace
- Eliza Breed, Head of Private Funds, dakota Marketplace
In an increasingly competitive fundraising environment, the ability to tell a compelling and authentic story can make all the difference. This roundtable will explore how managers can effectively communicate their edge, philosophy, and track record in a way that resonates with limited partners.
Led by Derek Drummond and Rob Robertson, the discussion will dive into what LPs listen for during pitches, how to balance data with narrative, and how to adapt your message across different audiences from institutional allocators to family offices. Participants will leave with actionable insights on crafting a clear, credible, and memorable pitch that builds trust and sparks interest from potential investors.
Hosted by dakota Marketplace
Table Topic #10: Breaking Through with Consultants: Inside Albourne’s Manager Research and Selection Process
- John Claisse, CEO, Albourne
What does it take for an investment manager to stand out in a consultant’s research and recommendation process? In this interactive session, Albourne’s research team will provide a behind-the-scenes look at how consultants evaluate, rate, and recommend managers across strategies and asset classes. Attendees will gain practical insight into Albourne’s manager research framework, including the key qualitative and quantitative factors that drive ratings and the nuances that separate top-tier submissions from the rest. The discussion will also highlight common pitfalls managers encounter during the due diligence and presentation process and share best practices for building strong consultant relationships and improving the likelihood of selection. Whether you’re an emerging or established manager, this session will demystify the consultant evaluation process and equip you with the tools to position your firm for success.
Hosted by Albourne
Table Topic #11: Access to Global Innovation
- Rob Rahbari, Senior Investment Officer and Assistant Treasurer, University of Rochester
- Charlotte Zhang, Senior Portfolio Manager at Inatai Foundation (FKA Group Health Foundation)
As institutional investors seek to capture alpha beyond Silicon Valley, what factors do they consider? Is China investable? Is India too expensive, will exits be available? Is Europe innovative? This session explores how leading allocators identify, evaluate, and gain exposure to global innovation.
Hosted by Allocator Collective
Table Topic #12: Considerations for Emerging Managers: Track Record, Seed Arrangements, Managed Accounts, Employee Retention, and More
- Debbie Franzese, Asset Management Partner, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
- Terence Rozier-Byrd, Private Funds Partner, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
- Janna Wang, Senior Associate, External Portfolio Management, CPP Investments
The External Portfolio Management team at CPP Investments, which allocates to external hedge fund managers, launched its Emerging Managers Program in 2016 and has made 21 investments to date. This session will explore key considerations for emerging managers including how to establish a credible track record, structure seed arrangements, manage investor relationships through managed accounts, and retain top talent with insights from both legal and investment perspectives.
Hosted by Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Table Topic #13: Shifts in a Hedge Fund Portfolio Asset Allocation Given Today’s Market Environment
- Tetiana Kyslytsyna, Director, Investment Officer – Hedge Fund Investment Due Diligence, UBS Hedge Fund Solutions
- Allison DiClemente, Capital Introductions at Marex Capital Markets
- Erin Hickey, Capital Introductions at Marex Capital Markets
A discussion around hedge fund portfolio positioning from an allocator’s perspective. Learn about possible shifts in strategy and asset allocation, challenges and ways of navigating the current environment, and the role hedge funds can play in an investment portfolio as we enter 2026.
Hosted by Marex Capital Markets
Table Topic #14: Best Manager Diligence Questions
- Allie Levine, Associate Investment Director, The Kresge Foundation
- Mallika Nair, Senior Director, Fordham University
Manager selection begins with the right questions. Learn the most effective and insightful questions institutional investors use to evaluate manager spanning investment process, risk management, organizational culture, and alignment of interests.
The discussion will highlight how thoughtful diligence goes beyond performance metrics to uncover authenticity, resilience, and long-term partnership potential. Participants will gain practical takeaways on how to prepare for LP due diligence conversations and understand what truly differentiates top managers in the eyes of allocators.
Hosted by The Kresge Foundation
Table Topic #15: Family Offices Approach to Emerging Managers
- Kate Nevin, President & Portfolio Manager, TSWII
Family offices are increasingly exploring opportunities to invest with emerging managers who offer differentiated strategies, niche expertise, and agile decision-making. Yet the path to building trust and alignment between family offices and first- or second-time fund managers remains nuanced and relationship-driven. This session sheds light on how family offices assess new partnerships, balance innovation with risk management, and structure capital commitments. The hosts will share perspectives on sourcing, due diligence, performance expectations, and the evolving role of direct vs. fund investments.
Hosted by TSWII
Table Topic #16: Market & Economic Views: Shifts in Asset Allocation given today’s market environment
- Christine Kelleher, Managing Director, Strategic Investment Group
- Alena J. Kuprevich, Managing Director & Founding Partner, Disciplina Group LLC
With markets navigating persistent inflation, shifting monetary policies, and evolving geopolitical dynamics, institutional investors are reassessing portfolio positioning and long-term assumptions. This session explores how asset allocation strategies are adapting to today’s complex macroeconomic landscape. The hosts will discuss current market outlooks, tactical and strategic allocation shifts, and how themes such as private markets, fixed income rebalancing, and real assets are influencing portfolio decisions.
Hosted by Strategic Investment Group & Disciplina Group LLC
Table Topic #17: Capital Raising for Emerging Managers
- Jacob Walthour, CEO, Power100
- Kirk Sims, Head of Emerging Manager Program, TRS of Texas
Raising capital as an emerging manager remains both a challenge and an opportunity in today’s competitive investment landscape. This session will explore what it takes to successfully attract institutional investors from refining value propositions and building track records to establishing credibility and trust with allocators. Hosts will share perspectives on how emerging managers can navigate evolving LP expectations, differentiate themselves in crowded markets, and leverage strategic partnerships to scale effectively. Participants will gain actionable insights into fundraising strategies, investor engagement, and long-term relationship building essential for sustainable growth.
Hosted by Power100
Table Topic #18: Why is Small Beautiful – The Compelling Case for US Small Fund Managers
- Dana Johns, Partner, Courage Small Business Partners
This roundtable explores the unique advantages and value small fund managers bring to the U.S. investment landscape. The discussion will highlight how smaller funds can offer greater agility, deeper alignment with investors, and differentiated sourcing strategies that drive performance and innovation.
Hosted by Courage Small Business Partners
Table Topic #19: Opportunities in Value Add Infrastructure
- Mina Pacheco Nazemi, Head of Barings Diversified Alternative Equity, Barings
- Elizabeth Weindruch, Managing Director, Barings
- Carmen Ortiz-McGhee, COO, NAIC
Evolving infrastructure trends are changing how investors and allocators approach the market, how they invest and how they create value in portfolios. Trends in AI and data usage are fueling investments in digital infrastructure and the surrounding ecosystems. How can investors harness these trends? The convergence of infrastructure and private equity is reshaping capital deployment strategies, risk frameworks, and long-term portfolio construction. How can investors adapt to this new landscape—and what does it mean for the future of markets?
Hosted by NAIC
Table Topic #20: Fundraising for Private Wealth: Opportunities for External Managers
- Cameron Rogers, Partner, Angeles Wealth Management, LLC
This session will explore how external managers can effectively raise capital within the private wealth channel. Discussion topics will include investor engagement strategies, platform access, relationship building with advisors, and the evolving expectations of high-net-worth investors.
Hosted by Angeles Wealth Management
Leading allocators already confirmed to participate at the conference include: Albourne, Blackstone, California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CaLPERS), Doris Duke Foundation, Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association (LACERA), The Andrew Mellon Foundation, New York State Common, Stable Asset Management, State of New Jersey Division of Investment, State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB), Teacher Retirement System of Texas, Trinity Church Wall Street, University of Michigan, University of Rochester, and The Kresge Foundation.
For more information, including the full list of speakers and agenda, please visit https://fundwomenweek.100women.org or contact [email protected].
