SiP Speaker Diaries

In Discussion: Geopolitics

The final session has just begun, wrapping up proceedings at the 2026 RBC Brewin Dolphin Europe Investment Training Conference. On stage we have Mark Williams, Chief Asia Economist at Capital Economics, and Sir John Sawers, former Chief of MI6. Within a distinguished career spanning nearly 40 years, Sir John also served as the UK’s ambassador to the United Nations, political director of the Foreign Office, special representative in Iraq, ambassador to Cairo and foreign policy adviser to Prime Minister Tony Blair. Today he will share with us his insights into geopolitical volatility, global security, and navigating turbulent times.

Humans, Tools and Creativity

We’re delighted to once again be back onsite with the RBC Brewin Dolphin team for their bi-annual Europe Investment Training Conference. This year’s after-dinner speaker was Adam Rutherford, geneticist, broadcaster and bestselling author. A self-described AI realist, Dr Rutherford provided a long-term view of AI, offering some context on how across history, humans have utilised new tools and technologies to become more efficient and creative.

Fixed Income Unwrapped

Today we were back with Capital Group at their Fixed Income Unwrapped conference. Lord Kim Darroch, Britain’s former ambassador to the US and an SiP favourite, joined the final session of the day. The fireside chat was both discursive and erudite, covering the collapse of the international rules-based order and Britain’s place within this new framework, European security, the ongoing impact of Brexit, and geo-economic shocks in a fragmenting world.

Professional Adviser 360

Today, Robert Peston joined us at Professional Adviser 360, a flagship conference for forward-thinking financial planners, advisers and business leaders. His session focused on current market volatility, geopolitical tensions including Iran, and what these risks could mean for the global outlook. He also explored the future path of interest rates and the potential for unexpected shocks to disrupt markets. The discussion concluded with artificial intelligence and its long-term impact on markets, productivity and society.

JIC with a Boutique Edge – Day 2

As we embark on the final day of the conference, Louise will host a sponsor panel discussion entitled, Investment Lessons for a New Era. The conversation will cover pressing investment themes from inflationary challenges and emerging market myth-busting, to incorporating AI into investment strategies and beyond. For 2026, we have evolved JIC to better reflect the challenges and opportunities facing investors. For the first time, the conference will include power pitches with some of the UK’s leading boutique managers, bringing fresh perspectives on how to generate alpha.

Could you be an astronaut?

This was the theme discussed by our after-dinner speaker, Tess Morris-Paterson. Former Head of Performance for the British Olympic team, who also held senior roles with F1 and the Premier League, Tess now runs her own company focused on astronaut selection. She enthralled our guests with anecdotes, videos, and interesting insights.

JIC with a Boutique Edge

As one of the leading conferences in asset management for over 20 years, JIC is an essential fixture for fund selectors and researchers. Kickstarting the conference we have a geopolitical panel discussion with Major General Jonathan Shaw and former diplomat, Tim Willasey-Wilsey. Back at the hosting helm is Louise Beale, who also moderated this session. Key issues to cover include the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, European stability, and US unpredictability.

RSMR In the City

Today Dominic O’Connell was back in action as host at the annual RSMR London Conference. Featuring 21 leading fund groups, the event brought together investors, professionals and experts from across the industry, for a full-day of insightful and research-led content. Dominic expertly navigated the complex agenda, moderating panels with our fund managers, leading in-depth fireside chats, and facilitating Q&A throughout.

Funds to Watch Spring

Journalist and broadcaster Matt Frei joined us at Incisive Media’s annual Funds to Watch Spring event today. Matt’s session examined the shifting geopolitical landscape, from the war in Iran and Ukraine to the growing strategic challenge posed by China. He also discussed Donald Trump’s positioning on tariffs and Greenland, and the implications for global stability. The conversation explored Europe’s response, the UK’s role under Keir Starmer, and whether today’s turbulence signals a deeper realignment of global power.

F&C Live

The F&C Investment Trust is the world’s longest running collective investment vehicle of its kind, helping investors since 1868 and created to bring investing to the masses. The 2026 F&C Live event is focusing on The long view: Resilience in an age of upheaval, examining the ways in which economies and societies are adjusting after years of disruption, and what this resilience means to today’s investors. In this edition of the bi-annual event, we’ve been joined by leading macro-economist Paul Johnson, and futurist Sophie Hackford. Between them the duo have touched upon hot topics including robotics, AI, astro-tech, demographic change, taxation in the UK, and inter-generational wealth.

Premier Miton Investment Conference 2026

We’re delighted to be back onsite with the Premier Miton team. Later today we’ll be joined by Lord Kim Darroch. His 40+ years in the diplomatic service saw him specialise in European policy and national security issues, including two spells in No 10, and culminating in postings as Ambassador to the European Union and Ambassador to the United States. As well as sharing an insider’s insights from his time working with Donald Trump in Washington, and what we can expect as he continues to dominate headlines across the world, Lord Darroch will delve into several key geopolitical themes. These will include the outlook for NATO, a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, the prospects for relations with China, the confrontation between America and Iran, the decline of free trade and the implications for the UK of the collapse of the international rules-based order.

MEIS: Keynote

We’re still with the team in Abu Dhabi where we’ll shortly be hearing from Robert Willock, Global Director, Economist Intelligence Corporate Network, based in Dubai. In his keynote address, Robert will focus on the top ten themes impacting investors for the year ahead, including growth hotspots, geopolitical tension and AI, and crucially, what does all of this mean for the Middle East?

here is a snapshot of some recent client events, featuring a range of speakers sourced by SiP.