SiP Speaker Diaries

BACK AT BREWINS

We’re rounding things off at the annual RBC Brewin Dolphin conference. The final session of the day is about to get underway, and will be a panel discussion featuring Tim Willasey-Wilsey. As a former diplomat and member of the foreign office, Tim is well-placed to discuss security, defence, and geopolitical risk.

BREWIN DOLPHIN – WEALTH MANAGEMENT EUROPE

It was great to be back onsite with the team from RBC Brewin Dolphin for their annual conference. After a day discussing a broad array of funds and asset classes, sharing the latest thinking from some of the brightest brains in the industry, we were joined by guest speaker Kwasi Kwarteng. As a former chancellor of the Exchequer, he was well placed to provide insights on what to expect from tomorrow’s Budget, as well as thoughts on the political outlook for the UK.

RSMR Awards Dinner

Our guest speaker this evening was Olympic legend, Sir Steve Redgrave. A five-time gold medallist and nine-time world champion, Sir Steve delighted our audience with tales from his incredible sporting career, touching on key themes including high-performance, the winning mindset, and team dynamics.

RSMR Annual Harrogate Investment Conference

It’s a pleasure to be back in Harrogate with the team from RSMR. Today’s event will be hosted by award-winning journalist, Declan Curry, who for many years was the business presenter on BBC Breakfast. Declan expertly navigated discussion across several pertinent financial themes, including international equities, multi-asset, fixed income and the outlook for 2026.

Investment Week Leaders Summit

Today, The Rt Hon Sir James Cleverly joined us at Pennyhill Park Hotel & Spa for Investment Week’s Leaders Summit, where senior figures from across the wealth management sector gathered for two days of discussion and interaction with some of the biggest and most influential firms in the UK. James delivered a wide-ranging session covering leadership and decision-making under pressure in government and diplomacy, the current global geopolitical landscape, and key domestic political issues – including the UK’s economic position within an increasingly volatile world.

Aon Entertainment

A great end to the day at the Aon Wealth Insights Series in London. Our delegates were wowed by the sleight of hand skills of magician Laura London, participated in the development of a thematic mural wall, and enjoyed some smooth jazz during the gala dinner. Looking forward to day two tomorrow.

Wealth Insights Series – London

Across town we’re delighted to once again be working with Aon on their annual London conference. Providing the closing keynote address is Shivvy Jevis, a five-time award-winning AI and neuroscience expert. Shivvy shared her insights on the connection between AI and the human mind, and crucially, how we can keep the human in the loop amidst technological advancements.

Pensions and Retirement Roundtable

A busy today for SiP kickstarting with Sir Steve Webb, former UK pensions minister, joining the T. Rowe Price Retirement Roundtable. As a leading pensions expert, Sir Steve will focus on the pressing topics shaping the UK retirement and pension industry in light of regulatory reform, consumer behaviour in retirement, and what we can expect from the impending Budget.

Funds to Watch: Autumn

Pippa Crerar joined us at The May Fair Hotel for Investment Week’s flagship Funds to Watch: Autumn event, where wealth managers and fund selectors gathered to explore new fund ideas and market insights. Pippa’s session focussed on the UK’s political and economic outlook, touching on Labour’s leadership stability, the party’s drive for economic credibility, the challenges facing Rachel Reeves ahead of the Budget, and whether the new government can deliver meaningful change.

Professional Pensions Trustee Senate

Manas Chawla joined us at Fanhams Hall for the Professional Pensions Trustee Senate 2025, where he delivered a broad geopolitical update. His session covered key themes for the next six months, including the US political and economic outlook and its impact on global markets, the US–UK relationship, and the ongoing Russia–Ukraine conflict.

China Roundtable Breakfast

We’ve just rounded things up onsite with Federated Hermes. James Kynge spent 28 years at the Financial Times, serving as Beijing bureau chief and as Global China Editor in London. Currently, he’s Chatham House’s Senior Research fellow on China. Over breakfast this morning James provided research and insights from his latest book, discussing China’s rise to dominance as a global tech superpower, and whether or not this growth is sustainable in the long-term.

More in Madrid

We’ve reached the final session of the morning now – a fireside chat with Josep Borrell, the EU’s Former High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Across the next 45minutes he and Lucy will discuss deglobalisation as the defining global trend, tariff disputes, supply chain vulnerabilities, the surge in defence spending, the geopolitical repositioning towards China and Latin America, and the ways in which the conflict in Ukraine has reshaped European political diplomacy for the foreseeable future.

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