Program

Download Program PDF
Thursday 2 March 2023

8:30am

Registration and networking

9:00am

Welcome
9:05am
(Panel discussion) Pluses of Longer-term Investing
Smaller private capital investment firms have long recognised the pluses of longer term investing in growth businesses. Now, an increasing number of larger firms are adding this strategy to their arsenals.
  • Damian Fox – Partner, Carthona Capital
  • Jeremy Larkin – Executive Director, Private Equity, IFM Investors
  • Simon Pither – Managing Partner, Quadrant Private Equity
  • Moderated by: Sharon Lim – Founder, Interest Alignment Management & Content Chief, She Loves Tech
9:45am
(Panel discussion) Challenges of Scaling up Businesses
Proving the viability of technology businesses is but the first step in their development. Scaling-up is a very different challenge. And scaling up established businesses can be just as challenging.

10:20am

Networking Morning Tea
10:50am
(Presentation) Economic outlook
With the prospect of a significant downturn in the Australian economy and a recession all but certain in the US, growth businesses need to keep a particularly close watch on economic developments right now.
  • Martin Lakos – Division Director, Macquarie Wealth Management
11:20am
(Panel discussion) Gender Lens Investing & the She Economy
What is gender lens investing? How does gender lens affect how businesses are scaled, or do they? Do businesses in the SheEconomy with women in key decision making roles do better than those which don’t? Should funds be taking gender lens more seriously than they have? Or are there still too few female investors and founders to move the needle?
  • Michael Batko – CEO, Startmate
  • Alex Downie – Associate Director, Glow Capital Partners
  • Lisa Fedorenko – Investment Manager, Alberts
  • Sharon Lim – Founder, Interest Alignment Management & Content Chief, She Loves Tech
  • Moderated by: Emily Barker – Transaction Lead, Middle Market, Macquarie Group
12:00pm
(Presentation) Restructuring Opportunities
With an economic downturn looming, business failures are likely to increase in coming months, including in the mid-market sector. Business failures present opportunities for specialist private equity firms and also co-investors. This presentation will take us through one such process.

12:30pm

Networking Lunch
1:15pm
(Panel) Debt funding in Growth Strategies

Non-bank lending to small-to-medium enterprises has been growing steadily over recent years, largely supported by new digital technologies. At the same time, changes to prudential rules have made this category less attractive to banks. Business owners have enthusiastically taken up loans that are not secured against personal property but rising inflation and higher loan-funding costs could disrupt this trend.

  • James De Flumeri – Managing Principal, Trident Debt Capital Advisors
  • Ted Dow – Managing Director, Paddington Street Finance
  • Heidi Wilson – Transaction Lead, Macquarie Group
  • Moderated by: David Potter – Head of Business Development, Apex Fund Services
2:00pm
(Fireside chat) Indigenous Business Opportunities
For-purpose private equity investing has the potential to play an important role in closing the notorious opportunity gap for Indigenous people. The major challenge is generating adequate returns for investors. In this interview we will talk with a firm that has taken on that challenge.

2:30pm

Networking Afternoon Tea
2:50pm
(Panel discussion) Climate Opportunities
In this session, founders and managers of Australian climate technology businesses that have reached growth stage will discuss investment opportunities in the developing sector.
  • Devon Long – General Manager Aust & NZ, Regrow Ag
  • Olympia Yarger – CEO and Founder, Goterra
  • Moderated by: Sarah Nolet – Co-Founder and General Partner, Tenacious Ventures
3:30pm
(Panel discussion) Opportunities for Individual Private Investors
Growth businesses present excellent investment opportunities for small, and not so small, investors including family offices and high-net-worth individuals. Developing suitable structures for investing in the sector, however, remains challenging. Participants in this discussion are working on solutions.

4:10pm

Closing remarks
  • Andrea Gallenca – Head of Private Markets, Sales – Australia, Apex Group

4:30pm

Networking drinks sponsored by Apex Group
Upstairs in Ivy Penthouse (level 5)

* This program is subject to change