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CAIA Middle East - Jeddah - Elevating Standards in Alternatives: A Conversation with CAIA Leadership
Date(s):
October 5, 2025
Note: All times listed are in local time
Venue:N/A
Fee(s):Free Event
Description:CAIA Middle East Elevating Standards in Alternatives: A Conversation with CAIA Leadership As Saudi Arabia advances its Vision 2030 plan, focused on economic diversification and human capital development, the CAIA Association is pursuing its own Vision 2035, a long-term strategy to elevate education, innovation, and global standards in alternative investments. The alignment between these two visions underscores the importance of building knowledge, developing talent, and fostering expertise to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving financial landscape. In this context, we are pleased to invite you to join a delegation of CAIA's leadership team: Laura Merlini, CAIA, CIFD - Managing Director EMEA, along with Steve Novakovic, CAIA, CFA - Managing Director of Curricucum and Programs, during their visit to Saudi Arabia. Together, they will share the latest developments at CAIA Association, review the newest additions to the CAIA curriculum, and discuss our current content priorities. This session will also be an opportunity to hear from you: your insights and perspectives are essential in helping us shape future revisions to the curriculum and guide CAIA’s content agenda in the years ahead. We encourage you to attend, engage actively, and contribute to this important dialogue shaping the future of CAIA and the alternatives industry. AGENDA: 18:00 - Registrations 18:20 - Welcome Remarks 18:30 - CAIA’s Vision 2035: Curriculum Updates & Content Priorities 19:00 - Interactive Dialogue with Members & Academics 19:30 - Networking dinner Please register early as space is limited Important notes before the event: - Thise event is for CAIA Members only
- This event is organized by dedicated CAIA members, who generously volunteer their personal time. Should you decide to register, we greatly appreciate your commitment to attending.
- If you find that you are unable to attend, please inform us at least 48 hours before the event. Your timely cancellations enable us to offer your spot to someone on the waitlist and help minimize food and energy waste
- Kindly note that registrations must be completed in advance, as walk-ins will not be permitted. Given the event's limited capacity, we encourage you to register as early as possible to secure your spot. If the attendance limit is expanded, we will promptly notify you.
- Registering a guest is possible but complete Guest’s details must be filled in. In case of overbooking, priority will be given to CAIA Members.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. If you have questions or concerns regarding registration for this event, please contact CAIA EMEA Chapter Relations.
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Laura Merlini
Job Title: Managing Director, EMEA
Organization: CAIA Association
Laura Merlini, CAIA, CIFD, is Managing Director, EMEA, for the CAIA Association since March 2012. She is a senior alternative investment professional with experience in strategic leadership, management skills and alternative investment knowledge in market outreach, brand development, reputation and member engagement. She formerly worked at Fortis Bank in Milan, Madrid, and Geneva. Since obtaining her CAIA Charter Certification in 2007, she has been an active member-volunteer, not only as the Co-founder of the CAIA Iberia Chapter in Madrid in 2008, but also as the Co-head of the CAIA Switzerland Chapter in Geneva as of 2010. Additionally, she chaired the 100 Women in Finance Educational Committee in Geneva between 2016 and 2018. Laura earned a BA in Business Administration at Bocconi University in Milan, received the CEMS MIM (Community of European Management Schools) MSc in International Management in 2002, and is a member of the Inaugural Class (2014) of the Executive Master in Positive Psychology, Leadership and Strategy from IE in Madrid. She strongly believes that governance is the core of a healthy financial industry, and this conviction led her to become a Certified Investment Fund Director accredited by the CIFD Institute in Ireland in 2015. Laura is also currently a member of the UN PRI HF Advisory Committee and a NED at Agave Advisors, an independent wealth manager firm based in Geneva. She is often invited to speak at conferences, roundtables and webinars on alternative investments. Having earned a Sommelier diploma, in her free time, she enjoys wine tasting as well as opera and art.
Steven Novakovic
Job Title: Managing Director, CAIA Curriculum
Organization: CAIA Association
Steve Novakovic is the Managing Director, Educational Programs at CAIA Association. In this role he leads the creation, development, implementation, and execution of the charter, certificate and other professional development programs offered by CAIA Association. Steve joined CAIA Association in 2022 and has been a Charterholder since 2011. Prior to CAIA Association, he was a faculty member at Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY, where he taught a variety of finance courses, including alternative investments. Before entering academia, he worked at his alma mater, Cornell University, (B.S. 2004, MPS 2006) in the Office of University Investments.
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