Event Profile

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CAIA Zurich
CAIA DAY SWITZERLAND 2026

CAIA Zurich is proud to host a premier gathering of leading investment professionals, asset managers, and institutional investors.

This year’s event will explore how alternative investments continue to evolve as core portfolio components in an increasingly complex and uncertain market environment. With shifting macroeconomic dynamics and persistent volatility, investors are turning to private markets, infrastructure, and hedge fund strategies to enhance diversification and generate resilient, uncorrelated returns.

The program will feature discussions on private equity in a challenging exit landscape, current trends in private debt, infrastructure as a bond substitute, and the role of hedge funds, alongside insights into the latest developments in wealth management.

AGENDA

08:00 - Registrations

08:30 - Master of Ceremony Welcome by Antonia Sariyska, CAIA - CAIA Zurich Chapter Executive, Head of Sustainable and Impact Investing EMEA and Global Impact Investing Lead at UBS Global Wealth Management

08:35 - Opening Remarks by Andreas Rothacher, CAIA - CAIA Zurich Chapter Head, Head of Investment Research at Complementa AG

08:40 - Keynote Presentation by Prof. Dr. Vesa Pursiainen - Associate Professor of Finance at University of St. Gallen

SESSION ONE  - Private Markets in the Current Market Environment

09:00 - Private Equity Strategies Panel in collaboration with:

• Federica Cazzaniga, CAIA, CFA - Senior Portfolio Manager and Head of Mandates Portfolio Management at Partners Group
• Francesco Gonzaga - Partner and Head of Italy at Andera Partners
• Oliver Grimm, PhD, CFA - Member of the Board of Directors, CFA Switzerland and Head of Mandates at Pensionskasse Stadt Zürich
• Laura Kirk - Managing Director and Head of Private Capital Formation at Wellington Management

Moderator:
Andreas Rothacher, CAIA, CFA - CAIA Zurich Chapter Head, Head of Investment Research at Complementa AG

09:35 - Current Trends in Private Debt Panel 

• Ioannis Galetsas, CAIA, CFA - Head Illiquid Assets at Zurich Private Debt Fund
• Daniel Torgler - Head Portfolio Management at Asga Pensionskasse
• Thomas Kilpatrick - Managing Director, Private Finance and Capital Solutions at Barings

Moderator:
Olivier P. Müller, CAIA, CFA - CAIA Zurich Chapter Executive

10:10 - Coffee Break

SESSION TWO - Uncorrelated Returns, Hedge Funds

10:30 - Uncorrelated Returns, Hedge Funds Panel in collaboration with:

• Camille Biancheri, CFA - Senior Analyst/Portfolio Manager at Penta Advisory Monaco
• Tim Gascoigne, CFA - Senior Investment Specialist at HSBC
• Elena Manola, PhD, CAIA - CIO at CERN Pension Fund
• Prof. Dr. François-Serge Lhabitant - CEO and CIO (Hedge Funds) at Kedge Capital

Moderator:
Gabriele Quargnali, CAIA - CAIA Zurich Chapter Executive, Investment Manager at AQUIS Capital
11:10 - Keynote Presentation by Steve Novakovic, CAIA, CFA - Managing Director, Educational Programs at CAIA Association
 

SESSION THREE - Bond Substitutes, Infrastructure

11:30 - Bond Substitutes, Infrastructure Panel in collaboration with:

• Alex Ball, CFA - Senior Investment Specialist at Aberdeen
• Lela Prodani, CFA, CIPM - Senior Portfolio Manager at Pensionskasse der Credit Suisse Group
• Janick Rensch - Investment Consultant at Complementa AG

Moderator:
Luca Michienzi, CAIA, CFA - CAIA Zurich Chapter Executive, Business Development Manager at Wellington Management

12:05 - Coffee break

SESSION FOUR -  Latest Trends in Wealth Management

12:25 - Fireside talk on the Latest Trends in Wealth Management in conversation with:

• Charles-Henry Monchau, CFA, CMT, CAIA - Chief Investment Officer, Member of the Executive Committee at Syz Group
• Laura Merlini, CAIA, CIFD - Managing Director, EMEA at CAIA Association

12:45 - Closing Remarks

12:50 - Lunch break 

14:00 - (Separate Registration) WORKSHOP - Private Markets: Current Dynamics and Forward Outlook with Steve Novakovic, CAIA, CFA - Managing Director, Educational Programs at CAIA Association - Registration Link

Important notes before the event:

• 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 not possible.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

If you have questions or concerns regarding registration for this event, please contact CAIA EMEA Chapter Relations.

This event is organized in collaboration with: