Event Speakers

WEBINAR - Live Workshop for Investment Fund Directors

  • Date: September 2, 2025
  • Location:

Speakers

Ju Hui Lee
Organization: United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund


Ju Hui Lee is currently serving as the Head of Investment Risk and Performance at the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF). Her responsibilities include overseeing investment risks, asset-liability management, and performance. As of 31 December 2024, the fund manages assets of US$95.3 billion.

Ju Hui has rich experience in the financial industry, having worked for various institutions such as CPP Investments, Scotiabank, KPMG, Mercer, and Manulife Financial. Her expertise lies in asset-liability analysis, factor studies, modelling, pension investment strategy development, risk management activities, and actuarial valuation reporting.

Ju Hui has a BSc in Mathematics, an MBA from Yonsei University (Korea), and an MSc in Financial Mathematics from the University of Chicago. She holds several designations, including CFA, CAIA, FSA, FCIA, CERA, and FRM.


Laura Merlini
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
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.