AFI GLOBAL HEDGE FUND
Innovation Summit
Benchmarking operational excellence in pursuit of alpha
Thursday 8 October 2026, Mayfair
What is the AFI INNOVAtion Summit?
- An exclusive invite-only gathering bringing together senior operational staff (COOs, heads of ops, CTOs) from global $1bn+ hedge funds for a day of discussion, networking and best practice benchmarking in the heart of Mayfair. View the 2025 event gallery here.
- An agenda of round tables and panel discussions designed to reflect the sector’s priorities, underpinned by AFI’s industry expertise, featuring speakers and participants from leading firms.
- The event focuses on operational excellence. Topics include: Business-building; best-in-class AI technology/data strategy; regulatory updates; recruitment/retention; marketing and BD; resilience; and other key issues.
- Content is interspersed with networking breaks enabling the sector to forge connections, spark ideas and drive business. Chatham House rules facilitate open discussion.
2026 AGENDA
8.45am
Registration opens; morning coffee and networking breakfast in reception areas.
9.25am
Welcome from the chair, Will Wainewright, founder of AFI, to commence proceedings; opening panels in Library begin.
9.30am
Innovating through disruption: Leadership in an era of change. A panel exploring operational best practices and how to handle volatility through executive leadership, robust culture and clear mindset. Featuring CEOs and COOs from a range of firms, including Caroline Bradley, member, executive committee, FIFTHDELTA, Malcolm Butler, managing partner, Selwood Asset Management, Jonty Field, co-head and COO, GreshamQuant and Patrick Mang, COO, Trium Capital.
10.00am
10.10am
Getting AI right: Exploring use cases, opportunities and best practices across the hedge fund industry. Featuring Stefan Delmarco, global head of quant implementation, Marshall Wace; James Hylands, head of AI, Fasanara Capital; Guillaume Di Liberatore, founding partner, Alba Investment Partners; Achim Denkel, managing director, Formidium; and moderated by Drew Nicol, director, AIMA.
10.45am
Networking coffee break.
11.15am
Round-table discussions round 1:
- Recruitment/retention: How to handle the people side of the hedge fund business; a discussion led by Flora Hudson-Evans, director of HR, Aspect Capital.
- Unlocking efficiencies: This dynamic roundtable will explore best practices in data management and AI integration, hosted by Altaira Strategic Partners. The importance of a ‘single source of truth’ in data management and the incredible efficiencies across reporting, investing and agentic integrations made possible by new technology. What does the middle and back office of 2027 and beyond look like?
- Prime brokerage priorities and the new landscape as industry balances rise. A wide-ranging discussion in which buyside professionals discuss state of play and the future of the space as they see it.
- Recruitment/retention: How to handle the people side of the hedge fund business; a discussion led by Flora Hudson-Evans, director of HR, Aspect Capital.
12.00pm
Round-table discussions round 2:
- AI ate my budget: Let’s be prepared! AI adoption is delivering value but also unexpected bills for fund managers. Lanware‘s roundtable will present an opportunity to share real experiences on the new expensive realities of AI, practical steps to get spending under control now, and what to look out for in future developments of AI cost management and optimisation (led by Henry Duncombe and Dan O’Hara).
- Managed account workshop: Considerations for established managers and allocators – pros, cons, best practices and more in a wide-ranging group conversation.
- Solving the comms conundrum – hints, tips and things to avoid when reaching out/interacting with investors. Industry leaders with experience on both sides of the fence (Martin Blank, Flywheel Research and Phill Chapple, COO, Monterone Partners), lead a discussion on investor relations; how to communicate effectively, the operational and logistical reality, the importance of tone and other key factors for mid-size and large hedge funds managing their all-important allocators
- AI ate my budget: Let’s be prepared! AI adoption is delivering value but also unexpected bills for fund managers. Lanware‘s roundtable will present an opportunity to share real experiences on the new expensive realities of AI, practical steps to get spending under control now, and what to look out for in future developments of AI cost management and optimisation (led by Henry Duncombe and Dan O’Hara).
12.45pm
Networking lunch in the Council Room and networking areas.
1.45pm
Afternoon programme of content begins in main Library.
1.45pm
Multi-strategy platform priorities: The multi-strat model continues to be the chief driver of industry innovation and key growth engine, nearing long/short equity in AuM. From the pod-shops to the multi-strats with traditional single manager roots, what are the key areas of innovation going into 2027? A wide-ranging session spanning new approaches; SMAs and alpha capture; operational priorities; allocator sentiment; matters of liquidity and more. Moderator: Gwyn Roberts, head of manager relations, PivotalPath. Panelists include Roy Martins, head of EMEA, Hurricane Capital, and Martin McCarthy, Managing Director, Citco Fund Services (Ireland) Limited.
2.15pm
Operational resilience: Explore the opportunities and challenges offered by tech and data during a time of accelerating pace and change; how technology leaders devise strategy and work with teams throughout the firm to create robust systems and capitalise quickly on opportunity, while handling growing cybersecurity threats. With Simon Bowie-Britton, CTO, Trium Capital; Edward Millington, head of information security at Winton; Phill Chapple, COO, Monterone Partners; moderated by Emily Randall, CEO, Bare Cove Technology.
2.45pm
Fireside chat with Hugh de Lusignan, who followed a career in the City of London by joining the Civil Service as Head of Financial Services at the Department for Business and Trade on UK policy, regulatory approach post-2008 crisis, and where opportunities now lie.
3.00pm
Afternoon networking/coffee break. Return to the Council Room for refreshment before the final sessions in the Library.
3.30pm
Times of tumult: A big-picture look at macro themes, geopolitical uncertainty, bond market dynamics and what to expect — or not — going into 2027 with Timothy Ash, senior sovereign strategist, RBC BlueBay Asset Management and Chris Watling, founder Longview Economics. Moderated by JP Smith, senior advisor IRF.
4.00pm
Allocator fireside: With interest in hedge funds at record highs, and capital flowing back into the sector, how best to capture the attention and ensure strong enduring relationships with the most important people in the room – the investors. Featuring Lawrence Berner, director, Stable Asset Management and Matthew Stiling, director, ODDyssey Strategic Partners.
4.30pm
AFI Innovation Summit Sparkling Wine Reception in the Council Suite. Reflect on the day’s key themes and make new connections over a glass.
5.30pm
Event close.
Post-event drinks
Continue the conversation over drinks at a nearby Mayfair watering hole, hosted by our partners at Lanware – details to be shared with delegates nearer the event.
What the industry says about afi
“The benchmark for serious alternative investment discussions. Great interviews and up-to-date market topics.”
Roberto Botero, Sciens Capital Management
“The AFI Summit was excellent. It provided very forensic analysis of the challenges of establishing and growing a successful hedge fund business.”
Donald Pepper, co-CEO and head of multi-strategy, Trium Capital
“Well attended… Panels covered all relevant topics from AI over operational set up to business development.”
Stefan Guetter, Markovtech Capital
“An impressive summit. The richness in content, an informative and well-structured agenda, and the excellent lineup of guest speakers truly stood out.”
2025 Innovation Summit attendee
2026 SpEAKERS include:
Caroline Bradley
CEO, FIFTHDELTA
Stefan Delmarco
Global Head of Quant Implementation, Marshall Wace
Flora Hudson-Evans
Director of HR, Aspect Capital
Malcolm Butler
Managing partner, Selwood Asset Management
Edward Millington
Chief Information Security Officer, Winton
Timothy Ash
Senior sovereign strategist, RBC BlueBay Asset Management
Emily Randall
CEO, Bare Cove Technology
Patrick Mang
COO, Trium Capital
Roy Martins
Head of EMEA, Hurricane Capital
Simon Bowie-Britton
CTO, Trium Capital
Lawrence Berner
Director, Stable Asset Management
Jonty Field
Co-head and COO, GreshamQuant
Guillaume Di Liberatore
Partner, Alba Investment Partners
Mike Fastert
Founder & CEO, Altaira Strategic Partners
Drew Nicol
Director, AIMA
Chris Watling
Founder, Longview Economics
Martin Blank
Founder, Flywheel Research
Phill Chapple
COO, Monterone Partners
Achim Denkel
Managing director, Formidium
Henry Duncombe
CEO, Lanware
Gwyn Roberts
Head of manager relations, PivotalPath
James Hylands
Head of AI, Fasanara Capital
Martin McCarthy
Managing Director – Citco Fund Services (Ireland) Limited
Hugh de Lusignan
Ex-Head of Financial Services, Department for Business and Trade
2026 SponsorS
AFI has partnered with a selection of hand-picked providers which have kindly made this event possible – leading operational experts with rich industry experience. They will be exhibiting in the Council Room, adjacent to the main Library event space.
The Library at the Royal Society of Chemistry, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London.
The Council Room at the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Benefits of sponsoring the AFI Innovation Summit:
The AFI Innovation Summit brings together operational leaders from global hedge funds for a day of best practice benchmarking, networking and ideas in the heart of Mayfair. Make connections, boost brand exposure and enhance your firm’s position as a thought leader in the sector.
Benefits of sponsoring:
- Brand positioning:
Website, podcast, social media and in-person branding. - Drive new business:
Networking opportunities throughout event, optional booth. - Thought leadership:
Opportunities to lead round tables, speak on panels
Please contact AFI to request information about 2026 events.
2026 event partners
GOLD
SILVER
ASSOCIATES
AFI PODCAST PARTNER
INDUSTRY PARTNERS
VENUE INFORMATION
Royal Society of Chemistry
Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BA.
Burlington House is on the north side of Piccadilly. After entering the gates, you will find the Royal Society of Chemistry at the far right of the courtyard. Disabled access is available.
PREVIOUS attendeeS
Register FOR 2026
Only open to qualifying hedge fund managers (most relevant to COOs, heads of operations, CTOs) and allocators. Service provider attendance restricted to sponsoring firms. Attendees must have their registrations approved in advance. We will respond quickly to your registration.