The Investment Administration Conference in association with the Australian Custodial Services Association (ACSA) is Australia’s biggest annual fund administration, custody and technology conference. Now in its 14th year, the 2011 conference  focused on the theme of ‘Opportunities in a Rebalancing World’. Extensively researched, the program was tailored specifically to senior executives and operational heads from fund management companies, superannuation funds and other financial services groups that manage investment products. It  featured a host of industry expert speakers from here and abroad including:

• Graeme Arnott – Chief Operating Officer – First State Super
• Graham Smith – Vice-President – State Street Global Advisors, Australia
• Laurence Bailey – Chief Executive Officer, Asia Pacific – J.P. Morgan Worldwide Securities Services
• Ian Banks – Head of HSBC Securities Services, Asia-Pacific – Treasurer, Global Transaction Banking, HSBC
• Robert Brown  – Founder – Alford Brown & Associates
•  Jason Lapping – Head of Asia Pacific Trading – Dimensional (Australia)
•  Mark Cassar – Executive Director – DST Global Solutions
• Ian Matheson – Chief Executive Officer of the Australasian Investor Relations Association
• Peter Curtis – Senior Manager, Investments – AustralianSuper
• Paul Cutts – Chairman – Australian Custodial Services Association (ACSA)
• Marian Azer -Principal – Mercer’s investment consulting business
• Neil Detering – Head of Quantitative Data Services – GBST Holdings Limited
• Paul Egan – Global Transaction Services – Citi
• Brett Elvich – Director – Financial Viewpoint
• Ged Fitzpatrick – Senior Executive Leader – Australian Securities and Investments Commission
• Tim Hamer – Director of Securities Markets, Asia Pacific – SWIFT
• Pierre Jond – Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand – BNP Paribas Securities Services
• Dañelle Michaell – Senior Manager, Intermediary Services – Computershare
• Mark Neary – Managing Director – Client Relation & Business Development, Asia Pacific – Milestone Group
• Andrew Nolan – Head of Investor Solutions – Warakirri Asset Management
• Greg O’Sullivan – Vice President, Head of Sales Global Services – State Street Australia Limited
• Jonathon Pain – Director -  JP Consulting NSW
• Sandra Powell – Head of Product and Risk – HSBC Australia
• Kyle Ringrose – Head of Investment Operations – QSuper
• Chris Ryan – Managing Director & Senior Advisor, Investor Services – Citi Securities and Fund Services Asia Pacific
• Darren Stevens – Global Head of Product – Wealth Management 

The day examined a selection of key challenges and opportunities for the industry as the global financial system trends toward ‘re-regulation’ and a new balance of economic power.

Sessions were focussed on what Australia has to do in order to be more ‘friendly’ to foreign investors, how local players can survive and thrive in a post-Cooper environment, and how they can grow their business across the region; and of course the operational implications.  Also discussed was the changing distribution landscape in Australia, and veterans discussed the super industry – past, present and future.