CFA UK

In this episode of the CFA UK Future Proofing Finance Podcast, hosts Ben Ashby, ASIP and Tom Threlfall, CFA are joined by Jonathan Man, CFA, Head of Alpha Strategies, Bitwise, to explore how decentralised finance (DeFi), stablecoins, and crypto infrastructure are reshaping the future of asset management and financial markets.

Jonathan explains his transition into crypto, unpacks the innovations that have emerged from DeFi, and discusses why technologies such as vaults, stablecoins, and programmable finance could transform investment management.

In this episode:
How stablecoins are driving the next wave of digital finance
Why vaults could become the "ETF 2.0" for asset management
The changing landscape for crypto venture capital
Tokenisation and the convergence of traditional and digital assets
Practical advice for finance professionals looking to understand crypto

Listen to find out what the future of decentralised finance looks like, and how digital assets could redefine the next generation of financial services.

In the latest episode of the CFA UK Future Proofing Finance Podcast, hosts Ben Ashby, ASIP and Tom Threlfall, CFA sit down with Dr. Valeria Raffuzzi, Research Associate, University of Cambridge, to explore the evolving role of nuclear energy in the global transition to net zero.

Dr. Raffuzzi explains her transition from renewables to nuclear engineering, explaining along the way why Western infrastructure projects face high costs and delays due to regulatory hurdles, political issues, and supply chain complexities.

The episode also explores:
Drivers of the "nuclear renaissance" and global power demand
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) for cost-effective scalability
Technical and economic hurdles for fusion energy
Nuclear cost and sustainability misconceptions

Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation on the future of nuclear energy, the realities of decarbonisation, and the opportunities and risks ahead for investment professionals.

In the latest episode of CFA UK’s In Conversation podcast, host Anita Brown speaks with David Carlin, founder of D.A. Carlin and Company, to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainable finance and the opportunities and risks it presents for the financial sector.

David outlines the environmental costs of advanced AI, from data centre energy use to model training, and focuses on the importance of establishing ethical AI governance focused on transparency and accountability. They also discuss tracking emissions and evaluating net-zero strategies using AI, all while avoiding automated groupthink and prioritising human judgement when making complex decisions.

Tune in for an insightful discussion on innovation, responsibility, and the evolving role of AI in shaping the future of finance.

In this episode of the CFA UK Future Proofing Finance podcast, hosts Ben Ashby and Tom Threlfall, CFA speak with John Reade, Senior Market Strategist at the World Gold Council. John shares his 40-year career journey from mining engineer to market strategist, and explains the evolving landscape of gold markets for investors.

Explore:
Gold’s value as a portfolio diversifier
The impact of gold-backed ETFs on investor access
Central bank reserve strategies and demand for gold
Physical storage considerations and market dynamics
Comparisons between gold and Bitcoin

Tune in for an insightful conversation on gold markets, investment strategy, and the evolving role of gold in your investment portfolio.

In this episode of CFA UK’s In Conversation podcast, host Olly King sits down with Jegor Tokarevich, CEO of Substance Over Form (SOF), to explore the evolving landscape of sustainable finance regulatory reporting in private markets.

Jegor shares insights into the growing complexity of ESG compliance across frameworks such as SFDR, the EU Taxonomy, and CSRD, and discusses how these regulations are reshaping expectations for both General Partners (GPs) and Limited Partners (LPs).

The episode also explores:

Jegor’s perspective on the key ESG reporting challenges facing private equity and private debt managers
The impact of fragmented data and lack of standardisation in private markets
How SOF supports GPs, LPs, and portfolio companies with ESG data collection and validation
The importance of early alignment between LPs and GPs on ESG
Advice on staying agile amid rapidly evolving regulatory requirements

Tune in for an insightful conversation on ESG regulation, data challenges, and how collaboration and technology are shaping the future of sustainable investing in private markets.