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Kroner and Koenigsberger Center for Financial Research KCFR

Bringing Asset Owners and Researchers Together

  1. Kroner and Koenigsberger Center for Financial Research
  2. KKCFR Conference 2026

 

Joint KKCFR and CAIA Conference 

4-5 February 2026 at UCSD

 

The KKCFR will be hosting our first conference coming up on 4-5 February 2026 jointly with the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) Association .  Please mark your calendars, as I can assure you that it’ll be the most valuable two days outside of the office all year. You can register at https://events.blackthorn.io/en/6A1uwY6/kcfrcaia-5a3gVs1PU8n/.

 

The conference will do what the KKFCR does best – bring the asset owners and researchers together. Nobel Laureate Robert Engle will speak on his research on investing in the presence of climate risk, researchers funded by the KKCFR will present their research on sustainable investing, navigating geopolitical risks, the role of consultants and more. Panels will address the relationship between assets owners and academics, the role of alternative investments and more.

 

Registration: https://events.blackthorn.io/en/6A1uwY6/kcfrcaia-5a3gVs1PU8n/

We have set up conference deals with the following nearby hotels:

 Hyatt Regency at Aventine https://www.hyatt.com/hyatt-regency/en-US/jolla-hyatt-regency-la-jolla-at-aventine?icamp=hpe-hy-com_hcom_search_chico_30_en-US_property_jolla   The UCSD group rate is:  86179

 Hotel La Jolla link: Booking Link: https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/deeplink/?ctyhocn=SANCUQQ&corporateCode=n9746123&flexibleDates=true

 The La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club: https://bit.ly/KCFR_CAIA_UCSD

 Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines:  Booking Link: https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/deeplink/?ctyhocn=SANTPHH&corporateCode=9885701  Company Name: UCSD  Corporate ID#:9885701

 Embassy Suites La Jolla: Booking Link:  https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/deeplink/?ctyhocn=SANLJES&corporateCode=0560009286 Company Name: UCSD Corporate ID#: 0560009286

 KKCFR/CAIA Industry Conference Agenda


Day 1, Feb 4

9.00-9:30

Welcome and overview of the conference, Molly Murphy (OCERS)

• What is the KKCFR? Graham Elliott, Michael Melvin

• What is CAIA? John Bowman, Aaron Filbeck
9:30-10.00

From Vision to Execution: How Investors Are Operationalizing the Total Portfolio Approach. 

Presenter/Facilitator: Aaron Filbeck, CAIA, CFA, CFP®, CIPM, FDP, Managing Director, CAIA Association
10.00-10:45

Let the data talk:  Research panel on the drivers and impacts of our alternatives investments; Rod June (LACERS), chair

The Rise of Alternatives, Juliane Beganau (Stanford) or Eric Siriwardane (Harvard)

Rethinking Private Markets as an Asset Class, Greg Brown (U. of N. Carolina)

Pension Fund Allocations to Private Equity and Portfolio Risk and Return, Stavros Panageas (UCLA)
10:45-11:15 Networking Break
11:15-11:45

Quick takes: Three academic papers practitioners need to know about, Amit Prakash (AIMco), chair Christian Lundblad (U. of N. Carolina), Lisa Kramer (U. of Toronto), Kathleen McGarry (UCLA)

 
11:45-12:30

Research panel:  Is sustainability a cost or a benefit?  Why it matters what you measure; Steve Sexauer (SDCERA), chair

Real Effects of Environmental Activist Investing, Lakshmi Naaraayanan (London Business School)

Designing ESG Benchmarks, Natalia Kovrijnykh (Arizona State U.)

The Cost of ESG Investing, Seth Pruitt (Arizona State U.)
12:30-1:30 Lunch
1:30-2:15

Navigating Geopolitical Risks in a Multipolar World
Moderator: John Bowman, CFA, CEO, CAIA Association
Interviewee: Marko Papic, Macro Geopolitical Chief Strategist, BCA Research
2:15-3:15

From the CIOs:  How alternative can our alternatives allocations get?; Chris Ailman (Ailman Advisors). moderator. All KKCFR CIOs participating

 
3:15-3:45 Break
3:45-4:30

Research panel Getting the big investment decisions righ; Ramy Reyes (BCI), chair
Portfolio Design Issues for Institutional Investors, Keith Brown (U. of Texas)


The Case for Scale in Portfolio Management, Allan Timmermann (UCSD)


Institutional Investor Strategies and Performance, Russ Wermers (U. of Maryland)
4:30-4:45

Closing Remarks: Day One, Molly Murphy (OCERS)

 
5.00-6:30

Reception hosted by CAIA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  


Day 2, Feb 5

 
9.00-9.05 Molly Murphy (OCERS)
9.05-9:45 Talk to me!  The relationship between academia and industry; Ken Kroner, chair
Panelists: Greg Brown (U. of N. Carolina), Andrew Karolyi (Cornell U.), Allan
Timmerman (UCSD), Rui de Figueiredo (Morgan Stanley), Robert Koenigsberger
(Gramercy)
9:45-10:30

Insights from a Nobel Laureate: A conversation on investing and environment; Michael Wissell (HOOPP), chair

Rob Engle (NYU)

 
10:15-11.00 Networking Break
11:00-11:45

Blended panel:  Measuring the value proposition of the investment consulting industry; David Tien, CPPIB, chair


Choosing Pension Fund Investment Consultants, Matteo Bonetti (De
Nederlandsche Bank)


Discussion of Alternatives and Consultants Panel
Scott Chan (CalStrs), Prakash Kannan (GIC), Stephen McCourt (Meketa Investment Group)
11:45-12:00 Final closing remarks, Molly Murphy (OCERS) & John Bowman (CAIA)