The Irish Funds Annual Global Funds Conference took place earlier today, Thursday, 23 May 2019 at the Convention Centre Dublin. The conference, the biggest to date, was attended by more than 450 delegates from over 17 different countries. The theme of the conference was “The Future of Funds – Evolution or Revolution?”

In giving the opening address, Yvonne Connolly, CEO Ireland, Carne Group, and Chair of Irish Funds spoke about how the world and the asset management industry has evolved over the last 21 years. She outlined the innovation and disruption in media, technology and communications which has taken place over the past two decades and highlighted the dramatic changes in the funds industry in Ireland,

“In 1998 this was still a fledgling industry with total Assets under Administration of just over €70 Billion. Today we have 16,000 professional working in the industry; there are over 7,300 Irish domiciled funds with assets totalling more than €2.4 Trillion. We service a total of over 14,000 funds with a value of €4.2 Trillion. Our industry is now made up of a huge range of companies spread throughout the country, including Dublin, Cork, Kilkenny, Wexford, Limerick as well as many other locations. There is a mix of large and small employers, subsidiaries of multi nationals, as well as indigenous Irish owned and managed companies.”

The conference is a highlight in the international funds industry calendar and attracted a wide range of participants from across the international investment funds community. This year’s conference brought together prominent industry speakers to discuss the current issues and challenges facing the industry and included thought-provoking and informative presentations, keynote talks and panel discussions from internationally respected industry experts.