GPFO European Conference 2024

Taz heads up the Wates Family Office, a 4th Generation Enterprise with its heritage in Construction and the Built Environment. Alongside his day to day management role, Taz is very much focussed on portfolio management, tax and legal oversight, implementing wealth diversification strategies and planning for Next Generation transition.   Prior to joining the Wates Family Office, Taz spent 20 years in global Finance, Management Consulting and Investing roles with Unilever, Accenture and Fidelity's proprietary investment arm at Eight Roads.   

Taz heads up the Wates Family Office, a 4th Generation Enterprise with its heritage in Construction and the Built Environment. Alongside his day to day management role, Taz is very much focussed on portfolio management, tax and legal oversight, implementing wealth diversification strategies and planning for Next Generation transition.   Prior to joining the Wates Family Office, Taz spent 20 years in global Finance, Management Consulting and Investing roles with Unilever, Accenture and Fidelity's proprietary investment arm at Eight Roads.   

**A leader who makes things happen in Sustainability, Innovation and People**   General Richard Nugee was commissioned into the British Army in 1986, after studying Anthropology at Durham University. He completed operational tours of Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Cyprus and Afghanistan. He also specialised in personnel (HR) roles both for the Army and Defence culminating in Chief of Defence People (equivalent to Global HR Director for Defence). Here he was responsible for all veterans, civil servants and members of the Armed Forces in Defence, some 3.5 million people. As a strategist, he concentrated on innovation within People, introducing Veterans ID cards, the Veterans Gateway and wrote numerous strategies for veterans, families, housing, skills. As President of the NAAFI he created the environment to turn a closing company into a vital part of defence.   After a full operational career in the British Army, as his final role he wrote a Review of Defence's approach to Climate Change and Sustainability. He has since earned international recognition for bringing the implications of Climate Change and Sustainability to the Defence and National Security sectors. Previously the Non Executive Director for Climate Change and Net Zero for the Ministry of Defence, he has expanded this policy interest into delivery, as the Chair, Director and Advisor of a number of renewable energy and environmental sustainability start-ups.   He advises a number of companies on sustainability and innovation. At the same time he advises government on climate and security through an All Party Parliamentary Group, think tanks such as Ditchley Park, RUSI and Chatham House.   He is Chief Executive of a medical research charity, the Scar Free Foundation, Chair of the Royal NAAFI Board, Director of his own Strategic Advisory Company, a strategic advisor to a number of consultancies and organisations, including the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, Oxford University’s Climate Change (In)Security Project and a climate-focused venture capitalist group, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, a Companion of the Chartered Management Institute and is Patron, Chair and Trustee of a number of organisations.   richard@nugee.com

Maria Nicoletta Gaida is the founder and President of the Ara Pacis Initiatives for Peace (API) Onlus and Pax Humana Foundation. An Italian-American binational, Gaida has extensive experience in the international arena, where she combines her unique artistic, cultural, and professional background with innovative approaches to conflict management and mediation. Since 2011, Gaida has focused on the Sahara-Sahel region, where she has created platforms for mediation, reconciliation, and community dialogue, supplemented by socio-economic development projects, as well as initiatives promoting education, vocational training, and cultural activities aimed at safeguarding local traditions. Gaida is currently developing and promoting the "Atlas of Disappearing Worlds", a living visual memory archive dedicated to preserving and revitalizing the cultures of the Sahara.

Hayden is a Partner and head of the Private Client & Tax department at leading law firm Boodle Hatfield. He has extensive experience in advising family offices, family business owners, high net worth individuals and entrepreneurs, both in the UK and internationally, on a broad range of private wealth matters, including partnerships, shareholder issues and family governance as well as wills, trusts and UK taxation. Hayden is consistently recognised by the leading legal directories for his work in private wealth law and advising family offices, and was named one of eprivateclient's 50 Most Influential in 2024.

Valeria Dinershteyn, CFA, Director of Sustainable Investing Client Engagement for EMEA at Northern Trust Asset Management, is responsible for education and innovation in the firm’s sustainable investing capabilities. Within her role, she helps clients in developing new strategies incorporating ESG and climate considerations in their portfolios and investment philosophies. She is a frequent presenter on sustainable investing solutions at firm and industry meetings and events. Prior to joining Northern Trust in 2019 , Dinershteyn worked at Kempen Capital Management, an asset manager in the Netherlands, within the Responsible Investment team. There she covered environmental issues (e.g., climate risks incorporation in company analysis, carbon footprinting, scenario analysis), engagement activities with companies and helped clients to develop and implement their RI policies. Valeria has broad international experience having studied in Russia, the USA and the Netherlands. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and Social Studies from St. Petersburg Polytechnical University (Russia) and a Master’s degree in Financial Management From Nyenrode Business University (the Netherlands). Valeria was recognized in the market for one of the highlights of her work at Kempen, the annual RI report, which in 2018 received an award from Responsible Investor for the best RI report of a mid-size asset manager. Next to Valeria's passion for sustainability issues, she is interested in languages and speaks fluent English, Russian, and Dutch, and studied German, Hebrew and Korean. Valeria is a CFA Charterholder. 

Simon Minder is a seasoned independent family office advisor with over 20 years of expertise in the sector. He currently serves on the investment committees of eight distinct families, providing strategic guidance and expertise. Additionally, Mr. Minder represents families as a dedicated member of the board of directors for their investments. He specializes in the establishment and optimization of virtual or single-family offices, with a particular emphasis on implementing efficient software solutions. His deep understanding of family office structures and technologies has made him a valued consultant for both new and established family offices across Europe. Based in Switzerland, he is fluent in both English and German, enabling him to effectively serve an international clientele in the family office industry.

Justin is a military veteran with nearly 30 years of full and part time experience. He was initially a corporate finance and private banking analyst at JP Morgan Chase & Co before being called up for military service after 9/11. This started a security focused career that led to founding Sibylline. He continues to serve as a Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank commander with the Royal Wessex Yeomanry, and as a tactics instructor for new commanders. His focus areas are global jihadism, the evolution of cyber and technical threats, and the creation of innovative and effective risk models. He is an acknowledged authority on business intelligence, global risk analysis and governance and regularly appears in broadcast and print media, including flagship current affairs programs.

_Fiona Clouder has wide experience of working with governments, business and investors. Fiona was the UK´s Ambassador to Chile  (2014-2018); and Regional Ambassador, Latin America and Caribbean, COP26, (2020-2022), driving engagement for a Net Zero world. _ _Now in the private sector, Fiona focuses on both Latin America and on the global interface of mining, energy and environment issues and associated geopolitics. Fiona is a Distinguished Fellow of RUSI (Royal United Services Institute); a Senior Advisor to Appian Capital Advisory; an Independent Director of the Chilean Cobalt Corp; Chairman of the Anglo Chilean Society and a Board member of Canning House._

Dr Liza Osagie-Clouard is a highly rated clinical surgeon having worked in both New York and London teaching hospitals. In parallel to her clinical research, Dr Liza has also conducted extensive research into stem cell biology and has published over twenty papers ranging from surgical methodology, clinical reviews to bone stem cell research in rats. Dr Osagie-Clouard is widely respected for her clinical expertise and leadership in creating innovative healthcare solutions, particularly within the realm of longevity and concierge medicine and has been featured in publications such as Vogue, The Times, Spear’s and Harper’s Bazaar

Tor McLaren has worked in international media and communications, intelligence and strategy. He is a founder at Tiller, a trusted and connected network with recourse to hard-to-access information and authenticated insights.    He is a former partner of Nash Capital Group, which provides funding, M&A and corporate finance advisory services, alongside direct investment access to rapidly growing private companies. He was appointed member of the Trade Policy Research Centre’s Strategic Advisory Committee, a specialist group of political strategists advising government on international trade policy and activity. Prior to that, he had a spent his career launching, acquiring and selling media businesses, including the launch of Australia’s Foxtel and Galaxy platforms, before returning to the UK to work for NBC Universal’s UK and EMEA television channels business as Director of Channels.   Having served on the boards of start-ups and multinationals, Tor has a broad knowledge of corporate governance issues, with skills that encompass corporate strategic development, marketing and communications, public policy presentation and change leadership. He is a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts and an active supporter of research into cancer and genetic disease and has served on board of the National Institute of Health Research’s Pancreas Biomedical Research Unit.

Paul is a researcher, author, consultant and lecturer working in risk management, derivatives and most things quantitative in finance. He has written over 100 research papers in mathematics and finance, and several best-selling textbooks including: _Paul Wilmott on Quantitative Finance_, _Paul Wilmott Introduces Quantitative Finance_, _Frequently Asked Questions in Quantitative Finance_, _Machine Learning: An applied mathematics introduction_, _The Mathematics of Finance for Highschoolers_ and _The Mathematics of Artificial Intelligence for Highschoolers_. He founded a quant magazine, a volatility arbitrage hedge fund and the world’s largest, high-level quant education program, the Certificate in Quantitative Finance, among other things. 

Paul Fleming is the Head of Single Family Offices, Endowment & Foundations at Mercer UK, leading a team dedicated to helping clients achieve their investment goals within a solid risk framework. With over 14 years in investment management, Paul specialises in governance, asset management, stock selection, and risk management. He holds a law degree from the University of Edinburgh, a master’s in finance from the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment (CISI), and an undergraduate degree in international business management from Heriot-Watt University. His commitment to social responsibility and community impact underscores his dedication to making a positive difference.

Enej Kuscer is a visionary serial entrepreneur at the intersection of biotechnology, healthcare, and sustainability. Trained in microbiology and molecular biology, and with a PhD in biotechnology, Enej has founded multiple ventures, from precision fermentation to rare genetic disease drug discovery. As the founder and CEO of NU, he is pioneering the use of AI and digital twin technologies to transform health optimization and longevity. Enej’s leadership in integrative systems biology and passion for innovation drive his mission to shift healthcare from reactive sickcare to proactive, personalized wellness. He is dedicated to creating sustainable, impactful solutions for a healthier future.

Independent security advisor to international brands, private clients and high profile individuals, specialising in crisis response,, complex investigations and legal disputes. Former British diplomat, UK military and consulting partner. Fellow of professional bodies and advisor to UK government professional standards for digital investigations. Degrees from Manchester and Cambridge.

Ted Cowell heads S-RM’s UK cyber business and is responsible for the commercial growth of the firm’s Security Consulting and Incident Response divisions. He has led numerous incident response matters and manages many of S-RM’s key client and partner relationships, with a particular focus on the PE and insurance sectors. He joined S-RM in 2012 and has held various roles across risk management, both as a practicing consultant and as a business leader. Prior to taking on management of the cyber business in 2021, he spent 4 years in the US, where he grew S-RM’s Corporate Intelligence business, having set up S-RM’s New York office in 2016.    Before S-RM and cyber, Ted worked in communications and advertising. He speaks Russian and has a BA in Modern Languages from the University of Cambridge. Ted is based in S-RM’s London office.

Sir Michael Fallon was the UK’s Defence Secretary from 2014 to 2017. He began the British training of the Ukrainian army after the invasion of Crimea and led Britain’s contribution to the Coalition against the Daesh in Iraq and Syria. Earlier he served in David Cameron’s government as Industry Minister and Energy Minister, responsible for renewable energy, nuclear, electricity markets, oil and gas.   Sir Michael is chairman of Investcorp’s Gulf infrastructure fund, and a non-executive director of other companies. He continues to write and broadcast on defence, security and energy issues.

Dr. Jas Gill is a bioscientist and accomplished executive with over 20 years of experience in the healthcare sector. She is the CEO and Founder of Sciencia Laboratories and serves as Chief Scientific Officer for the Gill Family Office. Driven by a commitment to advancing health and longevity, Dr. Gill focuses on innovative research and development. Recently, she has leveraged her expertise to advise scientific organisations and governmental bodies through her consultancy and advisory services.

Bobby has 25 years of financial markets experience and is the author of the widely read macro-political newsletter MacroEagle. He is currently launching SCYLD Capital, a London-based Asset Manager, exclusively focused on investing in Defence, National Security and Resilience. From 2021-2024 he was a Partner and Portfolio Manager at London-based Toscafund (a ‘Tiger Cub’), where he co-managed the “European Fund”. From 2009 to 2018 he worked as a Partner in the Securities Division of Goldman Sachs, with focus on derivatives, macro/tail trading and systematic strategies. Before that he worked in the trading divisions of UniCredit/HVB and Deutsche Bank. Outside finance, his main interest lies in the strengthening of the Anglo-German relationship. As such, he is the UK representative of the German Economic Council (Wirtschaftsrat Deutschland), governor of the Ditchley Foundation and member of the Koenigswinter organisational committee. He also gives the finance lecture at the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS). Bobby grew up in Chile and Bolivia, and served in the German Army. He holds a dual BA in European Business Studies from ICADE/ESB (Spain/Germany) and an MSc in Diplomacy and International Strategy from the London School of Economics (UK). He has German and British nationality and is married with three daughters. He speaks German, English and Spanish fluently.

Clare Flanagan oversees the client development function at Capital Generation Partners (CapGen), working with trustees, consultants and family office executives to match clients’ requirements with the investment services of the firm. Before joining in 2013, Clare was a Business Development Manager for Northern Trust’s Wealth Management Group in EMEA. Prior to that she worked at Brown Brothers Harriman as a Relationship Manager working with large fund manager clients across Europe. Clare studied English and Related Literatures at York University.

Dr. Richard Marshall is a physician scientist and a highly experienced executive with a 20-year track record of outstanding leadership in Pharmaceutical R&D. He is driven by a passion for developing new medicines to treat diseases of high unmet need and is excited to lead Juvenescence on its mission to improve the healthspan of people globally. Most recently, Richard was Senior Vice President and Global Head of Respiratory & Immunology Development at AstraZeneca, overseeing the development and approval of five new medicines. This included the SARS CoV-2 vaccine, _Vaxzevria_, and combination antibody, _Evusheld_. In 2021 he was recognized in the Queen’s Honours List with a CBE for his contribution to UK science and the Covid response. Before joining AstraZeneca, Richard held increasingly senior roles at GlaxoSmithKline and was Vice President of Fibrosis R&D. He trained at UCL and has held visiting professor and honorary consultant roles in thoracic medicine at Newcastle University and the Royal Brompton Hospital. Throughout his career, Richard has co-authored >60 original publications in journals including _The Lancet_ and _The New England Journal of Medicine_.

Lynne Cox runs the Lab of Ageing and Cell Senescence at the University of Oxford, UK, studying biological basis of human ageing, with the aim of developing new interventions to treat or prevent age-related diseases. She co-directs the UK Ageing Research Networks ([www.ukanet.org.uk](http://www.ukanet.org.uk/)) and is Program Director of the $60m global Dynamic Resilience program (), jointly funded by Wellcome Leap and Temasek Trust. In 2014, she received the Glenn Foundation award, presented at the House of Lords, for research into the biological mechanisms of ageing, and in 2023 she was awarded the Lord Cohen Medal by the BSRA.

Sophie is a funder, impact investor and campaigner. She is the co-founder of Gower St and in 2020 she also helped set up Impatience Earth, a philanthropy consultancy offering pro-bono advice to people looking to give in the climate sector and the grassroots organisation Mothers CAN (Climate Action Network). In 2022 Sophie became the Chair of The Climate Coalition and she continues to bring the benefit of her broad range of experience across the sector to the work of Gower Street.

Audrey Koh is the partner who leads the Corporate Investigations & White Collar Defense practice of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman’s London office. She has a broad range of experience across energy and natural resources, financial services, and pharmaceuticals sectors, advising corporations, senior executives and high-net-worth individuals. Audrey specializes in cross-border investigations focused on anti-bribery laws, sanctions, money laundering and financial fraud that involves multi-jurisdictional regulators and parallel civil fraud litigation and asset tracing. Audrey also advises on ABC, AML, anti-facilitation of tax evasion, sanctions and ESG compliance, due diligence and related training. Audrey has worked at leading law firms, from Skadden to Sidley, in London, Singapore, Hong Kong, Moscow, Paris and Geneva. She was also seconded to the SFO as an investigative lawyer in the Bribery & Corruption Division. Audrey also has in-house experience as head of legal and compliance, CCO and MLRO of an oil & gas private equity firm.