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Director Roundtable with BlackRock's Iris Davila
Michelle Gardiner • May 28, 2024
Last week Derwent’s Board Practice was delighted to host a group of 24 Board Members for a roundtable event with Iris Davila, Managing Director, Investment Stewardship at BlackRock.
Iris’ insights covered the five mega forces that BlackRock views as key investment themes, and it elicited a fascinating discussion across various Board perspectives. The immense structural changes monitored by BlackRock incorporate five themes that will create both opportunities and risks for investors over the next 10-20 years. These five mega forces include:
- Demographic divergence – Demographic shifts in the major economies reflect an ageing population (peak 65), with implications for the retirement sector such as deaccumulation rather than accumulation. Investment opportunities look attractive in nations with a younger population such as India, which also has a relatively democratic backdrop.
- Digital disruption and AI – Opportunities in digitisation and AI are immense, with opportunities for both productivity gains and capital reallocation to build out associated infrastructure including data storage.
- A fragmenting world – Increasing geopolitical risks such as tensions between the USA and China, hold implications for supply chains. Alternatives that offer reduced risk include areas such as Mexico.
- Future of finance – Financial stability and the future of finance is impacted by rapidly evolving financial ecosystems and changing access to capital. Blackrock takes a longer term perspective with a principles-based focus on corporate resilience and stability.
- Low-carbon transition –The transition to a low-carbon economy is set to spur a massive reallocation of capital as energy systems are rewired
Iris also outlined the importance of diversity to BlackRock, including a focus on the next generation – bringing them to the table and getting their voices heard. Human Capital Management will be amongst the most important tasks of management in the coming years.
This event was hosted by Michelle Gardiner, Managing Partner, Board Practice at Derwent.
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