Geopolitical risk continues to be a big influence on deals. Donald Trump’s return to the White House threatens to unwind the massive renewables subsidies of the previous administration and see inflation rising again. So it will be interesting to see how sentiment for the US infrastructure market is shaping up and what impact this is having on the global investment community. In this session a group of experienced infrastructure players will discuss how they plan to navigate the complex investment landscape facing the industry in 2025 and where they will be focusing for long-term growth. 

• New government administrations, conflicts in the Middle East and Europe, energy security – how are investors staying ahead of the curve when it comes to geopolitical risk?
• Energy transition, decarbonisation, digitisation and sustainability – what key global thematics are investors backing in 2025?
• Do you need boots on the ground to comprehensively deal source?
• What strategies are GPs focusing on to meet LP appetite and capture growth?
• How do foreign investors view the deal market in Australia considering new FIRB rules?

There has been a seismic shift in the way investors are viewing infrastructure investing. Once a haven for super core assets with risk adjusted long-term stable yields, a pivot to core+ and value add opportunities is prevailing, driven by super fund’s portfolio strategy shifts post-mergers and the need to beat the new industry performance benchmark. By March the expectation is that the deal market will have picked up as the bid-ask spread closes. It will be intriguing to see the direction long-term players take as they look to commit capital to the asset class and attract LPs when they next hit the fundraising trail. 

• What are the predictions for deal pace and valuations in 2025?
• Why are investors climbing up the risk curve from core to value-add?
• Where are the returns coming from and how are GPs fundraising plans taking shape?
• Where is the best value-add opportunities – healthcare/digital infra/education/social infrastructure?
• Is there a contrarian view to invest in super core and wait for the appetite to return?

The complexity of transitioning to renewables vs. ensuring reliable energy supply is an ongoing issue as investors look to develop and acquire platforms whilst evaluating the feasibility of gas in the medium term. Changes in governments – overseas and potentially at home – creates uncertainty over net zero policies. Understanding how to price assets can be challenging given the questions remaining over grid access and demand. The rise of AI and its voracious energy needs has intensified the push for a renewable energy. But understanding what, where and when to invest is as important today as ever as investors look to build on recent deal momentum. In this session a group of avid energy investors will share how they are thinking about the opportunity.                                            

• How are elections and geopolitical change affecting energy investing?
• What sub-sectors of renewables are best placed to deliver in the long-term?
• What are the latest developments in battery storage and how are they being priced?
• What strategies are transition funds taking to reach their goal?
• How are investors factoring in AI energy demand into their overall thesis? 
• Does gas have a role to play in bridging the gap on the road to net zero?

High net worth individuals represent a huge and largely untapped source of capital for infrastructure investors. In an advisor-led Australian market, wealth management platforms have emerged as a prominent access point. These groups can differ markedly from institutional investors in terms of sophistication, education, risk appetite, and economic objectives. Our panellists explain how to assess this new pool of capital, what aspects and risk level of infrastructure is catching the attention and consider the long-term implications of democratising private markets.

• Which infrastructure strategies are gaining the most traction with these investors? 
• Are semi-liquid products the best way to reach the rich?
• How should GPs go about engaging the private wealth channel?
• What more can be done in terms of education and expectations management?
• Is there scope for customisation in areas like fees, capital calls, and reporting?

Given the digitisation trends accelerating across Australia, as in the rest of the world, the growth opportunity for the data centre sector is compelling. Australia's cloud and AI-enabled economy is powered by a broad digital infrastructure ecosystem, and in turn a greater focus on energy efficiency is required to ensure the capacity to sustainably deliver AI. Investors are using different models to access the opportunity, intersecting with real estate and private equity, merging experience and capabilities. In contrast, activity in the telecom towers and fibre space has slowed and it will be interesting to see if there are more investments across the sector. In this session a group of investors will dig into the digital hype and dissect the deals to see where the best long-term returns can be found.  

• How is data centre demand - greenfield developments and acquisition opportunities - being valued? 
• Will digitisation further drive investment in renewable energy or will the demand for power take precedence?
• What’s different about digital infrastructure investment in Australia vs. other geographies?
• What is the outlook for deals and valuations in the towers and fibre space?
• How do data centres intersect asset classes and where do they fit on the risk spectrum?

Two big questions are front of mind for LPs as they consider their infrastructure strategy - should they be building a team of dealmakers and back-office professionals capable of delivering a global direct investment program, and how far to move up the risk curve to growth infrastructure-like investments in the hunt for bigger returns. Alongside these big decisions, LPs must grapple with macro issues and market uncertainty impacting liquidity and investment pacing. In this session a group of seasoned LPs will share how they are viewing the infrastructure asset class and their plans. 

• How are LPs thinking about building teams for direct investing and co-investments vs funds?
• What level of risk can LPs tolerate from infrastructure in the hunt for greater returns?
• What sectors and geographies are front of mind considering global macro political and economic uncertainties in 2025? 
• How much of an impact does the slowdown in DPI have on the ability to commit capital?
• Where does infrastructure sit in an overall portfolio and is this changing as the asset class characteristic evolve?