Aon Operating Partners Forum 2025
Embracing Uncertainty: Strategies for Operating Partners to Promote Growth
RegisterEvent Synopsis
The role of the operating partner is pivotal to translating improved business performance in the portfolio into investor returns; prevailing macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty only put this into sharper focus.
Building on last year’s inaugural event, Aon’s Operating Partner Forum 2025 examines how embracing the challenges of uncertainty can enhance growth in the portfolio, taking a thematic and practitioner-driven focus.
As trade dynamics shift, technology evolves, climate pressures grow and workforce expectations change, portfolio companies are navigating increasingly complex terrain.
This event brings together operating partners, portfolio advisers and subject matter experts to share practical strategies on value creation across key themes, with an emphasis on peer networking.
The discussion kicks off with a scene-set from Michael Moore, Chief Executive of the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association, and rounds off with a keynote from Claire Williams OBE, Fortescue Zero Ambassador and Former Deputy Team Principal at Williams F1, sharing her insights and learnings on high performance at elite-level sport.
We look forward to meeting you there.
Michael Carr, Chief Executive, M&A Transaction Solutions EMEA
Agenda
View Agenda
08:30 - 09:00
Coffee & Registration
09:00 - 09:10
Michael Carr, Chief Executive, M&A Transaction Solutions EMEA
09:10 - 09:25
Michael Moore, Chief Executive of the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association
09:30 - 10:00
Moderator: Eimear Fagan, Executive Director Financial Sponsors & Portfolio Value Creation, Aon
Panelists: Richard Waterer, Global Risk Consulting Leader, Aon, Joe Santana, Senior Advisor, Value Creation for Private Equity, Kaizen Institute, Louis Saund, Private Equity Operating Partner, Brookfield
Geopolitical tensions are reshaping trade channels, resulting in shortages of key products and commodities and price increases. Building visibility into the supply chain is the cornerstone of mitigating risk.
“The value of world merchandise trade rose by 12% in 2022 to $25.3 trillion, driven in part by high global commodity prices.”
Source: World Trade Organization
10:00 - 10:30
Panel 2: Technology - digital risks & opportunities in the age of AI
Moderator: Kevin Hall, Executive Director Digital M&A, Aon
Panelists: Julia Buckingham, Manager of Aon’s EMEA Threat Intelligence, Aon, Julien Rawle, Global Head of Information Security for ICG, Richa Bhuttar, Director of Engineering and CISO for Evri
Advancements in artificial intelligence, cyber and data technology open the door to both new business opportunities and risks that clients will have to face in an increasingly digital world.
“Spending on digital transformation technologies and services worldwide is set to reach $3.4 trillion by 2026.”
Source: Statstica
10:30 - 11:00
Coffee
11:00 - 11:30
Panel 3: Climate - Climate Risk and Sustainability – building resilience, adapting to change
Moderator: Hiren Mulchandani, Director Climate and Sustainability, Aon
Panelists: Adrian Champion, Head of Climate Analytics for UK & EMEA, Aon, Eleanor Fraser-Smith, Vice President, Head of Sustainability, Victory Hill Capital Partners LLP, Matthew Courey, Partner, President and Chief Operating Officer, AlbaCore Capital Group, Polly Firman, Principal, Sustainability, Actis
Climate and weather-related issues create new risk dynamics that will dramatically change future exposures and impact the health and safety of people, requiring a new approach to risk management.
“Only 31 percent of the $380 billion in global economic losses from natural disasters were covered by insurance in 2023 — on par with the long-term average protection gap.”
Source: Aon’s 2024 Climate and Catastrophe Insights report
11:30 - 12:00
Panel 4: Workforce - Striking the Balance between Costs, Skills and Success
Moderator: Rui Ventura, Executive Director Human Capital Solutions, Aon
Panelists: Michael Valocchi, GM, Management Consulting, Toptal, Stacy Lowe, Director of HR Practice, Aurelius, Steve Foulger, Director of Organisational Transformation and People Services, NFP (an Aon Company), Carl Redondo, Global Benefits Consulting Leader, Aon
Striking the balance in managing rising people and healthcare costs, while also attracting and retaining the skills needed to keep pace with advancing technology, is critical to business success.
“The share of highly skilled jobs has increased by 25% over the last two decades.”
Source: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
12:00 - 12:30
Fireside discussion with Claire Williams OBE, Fortescue Zero Ambassador and Former Deputy Team Principal at Williams F1, hosted by Nick Lupica, Aon Head of Client Coverage, EMEA
12:30 - 12:40
Michael Carr closing remarks
12:40 - 14:00
Networking lunch
Join us for a buffet lunch to connect with today’s speakers and peer networking
Keynote Speaker
Claire Williams OBE
Claire Williams OBE led the Williams Formula 1 racing team until 2020, in which role she was one of only two women to head a Formula 1 team in the modern era. Under her leadership Williams finished 3rd in the World Championship for Constructors in 2014 and 2015, the team's best performance since 2003.
Today she is a global Brand Ambassador for green technologies business Fortescue Zero, formerly WAE Technologies, and one of the expert Formula 1 analysts on the Netflix ‘Drive To Survive’ documentary series through the 2024 and 2025 editions.
Since successfully negotiating the sale of the Williams F1 team in 2020 Claire has provided consultancy services to brands entering Formula 1. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen’s 2016 Birthday Honours List in recognition of her services to Formula One. She will be providing valuable insights during the panel discussions and is sure to contribute to an interesting and engaging conversation.
2025 Speakers
Venue
A Grade II listed townhouse in central London, 195 Piccadilly is home to the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). Where industry meets talent.
Sponsors
We are grateful to our event sponsors for their support helping us make this event happen.
Kaizen Institute
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Kaizen helps businesses worldwide change for the better with a practical and structured approach, combining agile, digital, and Lean tools. Through hands-on consulting and training, they guide organisations on their KAIZEN™ journey to unlock their full potential and drive sustainable improvements. Explore how Kaizen can transform yours. For more information, visit https://kaizen.com/
Toptal
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Toptal is the world’s largest fully remote workforce, powered by a global network of more than 20,000 highly vetted professionals in technology, design, finance, marketing, and strategic consulting. Only the top 3% of applicants are accepted into our network. Founded in 2010, Toptal has been trusted by more than 25,000 clients, from the Fortune 500 to cutting-edge startups. We provide a variety of services to drive businesses forward, from on-demand talent and teams to complete end-to-end solutions.
For more information, visit https://www.toptal.com/services/management-consulting
Liberty Speciality Markets
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Liberty Specialty Markets is the international commercial, specialty and reinsurance business of Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, and we're proud of our mutual insurance heritage. It means we're guided by doing what's right for our clients. We take a long-term view and are wholly devoted to our policyholders and broker partners.
Liberty Specialty Markets offers specialty and commercial insurance and reinsurance products across key UK, European, Middle East, US, Bermuda, Asia Pacific & Latin America markets. We provide brokers and insureds with a broad product range through both the Company and Lloyd’s markets and have over 2,000 employees in approximately 60 offices.
At Liberty Mutual, we believe progress happens when people feel secure. By providing protection for the unexpected and delivering it with care, we help people and businesses embrace today and confidently pursue tomorrow.
In business since 1912, and headquartered in Boston, today we are the eighth largest global property and casualty insurer based on 2023 gross written premium. We also rank 87 on the Fortune 100 list of largest corporations in the US based on 2023 revenue. As of December 31, 2024, we had $50.2 billion in annual consolidated revenue.
We employ over 40,000 people in 29 countries and economies around the world. We offer a wide range of insurance products and services, including personal automobile, homeowners, specialty lines, reinsurance, commercial multiple-peril, workers compensation, commercial automobile, general liability, surety, and commercial property.
For more information, visit https://www.libertyspecialtymarkets.com/gb-en
Allianz Commercial
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Allianz Commercial is the center of expertise and global line of Allianz Group for insuring mid-sized businesses, large enterprises and specialist risks. Among our customers are the world’s largest consumer brands, financial institutions and industry players, the global aviation and shipping industry, as well as family-owned and medium enterprises, which are the backbone of the economy. We also cover unique risks such as offshore wind parks, infrastructure projects or film productions.
