A range of funds experts from across Europe will explore the opportunities for fund professionals and the role of international finance centres at the 8th annual Jersey Finance funds conference, to be held in London in March.

The conference, entitled ‘The Big Picture’, will be held at the British Film Institute’s IMAX Theatre on Thursday 7th March, and will feature as the keynote speaker renowned broadcaster and BBC political editor Nick Robinson, who will provide an assessment of the current and potential future political landscape.

With City AM’s editor Allister Heath acting as moderator for the event, this year’s conference will include three panel sessions featuring a range of Jersey, UK and European practitioners who will explore key issues facing the international funds industry.

The first will look at opportunities for London practitioners after the introduction of AIFMD in July this year, and how offshore centres like Jersey can continue to prove attractive for private equity, real estate and hedge fund business. Another panel will see players from the major markets of the UK, France and Sweden discussing the offshore world’s relationship with onshore Europe. The final ‘technical’ panel will debate trends in the marketplace and discuss developments in the finer points of fund structuring.

A short film presented by Simon Witney, Chairman of the EVCA’s Tax and Legal Committee, will focus on the state of the European alternative fund sector and the main issues facing the key centres of London, Paris, Frankfurt and Stockholm.

Geoff Cook, Jersey Finance, who will provide an introduction at the event, said:

“After another challenging year for funds professionals, this year’s conference aims to look beyond the introduction of the long-awaited AIFMD and focus on the future of the international funds sector – a future that, with its carefully considered approach to AIFMD, Jersey plans to be very much a part of. To this end, I am delighted that we have been able to bring together a number of real thought leaders for our event this year who will look at a range of threats and opportunities for practitioners and the relationship between offshore and onshore centres. I am sure the event will generate some interesting and thought-provoking debate.”

Nigel Strachan, added:

“Jersey’s funds sector continues to perform well, with the net asset value of funds under administration remaining stable around the £190bn mark and the number of funds continuing to grow. Particularly pleasing is that the alternative asset classes remain strong in Jersey, representing around 70% of total funds business. With that in mind, this conference will prove invaluable in illustrating how Jersey can not only maintain a strong funds sector with the introduction of AIFMD, but also present alternative fund managers with some real opportunities.”

Jersey Finance’s ‘The Big Picture’ annual London funds conference takes place on March 7th 2013 at the BFI Imax Theatre, Southbank, London, starting at 12.30pm and finishing at 5.30pm, with a drinks reception afterwards until 7pm.. Further information is available and places can be booked at www.jerseyfinance.je/events.