Episodes

  • Ep 208: Tara Davies - Inside the Global Infrastructure Playbook for Serious Private Capital

    Ep 208: Tara Davies - Inside the Global Infrastructure Playbook for Serious Private Capital
    Oct 28 2025
    David chats with Tara Davies, Co-Head of European Infrastructure and Co-Head of EMEA at KKR, one of the world’s most influential alternative investment firms. Tara’s career spans two decades at the top of global infrastructure investing, from Macquarie in the formative years of privatisations to now helping lead KKR through one of the largest capital deployment cycles in history. For investors watching the rapid rise of private markets, particularly those curious about how KKR thinks about risk, returns, leverage, vintages, AI-driven infrastructure, and liquidity in evergreen structures, this is a rare opportunity to hear it directly from someone charged with allocating tens of billions globally. Tara brings depth of cycle-tested judgment and unpacks how KKR underwrites downside, protects capital, and finds differentiated returns across energy transition, digital infrastructure, and private credit–linked opportunities. Listen to hear about: * How KKR defines “true infrastructure” — and where the market is mispricing risk * Why AI is turbo-charging transmission, renewables, and data-center build-out globally * The move from closed-end drawdown funds to evergreen vehicles designed for private clients * The role of vintage-year diversification as the stealth driver of long-term returns * How to think about debt discipline in an era where leverage is the thing that kills good assets This is a masterclass in private markets from one of the most senior women in global investing, and a rare transparent look “inside the room” at KKR’s worldview on infrastructure as an asset class for wealth preservation and compounding.
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    41 mins
  • Ep 207: Daniel Darling - Backing the Builders: Why Early-Stage AI Investing Is Creating Tomorrow’s Titans

    Ep 207: Daniel Darling - Backing the Builders: Why Early-Stage AI Investing Is Creating Tomorrow’s Titans
    Oct 13 2025
    David Clark sits down with Daniel Darling, Managing Partner at Focal Ventures, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the investment landscape. From the early-stage venture opportunities emerging in Silicon Valley to the rise of “AI agents” transforming entire industries, Daniel shares how his firm is giving Australian investors access to cutting-edge innovation in the US private markets. David and Daniel discuss: * The evolution of AI from information retrieval to autonomous action. * How AI-native startups are achieving extraordinary growth with small, technical teams. * Why early-stage venture capital presents both unique risks and outsized potential rewards. * What investors should consider when allocating to this transformative sector. AI is changing the economics of innovation, this conversation offers deep insights into the intersection of technology, venture capital, and wealth creation.
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    47 mins
  • Ep 206: Doug Tynan: Real Estate, Rolexes, and Returns - How the Ultra-Wealthy Think Differently

    Ep 206: Doug Tynan: Real Estate, Rolexes, and Returns - How the Ultra-Wealthy Think Differently
    Sep 29 2025
    In this episode of Inside the Rope, David Clark is joined by Doug Tynan, Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer at GCQ, who knew from a young age that he wanted to dedicate his life to investing. Doug shares how psychology and behavioural finance shape decision-making, and why discipline—through checklists, structure, and process—is the foundation of successful long-term investing. We explore GCQ’s commitment to transparency and accountability, and how these principles guide their approach to markets. Doug also discusses the unique pricing power of super-luxury goods, the transformative role of AI across industries, and why traditional businesses with durable models and network effects still offer compelling opportunities. With the investment landscape constantly evolving, Doug emphasises the importance of adaptability while never losing sight of quality and discipline. For investors seeking insight into both the art and science of building resilient portfolios, this conversation delivers a masterclass in practical wisdom and global perspective.
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    50 mins
  • Ep 205: Howard Marks - You Can’t Predict, But You Can Prepare - A Framework for Positioning Portfolios

    Ep 205: Howard Marks - You Can’t Predict, But You Can Prepare - A Framework for Positioning Portfolios
    Sep 15 2025
    In this special episode of Inside the Rope, David Clark welcomes one of the most influential voices in global investing — Howard Marks, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of Oaktree Capital Management. Known worldwide for his acclaimed investment memos, often cited by Warren Buffett as essential reading, Howard has shaped how generations of investors think about risk, cycles, and second-level thinking. In this rare and intimate conversation, Howard reflects on his remarkable journey — from being “banished” to high-yield bonds at Citibank in the 1970s, to pioneering distressed debt investing, and ultimately co-founding Oaktree, now managing over $200 billion in alternative assets. He shares timeless lessons on mastering market psychology, developing an edge in a world of efficient markets, and why success in investing comes not from predicting the future but from preparing for it. Gain unparalleled insight into Howard’s approach to risk, his candid views on assets like gold and Bitcoin, and his concept of “Invescon,” a practical framework for positioning portfolios across cycles. In an environment of uncertainty and market noise, Marks provides frameworks to help investors prepare rather than predict. Clarity and wisdom from one of the greatest investors of our time.
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    50 mins
  • Ep 204: Ed Goldstein - Unlocking Secondaries - Liquidity, Diversification and Opportunity in Private Markets

    Ep 204: Ed Goldstein - Unlocking Secondaries - Liquidity, Diversification and Opportunity in Private Markets
    Sep 1 2025
    David Clark is joined by Ed Goldstein, Partner and Chief Investment Officer at Coller Capital’s Credit Secondaries business. Ed has spent over 16 years shaping the secondary investment landscape, and in our conversation he explains how the secondaries market provides investors with liquidity, diversification, and unique access to private markets—an area often overlooked but increasingly interesting for investors. With Coller Capital managing more than $40 billion globally, Ed explains how this market has evolved, why it matters, and how it can help sophisticated investors achieve diversification, mitigate risk, and capture attractive returns We unpack the mechanics of secondaries in both private equity and private credit, explore the growth of continuation funds, and discuss how institutional investors, from pension schemes to sovereign wealth funds, are using secondaries to reshape portfolios. Ed also shares insights from his decades-long career navigating multiple market cycles and explains how Coller’s scale allows them to underwrite and execute transactions that others can’t. Whether you’re new to private markets or already allocating to alternatives, this conversation will give you a deeper understanding of how secondaries fit into the broader investment landscape—and why they’re becoming an essential tool for investors.
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    49 mins
  • Ep 203: David Gonski - Lessons on Leadership, Legacy & Long-Term Wealth

    Ep 203: David Gonski - Lessons on Leadership, Legacy & Long-Term Wealth
    Aug 18 2025
    In this special episode of Inside the Rope, host David Clark sits down with one of Australia’s most influential business leaders, David Gonski AC. Widely regarded as the “Chairman’s Chairman,” Gonski has shaped Australia’s corporate, philanthropic, and educational landscape over a 50-year career, chairing institutions such as ANZ, the ASX, and the Future Fund. From the art of governance and the complexities of intergenerational wealth, to the lessons of philanthropy and long-term investing, Gonski reflects on the experiences and philosophies that have guided his extraordinary journey. His candid insights reveal not only how to build and protect wealth, but also how to think about legacy, influence, and purpose. *Gain rare access to the lessons of a leader who has sat at the helm of Australia’s most significant institutions and advised some of the country’s most successful families. *Hear Gonski’s views on governance, succession planning, and philanthropy—vital considerations for families stewarding wealth across generations. *Discover how Gonski thinks about investment philosophy, endowment-style investing, and the importance of aligning financial decisions with values and legacy.
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    54 mins
  • Ep 202: Claudia Kwan - Returns Without Compromise: Investing for Impact and Outperformance

    Ep 202: Claudia Kwan - Returns Without Compromise: Investing for Impact and Outperformance
    Aug 4 2025
    David Clark is joined by Claudia Kwan, Managing Director at North Star Impact Funds and recipient of the Outstanding Individual Achievement Award at the Impact Investment Summit. A former Morgan Stanley trader and now one of Australia’s leading voices in sustainable capital, Claudia shares how impact investing is evolving beyond its philanthropic roots to deliver returns competitive with traditional strategies. For investors who have historically prioritised financial performance over social outcomes, this episode challenges assumptions highlighting how capital can be deployed to sectors like affordable housing, electrification, and healthcare without compromising on economic returns. Key highlights: * Why measurable social and environmental outcomes are becoming part of mainstream investing. * How impact-aligned portfolios can deliver returns in line with traditional benchmarks. * NorthStar’s values-driven, institutional-grade investment approach. * Claudia’s journey as a female leader in the investment banking industry. Great perspective on why purpose and performance are no longer mutually exclusive.
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    44 mins
  • Ep 201: Nikki Thomas - The Power of Focus: Running a 20-Stock Global Portfolio

    Ep 201: Nikki Thomas - The Power of Focus: Running a 20-Stock Global Portfolio
    Jul 21 2025
    In this episode of Inside the Rope, David Clark is joined by Nikki Thomas, one of Australia's most respected global equity investors and the current Portfolio Manager of Magellan’s High Conviction Fund. After a period of significant change at Magellan, Nikki’s return to the firm marks a powerful reconnection with its founding principles—absolute returns, deep research, and a commitment to global quality. With over two decades of experience and foundational roles at both Magellan and Alphinity, Nikki unpacks her high-conviction investment philosophy and explains why the core Magellan approach — compounding capital through structural moats and disciplined valuation — remains unchanged despite market noise. In a candid and wide-ranging conversation, David and Nikki explore: * How she builds a concentrated portfolio of 10–20 global leaders * The role of AI, robotics, and digitalisation in shaping long-term investment themes * The outlook for key holdings including Novo Nordisk, Visa, and Microsoft * How Magellan is evolving from a founder-led boutique to an institutional investment house * Her return to the firm and the strategic pivot under new leadership This episode offers rare insight into one of Australia’s top investment minds at a pivotal moment for Magellan and global capital markets. A must-listen for high-net-worth investors seeking clarity, conviction, and access to the type of global opportunities that sit beyond Australia’s borders.
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    1 hr and 8 mins