Pinnacle supports major student initiative at 2025 Sohn Hearts & Minds Conference

Hearts & Minds Investments (“HM1”) is set to welcome a cohort of more than 100 secondary school pupils and undergraduates to attend this year’s Sohn Hearts & Minds Investment Leaders Conference, marking its largest educational opportunities program yet.

Returning to Sydney for the tenth Sohn Hearts & Minds conference, HM1 will launch a new program with the Financial Markets Academy (“FINMA”), as well as continue its existing partnership with educational not-for-profit organisation Beacon Foundation.

These partnerships will provide participants with the chance to hear from the most influential minds in the local and global investment community, such as Third Point’s Daniel Loeb and former White House Communications Chief Anthony Scaramucci. The program will also offer hands-on learning experiences to inspire future careers in the finance industry.

The new FINMA partnership has been made possible thanks to Pinnacle Investment Management Group, Australia’s largest multi-affiliate investment manager.

HM1 Managing Director and Chair of FINMA Richard Howes commented:

“We’re delighted to continue our collaboration with Beacon Foundation and launch an impactful partnership with FINMA. Our work with both Beacon Foundation and FINMA is focused on supporting the next generation of professionals by creating opportunities for students to gain early exposure to the finance sector and develop essential career skills.

 “Thanks to the generosity of Pinnacle Investment Management Group, we’re excited to welcome our largest cohort to this year’s conference, which promises a dynamic program led by local and global investment leaders.”

FINMA operates a two-year curriculum that runs in parallel with undergraduate degrees to fast-track industry-specific skills development and provide a direct pathway to careers in investment banking, trading and asset management. The program provides access to internship opportunities and hands-on training led by renowned industry experts, with support from leading financial institutions including Pinnacle Investment Management, Barrenjoey, UBS, Westpac and NAB.

Founder and Managing Director at Pinnacle Investment Management, Ian Macoun, who facilitates FINMA internships and is supporting the participants attending the conference this year, said:

 “The importance of a strong, globally respected financial services sector to Australia’s long-term economic future is often underappreciated. Competing on the world stage requires exceptional talent, and that begins with inspiring the next generation. As an industry, we must do more to capture the hearts and minds of students and demonstrate how delivering high-quality financial services can enable better lives. So, we’re very pleased to help welcome a new generation to this year’s Sohn Hearts & Minds Conference.”

 Now in its fourth year, HM1’s ongoing collaboration with Beacon Foundation involves a pre-conference workshop designed to educate secondary students on financial literacy, career pathways in financial services and build the foundational knowledge for future professional success.

This year’s workshop will be facilitated by industry professionals and mentors from Pinnacle Investment Managementand HM1 on Tuesday 28th October.

 Beacon Foundation CEO Scott Harris added:

 “At Beacon, we believe that when young people are equipped with the right skills, mindset, and meaningful exposure to the world of work, they begin to see a future for themselves that may have once felt out of reach. Beacon bridges the gap between education and employment. We’re committed to helping young people find their place and enable them to confidently transition to the world of work.

 “Our ongoing partnership with HM1 continues to strengthen this mission by giving students the opportunity to build financial literacy, form valuable networks, and engage directly with industry professionals. It’s experiences like these that help young people imagine new possibilities and take confident steps toward their future.”

The Sohn Hearts & Minds Investment Leaders Conference will feature keynote speakers Anthony Scaramucci(Founding and Managing Partner, SkyBridge) and Matthew McLennan (Co-Head of Global Value Team and Portfolio Manager, First Eagle Investments), as well as panel discussions and stock pitches from ten local and international expert fund managers.

For many students, it will be their first opportunity to engage directly with industry professionals and explore career pathways across investment, banking, and financial services.

Through its partnerships with FINMA and Beacon Foundation, HM1 is helping shape a new generation of finance professionals by combining education, exposure, and real-world experience in a way that’s both inclusive and impactful.

[ENDS]

About Hearts & Minds

Hearts and Minds is a unique philanthropic organisation, dedicated to the advancement of Australian medical research. It consists of the Sohn Hearts & Minds conference and an ASX-listed investment company, Hearts and Minds Investments Limited (HM1).

Sohn Hearts & Minds is Australia’s premier finance and philanthropy event, which gathers international thought leaders, provocative thinkers and entertainers for a one-day annual event like no other. Founded in 2016, Hearts & Minds is an exclusive Australian affiliate to the esteemed Sohn Conference Foundation.

HM1 was established in November 2018 with the combined objective of providing a concentrated portfolio of the highest conviction ideas from selected fund managers, whilst also supporting Australian medical research organisations. As of 31 August 2025, HM1 has generated a compound annual pre-tax investment return of 12% since inception. HM1 is proudly one of Australia’s Top 30 Corporate Philanthropists.

 About FINMA

FINMA is Australia’s premier finance program designed to fast-track high-quality students into careers in investment banking, trading, and asset management. Developed in collaboration with leading employers, we aim to bridge the gap between university education and industry through rigorous finance coursework, hands-on training from renowned academics and professionals, and pre-arranged internships with our top-tier sponsors and partners.

About Beacon Foundation

Beacon Foundation is a national not-for-profit organisation based in Hobart. Beacon have been working with schools, businesses and communities for over 35 years to bring real world relevance to education and to inspire young people to think about careers and to experience the workplace, long before leaving school. Beacon deliver programs Australia-wide, for students in Years 7-12, more specifically targeting students in Years 9-12, in schools with an ICSEA* of less than 1,000.

About Pinnacle Investment Management

Pinnacle is a leading ASX-listed multi-affiliate investment management group with distribution capabilities and affiliated investment teams located in Australia, New Zealand, London, the United States and Canada. Along with holding strategic equity interests in Affiliates, Pinnacle provides seed funding, global institutional and retail distribution, and industrial-grade middle office and infrastructure services. By providing Affiliates with superior non-investment services, Pinnacle creates an optimal environment for talented investors to deliver investment excellence. 

As at 30 June, 2025, Pinnacle has A$179.4 billion in funds under management across 18 Affiliates.