OCIO: The Phoenix that Keeps Rising with Mark A. & Sarah S.

CAIA Association is a global network of forward-thinking investment professionals, redefining the future of capital allocation in a world where traditional and alternative investments are converging at an unprecedented pace. United by a commitment to improving investment outcomes, we lead with authority, educate to inspire, and connect people who turn insight into action. CAIA Association creates dynamic and captivating learning experiences designed to engage investment professionals at every level. Its programs – the CAIA Charter and the CAIA.nxt™ platform – offer critical levels of access to a comprehensive curriculum that equips the investment community with the skills and knowledge needed to build modern portfolios. CAIA Association is a global member-driven community of more than 14,000 professionals, united by a shared commitment to improving investment outcomes and building a more aligned, principled capital market system.

Mark Anson is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of the Commonfund and Chairman of the Board of Commonfund Capital Inc. and Commonfund Asset Management Company. Previously, he was the President and Chief Investment Officer for the Bass Family Office of Ft. Worth, Texas, which was recognized as Family Office of the Year for 2014 & 2015. He was the President and Global Head of Investment Management at Nuveen Investments, a full-service asset management company with over $900 billion in assets under management. Prior to Nuveen, Mark served as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer for the British Telecom Pension Scheme (BTPS), the largest institutional investor in the UK with assets of £65 billion. In addition, Mark was the CEO of Hermes Pensions Management in London, a £55 billion asset management company that is wholly owned by the BTPS. Prior to joining BTPS, he served as the Chief Investment Officer of the California Public Employees' Retirement System, the largest institutional investor in the United States with over $300 billion in assets. Mark is currently the Chairman of the Investment Committee for the $65 billion UAW Medical Benefits Trust. He also serves on the Law Board of the Northwestern University School of Law and the Board of the Toigo Foundation. He is the only person to serve on the Board of Governors for both the CFA Institute and the CAIA Association. He was an inaugural member of the SEC Investor Advisory Committee and the Chairman of the Board for the International Corporate Governance Network. Mark has published over 100 investment articles in professional journals and has won three Best Paper Awards. He is the author of five financial textbooks, including the Handbook of Alternative Assets, which is the primary textbook used for the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst program. Mark earned a B.A. in Economics and Chemistry from St. Olaf College, a Ph.D. and Master of Science in Finance from Columbia University Graduate School of Business, and a J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law, all with honors. He has also received several industry awards in recognition of his leadership in asset management, including the Lifetime Achievement Award in Pension Fund Management from Plan Sponsor. Last, Mark has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst, Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst, Certified Public Accountant, and Chartered Global Management Accountant professional designations, and he is a Member of the Law Bar of New York and Illinois.

Sarah is a partner at NEPC and oversees the firm’s investment manager selection team across private markets, hedge funds, and public markets. Prior to joining NEPC, she was managing director at Wellesley College where she was responsible for the investment of the College’s endowment, including manager selection, asset allocation, and portfolio construction. Earlier in her career, Sarah was deputy chief investment officer at Mass PRIM where she chaired the internal investment committee and oversaw asset allocation, investment research, and manager selection across asset classes. Sarah led the portfolio management of the $80 billion pension fund and was a member of the Executive Management Team tasked with strategic planning and management of the organization. She also worked as associate portfolio manager at Boston Advisors and in a variety of roles at Wellington Management Company. Sarah is Chair of the CFA Society Boston Board, serves on the Advisory Board for Girls Who Invest, and founded the Boston chapter of Private Equity Women Investor Network (PEWIN). Previously, she chaired the Investment Committee and served as a Board Director for the University of New Hampshire. Sarah holds the Chartered Financial Analyst and the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst designations and earned an MBA in Finance from Boston University and a B.A. in German with a minor in Business from the University of New Hampshire. She is an active angel investor and member of TBD Angels, founded the Pull Up A Chair podcast, wrote a children’s book called Braving Our Savings, and is passionate about teaching children about investing.