Will Dillard, CFA, CAIA, Chapter Executive

Located in Mercer's Atlanta office, Will is an investment consultant focused on working with institutional Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution Plans along with Private Wealth firms. In his role, Will assists clients with their investment strategy, portfolio construction, manager selection, and ongoing monitoring of investments. Will also serves as the Senior Strategist within Mercer’s Wealth Management Investment Committee. In this role, Will is a resource for clients and consultants when constructing portfolios and ensures that Mercer is addressing client specific needs.

CAIA Southwest - Secondaries 2025: Navigating a New Era of Liquidity and Innovation

The secondary market continues to evolve rapidly—no longer defined solely by LP transactions, but increasingly shaped by the dynamic rise of GP-led solutions, the emergence of private credit secondaries, and the growing influence of non-traditional capital sources. In a year marked by market dislocation and ongoing liquidity constraints, understanding the drivers behind secondaries has never been more critical.

Scott Brandt, CAIA, FRM, CTP, Chapter Executive, Canada West

Scott is the Manager of the Treasury for the City of Calgary, the third largest municipality in Canada. As Manager of the Treasury, Scott is accountable for the strategic direction and operational management of the division, while overseeing the city’s investment, banking, and payment relationships, and the execution of the municipality’s capital advisory, capital financing, bond issuance, payment modernization and investment programs. As of 2024, the investment program had over $7 billion in assets under management that are invested in both traditional and alternative investments.

Colin Kampfe, CAIA, Chapter Executive, Austin

Colin is a principal and portfolio manager based in Austin. He manages balanced portfolios and specific investment mandates for private clients, endowments, and foundations. Prior to becoming a portfolio manager, Colin helped lead the research efforts for the Austin office and supported the implementation of investments and strategies across client portfolios. Prior to joining Brown Advisory in 2018, Colin was an associate at Dimensional Fund Advisors. He earned his BBA at The University of Texas at Austin with a major in Finance in 2016.

Isamaria Avelar, CAIA

Back in 2018, I reached a point in my career where I felt the need to deepen my understanding of alternative investments and expand my perspective beyond traditional finance. I was searching for a curriculum that not only enhanced technical expertise but also addressed the evolving dynamics of global markets, risk management, and the unique ethical considerations within the alternatives space.