The Investment Table: The Modern Financial Centre: Capital, Family Offices, and the AI Frontier

Kerry Ann Sullivan

Partner, Hilton Global Associates

Kerry Ann Sullivan brings extensive business intelligence and due diligence expertise in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), corporate research, and background investigations. Her experience spans working with clients in diverse sectors, including private equity, venture capital, endowments, pension funds, hedge funds, and investment banking, as well as collaborating with law firms. Prior to joining Hilton Global Associates, Kerry Ann played a key role in leading complex deep-dive investigations, particularly in special acquisitions and IPO-enhanced due diligence matters. She has a proven track record of supporting risk-based investigations for M&A transactions involving middle-market private equity and venture capital firms. Kerry Ann has also collaborated with large sovereign wealth clients, conducting due diligence on portfolio managers, and has been involved in asset-tracing investigations for various law firm clients. Kerry Ann's expertise extends to mitigating risk for corporations by orchestrating in-depth diligence into the background, track record, and ongoing activities of board members and potential independent directors. She has actively participated as a subject-matter expert in roundtable discussions at alternative investment and chief financial officer conferences. Additionally, she holds the designation of Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and is a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) and 100 Women in Finance.

Chris Cameron

Senior Director, Supervision, Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA)

Chris Cameron is a Senior Director, Supervision at the DFSA, where he leads the team responsible for Conduct risk and the Supervision of a variety of businesses including Private Banks, Investment Banks, Brokers, Wealth Advisory, Funds and Asset Management. He joined the DFSA in 2008 and has played a key role in developing the DFSA’s policy on Funds and asset management.

Prior to joining the DFSA, Chris worked at the UK Financial Services regulator and spent a number of years in the private sector, primarily in the Funds and Asset Management industry as an Investment Manager.

Chris has a Bachelor of Honours Degree in Public Policy and Management, and a Master of Sciences in International Trade Policy. He also holds the UKSIP Investment Management Certificate and International Compliance Association Diplomas in Anti-Money Laundering and Compliance.

Jonathan Beardall

Head of Wealth & Asset Management Dubai International Financial Centre Authority

In his capacity as Head of Wealth and Asset Management, Jonathan Beardall is responsible for the growth and ongoing relationship management of the Centre’s Asset Managers, Fund Managers, Hedge Funds, Private Banks, Private Equity, and Venture Capital. This includes identifying new markets and partnership opportunities aligned with the DIFCs strategic goals.

Mr. Beardall has over 18 years of extensive global experience with financial services and investment firms across the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Middle East and North Africa regions.

Before joining the DIFC Authority, Mr. Beardall held leadership roles in Berkeley Group, HSBC, and Private Wealth Network. Mr. Beardall has also held several advisory board positions.

Mr. Beardall holds an MSc in Computing Science and a BSc (Hons) In Modern Physics from The University of Newcastle upon Tyne, and a Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning from the Chartered Insurance Institute.