Claim OwnershipInside the Rope with David Clark
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In this show, David interviews the leading minds in Wealth Management. David Clark is an experienced and respected Financial Services Professional. As a Partner and Advisor at Koda Capital, David advises some of Australia most successful families on Wealth Management.
David is also a successful entrepreneur that has exited two financial services businesses. He is a director of the St Josephs College Foundation and sits on the investment committee, as well as being a founder of ZamBzee a software application development company.
David is also a successful entrepreneur that has exited two financial services businesses. He is a director of the St Josephs College Foundation and sits on the investment committee, as well as being a founder of ZamBzee a software application development company.
210 Episodes
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David Clark sits down with Jessica Farr-Jones, Portfolio Manager at Regal Partners, one of Australia’s most dynamic alternative investment firms now managing over $20 billion across hedge funds, private credit, real assets, and global equities.
Jessica’s journey from JP Morgan’s investment-banking floors in Sydney & New York to launching her own $150 million Global Small Companies Fund inside Regal is a story of precision, discipline, and conviction. She reveals how her fascination with both maths and market psychology shaped her investment approach—one that blends the rigour of quantitative analysis with the intuition of great traders.
Regal evolved from a billion-dollar boutique to a global powerhouse, and why its founder, Phil King, models the firm on the philosophy of Barcelona FC—attracting the world’s best talent to perpetuate excellence.
Jessica unpacks:
* The anatomy of a 20 % p.a. strategy and what it takes to consistently generate alpha across private and listed markets.
* How Regal’s long-short framework creates “two times the opportunity to make money” without increasing net risk.
* Why the rotation into small-caps could be the most powerful trade of the next market cycle.
* And the lessons learned from early-stage investments in names like Life360, Zip, and Iris Energy, now a billion-dollar AI and Bitcoin infrastructure play.
It’s a masterclass in portfolio construction, behavioural discipline, and staying nimble through cycles. Jessica’s insights offer a rare look inside how elite fund managers think—and why great investors marry data with intuition.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In this special 200th episode of Inside the Rope, David Clark is joined by Koda Capital’s Chairman Steve Tucker and CEO Paul Heath to reflect on the evolution of wealth management since the podcast’s inception in 2016. From humble beginnings to over 200 candid conversations with some of the world’s best investment minds, this milestone marks a journey of insight, access, and innovation.
The episode explores the wealth advice industry's transformation into a true profession, the growing importance of values-based investing, and the behavioural traits that separate great investors from the rest - resilience, process discipline, and the courage to learn from failure.
They discuss the standout episodes, the dramatic rise in private market access, the adoption of endowment-style investing, and the shift toward investments offering stronger returns with lower volatility.
This episode is not just a retrospective—it’s a guidepost for the next decade of investing, advice, and purpose-driven wealth. Whether you're a client, adviser, or investment enthusiast, this conversation offers rare insight into how great advice has changed, where it's heading, and how Inside the Rope has provided privileged access to the minds shaping the future.
In this episode of Inside the Rope, David Clark sits down with legendary investor Marc Lasry, co-founder and CEO of Avenue Capital and former owner of the Milwaukee Bucks. Lasry unpacks the explosive growth of private equity in the global sports industry—where financial returns meet passionate fandom.
From his journey as a Moroccan-born immigrant to building a $25 billion investment firm, Lasry offers a firsthand look at why sports franchises are no longer just vanity assets for billionaires, but a scalable, investable asset class ripe with opportunity. He shares how Avenue Capital approaches sports as a structured, revenue-generating investment with tangible upside through ticketing, sponsorship, and media rights. We explore his early bets on underappreciated assets like pickleball and women’s sport, and how digitisation, fantasy, and fan engagement are reshaping the commercial landscape.
This conversation is essential listening for investors seeking uncorrelated returns, exposure to global entertainment, and insights from one of the foremost minds in distressed debt and opportunistic investing.
In this episode of Inside the Rope, host David Clark sits down with Tim Samway, founder of Scarcity Partners and former managing director of Hyperion Asset Management, to explore one of the most compelling trends in asset management—GP staking (General Partner staking).
What if, instead of being on the paying end of fund management fees, you could invest in the fund managers themselves? That’s exactly what GP staking enables—and it’s gaining serious momentum in Australia.
Tim breaks down:
* What GP staking is and why it’s more than just private equity for funds
* Why returns from GP staking (targeting 20%+ p.a.) can outperform traditional funds
* The structural shift toward private markets and the rise of endowment-style investing
* The red flags and green lights in assessing fund managers as businesses
* Why private market exposure is still underrepresented in most Australian portfolios—and what’s changing
Listeners will come away with a clearer understanding of how to access the "better side" of the fee equation and what makes the economics of fund management so attractive when scaled properly.
In this episode of Inside the Rope, host David Clark sits down with Craig Packer, Co-President of Blue Owl Capital – a $140 billion powerhouse in private lending. From humble beginnings to one of the fastest-growing alternative asset managers globally, Craig shares the inside story behind Blue Owl’s explosive rise, its strategy of targeting multi-billion-dollar private equity-backed companies, and how the firm is redefining the landscape of direct lending.
💡Key topics covered include:
* Why US private credit markets dwarf those in Australia—and what that means for investors;
*How Blue Owl generates equity-like returns (~10% p.a.) with lower volatility through senior secured loans;
* Transparency, regulation, and addressing concerns of a “private debt bubble” in Australia;
* How OCIC, their private wealth-focused fund, balances investor access with long-term stability;
* The firm’s disciplined underwriting approach, default history, and what sets Blue Owl apart;
*Craig’s philanthropic work and upcoming trip to Australia to engage with investors firsthand.
🔍 This episode offers a front-row seat to the future of private credit—told by one of the global leaders in the field.
In this episode of Inside the Rope, David Clark speaks with David Gribble, the newly appointed CEO of Alceon, one of Australia's leading multi-strategy private capital firms. Against a backdrop of heightened market volatility and growing media scrutiny of private credit, David Gribble shares his perspective on the evolving role of private markets and how Alceon is positioning itself through this cycle.
The conversation explores Gribble’s unique journey from engineering and investment banking to leading Alceon, and why the firm’s deep bench of local expertise, asset-backed focus, and collaborative investment approach offers clients confidence during periods of uncertainty. We also dive into how Alceon balances opportunity and risk across real estate credit, private equity, and structured credit—and why disclosure and proactive transparency are central to maintaining investor trust in the private markets space.
As regulation looms and headlines focus on risks, this episode offers measured insight into the difference that experience, structure, and true alignment can make.
David Clark welcomes back Andrew Lockhart, Managing Partner of Metrics Credit Partners — one of Australia's largest private lenders and a major force shaping the future of private credit. With private credit markets booming — and critics warning of bubbles and risks — David and Andrew explore why private credit can play a critical role in a high-net-worth portfolio when approached with discipline and scale.
They dive deep into the key metrics that investors should evaluate in private credit, including loss rates, diversification, liquidity management, and risk-adjusted returns. Andrew explains why Metrics' institutional-grade processes, governance standards, and proactive credit management position it at the centre of Australia’s private credit growth story — and why careful manager selection has never been more important.
With insights into Metrics' $23 billion portfolio, how private credit compares to traditional bank lending, and how Metrics navigates the evolving regulatory landscape, this episode is essential listening for investors seeking income, stability, and diversification in today’s uncertain markets.
Get a behind-the-scenes look at why Metrics is thriving amid industry scrutiny.
After seven years of trying, we’ve finally done it—this episode of Inside the Rope features one of the most influential figures in institutional investment in Australia: David Neal, CEO of IFM Investors and founding CIO and former CEO of the Future Fund, Australia’s $300+ billion sovereign wealth fund.
David takes us behind the scenes of building the Future Fund from the ground up—how a clean slate, a world-class board, and a clear long-term mandate allowed for a new investment philosophy rooted in flexibility, illiquidity premiums, and global best practice. We talk about the importance of strong governance, the benefits of a total portfolio approach, and why the endowment model still resonates in long-term capital allocation.
Now at the helm of IFM Investors—a global institutional asset manager originally founded by Australian industry super funds—David shares insights into investing on behalf of working people, the tailwinds driving infrastructure investment globally, and why private markets are an increasingly powerful lever for value creation.
IFM was conceived by a collective of Australian industry super funds with a bold ambition: to give working people access to the kinds of global, complex investments traditionally reserved for the ultra-wealthy.
Today, IFM manages over $250 billion across infrastructure, private equity, credit, equities, and real estate—always with a clear mission to deliver strong, long-term outcomes for its members.
If you're seeking clarity on private markets, this is a conversation not to be missed.
In this episode of Inside the Rope, David Clark is joined by Laurence Marshbaum OAM, founder of 10x10 Philanthropy and Community Capital, to explore how wealthy families can embed philanthropy into their legacy. Together, they discuss why more families are establishing Private Ancillary Funds (PAFs) and how strategic giving can sit alongside wealth creation and preservation.
Laurence shares his journey from institutional fund management to purpose-driven investing, shedding light on how families can move beyond ad-hoc charitable donations to structured, impactful philanthropy that endures for generations. They discuss how fund managers and sophisticated investors are also stepping in to provide early-stage capital to high-impact, for-purpose organisations—bringing the same rigour they apply to financial markets to the social sector.
Whether you're a family considering philanthropy for the first time, or looking to start the conversation, this episode will give you practical insights into how to create lasting social and financial value.
David Clark welcomes back David Witkin, Managing Partner of Beryl Capital, discussing event-driven investing and market opportunities. With a track record of delivering outstanding returns, Beryl Capital has been at the forefront of merger arbitrage and special situations, benefiting from corporate activity across global markets.
As investors navigate a rapidly changing landscape—shaped by geopolitical shifts, artificial intelligence, and shifting economic policies—Witkin shares his insights on capital deployment, risk management, and where he sees opportunities in today’s market. He delves into the impact of the Trump administration’s policies on event-driven investing, the AI-driven demand for data centers and infrastructure, and how regulatory shifts could unlock new investment themes.
Listen in to hear how institutional investors think about market cycles, risk-adjusted returns, and how high-quality research and execution can drive investment success.
In this episode of Inside the Rope, David Clark sits down with Catherine Allfrey of Wavestone Capital and Caroline Gurney, CEO of Future Generation, to explore why increasing female representation in funds management is not just about fairness—it’s about better outcomes for investors and the broader economy.
We dive into the launch of Future Generation Women, a new fund exclusively managed by female portfolio managers, designed to drive both strong financial returns and positive social impact. Why are women statistically better long-term investors? How is gender inequality costing the Australian economy $128 billion annually? And what can both men and women do to accelerate progress in wealth management?
This episode is packed with insights on the next generation of wealth transfer, the importance of financial education for women, and how investors can be part of the solution. Whether you're an investor, adviser, or simply passionate about equality, this conversation will challenge perspectives and inspire action.
In this episode of Inside the Rope, host David Clark sits down with Frewen Lam, Managing Partner at ROC Capital, to explore the ever-evolving landscape of private equity, private credit, and real assets. Frewen shares his journey from a first-generation Australian with immigrant roots to co-founding ROC, now managing $8.5 billion in assets.
Key Highlights:
* Frewen’s transition from public to private markets—why he believes private investments outperform.
* Lessons from investing in Asia, including insights into China and India's economic trajectory.
* Why agriculture and real assets are the next frontier for wealth creation.
* The opportunities in private credit and secondary markets—how to buy assets at a discount.
* How top investors build portfolios that balance risk and long-term returns.
Frewen’s sharp insights, combined with David’s wealth advisory expertise, make this a must-listen for investors looking to refine their approach to alternative assets.
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