Funds Newsletter: A year in Review (July 2024 to June 2025)

Accredited programmes 

The Professional Certificate for Designated Persons in a Fund Management Company, launched in July 2021, had another successful year with eight cohorts having now completed the programme. Designed to support the development of individuals in Designated Person roles, or those who aspire to take up these roles, it is also very relevant to individuals who support Designated Persons and to other professionals, such as compliance professionals, in Fund Management Companies or in Fund Service Providers. 

IOB was delighted to host an event for Alumni of the programme and Accredited Fund Professionals (AFPs) on 3 July.

Alumni and AFPs had the opportunity to meet colleagues and hear from Catharine Dwyer of the Central Bank of Ireland on current regulatory topics and from Killian Buckley and Richard Wane on the importance of personal learning and development. Kevin McConnell, CFA, who leads on the delivery of the IOB Professional Certificate in Capital Markets, Investments and Funds provided an engaging presentation on current market developments and trends, which given the times we are in, was very well received by all present. 

IOB has a broad portfolio of accredited programmes available for the funds and asset management industry, including the flagship Professional Certificate in International Investment Fund Services, which is an important programme for those entering the industry. Details of all our programmes, including those which are of relevance to all financial sectors, such as AI, data & analytics and sustainable finance are available in the IOB prospectus.

Masterclasses & Events

From time to time, Funds by IOB provide masterclasses on topics related to the funds and asset management industry. Previous offerings have included liquidity management, risk management and fund distribution. The aim of each one is to determine and develop best practice standards in the areas in focus. The most recent masterclass was on the topic of fund distribution, delivered in September 2024.

IOB offered a range of in-person events and online webinars, all of which provided members with the opportunity to earn CPD hours. In addition to the recent event for DPs and AFPs, IOB returned to Cork on 14 February for a second IOB Funds and Asset Management Cork Forum.

On this occasion, we were joined by Michael McGrath, EU Commissioner who provided the keynote address, Patricia Dunne, Director of Horizontal Supervision in the Central Bank of Ireland, Nicholas Blake-Knox, Chair of Irish Funds and Karen Conboy, Chair of Cork Financial Services Forum.

IOB hosted a conversation with the FCA and the Central Bank of Ireland in September 2024 when valuation of private assets was one of the key areas of interest. Topics addressed in IOB online webinars included a presentation on SPVs in December and very engaging conversations around ethical issues arising in the asset management sector in July 2024 and again in May 2025. Equally engaging was a panel discussion on tokenised investment funds in April 2025.

IOB Future of Finance Awards 2025 

The IOB Future of Finance Awards is IOB’s flagship initiative to recognise financial services professionals who are leading innovate and impactful projects. In 2025, the ceremony was held at the Convention Centre Dublin on 21 March. Watch out for notice of nominations for the 2026 event!

IOB Graduation 2025 

Graduation day in UCD is a very special day for students and all of us at IOB – a day filled with pride, accomplishment, and achievement – and Graduation 2025 was again a wonderful occasion. Congratulations to all the funds and asset management professionals who graduated on 8 March.