The Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HACCI) gathered some of Australia’s leading investment experts in Melbourne last week to discuss the future of alternative investments, offering fresh perspectives on wealth creation for multicultural and multigenerational investors.
The event, titled The Smart Investment Playbook, was held last week at the BDO offices in Collins Square, drawing more than 50 professionals, entrepreneurs, industry leaders and members of the Hellenic Australian community.
Chaired by HACCI’s Fotini Kypraios and hosted by Board member Helen Kapalos, the panel featured Craig Bannister, Executive Director and Head of Distribution at Pallas Capital; Jonathan de Wet, Chief Investment Officer at Zerocap; Peter Johansson, CIO at JCE Advisory; and Joseph Sitch, Co-CIO Equities at the Victor Smorgon Group.
Kapalos set the tone for the evening by linking the discussion to the migrant journey:
“Our parents and grandparents came here with next to nothing but their dreams for a better future. They worked hard, created wealth, became homeowners, and offered us education. Now it’s our turn to think differently about investment.”
Beyond the familiar
The panel examined pathways in private credit, commercial real estate debt, blockchain infrastructure, and thematic investing, emphasising the need for diversification in an uncertain economic climate.
Peter Johansson stressed the importance of building trust with younger and multicultural investors.
“We can’t keep offering the same model of advice and expect broader participation,” he said. “It has to shift. And investors must also understand—you don’t get rich quick. Long-term investing and diversification are the real safeguards.”
Craig Bannister argued that private credit and commercial real estate debt are no longer niche options but essential strategies.
“Alternative investment is no longer a niche; it’s a necessity,” he said, highlighting that non-bank lenders had “zero losses of $8 billion of lending across 10 years.” He noted that wholesale investors are increasingly turning to these products, with alternative debt outperforming equities and bonds.
Jonathan de Wet encouraged the audience to reframe their thinking around digital assets.
“We don’t talk about Bitcoin. We talk about blockchain infrastructure,” he explained. “Institutional investment in this space has arrived.”
He advised new investors to begin with exchange-traded funds as a safer entry point, noting that institutional money has already made the sector less speculative than many assume.
Joseph Sitch explored thematic and values-based investing, pointing to electrification as a long-term structural trend.
“It’s not about quick returns; it’s about long-term positioning across generations,” he said. “Electrification is a 30-year shift, and copper is a critical resource.”
A community forum
Reflecting on the evening, HACCI Chair Fotini Kypraios emphasised the value of the dialogue.
“We created a space where expert voices met real questions. The event was multicultural and gave the younger generation room to ask sharp questions about legacy, strategy and trust. HACCI is part of a community asking how we build wealth not only wisely, but with purpose,” Kypraios said.
HACCI also acknowledged the support of its Principal Partner, Bank of Sydney, and thanked BDO Australia for hosting the event.
