
IR Think Tank – West Coast
Exclusively for in-house IROs
Marines’ Memorial Club & Hotel, San Francisco

Our unique format – Exclusively for in-house IRO’s
The IR Think Tank – West Coast will take place on Thursday, March 20 in San Francisco and is an invitation-only event exclusively for senior IR officers. Our think tanks are free to attend and our unique format enables participants to network extensively, and discuss, debate and dissect topical issues affecting today’s IROs.

WHEN

WHERE
Marines’ Memorial Club & Hotel, San Francisco
What makes our format so unique?
Our think tanks are far removed from the traditional conference set-up as the event consists of a series of panel sessions followed by roundtable discussions on select IR issues. These interactive sessions are an opportunity to share experiences with and learn from other top-rated IROs. All table discussions are confidential, and none of the participants’ comments is attributed. This allows attendees to talk freely and have frank, open discussions.
How do our roundtable discussions work?

Industry experts, top-rated IROs and members of the investment community set the agenda on a panel discussion by sharing their thoughts on session topics.

Small roundtables of IROs discuss these issues face to face.

Each table gives feedback from its discussion and shares ideas with the group as a whole.
NIRI IRC® CREDENTIAL

Holders of the NIRI IRC® credential can earn up to 4 professional development unit (PDUs) per day. IRC-credentialed speakers may also earn PDUs. For more information about the Investor Relations Charter (IRC)®, please visit www.niri.org/certification.
Agenda: 2025
If you are interested in being a panellist please contact Tim Human on [email protected]
Click below to view the 2025 agenda as a PDF.
Times are shown in PT (Pacific Time).
8.00 am
Registration, breakfast and networking
9.00 am
Managing your message amid macro uncertainty
Economic and political uncertainty are high as markets try to piece together how and when the new US administration will implement its campaign promises on tariffs, deregulation and other areas. At this time, telling your story and maintaining the confidence of investors is harder than ever. In this opening session, we unpick the macro picture to hear which policy changes will have the most impact and offer advice on crafting a story that takes into account different outcomes.
- Get expert analysis on the prospects for tariffs and deregulation
- Understand how investors view the US policy agenda
- Hear case studies of how to communicate through trade uncertainty
Robert McConnaughey, EVP, head of IR advisory and ESG, Corbin Advisors
Chip Newcom, senior director of IR, Equinix
Moderator: Tim Human, events editor, IR Impact
9.30 am
Investor targeting: New techniques to enhance results
While stock markets have rallied strongly in recent years, many companies still struggle to attract attention from new investors. And now, with US policy plans creating uncertainty, the search for your next shareholder is even tougher. In this session, we explore innovative ways for companies to boost their appeal and hear case studies from successful targeting programs.
- Hear which targeting tactics lead to the best results
- Get advice on new locations to add to your roadshow schedule
- Identify investors open to your sector, fundamentals, valuation and market cap
Glen Hayashi, partner, US investor relations, SoftBank Group
Brad Mills, co-head investor targeting, Citadel Securities
Moderator: Steve Wade, head of content, IR Impact
10.00 am
Roundtables – Communicating and attracting investors in the current environment
Discuss with other senior IROs at your table the ways you are positioning your company and seeking out investors against a backdrop of shifting macro issues.
10.30 am
Networking break
11.00 am
AI for IR: Real-world use cases to enhance your IR program
Where is AI technology really adding value for IR teams? In this session, we hear from IR professionals that are successfully incorporating AI tools into their earnings process, competitive intelligence gathering and other areas of IR practice. They explain which tools they are using, how to get started and the prompts they rely on. The session will also explore the use of automation to free up time for higher-value activities.
- Quickly get started with AI and bag easy wins
- Learn about different tools and where they add most value
- Gain C-suite buy in and overcome security concerns
Christopher Allen, senior director, product marketing, Q4
Alexandra Chan, senior director, investor relations, Salesforce
Moderator: Steve Wade, head of content, IR Impact
11.30 am
Roundtables AI – Learn from your peers about the most effective AI applications for IR
Share ideas with peers about the best way to get started with AI technology for IR activities and how to overcome any obstacles to implementation.
12.00 pm
Is ESG dead? How to talk about sustainability in 2025
The backlash against ESG and sustainability, with a special focus on diversity and inclusion programs, has left many companies wondering how to include environmental and social issues in their equity story. In addition, many find themselves caught between different stakeholders, as US and European investors diverge in their areas of focus. In this session, hear companies explain how they are approaching ESG in the current environment.
- Learn different strategies for managing the debate around ESG
- Respond successfully to criticism focused on diversity programs
- Effectively manage diverse stakeholder views
Friederike Edelmann, vice president, IR and corporate sustainability, Central Garden & Pet
Moderator: Tim Human, events editor, IR Impact
12.30 pm
Roundtables – Share strategies on incorporating ESG issues into your overall message
In this roundtable session, discuss with other IROs what ESG information you are planning to release this year and how you are positioning it as part of your equity story.
12.45 pm
Lunch
1.45 pm
From IR to CFO: How former IROs made the switch
A common aspiration of IR professionals is one day to become a chief financial officer, but what does it actually take to make the jump? In this session, we hear from former IROs who have become CFOs at public and private companies, breaking down their career paths, what obstacles they faced and how others can follow in their footsteps.
- Detailed case studies of IROs who moved to CFO posts
- Learn what makes an IRO an attractive C-suite candidate
- Hear CFOs explain what they value most from IR teams
Moderator: Tim Human, events editor, IR Impact
2.15 pm
Best practices for working with the sell side
The sell side is a critical partner for companies as they communicate and engage with existing and prospective investors. But how can you ensure you are getting the most value from your sell-side relationships? In this session, experienced IROs and members of the sell side offer advice on managing your pool of followers, maximizing management time across different events, working with new analysts and much more.
- Hear advice on balancing time and attention across your analyst following
- Maximize the value from investor conferences and non-deal roadshows
- Effective strategies for attracting new sell-side coverage
Aron Feingold, vice president, IR and corporate communications, Geron Corporation
RJ Pellegrino, managing director, TD Securities
Moderator: Steve Wade, head of content, IR Impact
2.45 pm
Roundtables – Share careers advice and tips for sell-side engagement
At your tables, choose whether to discuss strategies for career advancement or tips for building and managing your sell-side following.
3.00 pm
Networking break
3.30 pm
Ask-me-anything session with the buy side
Our ever-popular buy-side Q&A session is back. Put your most pressing questions to our panel of investors â learn how they are positioning themselves for Donald Trump’s second term, whether they still care about ESG, the best way to secure a meeting and much more.
- Candid Q&A session with local investors
- Get advice on arranging meetings and providing management access
- Learn red flags that put investors off your story
Moderator: Steve Wade, head of content, IR Impact
4.00 pm
The IR situation room
A carefully structured, collaborative session that gives attendees an opportunity to work together to solve each other’s real-life IR challenges in a consultation-style setting.
- Get real solutions from IR peers on a particular challenge you are facing
- Understand the challenges that other IR professionals are facing
- Benefit from the collective discussions that result
Moderator: Victoria Hyde-Dunn, vice president of IR, Informatica
4.45 pm
Summary of discussions
5.00 pm
Happy hour drinks reception
Event speakers
Who attends our events
Our attendees are leading IR practitioners with an established track record and strategic IR role within their company.
Below is a sample list of our past attendees:
JOB TITLE | COMPANY |
---|---|
Chief financial officer | Medexus Pharma |
Director | Airbnb |
Director IR, FP&A | lithia |
Director, IR | Atlassian |
Director, IR | Del Monte |
Director, IR | Electronic Arts |
Director, IR | Splunk Technology |
Director, IR | United States Steel Corporation |
Head of IR | EleAffirm |
Head of IR | AOL |
Head of IR | Joby Aviation |
Head of IR | Longboard Pharmaceuticals |
Senior director, IR | Equinix |
JOB TITLE | COMPANY |
---|---|
Senior vice president | Genasys |
SVP, IR | FIGS |
SVP, IR | Okta |
SVP, IR, corporate development | Workiva |
VP, IR | Allbirds |
VP, IR | Bill.com |
VP, IR | BlackBerry |
VP, IR | Central & Garden & Pet |
VP, IR | Farmers’ Business Network |
VP, IR | J.M. Smucker |
VP, IR | The Honest Company |
VP, IR | Rover Group |
VP, IR | Intuitive Surgical |
What our attendees say
Thinking of becoming an event partner?
Our events provide a unique opportunity to get in front of some of the most influential people in the IR community. As a partner, you will gain an extensive amount of exposure through a wide range of print and digital marketing materials, both pre and post event, as well as on the day itself. Additionally, you can use the event to align yourself with IR excellence and network with key decision makers from across the region – the ones pushing the profession forward through innovation.

Request an invite
This event is exclusively for senior corporate, in-house IR professionals. To request an invitation, please complete the form. If you meet the eligibility criteria, we will send you a confirmation email along with comprehensive event details.
If you have any questions please contact Thomas Williams at [email protected] or call on +44 20 8090 2156.
FREE
This event is free to attend for senior IROs only
Venue
Accommodation
We have arranged preferential rates for attendees at nearby hotels. View the hotels and rates by clicking here.
We recommend booking accommodation promptly, as preferred hotels in the city often sell out well in advance of the event date
Gallery: 2024
Key insights into the latest trends and best practices

How the buy side uses AI to pick stocks and the truth inside SEC filings – IR Voice
How the buy side is using AI to help with investment decisions and we speak to an SEC filings expert

Investor targeting and AI: Where are we now – and what are the possibilities?
AI is already being applied to targeting, but accuracy could be improved further with higher-quality data

How Udemy’s Dennis Walsh won an IR Magazine Award for his use of social media and video
Innovative video series featuring customer and creator panels proves a hit with investors
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