Ian Irvine has been part of ASX Investor Day for the best part of a decade. During that time, he’s watched thousands of people benefit from the event.

As the long-time Master of Ceremonies at ASX Investor Day, Ian has interesting views on what the event offers investors and why they should attend. 

ASX Investor Day is the premier retail-focused event on the ASX Investment Products calendar. The event caters for all types of investors; from those just starting on their investing journey, to established investors seeking the latest information. 

The full-day event is held twice annually in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Investors in other areas can access ASX Investor Day presentations after the event (when published) through the ASX website.

ASX Investor Day is held in partnership with the ASX Refinitiv Charity Foundation. All ticket sales go towards a range of Children’s Disability and Medical Research Charities.

The next instalment of ASX Investor Day starts in mid-May, so don’t miss your opportunity to register.  ASX Investor Update asked Ian about the event:
 

ASX: Ian, how has ASX Investor Day evolved over the past decade?         

Ian Irvine: The most noticeable change is the audience. These days, a lot more women attend ASX Investor Day, on their own or with a friend or partner. The audience is also a bit younger on average than in years past. It’s great to see young people getting serious about investing and attending the event on their own or with their parents.

Generally, the audience has become more diverse over time. There are more people from more cultures, and a good mix of beginner, intermediate and advanced investors. It’s a great audience each year and a friendly atmosphere.    

ASX: How has the event’s content and format changed?

Ian Irvine: If you go back a decade, most of the event’s focus was on Australian shares. Today, the event covers local and global investing, Exchange Traded Funds, Listed Investment Companies and other investment products and services. 

In terms of format, the event is much larger than it was a decade ago. It’s also more tailored. You can choose different breakout rooms depending on your interests. 

There’s also a lot more technology at the event. Attendees, for example, can post questions online and ‘like’ other people’s questions.
 

ASX: What’s been a highlight for you with ASX Investor Day?

Ian Irvine: The first round of events in May 2021 stands out. Like most events, ASX Investor Day went into hiatus (as a physical event) due to COVID-19. The event that year was the first time back in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane as a live event since the pandemic. The response was fantastic. There was a big crowd and it was clear that people wanted to learn about the market and get together again.

The other highlight is the familiar faces. The event attracts lots of new attendees, but also plenty of people who return year after year. 

ASX: The event is more than presentations. What else is involved?

Ian Irvine: A number of investment firms exhibit at the event. That allows attendees to talk to an investment expert at their stall and get more information. The exhibits add to the event’s atmosphere and the variety of information provided.

The ability to meet like-minded investors is another feature of ASX Investor Day. Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea are provided, which means investors have plenty of opportunity to meet other attendees or investment experts. I always try to meet as many people as possible during the breaks and get their views on the event.

There are also end-of-day prize draws, which are always a lot of fun, information packs to take home and online access to all presentations. 

ASX: Ian, investor information can be complex. How do you make the event easy to understand? 

Ian Irvine: The day moves along pretty quickly. Presentations are typically no more than half an hour, there are panel discussions and opportunities to attend events that best suit you, through the breakout sessions. 

The event’s presenters tend to be very experienced and skilled. They do a good job of providing interesting content for an audience ranging from beginners to advanced investors who follow markets closely.

ASX: If I know little about investing – but am eager to learn – should I attend ASX Investor Day?

Ian Irvine: Absolutely. ASX Investor Day is a great place to start learning about investing because it gives you a sense of what’s out there and the main things to consider. Also, the event is entirely focused on investor education. For some investors, it’s about validation: that is, hearing how others invest and comparing it to what you do.

Over the years, I have seen people attend ASX Investor Day who never thought of themselves as investors. For example, we’ve had rising attendance from people who have inherited money after a loved one has passed and need to invest it. 

We’ve also had parents who have children with disabilities attend the event. They want to build wealth to ensure they can meet their children’s needs and that their kids are looked after. Some of the best feedback on the event each year comes from beginner investors. 

ASX Investor Update: Ian, do you still get a little nervous before each event?  

Ian Irvine: I do, but that’s a good thing. I spend time preparing for each event, writing notes and thinking about my job to keep it moving along. A lot of people put a lot of hard work into the event each year, so you want it to help as many people as possible.

Fortunately, there’s a lot of energy in the room. You can feel that buzz build throughout the day towards the final and most popular session – Buy, Hold or Sell. People get more confident about asking questions, particularly that person who shows up at every ASX Investor Day each year – the one called ‘Anonymous’!