The Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HACCI) brought together some of Australia’s leading investment experts for a dynamic and insightful discussion on alternative investments at The Smart Investment Playbook event, held on 14 August 2025 at the BDO offices in Melbourne.
From cryptocurrency to private credit, commercial real estate debt to emerging equity opportunities, the panel brought together legacy voices and new-school innovators. It offered fresh perspectives on wealth creation for multicultural and multigenerational investors.
Over 50 guests – including professionals, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and members of the Hellenic Australian community – packed into BDO Australia at Collins Square to hear the panel of financial heavyweights unpack current trends, future possibilities, and the strategies that can help investors diversify and future-proof their portfolios.
The panel featured Craig Bannister, Executive Director and Head of Distribution, Pallas Capital; Jonathan de Wet, Chief Investment Officer, Zerocap; Peter Johansson, CIO, JCE Advisory; and Joseph Sitch, Co-CIO Equities, Victor Smorgon Group.
HACCI Chair Fotini Kypraios, moderated the discussion, with HACCI Board member Helen Kapalos serving as MC.
“We are here today to explore the world of opportunities beyond the familiar, beyond property and banking,” Ms Kapalos said.
“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.”
Speakers shared practical insights into the evolution of private credit, the role of blockchain and tokenisation in real assets, the value of thematic investing, and the challenges of opening up alternative asset classes to more diverse and first-generation investors.
Mr Johansson reminded guests that financial literacy and trust are critical for younger and multicultural investors.
“We can’t keep offering the same model of advice and expect broader participation,” he said. “It has to shift to encourage broader participation.”
Johansson warned that “you don’t get rich quick,” stressing that long-term investing and diversification are the real safeguards.
Mr Bannister championed private credit and commercial real estate debt as strong alternatives to traditional assets.
“Alternative investment is no longer a niche; it’s a necessity,” he said, highlighting how non-bank lenders had “zero losses of $8 billion of lending across 10 years,” and noted that wholesale investors are increasingly turning to these products. He framed alternative debt as a sector outperforming equities and bonds.
Mr de Wet encouraged the audience to reframe crypto: “We don’t talk about Bitcoin. We talk about blockchain infrastructure. Institutional investment in this space has arrived.”
Mr de Wet explained that institutional money is already active in the sector, making it less speculative than many assume. For new investors, he advised starting with exchange-traded funds as a safer entry point to digital assets.
Mr Sitch explored the role of thematic investing and the shift toward values-based family portfolios: “It’s not about quick returns; it’s about long-term positioning across generations.”
Mr Sitch pointed to electrification as a structural trend, calling it a “30-year shift,” and underlined the role of copper as a critical resource. He mentioned families are increasingly building values- based portfolios that prioritise stability across generations rather than chasing short-term returns.
Ms Kypraios reflected on the event’s success: “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.”
“We’re proud to be the forum for that conversation. HACCI is part of a community asking how we build wealth not only wisely, but with purpose. The event showed HACCI’s growing role as a hub for connection, learning and opportunity,” Ms Kypraios added.
HACCI acknowledged the generous support of its Principal Partner, Bank of Sydney, and thanked BDO Australia for hosting this important event, as well as all members and guests who attended.
For more information about future HACCI events, membership, and the 2025 HACCI Excellence Awards Nominations – and early bird tickets to the HACCI Excellence Awards Gala Ball, visit hacci.com.au
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