NDRIO Investment Seminar 2026
About this Event
As the State Investment Board’s (SIB) program continues to grow in scale and complexity, strong governance, operational resilience, and strategic adaptability are essential to delivering long-term value for the state of North Dakota and its citizens.
The 2026 seminar will explore how the SIB and the Retirement and Investment Office are modernizing operations, strengthening oversight, and expanding in-house investment management capabilities to improve efficiency, enhance decision-making, and reduce costs.
Through discussions on strategy, risk oversight, market trends, organizational growth, and governance modernization, attendees will gain insight into how the SIB's program is evolving while maintaining its commitment to accountability, stewardship, and prudent management of public funds.
Agenda
🕑: 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
Registration check-in and networking
🕑: 10:50 AM - 11:00 AM
Welcome and opening remarks
Host: Jodi Smith, Retirement and Investment Office
🕑: 11:10 AM - 12:00 PM
Keynote: The Middle East, Global Markets and Geopolitical Risk
Host: Special Guest, Cerberus Capital Management
Info: This keynote interview examines the evolving crisis in the Middle East and its implications for global markets, energy security and geopolitical risk. Drawing on firsthand experience at the highest levels of U.S. foreign policy, our speaker offers an insider’s perspective on regional power dynamics, U.S. policy toward Iran and the pathways to de-escalation.
As a former Senior Advisor to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, U.S. Special Representative for Iran and Director of the State Department’s Policy Planning Staff, he played a central role in negotiating the Abraham Accords between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco. His experience at the center of U.S. diplomacy provides a rare perspective on the intersection of conflict, foreign policy, economic stability and the global investment environment.
🕑: 12:45 PM - 01:30 PM
Investing for North Dakota’s financial future
Host: Gov. Kelly Armstrong
Info: North Dakota’s financial strength and long-term fiscal outlook are closely connected to the performance of the public funds entrusted to the State Investment Board. As the state navigates evolving fiscal needs, economic opportunities, and changing revenue conditions, strong investment performance can provide an important source of long-term financial stability and flexibility.
In this conversation, government leaders who serve on the State Investment Board will discuss North Dakota’s current financial position, evolving fiscal needs and priorities, and the role investment earnings can play in supporting the state and its citizens. The panel will explore how policymakers view the importance of prudent, long-term investment management and what strong investment performance means for North Dakota’s financial future.
🕑: 01:45 PM - 02:30 PM
Evolving the State Investment Board’s program
Host: Scott M. Anderson, Retirement and Investment Office
Info: As the State Investment Board’s program grows in scale and complexity, RIO continues to evolve how it manages the portfolio. This session will explore the team’s efforts to move beyond traditional asset-class silos toward a more integrated approach to portfolio construction, risk allocation, exposure management, liquidity and implementation.
Team leaders will discuss how RIO is building the people, data, technology and investment capabilities needed to support more informed and forward-looking decisions. The discussion will highlight how total portfolio risk budgets, dynamic risk allocation, research, rebalancing and capital efficiency can work together to improve outcomes while maintaining prudent risk levels and managing costs.
🕑: 02:45 PM - 03:30 PM
Governance: The Foundation for Strong Investment Management
Host: Speaker TBD
Info: Strong governance is essential to managing public funds effectively. As the State Investment Board’s investment program grows in scale and complexity, clear roles, disciplined decision-making, effective oversight, and transparency become increasingly important to protecting the interests of the funds and the people they serve.
This session will explore why strong governance matters and how it supports effective investment management—from establishing clear accountability and decision-making authority to providing meaningful oversight of risk, performance, and resources.
The discussion will consider what effective governance looks like in practice and how a strong governance framework helps an investment organization remain disciplined, responsive, and focused on its long-term fiduciary responsibilities.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00 to USD 39.00
