Emma Bird, Head of Investment Trust Research, Winterflood Securities

Emma joined the Investment Trust Research team at Winterflood Securities in September 2015, after working for the Wealth Management Association for a year, and became Head of the team in August 2022. She graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2014 with an Economics degree and is a CFA® Charterholder. Emma leads the team’s research on the Property sub-sector and also covers a range of equity investment trusts.

Rockwood Strategic Plc is an Investment Trust that invests in a focused portfolio of smaller UK public companies. The strategy identifies undervalued shares, where the potential exists to improve returns and where the company is benefitting, or will benefit, from operational, strategic or management changes. These unlock, create or realise shareholder value for investors.

Richard Staveley, Lead Fund Manager

Richard Staveley has over twenty-five years’ experience of equity investment and fund management. Having qualified as a chartered accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Richard joined Bradshaw Asset Management, as assistant fund manager in 1999. He subsequently joined Société Générale Asset Management where he became Head of UK Small Companies and a CFA charterholder. In 2006, he co-founded River and Mercantile Asset Management where he launched both the UK Small Company Fund, the UK Income Fund and was Head of Research. In 2013, he joined Majedie Asset Management to co-manage and subsequently solely manage the UK small company investments. In 2019 he joined Gresham House Plc as fund manager for Gresham House Strategic Plc, the Strategic Public Equity LP and eventually the Gresham House UK Small Companies Fund. In 2021 Harwood Capital were appointed the new Investment Manager for Gresham House Strategic Plc, which changed its name to Rockwood Strategic Plc and Richard was subsequently re-appointed as lead fund manager and a Partner.

Foresight Solar is a FTSE 250 closed-end investment company which develops, builds and operates solar farms and battery storage systems to provide income and generate growth for investors. At current share prices, FSFL’s prospective yield is over 10%. The sustainability-focused fund contributes to a lower carbon future by investing in and managing 1GW of renewable energy infrastructure in the UK, Spain and Australia, and a 1GW proprietary development pipeline.

ROSS DRIVER, FUND MANAGER

Ross has almost 20 years’ experience in infrastructure and renewable energy investment, covering asset management across multiple asset classes. Prior to Foresight Solar, Ross was an Investment Director at InfraRed Capital, where he focused on greenfield infrastructure and renewables investments.