Institutional Investor: AlphaEdge Recognition Awards, Most Influential Women in Investment Management - Ashley Baum

Ashley Baum was among 14 women investment professionals honored at Institutional Investor's annual AlphaEdge Recognition Awards. The honorees represent a diverse spectrum of expertise and innovation within the industry. Their visionary approaches and strategic acumen have significantly influenced the landscape of portfolio construction, setting new standards of excellence, according to the industry publication. Baum, a 16-year veteran of TRS’ Investment Management Division, heads the Special Opportunities portfolio. Under Baum’s leadership TRS’ Special Opportunities team has capitalized on niche investments Trust-wide for more than a decade. Baum holds an MPA, Audit and a BBA Business Honors & Accounting, both from the University of Texas at Austin. Baum is also a CFA Charterholder and CPA.​

withintelligence.com: Idea of the Year - Steven Wilson

Steven Wilson was honored with a 2023 “Allocator Prizes” award from digital publication withintelligence.com for TRS’ creative and effective Pitch Perfect competition. The 10 year-old annual contest offers a chance to up-and-coming Texas investment talent to pitch their best ideas to the wider Texas investment community. The panel was most recently held in March at the Texas Alternative Investment Association’s annual conference in Austin. In addition to highlighting statewide talent, the contest has helped generate i​deas for TRS’ investment program, with the inaugural winner from 2014 just receiving an allocation from the pension system. Wilson, a director on TRS’ Public Markets Team is responsible for the Stable Value Hedge Fund and APM World Portfolios. Wilson holds a BBA in Finance from UT Austin, an MBA from Rice University, and the CAIA designation.

Institutional Investor: 2023 Partnership of the Year — Jean-Benoit Daumerie

The Teacher Retirement System of Texas was recognized with a Partnership of the Year honor for our 15-year-old Strategic Partnership Network (SPN) Program that has generated $1.3 billion in excess returns for the portfolio. The recognition of the successful long-term collaboration was part of Institutional Investor's annual Allocators' Choice Awards. TRS' SPN program is directed by Jean-Benoit Daumerie (pictured at left), a 12-year TRS veteran in the pension's External Public Markets group. Daumerie received the award on behalf of the Investment Management Division.

Institutional Investor: 2021 Rising Star Award—Steven Wilson

Steven Wilson was named a 2021 Rising Star as part of Institutional Investor’s annual Allocators’ Choice Awards. Wilson, a director on TRS’ Public Markets Team is responsible for the Stable Value Hedge Fund and APM World Portfolios. The II award was based on his work to support TRS’ improved ability to evaluate investments and improve portfolio construction. Wilson, who joined TRS in 2012 has also led some of the fund's most “innovative allocations” within hedge fund and beta one portfolios. In addition to overseeing $15 billion in outperforming assets at TRS, Wilson mentors junior staffers and is on the Managed Funds Association’s advisory council. Wilson holds a BBA in Finance from UT Austin, an MBA from Rice University, and the CAIA designation.

TXCPA Awards: Young CPA of the Year—Kate Rhoden

Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants (TXCPA), an education and advocacy group, has honored TRS’ Kate Rhoden. Rhoden works as a data associate in TRS’ Investments Operations team and joined TRS in 2018. TXCPA’s award is bestowed on a CPA member, 39 years or under, who has made significant contributions to the accounting profession and the community and is a member of at least one other professional organization. Rhoden currently serves on the Executive Board of TXCPA and is a past president of the Austin chapter. At TRS, Rhoden is responsible for trust-wide reporting as well as managing special projects that involve coordination with multiple investment teams.

Kayo Conference Series: Top 21 in ’21 Women in Power—Carolyn Hansard

Kayo Conference Series recognized TRS’ Senior Director, Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure (ENRI), Carolyn Hansard as one of its Top 21 in ’21 Women in Power. Kayo is a global networking group that supports, elevates and champions women investors across various asset classes. Hansard joined TRS in 2012 and leads the ENRI team, as part of the External Private Markets group. She has primary responsibility for around $9 billion in allocated fund and principal investments in both credit and equity mandates.

Private Equity International : The Future 40—Justin Wang

TRS received international recognition for the innovative work of its private equity investment manager based in London. Justin Wang was profiled as one of Private Equity International (PEI) magazine’s 2021 40 under 40: Future Leaders of Private Equity. Wang, 32, leads TRS’ direct and co-investment activities in Europe, in addition to wider initiatives for TRS’s European private equity program. PEI’s article points out those who deal with Wang say he is “sharp, creative and trustworthy,” and identify him as a “well-respected” private equity professional who stands out as a “rare asset in the LP community.” TRS’ London office opened in 2015 to increase the size and number of investment opportunities across international markets.

Private Equity Real Estate (PERE)—Institutional Investor of the Year: North America

TRS’ Real Estate team received recognition for its ongoing innovation and performance efforts over the past year. As noted in a recent annual update (pdf) to TRS’ board of trustees, the market value of the TRS Real Estate portfolio has reached $22.5 billion, with a continued focus on expanding its global reach through its Principal Investments program in Austin and London. With Senior Director Grant Walker at the helm (pictured at left), in 2020 the portfolio had an allocation target of 15% of the TRS Trust and continues to be among the pension fund’s top-performing portfolios. More than half of the allocation is committed to principal investments. Plans to further build out the team’s internal investing strategies are underway. PERE previously honored Walker’s real estate team in 2019.

Institutional Investor, Hedge Fund Industry Awards—Public Plan of the Year, Large

Institutional Investor's Annual Hedge Fund Industry Awards this summer honored TRS for its performance, innovation, achievements and contributions to the Hedge Fund industry over the past year. The System’s Director of Hedge Funds, Brad Gilbert (pictured at left) received the award on behalf of his team at an awards ceremony in June. Institutional Investor recognized TRS with the same award in 2016 and, in 2018 also honored Gilbert as one of its top 50 Most Wanted Allocators.

The Trusted Insight —Distinguished Public Pension Chief Investment Officer

The Trusted Insight magazine in 2019 honored TRS’ Chief Investment Officer Jerry Albright with one of its most significant annual accolades. The publication also subsequently named Albright one of its ‘Top 30 Public Pension CIOs’ for that year. Albright (pictured at left) formally retired in late 2019 after dedicating more than 25 years of his professional life to Texas’ educators in various senior roles. Under Albright’s direction, TRS opened a successful London office in 2015, the first U.S. pension fund to do so. Prior to his departure, Albright led TRS’ Investment Management Division through its Building the Fleet hiring initiative. The program is dedicated to broadening TRS’ internal professional investment teams as the Trust Fund moves toward $200 billion assets under management in the coming years.

Private Equity Women Investor Network—Limited Partner of the Year

Private Equity Women Investor Network (PEWIN), the pre-eminent organization for senior-level women investment professionals in private equity recognized TRS’ Investment Management Division’s Private Equity team in May. TRS was awarded PEWIN’s 2019 LP of the Year for “leading by example in their support, promotion and amplification of the outstanding women investors who exist in the private equity industry.

PEWIN Announces 2019 Annual Awards Recipients

Private Equity Real Estate (PERE)—Institutional Investor of the Year: North America

From the editors of PERE: Everything is bigger in Texas, including the pension funds. The Teacher Retirement System of Texas proved that a US public pension can go toe-to-toe with the insurance companies and sovereign wealth funds of the world. (Under the leadership of Senior Director of Real Assets, Grant Walker, pictured at left) the Austin, Texas-based scheme committed $3.175 billion to real estate last year as it broadened its horizon beyond commingled funds to targeting principal investments through joint ventures, separate accounts and co-investments. It also set aside an additional $3 billion to innovate with emerging managers (pdf). With upwards of $17.4 billion of real assets under management, Texas TRS is perennially among the top US-based public pensions. With plans to add staff, increase outreach and build out its internal deal-making infrastructure, it is looking to secure its standing for years to come.

EQDerivatives —U.S. Institutional Risk Premia Manager of the Year

From the editors of EQDerivatives TRS wins (for the second consecutive year) not just for its impressive performance but for leading the way for peers and for its commitment to building up a unique bench of talent and expertise. The plan's management team (led by Mohan Balachandran, pictured at left) has a deep understanding of alternative risk premia that allows them to pick and choose the best from the strategies they are pitched. This year the strength of their portfolio proved to be in its blending of bank-offered, managed and in-house built strategies. Although TRS was challenged, as were its peers, by market conditions at the end of the year, it still bested its benchmark thanks to its innovative and deeply quantitative approach. With one of the longest ARP track records in the U.S., the plan expects to increase its allocation significantly this year.

EQDerivatives  Hall of Fame—Mohan Balachandran

The EQDerivatives Hall of Fame in early 2019, honored Mohan Balachandran for his continuing dedication to thought leadership in the subject area of volatility and alternative risk premia investing. Balachandran, TRS’ Senior Managing Director of Asset Allocation with the Multi-Asset Strategies Group was one of 18 professionals globally who were recognized for their contributions to increased education among institutional investors, portfolio managers and traders across asset classes and factors throughout their careers, according to the publication. In 2018, Balachandran also celebrated with TRS, the Trust’s win in EQDerivatives’ award category of Institutional Risk Premia Manager of the Year. Balachandran joined TRS in 2008. He holds a Doctorate of Physics from Brown University and a Bachelor of Technology, Engineering Physics from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.

The Trusted Insight  Top 30 Public Pension Institutional Investors—Will Carpenter

Carpenter, a portfolio manager in TRS’ private equity investments team is featured on the cover page of the 2018 Trusted Insight  for its annual Top 30 rankings. The inside feature article explores TRS’ innovative PE investment strategies that are generating alpha to achieve the Trust’s long term investment goals. It also speaks to Carpenter’s dedication to the next generation of investment professionals via a teaching role at the University of Texas at Austin.

EQDerivatives US Institutional Risk Premia Manager of the Year—Teacher Retirement System of Texas

Based on a qualitative survey of market stakeholders as well as peer competitor review, this honor falls under EQDerivatives’ Volatility and Risk Premia Awards, announced every January. Categories put a focus on alternative avenues of risk premia and volatility exposure, such as overlays, mutual funds and unit investment trusts over the preceding year. Categories also celebrate buyside institutional and hedge fund performance. Mohan Balachandran (pictured at left) is TRS Senior Managing Director of Asset Allocation and leads the Investment Management Division’s Multi-Asset Strategies team.

Institutional Investor Most Wanted Allocators—Brad Gilbert

This award is an inaugural category Institutional Investor. IMD’s Director of Hedge Funds, Brad Gilbert ranked 26 of 50 on a list of Most Wanted Allocators judged by top talent brokers—as well as asset managers and CIOs. This group was asked who is on their “ultimate dream list” based on metrics including: investment track record, exposure to complex investments & asset classes, management talent, leadership & communication skills, board interaction experience and employer’s reputation. Gilbert, the publication’s writers noted is “known by almost every hedge fund out there…because of his earnestness and intelligence.

aiCIO Magazine ​ Next Gen Award—Ashley Baum

Chief Investment Officer  digital magazine—CIO for short states its mission is to inform and network the world’s largest asset owners and the people who advise them. In June of this year, the publication showcased its first group of 25 up-and-coming stars of the asset owner world, as judged by the industry itself. Qualities assessed ranged from financial acumen to investing performance.

Ashley Baum was recognized for launching the “Special Opportunities Group” at TRS, a new investment concept with no formal asset allocation and within the last five years has invested $1.2 billion. Her team is growing and increasing its diversity while exemplifying TRS’ “mission of serving the 1.5 million Texans we work for by achieving extraordinary results,” TRS CIO Jerry Albright told the aiCIO awards writers.