In his keynote remarks, international lawyer Jonathan D. Cahn elaborated on the possibilities of harnessing sovereign wealth funds for good. A self-described optimist, Cahn is enthusiastic about the possibility of utilizing these funds to conduct ESG screenings, invest in renewable energy, and align national goals with international sustainability standards. More importantly, he explained, nations are now held to standards that they weren’t previously.

“The world expects sovereign wealth funds to play a leading role in addressing the climate crisis,” he said. As the general public becomes more informed on the consequences of climate change, there’s more of a push for their governments to take action, whether it’s divesting from fossil fuels or putting money towards carbon neutrality efforts.

A later panel discussion echoed the sentiment of sovereign wealth funds’ potential uses moving forward. Kogod professor of finance Tim Timura, Clarewood University president Richard Linowes, and US-Qatar Business Council managing director Mohammed Barakat discussed current considerations regarding SWFs, possible future trends, and current challenges. Barakat, who recently completed visits to several SWF sites, explained that some funds struggle with receiving outside advice, as said advice can be relevant to the fund itself without considering the equally important macroeconomic context. However, the three panelists see opportunities for further collaboration between sovereign wealth funds, which in turn can lead to new leadership roles and co-investing. Professor Timura shared Cahn’s optimism about the potential of sovereign wealth funds to be a major player in a nation’s growth and beyond.

Shifting gears, Bill Megginson of the University of Oklahoma spoke of the strong and evolving relationship between sovereign wealth funds and private equity. SWFs are among the largest investors in private companies, which tend to be a safer and more profitable investment. With sovereign wealth funds and private capital both continuing to grow drastically, Megginson predicts that the connection between the two will only strengthen.

“Private equity investing is now larger than any type of investment that sovereign wealth funds make, except for fixed income,” he explained. “We’ve seen a major reallocation of investment by sovereign wealth funds towards private equity.”

Between a focus on sustainability and the growth of private equity, how should sovereign wealth funds develop their goals in the years to come? Professor of finance Catalin Stefanescu discussed their options in a panel with economics professor John Willoughby from American University’s College of Arts and Sciences and All Compliance Service CEO Kareem Nakshbendi. The panel was divided on how effective sovereign wealth funds can be in promoting ESG initiatives; while Kareem Nakshbendi is a firm believer in their ability to do so, Willoughby is more skeptical about whether they are properly incentivized, explaining that SWFs tend to be motivated by short-term political goals and long-term investment goals. To balance the two, Stefanescu offered the opinion that sovereign wealth funds should look towards their governments for guidance.

“When you go to these funds’ websites, they’re all talking about sustainable development–they understand that their economies need to develop in a very sustainable way,” Stefanescu said.

It’s clear that experts in sovereign wealth funds have plenty to consider between now and next year’s conference. As Professor Harris remarked in his closing comments, investing is already a risky process without adding the geopolitical considerations that sovereign wealth funds deal with. However, these funds are also in a unique position to support startups and other ventures that reflect their national and global priorities.

“There’s a notion that sovereign wealth funds can do more than just use their money as an influencer,” Harris said. “We can put funds into the management of companies–developing companies from the ground up for the benefit of our society.”