WIIIN's Sixth Annual Luncheon: Keynote & Fireside Chat

Rice, Hadley, Gates & Manuel, LLC

Former diplomat, author, and advisor on foreign policy, Anja Manuel is Co-Founder and Partner along with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, in Rice, Hadley, Gates & Manuel LLC, a strategic consulting firm that helps US companies navigate international markets.

She is the Executive Director of the Aspen Strategy Group and Aspen Security Forum -- a premier bi-partisan forum on foreign policy in the U.S.

From 2005-2007, she served as an official at the U.S. Department of State, as Special Assistant to the Undersecretary for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns, responsible for Asia policy.

Anja is a frequent speaker on foreign policy and technology policy, is a commentator for tv and radio (NBC/MSNBC, Bloomberg News, Fox Business, BBC, NPR, etc.), and writes for publications ranging from the Washington Post, New York Times, Financial Times, Foreign Affairs, The Atlantic, Fortune, and Newsweek, among others.

Alison Romano, Chief Executive & Chief Investment Officer
San Francisco Employees' Retirement System

Alison Romano currently serves as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of the San Francisco Employees’ Retirement System (SFERS).  As SFERS’ top executive, Ms. Romano is responsible for all investments and operations, including prudently overseeing pension trust assets, administering mandated benefits programs, and ensuring the promised benefits to the active and retired members of the City and County of San Francisco.

Prior to SFERS, Ms. Romano was Deputy Chief Investment Officer at the Florida State Board of Administration (SBA), an organization responsible for investing $250 billion in defined benefit, defined contribution, and other assets. In this role, she provided strategic leadership and oversight of the SBA’s internal and external investment portfolios and supported the development and implementation of investment policies and the strategic plan. She also served as Senior Investment Officer, Global Equity, responsible for directing the investment of over $85 billion in active and passive strategies globally, and Senior Portfolio Manager, providing broad oversight of active managers and identifying new investment strategies within Global Equity.

Before joining the SBA, Ms. Romano held various positions at Goldman, Sachs & Co., last as Vice President in Investment Banking where she advised healthcare companies on mergers and acquisitions, financings, and strategic alternatives.

Ms. Romano graduated summa cum laude with a BSE in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania and a BSEcon from The Wharton School.

Maisie Short, WIIIN Co-Founder & President, Managing Director

Manulife Investment Management

Maisie Short is a Co-Founder and the President of WIIIN.  Maisie is also a member of WIIIN’s Finance, Governance, Membership, and D&I Committees.  At Manulife Investment Management, Ms. Short is a Managing Director focused on consultant relations on the west coast.  She is a member of the firm’s ESG Task Force and Global Women’s Alliance. Prior to joining Manulife, Maisie was a Managing Director with Los Angeles Capital where she cultivated and managed relationships with investment consultants, plan sponsors, and financial institutions.  Maisie was a member of the firm’s Responsible Investing Solutions Group and chaired the Diversity & Inclusion Working Group. Previously, Ms. Short held positions in client service and marketing with Wilshire Associates, 300 North Capital, LLC and Convergent Wealth Advisors. Maisie began her career in non-profit fundraising with the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

Ms. Short holds a BA from Duke University, an MA from the Johns Hopkins University, and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (TM) and a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst.  Maisie also received a Certificate from Cornell University in Diversity & Inclusion.  She is a member of the CFA LA ESG Advisory Committee and the Los Angeles World Affairs Council.  In her free time, Maisie enjoys planning vacations, pilates, political podcasts, and chasing her toddler and puppy.