Sandy Nairn Keynote Speaker

Dr. Alasdair (Sandy) Nairn is an acclaimed investor, respected financial historian and best selling author. He has written three noted books about investing, including ‘Templeton’s Way with Money’ which recounts lessons learned from his decade working with Sir John Templeton.

His book ‘Engines that move Markets‘ is regarded as an investment work classic. The book has been cited by Elon Musk and Sequoia’s David Cahn.  His subsequent book is ‘ The End of the Everything Bubble: Why $75 trillion of investor wealth is in mortal jeopardy‘.

His new book ‘ How AI will Move Markets -Reconsidering the Investment Landscape as AI Evolves ‘ (2026) reveals how AI will be a game changer for anyone in the investment world. The examines the roots of AI and it’s technical operation to provide an understanding of how it is likely to be deployed, and hence its impact on the economy, financial markets and society.

Leading a portfolio life now, Sandy currently works with Goodhart Partners on the management of the Global Opportunities Trust, a UK listed investment trust which seeks to provide real returns through the cycle.

He is also the Chairman of Malted, an AI software firm named as one of nine “AI Ones to Watch” in the 2026 edition of the Sunday Times 100 Tech. He also has significant stakes in a variety of other private finance and technology firms in Europe and the US where he provides support and advice.

Sandy was a founder and CEO of the independent investment boutique Edinburgh Partners in 2003. It was subsequently acquired by Franklin Templeton Investments in 2018, from which time until July 2022 he has been Chairman of the Templeton Global Equity Group. Before founding Edinburgh Partners, he was Chief Investment Officer of Scottish Widows Investment Partnership, from 2000 to 2003, and Executive Vice President and Director of Global Equity Research at Templeton Investment Management, from 1990 to 2000. He was also co-founder of Vebnet in 2000 and a Director through to it being acquired in 2008.

Sandy graduated from the University of Strathclyde in 1982 and in 1985 was awarded a PhD in Economics from the University of Strathclyde/Scottish Business School and has been a CFA charterholder since 1992. In 2020 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He has won multiple performance awards for the management of global equity portfolios.