David Clark sits down with Daniel Darling, Managing Partner at Focal Ventures, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the investment landscape. From the early-stage venture opportunities emerging in Silicon Valley to the rise of “AI agents” transforming entire industries, Daniel shares how his firm is giving Australian investors access to cutting-edge innovation in the US private markets.

David and Daniel discuss:

* The evolution of AI from information retrieval to autonomous action.

* How AI-native startups are achieving extraordinary growth with small, technical teams.

* Why early-stage venture capital presents both unique risks and outsized potential rewards.

* What investors should consider when allocating to this transformative sector.

AI is changing the economics of innovation, this conversation offers deep insights into the intersection of technology, venture capital, and wealth creation.

In this episode of Inside the Rope, David Clark is joined by Doug Tynan, Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer at GCQ, who knew from a young age that he wanted to dedicate his life to investing. Doug shares how psychology and behavioural finance shape decision-making, and why discipline—through checklists, structure, and process—is the foundation of successful long-term investing.

We explore GCQ’s commitment to transparency and accountability, and how these principles guide their approach to markets. Doug also discusses the unique pricing power of super-luxury goods, the transformative role of AI across industries, and why traditional businesses with durable models and network effects still offer compelling opportunities.

With the investment landscape constantly evolving, Doug emphasises the importance of adaptability while never losing sight of quality and discipline. For investors seeking insight into both the art and science of building resilient portfolios, this conversation delivers a masterclass in practical wisdom and global perspective.

In this special episode of Inside the Rope, David Clark welcomes one of the most influential voices in global investing — Howard Marks, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of Oaktree Capital Management. Known worldwide for his acclaimed investment memos, often cited by Warren Buffett as essential reading, Howard has shaped how generations of investors think about risk, cycles, and second-level thinking.

In this rare and intimate conversation, Howard reflects on his remarkable journey — from being “banished” to high-yield bonds at Citibank in the 1970s, to pioneering distressed debt investing, and ultimately co-founding Oaktree, now managing over $200 billion in alternative assets. He shares timeless lessons on mastering market psychology, developing an edge in a world of efficient markets, and why success in investing comes not from predicting the future but from preparing for it.

Gain unparalleled insight into Howard’s approach to risk, his candid views on assets like gold and Bitcoin, and his concept of “Invescon,” a practical framework for positioning portfolios across cycles. In an environment of uncertainty and market noise, Marks provides frameworks to help investors prepare rather than predict. Clarity and wisdom from one of the greatest investors of our time.

David Clark is joined by Ed Goldstein, Partner and Chief Investment Officer at Coller Capital’s Credit Secondaries business. Ed has spent over 16 years shaping the secondary investment landscape, and in our conversation he explains how the secondaries market provides investors with liquidity, diversification, and unique access to private markets—an area often overlooked but increasingly interesting for investors.

With Coller Capital managing more than $40 billion globally, Ed explains how this market has evolved, why it matters, and how it can help sophisticated investors achieve diversification, mitigate risk, and capture attractive returns

We unpack the mechanics of secondaries in both private equity and private credit, explore the growth of continuation funds, and discuss how institutional investors, from pension schemes to sovereign wealth funds, are using secondaries to reshape portfolios. Ed also shares insights from his decades-long career navigating multiple market cycles and explains how Coller’s scale allows them to underwrite and execute transactions that others can’t.

Whether you’re new to private markets or already allocating to alternatives, this conversation will give you a deeper understanding of how secondaries fit into the broader investment landscape—and why they’re becoming an essential tool for investors.

In this special episode of Inside the Rope, host David Clark sits down with one of Australia’s most influential business leaders, David Gonski AC. Widely regarded as the “Chairman’s Chairman,” Gonski has shaped Australia’s corporate, philanthropic, and educational landscape over a 50-year career, chairing institutions such as ANZ, the ASX, and the Future Fund.

From the art of governance and the complexities of intergenerational wealth, to the lessons of philanthropy and long-term investing, Gonski reflects on the experiences and philosophies that have guided his extraordinary journey. His candid insights reveal not only how to build and protect wealth, but also how to think about legacy, influence, and purpose.

*Gain rare access to the lessons of a leader who has sat at the helm of Australia’s most significant institutions and advised some of the country’s most successful families.

*Hear Gonski’s views on governance, succession planning, and philanthropy—vital considerations for families stewarding wealth across generations.

*Discover how Gonski thinks about investment philosophy, endowment-style investing, and the importance of aligning financial decisions with values and legacy.

David Clark is joined by Claudia Kwan, Managing Director at North Star Impact Funds and recipient of the Outstanding Individual Achievement Award at the Impact Investment Summit. A former Morgan Stanley trader and now one of Australia’s leading voices in sustainable capital, Claudia shares how impact investing is evolving beyond its philanthropic roots to deliver returns competitive with traditional strategies.

For investors who have historically prioritised financial performance over social outcomes, this episode challenges assumptions highlighting how capital can be deployed to sectors like affordable housing, electrification, and healthcare without compromising on economic returns.

Key highlights:

* Why measurable social and environmental outcomes are becoming part of mainstream investing.

* How impact-aligned portfolios can deliver returns in line with traditional benchmarks.

* NorthStar’s values-driven, institutional-grade investment approach.

* Claudia’s journey as a female leader in the investment banking industry.

Great perspective on why purpose and performance are no longer mutually exclusive.

In this episode of Inside the Rope, David Clark is joined by Nikki Thomas, one of Australia's most respected global equity investors and the current Portfolio Manager of Magellan’s High Conviction Fund. After a period of significant change at Magellan, Nikki’s return to the firm marks a powerful reconnection with its founding principles—absolute returns, deep research, and a commitment to global quality.

With over two decades of experience and foundational roles at both Magellan and Alphinity, Nikki unpacks her high-conviction investment philosophy and explains why the core Magellan approach — compounding capital through structural moats and disciplined valuation — remains unchanged despite market noise.

In a candid and wide-ranging conversation, David and Nikki explore:

* How she builds a concentrated portfolio of 10–20 global leaders

* The role of AI, robotics, and digitalisation in shaping long-term investment themes

* The outlook for key holdings including Novo Nordisk, Visa, and Microsoft

* How Magellan is evolving from a founder-led boutique to an institutional investment house

* Her return to the firm and the strategic pivot under new leadership

This episode offers rare insight into one of Australia’s top investment minds at a pivotal moment for Magellan and global capital markets. A must-listen for high-net-worth investors seeking clarity, conviction, and access to the type of global opportunities that sit beyond Australia’s borders.

In this special 200th episode of Inside the Rope, David Clark is joined by Koda Capital’s Chairman Steve Tucker and CEO Paul Heath to reflect on the evolution of wealth management since the podcast’s inception in 2016. From humble beginnings to over 200 candid conversations with some of the world’s best investment minds, this milestone marks a journey of insight, access, and innovation.

The episode explores the wealth advice industry's transformation into a true profession, the growing importance of values-based investing, and the behavioural traits that separate great investors from the rest - resilience, process discipline, and the courage to learn from failure.

They discuss the standout episodes, the dramatic rise in private market access, the adoption of endowment-style investing, and the shift toward investments offering stronger returns with lower volatility.

This episode is not just a retrospective—it’s a guidepost for the next decade of investing, advice, and purpose-driven wealth. Whether you're a client, adviser, or investment enthusiast, this conversation offers rare insight into how great advice has changed, where it's heading, and how Inside the Rope has provided privileged access to the minds shaping the future.

In this episode of Inside the Rope, David Clark sits down with legendary investor Marc Lasry, co-founder and CEO of Avenue Capital and former owner of the Milwaukee Bucks. Lasry unpacks the explosive growth of private equity in the global sports industry—where financial returns meet passionate fandom.

From his journey as a Moroccan-born immigrant to building a $25 billion investment firm, Lasry offers a firsthand look at why sports franchises are no longer just vanity assets for billionaires, but a scalable, investable asset class ripe with opportunity. He shares how Avenue Capital approaches sports as a structured, revenue-generating investment with tangible upside through ticketing, sponsorship, and media rights. We explore his early bets on underappreciated assets like pickleball and women’s sport, and how digitisation, fantasy, and fan engagement are reshaping the commercial landscape.

This conversation is essential listening for investors seeking uncorrelated returns, exposure to global entertainment, and insights from one of the foremost minds in distressed debt and opportunistic investing.

In this episode of Inside the Rope, host David Clark sits down with Tim Samway, founder of Scarcity Partners and former managing director of Hyperion Asset Management, to explore one of the most compelling trends in asset management—GP staking (General Partner staking).

What if, instead of being on the paying end of fund management fees, you could invest in the fund managers themselves? That’s exactly what GP staking enables—and it’s gaining serious momentum in Australia.

Tim breaks down:

* What GP staking is and why it’s more than just private equity for funds

* Why returns from GP staking (targeting 20%+ p.a.) can outperform traditional funds

* The structural shift toward private markets and the rise of endowment-style investing

* The red flags and green lights in assessing fund managers as businesses

* Why private market exposure is still underrepresented in most Australian portfolios—and what’s changing

Listeners will come away with a clearer understanding of how to access the "better side" of the fee equation and what makes the economics of fund management so attractive when scaled properly.