Private Credit: Australian & International Perspectives

Heading into 2026, the sector presents both opportunities and complexities. For investors, understanding yield and diversification, evolving regulation, credit risks, and market structures is vital.

Private credit continues to play an increasingly important role in global capital markets.

As traditional bank lending tightens and public markets face ongoing challenges, private credit provides essential financing solutions for a wide range of borrowers.

Join our expert panel to hear: 

• The outlook for private credit markets through 2026 in Australia and globally
• How shifting regulation and public market conditions are shaping capital flows
• Emerging trends in borrower demand and financing flexibility
• How institutional investors are positioning to balance opportunity with risk.

OUR EXPERT PANEL

Julien Thinat, Head of Distribution & Credit Solutions, Asia Pacific, joined Societe Generale in Paris in 2007 and in New York in 2010, and supported various strategic business initiatives, including the restart of securitized products trading (RMBS, CMBS, CLO) after the Global Financial Crisis.

After holding various business development roles on the Global Markets side, Julien was part of the launch of Asset Backed Products (ABP) in 2015, and he took the responsibility for the ABP structured financing team in the Americas in 2016, with a focus on loan financing solutions (BSL, MML, Structured Finance loans).

In 2021, he was appointed head of the Structuring and Financing team for Credit and Structured Finance (CSF) in New York, overseeing the structuring and execution of collateralized financing transactions and CLOs on various underlying asset classes.

He was appointed as head of the Asia Pacific region of the newly created Distribution and Credit Solutions division in 2024. 

Kelly Mantova, Head of Asset Backed Securities and Special Situations Australia, Deutsche Bank, is a Managing Director and is the head of Asset Backed Securities and Special Situations for Deutsche Bank's business in Australia and New Zealand. Deutsche Bank is a recognised leader in the ABS market, focusing on the origination, warehousing and distribution of securitised product for issuers both locally and globally. 

Kelly also has extensive experience in financing the acquisition of ABS businesses, establishing new programmes for alternative ABS asset classes, and bringing new issuers to market.  

Kelly has been with Deutsche Bank since 2011 and is an active member of the Australian Securitisation Forum’s Women in Securitisation. 

Greg Clark is the Global Head of Debt Products. The team offers a comprehensive range of financing solutions tailored to suit the specific funding needs of clients, with specialist teams delivering market-leading lending product capabilities. The key responsibilities in this team are the global origination and execution of all lending activity for Westpac Institutional Bank, including Trade Finance, Asset Finance, Structured Finance, Loans & Syndications, Project Finance, Acquisition Finance, and Sustainable Finance.

Greg has over 30 years of experience in Debt Capital Markets, and as a long-term Westpac employee, has deep experience across many parts of the Westpac Institutional Banking business. Greg has held senior roles, leading teams in M&A financing, project financing, corporate lending, balance sheet management, product management, technology, and relationship coverage.

Greg has a Bachelor of Economics from Sydney University and a Master of Finance from the University of Technology.

Navleen Prasad is the CEO of the Australian Investment Council, a role she has held since November 2022. As the peak body for private capital, the Council represents private equity, venture capital, private credit, institutional investors such as not-for-profit superannuation funds and family offices, and the broader ecosystem supporting the industry.
Private capital invests economy-wide. As CEO of the Council, Navleen represents an industry that contributes three per cent to Australia’s GDP, is responsible for 600,000 full-time jobs, and backs 900 businesses, mainly start-ups and growth businesses. On behalf of members, Navleen and her team advocate for the private capital industry with stakeholders and provide the platform for building capacity, capability, and connection across the industry.
In her 18 months as CEO, Navleen has led: a significant expansion of the Council’s advocacy with stakeholders, including government, the creation of deeper links between Australian fund managers and Asian investors, and a strategic focusing of the Council’s services to members.
Prior to the Council, Navleen spent 19 years at Macquarie Group. Most recently, she led Macquarie’s government engagement function and also held senior corporate affairs roles, specialising in media and reputation.
Navleen started her career in tax advisory, initially with Deloitte and then PwC.
Navleen is also on the board of Sydney Youth Orchestras and, in 2022, was appointed by Treasurer Jim Chalmers as a core member of the Investor Roundtable, advising the Australian Government on meeting nationally significant investment needs.

Will Farrant is a Partner in the Ares Credit Group, where he focuses on alternative credit, including asset-based finance (ABF) investments. Prior to joining Ares in 2023, Mr. Farrant was a Managing Director in the Securitized Products Group at Credit Suisse, where he was responsible for the APAC region. Previously, Mr. Farrant focused on businesses within the firm's fixed income and DCM areas. In addition, Mr. Farrant was a Lawyer at Norton Rose and an Investment Manager at Gordian Knot in London. Mr. Farrant serves as the Chair of the Australian Securitization Forum's National Committee. Mr. Farrant holds an LL.B. from the University of Bristol, United Kingdom.