Infrastructure Insights

The Portland Alternative Investment Association (PAIA) virtual webinar series on real assets continues in May with a focus on infrastructure. Is infrastructure a solution to a low yield world? What will be the top policy-driven opportunities in infrastructure? What are the biggest challenges of investing in renewables? Join us on May 11th at 2pm PT to hear from infrastructure expert, Carolyn Arida, from Harrison Street.

Carolyn Arida is a Director and the Head of Utilities at Harrison Street, a leading alternative real assets manager. She is a member of the firm’s Management Committee and the Social Infrastructure Fund’s Investment Committee. Ms. Arida spearheads Harrison Street’s power, energy and utility efforts and is responsible for originating, underwriting and executing new transactions for the Social Infrastructure Fund. She also supports development of investment strategies and leads efforts to develop joint venture relationships with operating partners. Ms. Arida has led equity investments for over 5 gigawatts of assets, representing $8 billion in total project costs. Prior to joining Harrison Street, Ms. Arida served as Vice President at GE Energy Financial Services where she led new product introductions and first of their kind transactions including the first U.S. offshore wind financing and the first Japanese solar project financing. She holds a BA in Economics, a BSBA in Finance and an MBA from Boston University.

Conversation to be moderated by PAIA Board Member, Sam Spencer, CAIA. 

Sam is an Investment Officer for the Oregon State Treasury, covering the Real Estate Portfolio of the Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund (OPERF). She is involved in the day-to-day management of the $9 billion Real Estate Portfolio, including conducting diligence on new investment opportunities as well as providing oversight of the portfolio’s various limited partnerships, separate accounts, and joint ventures. Before joining OST, Sam was a Senior Manager Research Analyst at Pension Consulting Alliance (PCA) covering real estate, timberland, infrastructure, and agriculture asset classes. Sam received her B.A. in Economics and International Business from Whitworth University, graduating magna cum laude. She also holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation and is a member of the CAIA Association. Sam currently serves as the Vice President of the Portland Alternative Investment Association and is an active member of Portland Women in Investment Management.