Register

2026 NIRI Southwest Regional Conference

August 13-14, 2026 | Clubs of Prestonwood - The Creek, Dallas, TX

Agenda

Thursday, August 13, 2026

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Service Partner Set Up (Booth, etc.)
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Registration and Service Partner Showcase
12:00 PM – 12:05 PM
Welcome and Announcements
1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
Outlook on 2027 Proxy Season

Before founding Jasper Street, Rob was the Head of Investment Stewardship for the Americas and Asia at Vanguard. His responsibilities included company engagement, corporate governance research, policy development, proxy voting, and ESG integration.

TBD – Longer Description

Speaker(s):
  • Rob Main, Managing Partner and COO, Jasper Street and former Vanguard, Head of Investment Stewardship for Americas and Asia
  • Moderator:
Sponsored by

Gold:

12:05 PM – 12:50 PM
Lunch: Conference Opening Panel/Speaker
Sponsored by

Diamond Sponsor: Toppan Merrill

12:50 PM – 1:00 PM
Mini Break

Take advantage of break times to explore the Service Partner Showcase and discover innovative tools and services supporting the IR profession. Be sure to play the BINGO Networking Game by visiting sponsor booths for a chance to win prizes.

1:45 PM – 2:30 PM
In the Boardroom: How IROs Can Add Strategic Value

Investor relations sits at the center of capital markets intelligence, but how can that insight influence boardroom discussions?

In this session, experienced board members discuss how IROs can bring valuable insight into the boardroom, strengthen communication with directors and help leadership teams make more informed strategic decisions.

Speaker(s):
Sponsored by

Gold: 

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Break and Service Partner Showcase

Take advantage of break times to explore the Service Partner Showcase and discover innovative tools and services supporting the IR profession. Be sure to play the BINGO Networking Game by visiting sponsor booths for a chance to win prizes.

Sponsored by

Bronze: Big Pivot Partners

3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
AI for IROs: Practical Tools and Real Workflows

Artificial intelligence (“AI”) is rapidly becoming part of the investor relations toolkit. In this session, three IROs will share practical examples of how they are using AI in their day-to-day work, from research and content creation to investor analysis and workflow efficiency.

Speaker(s):
Sponsored by

Gold: 

3:45 PM – 4:15 PM
Navigating the IR Hiring Process: Insights From a Leading IR Recruiter

In this session, a leading investor relations recruiter shares an inside look at how the IR hiring process works today.

Attendees will gain practical insights on how recruiters evaluate candidates, what differentiates top IR professionals, and how to position their experience effectively throughout the search process. This session is designed to help IR professionals better navigate career transitions and stand out in a competitive market.

Speaker(s):
4:15 PM – 5:00 PM
Thursday Panel 1 (#1)

TBD

Speaker(s):
  • Moderator: 
Sponsored by

Gold:

5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Reception and Service Partner Showcase

Kick off the conference by reconnecting with peers over drinks and conversation while exploring sponsor booths showcasing the latest tools, technologies and services shaping the future of investor relations. Be sure to participate in the networking BINGO game by visiting the booths for a chance to win gift cards and prizes announced on Friday.

Sponsored by

Diamond:

7:15 PM – 9:30 PM
An Evening with SWRC Speakers (Invitation Only Dinner)

This private dinner brings together SWRC speakers for an evening of conversation and connection following the first day of conference programming. The gathering provides an opportunity for presenters to exchange ideas and meet fellow speakers.

Sponsored by

Diamond:

Friday, August 14, 2026

7:30 AM – 8:00 AM
Registration
8:00 AM – 8:05 AM
Welcome and Announcements
8:05 AM – 8:50 AM
Access Allocation: Maximizing Impact Across the Investor Base

Management access is one of the most valuable currencies in investor relations.

This session will explore how IROs can strategically allocate investor meetings, balance the needs of existing shareholders and prospective investors, and maximize the impact of conferences, roadshows and non-deal investor engagement.

Speaker(s):
Sponsored by

Gold:

8:50 AM – 9:35 AM
Beyond Institutions: Engaging the Next Generation of Capital

The sources of capital in today’s markets are expanding beyond traditional institutions. Family offices and alternative investors are becoming increasingly influential participants in the shareholder base.

 

This session will explore how IROs can identify and engage these investors, understand how they approach investments and adapt their outreach strategies in an evolving capital markets environment.

Speaker(s):
Sponsored by

Gold: Texas Capital

9:35 AM – 10:00 AM
Break and Service Partner Showcase

Take advantage of break times to explore the Service Partner Showcase and discover innovative tools and services supporting the IR profession. Be sure to play the BINGO Networking Game by visiting sponsor booths for a chance to win prizes.

Sponsored by

Bronze:

10:00 AM – 10:45 AM
Reimagining IR: Evolving Investor Engagement

The question is no longer who you meet. It is how you engage!

This panel highlights how companies are modernizing earnings delivery, rethinking analyst engagement and extending the value of investor days. Learn what’s working, what’s scalable and how to adapt these approaches within your own program.

Speaker(s):
Sponsored by

Gold:

10:45 AM – 11:30 AM
Thought Leader Breakout Session #1 (3 topics)

This session is limited to 3 breakout sessions.

  • Topic/Breakout #1:
    • TBD 
      • Sponsored by
  • Topic/Breakout #2:
    • TBD 
      • Sponsored by
  • Topic/Breakout #3
    • TBD
      • Sponsored
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Break and Service Partner Showcase

Take advantage of break times to explore the Service Partner Showcase and discover innovative tools and services supporting the IR profession. Be sure to play the BINGO Networking Game by visiting sponsor booths for a chance to win prizes.

Sponsored by

Bronze:

12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
Lunch
Sponsored by

Diamond, DFIN

12:30 PM – 1:15 PM
Keynote Speaker: “The Attention Economy: Why the Brain Remembers Stories, Not Spreadsheets”

As investor relations professionals, we sit at the intersection of data, narrative, and trust. Financial information moves quickly, but attention is limited. The real challenge is not just delivering information, it is making the right information land, stick, and travel.

In this interactive keynote, Kristin Graham of Unlock the Brain explores the neuroscience and psychology behind attention, decision making, and narrative clarity. Drawing from research in neuroeconomics and behavioral science, she shows how the brain processes complex information and why the most effective communicators translate data into stories that investors actually remember.

Participants will explore:

  • What neuroscience reveals about attention and information processing in a digital world
  • Why signal beats volume when communicating complex financial information
  • The brain science behind why stories travel further than statistics
  • Simple frameworks to organize complex information quickly and clearly
Speaker(s):
Sponsored by

Diamond Sponsor: DFIN

1:15 PM – 2:00 PM
Thought Leader Breakout Session #2 (3 topics)

This session is limited to 3 breakout sessions.

  • Topic/Breakout #4:
    • TBD 
      • Sponsored by
  • Topic/Breakout #5:
    • TBD
      • Sponsored by
  • Topic/Breakout #6
    • TBD
      • Sponsored
2:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Break and Service Partner Showcase

Take advantage of break times to explore the Service Partner Showcase and discover innovative tools and services supporting the IR profession. Be sure to play the BINGO Networking Game by visiting sponsor booths for a chance to win prizes.

Sponsored by

Bronze: 

2:30 PM – 3:15 PM
AI Risk, Compliance, and Opportunity: A Leadership Playbook

Artificial intelligence (“AI”) is creating new opportunities for efficiency and insight, while also raising important questions around governance, compliance and risk management. 

This panel will explore how leadership teams are approaching AI adoption responsibly, balancing innovation with oversight and developing practical frameworks for implementing AI across the enterprise.

Speaker(s):
Sponsored by

Gold:

3:15 PM – 4:00 PM
Hard Conversations: Navigating the IRO Balancing Act

Investor relations often sits at the center of complex conversations between management, investors and the board. In this session, experienced IROs and an IR advisor will discuss how they navigate difficult situations, balance competing stakeholder expectations, and help leadership teams communicate with clarity and credibility.

Speaker(s):
Sponsored by

Gold: 

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
IR Networking Reception and Service Partner Showcase

Wrap up the conference with one last opportunity to connect with peers and visit sponsor booths showcasing the latest tools, technologies and services supporting the IR profession. Be sure to complete your Networking BINGO card by visiting the booths for a chance to win gift cards and prizes.

Sponsored by

Diamond:

6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Breakdown

Service partners will begin breaking down their booths following the close of the Service Partner Showcase. We appreciate your support in helping conclude a successful conference.