Ashley Marlow Shares Infrastructure Insights at Women in Private Markets Summit 2025
Image credit: PEI Infrastructure Investor: Women in Infrastructure Forum, North America, 2025
Ashley Marlow, Regional Lead in North America at Stafford Capital Partners, joined the Infrastructure Forum at the Women in Private Markets Summit 2025 in New York, contributing to a dynamic discussion on the evolving role of infrastructure secondaries in institutional portfolios.
The panel brought together senior professionals across private markets to examine the forces shaping the alternative investment landscape. Ashley’s remarks reflected Stafford’s long-standing commitment to infrastructure secondaries, a strategy the firm has developed since launching its first fund in 2012. She highlighted Stafford’s focus on off-market LP-led transactions, which can offer investors immediate diversification, strong cash yields, and insulation from market volatility. Stafford believes these attributes are increasingly valued in today’s uncertain environment.
Drawing on recent market developments, Ashley noted that infrastructure secondaries have seen record deal flow volumes, driven by factors such as closed IPO markets, reduced distributions, and the need for liquidity across private portfolios. She explained that Stafford’s proactive sourcing approach and disciplined pricing have positioned the firm to take advantage of attractive entry points, particularly in the middle market where deal sizes and buyer pools offer greater flexibility.
Ashley also addressed the growing relevance of GP-led transactions, especially in sectors such as digital infrastructure and transport. While renewable energy platforms face headwinds due to policy uncertainty and capital intensity, she expressed optimism about long-term opportunities in the space, particularly as managers seek funding solutions to support growth.
The panel discussion underscored the strategic role secondaries can play in portfolio management, from recycling capital and consolidating manager exposure to navigating political and economic volatility. Ashley emphasized the importance of preparedness and precision in underwriting deals, noting that Stafford’s infrastructure team leverages proprietary systems to evaluate, price, and monitor assets across the market.
The Summit featured a range of asset-specific sessions and a keynote interview on the future of private markets. Themes throughout the day included the rise of continuation vehicles, NAV-based financing, and the implications of evergreen fund structures for LP-GP relationships, topics that continue to shape investor expectations and fund manager strategies.
Ashley’s participation at the Infrastructure Forum was a fantastic opportunity to showcase Stafford's ongoing activities in the infrastructure secondaries market and our commitment to supporting clients through thoughtful, data-driven investment solutions