The CAIA Association is an independent, not-for-profit global organization committed to education and professionalism in the field of alternative investments. The Association was established in 2002 by industry leaders under the guidance of the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) and the Center for International Securities and Derivatives Markets (CISDM) with the belief that a strong foundation of knowledge is essential for all professionals. The curriculum includes two exams (Level I and Level II) administered to professional analysts in this growing field so that, upon successful completion, the individuals are designated Chartered Alternative Investment Analysts (CAIA). The CAIA designation has a great deal of prestige in the global community. Members come from over 80 countries on six continents.

Dr. Donald R. Chambers, CAIA, is Associate Director of Programs at the CAIA Association; the Walter E. Hanson/KPMG Professor of Finance at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania; and Chief Investment Officer of Biltmore Capital Advisors. Dr. Chambers previously served as Director of Alternative Investments at Karpus Investment Management. He is a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Alternative Investments.

Dr. Mark J. P. Anson, CAIA, CFA, CPA, Ph.D., J.D, is a board member of CAIA and the President and Chief Investment Officer of the Bass Family Office—winner of the Family office of the Year award for 2014–2015. Dr. Anson previously served as President and Executive Director of Investment Services at Nuveen Investments Inc., Chief Executive Officer of both the British Telecom Pension Scheme and its wholly owned asset management company in London, Hermes Pension Management Limited, and Chief Investment Officer at California Public Employees' Retirement System. He has published over 100 research articles in professional journals, has won two Best Paper Awards, is the author of six financial textbooks, and sits on the editorial boards of several financial journals.

Dr. Keith H. Black, CAIA, is Managing Director of Curriculum and Exams at the CAIA Association. He was previously an Associate at Ennis Knupp and, before that, an Assistant Professor at Illinois Institute of Technology. He is a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Alternative Investments.

Dr. Hossein Kazemi is a senior adviser to the CAIA Association. He is the Michael and Cheryl Philipp Professor of Finance at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst; Director of the Center for International Securities and Derivatives Markets; a cofounder of the CAIA Association; and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Alternative Investments—the official publication of the CAIA Association.