The 2026 survey responses saw a combination old and new woes when it comes to internal resources. While challenges identified by the CIO Sentiment Survey over the years including personal time constraints, understaffed internal team, and lack of necessary system and tools remain, a new pressure point has emerged in the latest edition of the survey: data or AI talent constraints (for a more detailed breakdown of the topic, please refer to the Special Theme section). 

CIOs’ time is torn between various internal and external priorities including team management, board meetings, manager liaison and industry engagement, and the pressure is particularly pronounced this year with 44 per cent of respondents citing it as one of their top challenges when it comes to internal resources. 

But QIC’s Allison Hill says balancing those needs is integral to being a successful investment leader. 

“I think everyone in our industry is somewhat time poor, so I wouldn't necessarily characterise myself as any different. But my job is fantastic and a big part of it is to work with my team. I really need to support and enable them, and that's a really critical part,” she says. 

The hiring speed across all functions, from risk management to legal, have slowed down compared to 2025. Planned headcount changes across all functions are in the net positive territory, which means more asset owners are looking to increase headcount than those reducing it. 

Most have plans to expand the investment team, with a net 26 per cent of respondents saying they will increase headcount in the department.

Around half of respondents have direct investment capabilities in-house. Of those that do, the top priority is building the ability to source co-investment opportunities. Other functions investors want to bolster in-house are internal trading or overlay capabilities, as well as in-house investment and deal sourcing.