Emily Straw

Emily Straw is a Partner at VELA Investment Management, where she leads client development across institutional and intermediary channels. She brings over 25 years of investment industry experience and is known for her ability to align sophisticated investment strategies with the needs of RIAs, consultants, OCIOs, and institutional allocators.

Emily has deep expertise across a wide range of investment structures, including private funds, interval funds, mutual funds, and collective investment trusts (CITs). She also has extensive experience in private credit and structured credit, having worked across both traditional and alternative asset classes throughout her career.

Prior to joining VELA, Emily was Senior Vice President at First Pacific Advisors, overseeing institutional business development and client service. Earlier, she served as Managing Director and Partner at Palmer Square Capital Management, where she focused on institutional distribution and product development within credit and alternative investments.

Emily earned a B.A. in Political Science from Mount Holyoke College, where she competed on the equestrian team. She continues to compete at the national level in show jumping. Outside the office, she enjoys golf, skiing, and traveling. Emily also proudly serves as a Trustee at William Woods Univeristy.