Greater Sydney Area
Skills summary: • Highly capable communicator, both verbally and written, across internal and external stakeholders. Proven ability to engage with audiences and build product awareness across multiple formats, including public speaking (100+), small groups and published articles. • Effective conduit for internal distribution team, notably at Zurich; craft and refine engaging key messages for new and existing investment products. • Strong relationship and engagement skills across wholesale distribution channels • Product development experience, notably at Pengana and Zurich. At Pengana, co-developed Asian Long Short fund from scratch, underpinning strong appreciation of process. Actively engaged through-cycle in Zurich’s product development team. • 15-year listed equities background; portfolio manager and analyst across a variety of geographies and sectors, including both long only and long-short capabilities • Capital raising and business development experience at both Pengana and Zurich • Collaborative contributor both in teams and as leader/manager with strong interpersonal skills • Strong analytical capability; CFA charterholder and CAIA charterholder
• Conduit between partner fund managers and Zurich BDMs/internal staff (covering multiple funds across global equities, emerging market equities, AREITs and Australian small caps): maintain in-depth knowledge of partner investment strategies; educate and deliver key messages and relevant information to sales team to assist in the gathering and retention of assets under management; serve as representative of relevant fund manager in meetings with advisers; take lead, as required, in pitches to small institutional prospects • Significant role in rating process by Researchers (Lonsec, Morningstar, Zenith) across all funds: review preparation and participation, active discussion on draft reports and through-year engagement with researchers • Develop presentation content and present at Professional Development Days to advisers across a variety of topics, including macro-economic, behavioural finance, crypto-currency as well as more fund specific to facilitate engagement with Zurich’s funds • Key contributor to marketing collateral: write fund specific articles for sponsored content; give fund specific interviews; contribute articles for bi-monthly newsletters; curate manager content for monthlies; ad hoc white papers; contribute fund descriptive for website • Serve as Generalist on Investment Committee for Zurich Investments Managed Growth Fund: active participation in manager selection across Global and Australian equities and monthly Tactical Asset Allocation decisions
• Portfolio Manager for AV Chindia Fund, a high conviction 20 stock portfolio designed to benefit from China and India growth stories; responsibilities included thorough stock analysis, buy and sell decisions, portfolio and risk management, with support from broader Five Oceans research team. Fund delivered 19.1% gross return (between April 2013 to end June 2014), @ in line with strong benchmark return. • Responsibility for Fund marketing, including quarterly presentations to key stakeholders and regular written reports; improved relationship with key clients through active engagement • Responsible for Global Telecom sector research for Five Oceans Global Funds (@$520mn), including screening and idea generation, extensive stock modelling and comprehensive report writing and peer review • Regional research input for Japan and pan-Asia for Global Funds; fundamental research supported by regional trips (Japan in September 2013 and China in January 2014) • Conducted investment review meetings for global fund with Business Development Managers and received strong positive feedback on agenda and process
• Co-founded the Pengana Asian Equities Fund, a long short pan-Asian fund combining fundamental research with a risk overlay, and which successfully raised $35mn • Responsibility for regional Technology and Telecom stocks, with investment opportunities regularly presented for peer review; contributed to the fund’s outperformance of comparative benchmark since inception • Co-managed and mentored team of 3 analysts to present fully-researched investment ideas, contributing to the fund performance by improving rigour in the internal processes • Successfully communicated sector strategy to rating agencies; Fund achieved ratings from S&P (4-star), Zenith (Approved) and Lonsec (Investment Grade) • Marketed the fund to external clients through individual and group presentations to inform and educate on fund strategy resulting in expansion of client base • Initiated and managed ongoing relationships with external service providers, including 2 prime brokers, allowing for trouble-free back office operations • Implemented and maintained an effective Portfolio Management and Valuation tool, resulting in no failed trades (in excess of 1000 trades per year) and zero pricing errors • Established accurate monthly reports, detailing contributions to performance at stock, sector and country level which contributed to improved portfolio and risk management
Sep 2004 - Mar 2008; Deputy Portfolio Manager for Perennial Asia ex-Japan Fund, Perennial Japan Fund; Also portfolio manager for Rubicon Global Fund ● Supported portfolio manager in running three regional funds with FUM of @ $100mn and co-mentoring team of 4 analysts leading to solid fund performance outcomes and stable investment team ● Responsibility for fundamental research and individual stock decisions in Technology and Telecom sectors, contributing to 20% pa return for the Perennial Asia Fund ● Marketed the funds to external clients and rating agencies leading to better understanding of fund positioning and strategy; the Perennial Japan fund was highly rated by Russell Investments ● Individually managed Rubicon Global Fund, returning 16.4% since inception (and ahead of comparative benchmark return of 15%); also regular marketing and presentations led to strong client loyalty/engagement ● Successfully introduced an enhanced portfolio management and valuation system to improve transparency and reporting efficiency Nov 2000 - Sep 2004; Investment Analyst for Perennial International Fund (UK and European equities) ● Built library of 50 models of fully researched stocks, based on bottom-up fundamental company analysis across a broad range of sectors, leading to informed investment decisions ● Developed and implemented screening process to drive idea generation and improve existing systems to allow more efficient use of integrated watch and focus lists ● Enhanced idea flow for UK and European regions, contributing to solid performance for the Perennial International Fund ● Implemented complex system to better capture performance and attribution, which were used to improve marketing materials and reporting for the Perennial International Fund