With a judging panel including academics, business executives, entrepreneurs and innovators, the 36th Annual Fund Manager of the Year Awards 2024 is peer-reviewed recognition of your capabilities in fund management and passion for driving the industry forward.
Andrew joined HUB24 in 2013 as Chief Executive Officer and with HUB24’s leadership team, he has led the company’s
evolution from the new entrant HUB24 platorm business to today’s market-leading integrated provider of platform, data and technology solutions to the wealth industry. HUB24 has grown over the last decade to administer over $100 billion in client assets and has expanded to now include the HUBconnect, Class and myprosperity businesses. Andrew has almost three decades of experience across wealth management, encompassing advice, platforms, superannuation, insurance and information technology. After a successful career as a senior executive in information technology, Andrew held various executive roles within the Wealth Management sector including with Genesys Wealth Advisers Limited, Tyndall and Asteron. In these roles Andrew worked closely with financial advisers, including holding board director roles for over 20 advice practices and was responsible for the design and delivery of financial products for the wealth market. Andrew was previously Chief Executive Officer of Australian Administration Services (a subsidiary of Link Group) providing superannuation administration and technology services to some of Australia’s largest superannuation funds.
Angela Ashton, the Founder & CEO at Evergreen Consultants, stands as a beacon of expertise in the investment consulting landscape. Armed with two Bachelor’s degrees (Economics/Science), a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance, and a Master of Commerce (Finance), Angela’s academic background underpins her strategic expertise in finance.
With a career spanning 30 years in Investment Markets, Angela brings unparalleled expertise to Evergreen. Throughout her career, she has held Senior Investment roles at QIC, served as Head of Ratings at van Eyk Research and was General Manager of Managed Funds Research at IWL Ltd (now CommSec). She has further contributed to the investment industry through serving on a number of education committees with groups such as Kaplan and the Investment Management Consultants Association (IMCA).
Under Angela’s leadership, Evergreen Consultants has established itself as a prominent boutique investment consulting firm based in Australia. Evergreen specialises in developing portfolios and collaborating closely with high-quality financial planning businesses nationwide. With them, Evergreen builds and manages investment solutions designed specifically to meet each individual clients needs and preferences.
The Evergreen Team is renowned for its innovative solutions and contributions in the industry through their significant in-house development of tools such as GreenVue, a portfolio analytics system and ERIG, a Responsible Investment Grading Index.
Michelle is Associate Professor (Accounting & Financial Planning) in the School of Business at Western Sydney University where she uses her strong relationships with University partners, professional bodies and community to further the strategic objectives of the School. Michelle was previously the School’s Associate Dean, Engagement and has actively taught and researched in accounting and financial planning for over 25 years. Michelle has held numerous leadership positions at the university including Director of Academic Program, Head of Program and Academic Course Advisor for the University’s international partner, University of Economics in Ho Chi Minh City.
Michelle co-founded the Western Sydney University Tax Clinic, led the development of the WalletSmart App and has successfully secured numerous external grants to support her research in financial planning. She has published her research in peer-reviewed journals and practitioner magazines across various areas of financial planning including trust, ethics, and financial literacy. Michelle has supervised several Higher Degree Research students to completion and currently supervises a number of PhD and MRes students.
Michelle has a proactive approach to her work as she considers the demands presented by the profession, employers and new technologies. Michelle encourages students to take advantage of workplace opportunities with a view to improving their learning experience and to actively engage with the community through volunteering.
Michelle is an Academic Affiliate member of the FAAA and FCPA. She currently volunteers her time as Chair of the Macarthur Advisory Council for the Salvation Army, as an elected member of UniSuper’s Consultative Committee, on the board of the Financial Planning Education Council, as Executive Vice President of the Academy of Financial Services, and on the ratings committee of Adviser Ratings. She is also co-editor of the Financial Planning Research Journal.
Michelle has previously served as Councillor and Deputy President for CPA Australia’s NSW Divisional Council, and on the board of the Campbelltown Chamber of Commerce.
Prior to becoming a full-time academic, Michelle worked for fifteen years in various financial and management accounting positions at ASX-100 companies where she worked in change management, systems redesign and acquisition. Michelle has also worked as a consultant. Michelle enjoys her sports which see her participating in field hockey and supporting her favourite NRL/NRLW and A-league/W-league teams.
Robert was appointed to Chief Executive Officer in December 2015. He is a founding partner of InfoComp, now GBST’s Retail Wealth Business, with over 30 years’ experience in the development of software applications. Robert holds a Bachelor of Mathematics. Robert has a business and technical software background having been part of the Retail Wealth Business development and professional services teams.
Julie Dolan is a Partner of KPMG Enterprise, CA & CPA qualified, with over 30 years’ experience providing taxation, superannuation legislative and estate planning advice to many sectors of the wealth industry, mid-market and private clients. She is the national lead for the SMSF & Estate Planning business for KPMG Enterprise as well as the Asset Wealth Management Sector Lead.
Having worked in the industry for many decades, Julie has extensive experience in Self-managed Superannuation Funds (SMSF’s), superannuation, taxation, accounting, compliance, estate and succession advisory to the wealth management industry, many sectors of the mid-market private clients and family offices. Due to her experience, she has the unique ability to work through complex problems and collaboratively work through tailored solutions with and for the family being advised.
Julie has had many varied roles in the wealth management industry and has been consulting on SMSF’s and the legislative rules and application since 1993. She is also one of the main educators to the financial services industry and has provided strategic / technical support, education, and consulting services to a significant number of accountants, advisers and lawyers around Australia. She also regularly writes for industry publications, has had the pleasure of educating thousands of SMSF Trustees as well as being on several industry technical committees.
I’m an entrepreneur, financial adviser, cross-fitter, and D&I activist; helping young professionals achieve financial freedom.
Prior to launching Fox & Hare, I was a Macquarie Banker for more than a decade!
I honed my craft in various roles from institutional broking to wealth management, finally leaving mid-2017 as one of the youngest Directors in the company.
Diversity and inclusion sits close to my heart. During my time at Macquarie, I often found myself wondering "where are all the advisers who look like me?"
Fox & Hare was launched to fill that gap. We saw young, diverse Australians being left behind and knew we could make a lasting and positive change.
We believed (and still believe!) that financial freedom should be accessible to all - not just the older, wealthier among us.
Since launching Fox & Hare I’ve:
And Fox & Hare was a finalist at the 2018 Sydney City Regional Business Awards.
When I’m not at our office in Darlinghurst, I am either at CrossFit, by the beach or travelling.
David is currently the Head of FTSE Russell’s Index Investments Group for Australia and New Zealand and primarily looks to catalyse asset management flows into sustainable finance options through indices. David sits on the APAC leadership team and has a deep understanding of the asset management industry having held critical and senior roles throughout the asset management value chain.
With over 15 years’ experience working in the Financial Services sector. David has previously worked with ETF issuers tasked with establishing the business onshore ensuring regulatory compliance and prior to that David worked with the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) managing the cash equity trading platform as well as building out ASX’ Investment Products business.
Outside of his day job, David is also an experienced board member and director. He was a non-executive Director and Board member of an ASX listed company ASX:TIP and Burman Investment Management, an Australian fund manager playing a crucial role in that organisations governance and strategic direction. In addition David also sits on the board of a further 2 companies – Tora Trading (Australia) and Global Data Consortium (Australia).
David is passionate about giving back and dedicates a large proportion of his spare time on philanthropic activities being the Head of APAC for the London Stock Exchange Foundation – LSEG’s philanthropic arm, donating over a million dollars each year to much needed charities in the region. David also sits on the committee of the Australian Stockbrokers Foundation and is a guest lecturer and program sponsor at UNSW and University of Melbourne looking to improve financial literacy particularly in the future female leaders and promoting sustainable finance throughout the education system.
Professor Rahat Munir is the Head of Department of Accounting and Corporate Governance, Macquarie University. He is FCA, FCPA and PhD. Professor Munir is internationally acclaimed for his engagement with industry-driven curriculum and has been at the forefront of leading development and change initiatives. He is also forensic accounting specialist with financial crime investigative skills. He has pioneered innovative learning and teaching (L&T) practices, academic standards & accreditations. Her maintains strong ongoing relationships with external stakeholders, including professional associations, universities and communities - Universities in China, Southeast Asia, South Asia and Europe. He has served on the panel for Faculty/Course Reviews of various Universities in Australia and New Zealand. With his strong engagement with industry, he leads CFO Forum, Industry Academic Series, Thought Leadership and Business Leaders Roundtables. He has written over 100 peer reviewed journal articles, conference papers, books, book chapters, monographs and commissioned reports, and over 50 publications for professional and lay audiences. Although the bulk of his research focuses on management accounting and controls, he has also published in important cognate areas such as education, CSR, corporate governance, corporate culture and research expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Professor Munir has delivered scores of invited/keynote presentations, and his expert opinions has been featured in radio, television, newspapers, newsletters, and web outlets. He is affiliated with several professional bodies including the Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, Professional Risk Managers International Association, USA, American Accounting Association, British Accounting Association, Canadian Accounting Association and European Accounting Association. Professor Munir serves on various high-level Committees and Advisory Boards. Professor Munir’s sustained excellence in teaching and research has been recognised through international awards.
Sarah Penn is the CEO of Mayflower Consulting. Mayflower partners with fund managers and super funds to streamline their PDS management, enhance communications and navigate through change effectively. Sarah founded Mayflower in 2014 after senior roles at Macquarie Bank and Asgard Wealth Solutions. She is passionate about the funds management industry, chairing the FSC Tech and Innovation Expert Group and the ASFA NSW Legislation Discussion Group, and is also the MD of CREW – Compliance and Risk Executive Women, which now boasts more than 1700 members across Australia.
