RIAA Staff

Simon O’Connor – Chief Executive Officer

 

Simon operates at the intersection of economics, finance and sustainability and has extensive international experience as an economic adviser, investment analyst and sustainability consultant across finance, corporate and not for profit sectors.

 

In this role, Simon works with RIAA’s 240 member organisations with the goal of  delivering on RIAA’s mission of promoting, advocating for, and supporting approaches to responsible investment that align capital with achieving a healthy and sustainable society, environment and economy.    

 

As well as driving RIAA to be a more impactful organisation, Simon is active across the region and internationally in responsible investment and sustainable finance initiatives, as a member of the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance, sitting on the UN backed Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) Australia Network Advisory Committee, as well as a member of the National Advisory Board on Impact Investing in New Zealand.

 

Prior to joining RIAA, Simon spent over five years at the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) as their Economic Adviser, leading debates on issues such as financing the transition to a low carbon economy, climate change policy and broader economic reform issues (taxation, green jobs, infrastructure, wellbeing indicators & natural capital issues). He played an integral role in the establishment of Australia’s $10 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation, which continues to have a strong impact by investing in a low carbon future in Australia today. 

Nicolette Boele – Executive Manager Policy, Research and Certification

 

Nicolette has 25 years’ experience delivering engagements, collaborations and accountability solutions for and with Australian and international companies, governments, unions, and NGOs. She has deep subject matter experience in energy and climate change. Like Simon she has worked at and been on Council at the Australian Conservation Foundation. She has also held executive roles at The Climate Institute, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, Banarra and the Sustainable Energy Development Authority. In 2015 Nicolette led the review of RIAA’s certification program and now manages the program covering 130certified financial advisers and products. Nicolette’s also works on RIAA’s policy agenda, services development and industry research such as the Superfund Benchmark Report.

Carly Hammond – Head of Marketing | Impact Investment Forum Program Manager

 

Carly’s focus is on building business as force for good and harnessing the power of individuals to effect change whether as a consumer, business owner or investor. As Head of Marketing and the Impact Investment Forum Program Manager for the Responsible Investment Association Australasia, she is focused on growing awareness of and deepening participation in responsible, ethical and impact investing. She is also Company Secretary for B Lab Australia & New Zealand, and was previously the Director of Engagement and Communications at Impact Investing Australia where she played a central role putting impact investing on the map and engaging new market participants. Carly has extensive experience delivering campaigns and partnerships spanning the private, public and not for profit sectors in Australia, Asia and Africa. At Oxfam Australia, Carly designed award-winning campaigns for fairer international trade rules and generating consumer demand for fair trade products. For the Australian Conservation Foundation, Carly led communications and partnership development to promote the transition to an economy that delivers wellbeing alongside a healthy environment. 

Rebecca Thompson – Consultant Research Manager

 

Rebecca Thompson joins RIAA as Consultant Research Manager. Rebecca leads on the growing number of research projects RIAA is engaged in, including the Responsible Investment Benchmark Reports for Australia and New Zealand. Rebecca has over 20 years of financial markets experience and is the co-founder of an interactive market insights company that quantifies perceptions of institutional investors in relation to ASX listed companies.

Cassandra Williams – Certification Program and Ratings Manager

 

Cass Williams, is our Certification Program and Ratings Manager. Based in Melbourne, Cass is responsible for our pioneering Certification Program and brings with her a wealth of experience in investment management, marketing and ratings systems. 

Josh Edmunds – Manager Operations and Member Services

 

As RIAA’s Manager of Operations and Member Services Josh works across all areas of RIAA – back and front office. Josh is often the first point of contact for members and he provides support on many areas of RIAA’s  work plan. Josh has a keen passion for working and living responsibly; he also regularly instructs group fitness classes across the inner-Sydney area. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Laws.

Briony Doyle Galovic – Events Coordinator

 

Briony supports the RIAA team and our members by managing all the logistics and communications for our busy calendar of conferences, webinars and events throughout the year. She also ensures we deliver on our commitments to our sponsors.

 

Prior to joining RIAA, Briony has over 6 years’ experience successfully managing corporate and hospitality events. She is based in the Melbourne office.

RIAA BOARD

Susheela Peres Da Costa

Chair

 

Susheela has been with Regnan since its early days, including at its predecessor BT GAS. She brings extensive insights into the financial implications of corporate under-investment in environmental, social and corporate performance from her involvement in developing Regnan’s highly regarded analysis of these matters. She also brings insights from her contact with many S&P/ASX200 directors and executives, which is undertaken as part of Regnan’s program of corporate engagement and advocacy. This process emphasizes constructive dialogue as a way to influence improved performance from companies in these areas. Prior to joining Regnan (then called BT GAS) in 2006, she held positions in corporate affairs, communications and marketing at BT Financial Group.

Pablo Berrutti

Deputy Chair

 

Pablo Berrutti is the Head of Responsible Investment Asia Pacific for Colonial First State Global Asset Management (‘CFSGAM’).

In his role, Pablo is responsible for supporting CFSGAM’s investment teams and working across asset classes in the Asia Pacific region. Prior to joining CFSGAM in July 2012, Pablo was the Head of Responsible Investment for Perpetual, Sydney. In this role Pablo was responsible for the design, implementation and maintenance of Perpetual’s responsible investment framework.

Pablo has over 15 years financial services experience, including 5 years in risk management roles with the Commonwealth Bank Group and Perpetual.

Pablo has been the Chairman of the Responsible Investment Association of Australasia since 2012. Pablo is a member of the management committee for the IGCC and chair’s it’s investor disclosure working group.

Pablo has a graduate certificate in sustainability from the Harvard extension school, a diploma of superannuation and a certificate 4 in financial planning.

Justin Medcalf

 

Justin is the Head of Innovation at Bendigo Wealth (a division of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited), and advisory council member at the Environmental Grant-Makers Network.

 

He is the former CEO of The Emerald Club Ltd and former Managing Director and Financial Planner at Green Equity Management. Justin was the founding Chairperson at the Ethical Advisers’ Co-operative Ltd, was a Compliance Development Manager at both AMP Ltd and Count Financial Ltd, and Treasurer for Project Australia.

 

Over the years, Justin has presented on Responsible Investing at numerous national and international conferences and events. During his time as a financial planner he also facilitated workshops for community groups, government and business.

 

Justin holds a Bachelor Degree in Accounting, an Advanced Diploma in Financial Services, is a Fellow of the Centre for Sustainability Leadership and is currently completing a Graduate Certificate in Social Impact.

Phil Vernon

 

Phil is the Managing Director of Australian Ethical Investment and a trustee of Australian Ethical Superannuation.

 

Australian Ethical was a pioneer in ethical investing in Australia. With over $2.5 billion in funds under management it was the fastest growing superannuation fund in Australia in 2017. It is also an active impact investor, with 10% of its profits each year funding its Foundation which supports the social enterprise and charitable communities.

 

Phil has over 30 years’ experience in financial services. He is a Director of the Responsible Investment Association, the Planet Ark Environmental Foundation and is Chairman of Beyond Zero Emissions, a climate change think tank.

Ross Piper

 

Ross Piper is the Chief Executive Officer of Christian Super.  He has over 25 years of leadership and management experience in corporate and non-profit contexts. Prior to Ross’ appointment as Christian Super CEO in Jan 2018, he was COO with World Vision Australia and also served with World Vision International for several years in the Middle East and various countries of the former Yugoslavia.

 

During his career Ross has held a number of positions in the corporate sector, primarily in investment banking and mining. He was Head of Corporate Risk for Macquarie Group for several years, and his early professional experience was gained in the mining sector, where he worked in the area of Native Title and business development. He has served on several boards, including six years as a Board Member and Chair of AgroInvest Foundation, a large microfinance bank serving rural families in Serbia and Montenegro. He recently served for 2 years on the Advisory Board of the Shared Value Project in Australia.

 

Ross’ formal qualifications include a BSc (Geophysics), GradDipEd, and MBA (Deakin University).

Peter Murphy

 

Peter Murphy has sought to promote responsible investing for over a decade in his roles in the superannuation, financial services and not for profit sectors.   A former chief executive officer of Christian Super that under his tenure won a number of awards but more importantly pioneered impact investing within the superannuation space.

 

He currently holds directorship roles in a range of not for profit and financial services organisations and is presently the Chair RIAA’s Impact Investing Forum.   He is a fellow of the Society of CPA’s, a fellow of the Australian Superannuation Funds Association and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He holds an undergraduate degree in Business and Masters degrees in both Arts and Commerce.

Karen McLeod

 

As an Authorised Representative of Ethical Investment Advisers, Karen McLeod holds the highest level of accreditation in Australia as a Certified Financial Planner TM (CFP).  She also holds a Bachelor of Business (with Distinction).  She is accredited by the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) as a Certified Financial Adviser.  Karen has served 5 years as a Board Member of RIAA and to the RIAA Certification Committee.

 

Additionally, Karen is a member of the Ethical Advisers’ Co-operative and served as the Chairperson in 2014.  She is also a member of the peak industry association in Australia, the Financial Planning Association (FPA).

 

In 2009, the Australian Financial Review’s ‘Smart Investor’ magazine awarded Karen McLeod a place in their Master Class Top 50 Honour Roll (Australia wide).  This achievement is based on her technical expertise. She has loved running her own practice in Brisbane for over 10 years.

Arti Prasad

 

Arti Prasad is a Senior Investment Strategist for the Guardians of NZ Superannuation, Crown entity that manages the New Zealand Superannuation Fund.  Arti works on the development and implementation of the Guardians’ Responsible Investment, climate change and corporate governance policies. Arti has been with the Guardians since 2017, following two years with the Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) as Head of Responsible Investment.  Prior to that she worked for the Guardians as a Senior ESG Analyst and as a Senior Policy Analyst at the NZ Ministry for Environment, working on policy related to business sustainability, water and climate change.

 

In 2014 she was named one of Chief Investment Officer magazine’s ’Top 40 under 40’ in the asset allocation world.

Matt Mimms

 

Matthew Mimms is the Managing Director and Founder of the Investment Store. Matthew has 28 years experience in the investment management and financial services industry both in New Zealand and the UK. Prior to establishing the Investment Store, he was Head of Retail Sales and Service at BT Funds Management.

 

He has held a number of senior distribution positions and was the Chair of the Auckland branch of the Financial Planners and Insurance Advisers Association from 2000 to 2002.

 

In 2006, Matthew established The Investment Store, a specialist 3rd party distribution firm that aims to assist boutique and specialist managers to market their capabilities to professional intermediaries in NZ.

 

In 2010, Matthew was integrally involved in the NZ Responsible Investment Briefing, an annual industry conference aimed at championing the responsible investment movement amongst industry participants in NZ. In addition, Matthew is co-founder of Perfecting Investment Portfolios, a thought leadership conference for professional financial intermediaries. Both events are now regular features in the industry calendar.

 

He has a business degree from Sheffield University in England and a Diploma in Business Studies (personal financial planning) from Massey University.

Sarah Barker

 

Sarah is a Special Counsel at commercial law firm Minter Ellison.  She has two decades’ experience advising Australian and multi-national clients on governance, compliance, misleading disclosure and competition law (antitrust) issues.

 

In addition to her role with RIAA, she is currently a non-executive director of Emergency Services & State Super and NRCL Ltd.  She has been actively involved as an examiner, lecturer and course materials author for the Australian Institute of Company Directors for more than a decade, including the ‘Directors’ Duties & Responsibilities’ unit of Australia’s leading professional directors’ qualification, the Company Directors’ Course.

 

Sarah’s work on fiduciary duties and responsible investment is internationally recognised, and has received awards from organisations such as the Global Corporate Governance Institute and the United Nations PRI. She sits on the Technical Working Group of the international Climate Disclosure Standards Board, and is an academic visitor at the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment at Oxford University.

Francie Doolan

 

Francie is passionate about using business and finance to shift us to a more socially equitable and environmentally sustainable world. Francie is committed to shaping organisations by being a calm, focused and curious non-executive director. Francie is a non-executive director at Impact Funds Management (IFM), a subsidiary of Impact Investment Group (IIG). IFM provides fund management services and is the holder of an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL). IIG is a leading Australian impact investment funds manager and co-investor.

 

Francie is known for being a strategic, commercial and customer focused senior executive. Francie is also the Chief Financial and Operating Officer (CFOO) at Small Giants, an impact investment family office.

 

Francie is a Chartered Accountant (CA) and Graduate of The Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).