RIAA Staff

CEO/Executive Director

Simon O’Connor

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.

Executive Manager Policy, Research and Standards

Nicolette Boele

Nicolette has 30 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.

Nicolette leads RIAA’s programs of work on standards setting, industry research and certification. She co-leads RIAA’s policy agenda, is a member of both the PRI’s Global Policy Reference Group and the Coordinating Working Group of the Australian Sustainable Finance Initiative. Nicolette is proud to help support RIAA’s Human Rights Working Group – an active, courageous and impactful network of investment practitioners seeking ways to respect human rights and improve the lives of people in Australia, New Zealand and worldwide.

Executive Manager, Membership and Engagement 

Dean Hegarty

Dean leads RIAA’s member engagement, events, marketing and communications functions. His role focuses on building meaningful engagement opportunities for our members and ensuring RIAA delivers high quality content that adds value to the industry.

Dean has worked in membership organisations and associations for close to a decade within NZ, Australia and Europe. He is passionate about creating a more sustainable future and the role ESG investment can play in empowering consumers and driving meaningful change within business.

Operations Manager

Sharon Rayner

Sharon is responsible for leading the corporate services and governance at RIAA, to ensure that RIAA operates effectively and efficiently. This includes having responsibility for human resources, finance, technology, planning, and policies.

Sharon is an experienced executive who has led corporate services, planning and operations in the not-for-profit, health and education sectors.

Head of Marketing and Impact Investment Forum Program Manager

Carly Hammond

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.

Communications and Media Coordinator

Katie Braid

At RIAA Katie is responsible for helping build awareness of and participation in responsible, ethical and impact investing through creative communications and media campaigns.

Katie holds a dual degree of Business Management (Sustainability) and Journalism, and prior to joining RIAA held a range of roles in the arts, education and resource recovery sectors, all with a focus on marketing and communicating for change.

Certifications and Ratings Manager

Cassandra Williams

Cassandra leads our RI Certification Program and the RI Certification Team.  Cassandra has over 20 years experience in financial services, including retail and institutional investments, consumer finance and research and ratings of financial instruments.  Cassandra’s experience has been gained through international investment banks,  FinTech’s, ratings agencies and consulting services.  RIAA’s vision is to aid the fund flow of investment capital to responsible investments and Cassandra is leading this charge through the world’s longest running and most recognised RI Certification program.

Cassandra is based in Melbourne and holds a Bachelor of Business in Accounting, Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment and a Master of Business Administration.

Certifications and Ratings Analyst

Ryan Cook

Prior to joining RIAA Ryan worked for close to ten years in the banking and finance industry in a range of Senior Analytical roles. Ryan has also worked as a sustainability consultant and carbon emissions analyst.

Ryan recently completed his Master of Environment at University of Melbourne, specialising in Governance, Policy and Markets. His research examined Responsible Investment in Blue Carbon resources.

In addition to his Masters degree, Ryan holds a Diploma of Sustainability and Bachelor of Agribusiness. Ryan is also a community committee member for the Sports Environment Alliance (SEA) Australia and a member of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand Inc.

Certifications Analyst

Tom Bunting

Tom joins us as Certification Analyst. He is responsible for assessing applicants, ensuring timely delivery of certification outcomes and supporting our certification team.

Tom is a recent graduate in BSc (Psychology) and currently completing his Bachelor of Applied Finance at Macquarie University, with a strong interest in behavioural economics and consumer psychology. Tom also brings with him years of experience in forensics and a strong background in operations. Before RIAA, he worked at BDO and Ethinvest, Australia’s leading ethical financial planner. In his spare time Tom enjoys playing tennis, connecting with likeminded environmental professionals and spending time with family.

Manager of Member Services

Josh Edmunds

As RIAA’s Manager of Member Services, Josh works across all areas of RIAA, back and front office. Based in Sydney, Josh is often the first point of contact for members and provides support on many areas of RIAA’s work plan, in particular working closely with RIAA’s financial adviser members in managing the RI Certification Program for advisers and advisory groups.

Prior to working at RIAA, Josh was involved in the fitness industry managing large centre membership operations, customer service and events. For a number of years he was involved in social programmes supporting disadvantaged youth. He continues to remain active in the fitness industry instructing group fitness in the Sydney area.

Josh holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Laws and a Diploma in Financial Planning.

Head of Events

Briony Doyle Galovic

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.

Project Coordinator

Min Wah Voon

Min Wah will be responsible for providing the secretariat for RIAA’s working groups, coordination for key RIAA functions and executive support to the CEO.

Min Wah has 15 years’ experience working on sustainable development and human rights, with a strong interest in private sector engagement. Prior to RIAA, she was a researcher for the Australian Conservation Foundation and a consultant to the International Women’s Development Agency. Before this, she worked for many years with Oxfam, the Red Cross, the World Food Programme, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN, on a range of programs across Asia, the Pacific and in Washington, DC.

Min Wah holds a Bachelor of Arts/Law and a Master’s in International and Community Development. She sits on the Monash University Industry Advisory Council for project management.