Certification Assessment Panel

Justin Medcalf, Chair

 

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.

Kathryn McDonald

 

Kathryn’s professional background is in quantitative investing. She joined the risk modelling company BARRA immediately after graduate school, then came to Rosenberg and has held a variety of roles from portfolio manager to long/short researcher to Head of Investments for Australia/New Zealand. Her passion for fundamental research and strategy design led to an interest in how ESG information might be used to improve investment outcomes. As early as 2006, Kathryn and other Rosenberg colleagues began testing ESG data sets and evaluating their suitability or actively managed equity strategies. In the intervening years she has helped drive ESG integration at our firm and most recently helped us turn the corner from ESG integration to UNSDG-aligned impact.

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.

Dave Rae

 

Dave has been an adviser for 19 years and is accredited as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and SMSF Specialist Advisor™. He is also accredited by the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) as a Certified Financial Adviser.

 

Over the years, Dave has received FPA and dealer group adviser awards and been a regular presenter at conferences and seminars. He is regularly sought out for advice by advisers’ who are early in their responsible investing journey.

 

Dave is a member of the Ethical Advisers’ Co-op and a Working Group member of the Australian Sustainable Finance Initiative (ASFI). He also holds a BEc (Accounting) and Graduate Diploma Financial Planning.

Farren Williams

 

Farren has 19 years’ experience providing tailored financial solutions to wealthy individuals and families, non-profits and foundations.  She is passionate about responsible investing and has tailored ethical solutions for clients for over a decade, developing ethical investing policies, designing portfolios, reviewing exposures, providing impact investing advice and running tailored workshops.

 

In addition to being a Partner at Koda Capital, Farren is Deputy Chair of the Royal Botanical Gardens Foundation Victoria and on the Investment Committee of the Aesop Foundation.  Previously on the Investment Committee of The Myer Foundation, she undertook due diligence on impact investments culminating in the foundation’s first impact investment in 2015.

 

Farren has been on expert panels for the Generosity Forum, RIAA, Philanthropy Australia ad GiveWell.