Team

Richard Howes is a globally experienced executive and director with over 30 years’ experience in the financial services industry. Richard has a proven track record in managing multi-billion dollar on-balance sheet investment and hedge portfolios, and in managing and growing investment product businesses.

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Richard’s most recent executive role was as Group CEO of Challenger Limited, an ASX-listed financial services company with a market capitalisation of approximately $4 billion. Challenger is Australia’s leading provider of annuities (guaranteed income streams) and a leading platform of active funds management. The group manages over $100 billion in assets. During his 19 years at Challenger, Richard held various roles including Chief Investment Officer and then Chief Executive of the annuity business which grew from assets of $3 billion to over $25 billion during Richard’s tenure.

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Prior to joining Challenger, Richard held senior roles at Zurich Capital Markets, Macquarie and Bankers Trust where he worked as an interest rate and commodity trader and then oversaw derivatives franchises. He began his career in the strategy department of Queensland Investment Corporation in 1992.

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After a successful executive career, Richard is passionate about giving back and now serves on the Council of UTS and chairs its Infrastructure Committee. He also teaches finance at the University of Queensland as an Industry Professor.

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Richard is a director on the board of Edge Zero, a manufacturer of electricity grid monitoring hardware which plays an important role in the global energy transition. Richard is also a member of the advisory board of Transatlantic Power Holdings, a manager of utility scale wind and solar assets in the United States.

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Richard holds a Bachelor of Commerce with First Class Honours and a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Queensland. Richard has also completed an Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Ms Berends has worked in the financial services industry for over 35 years and possesses extensive experience in both investment management and superannuation. Before moving to a non-executive career in 2014 she worked for 15 years with US based investment manager Marvin & Palmer Associates. Ms Berends contributed extensively to industry associations throughout her executive career, serving on the boards of the Investment Management Consultants Association (IMCA australia) for 13 years (7 as Chair) and the Association of Superannuation Funds Australia (ASFA) for 12 years (3 as Chair). Ms Berends has been awarded Life Membership of both IMCA Australia and ASFA. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Monash University, is a Fellow of the Actuaries Institute and a Fellow of ASFA.  

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Ms Berends is an independent non-executive director of ASX listed Pinnacle Investment Management Group Limited and of listed investment companies Antipodes Global Investment Company Limited, Plato Income Maximiser Limited and Spheria Emerging Companies Limited. She is also an independent non-executive director of BT Funds Management Limited, BT Funds Management No. 2 Limited and Westpac Securities Administration Limited (collectively the BTFG Superannuation Board). She is a director of MDC Foundation Limited (a not for profit company) and a member of the QSuper Investment Committee.

Dr Weiss has extensive global experience across a range of industries, both at executive and board levels. Dr Weiss is Executive Director of Ariadne Australia Ltd, a diversified investment company with investments in a variety of sectors. He is the Chairman of Ardent Leisure Limited, Cromwell Property Group and Estia Health Limited. He is a Non-Executive Director of Hearts & Minds Investments Limited, Thorney Opportunities Limited, the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute and The Centre for Independent Studies.

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Dr Weiss was Chairman of Ridley Corporation Limited from June 2010 until August 2020, Clearview Wealth Limited from July 2013 until May 2016 and of Coats plc from 2003 until April 2012 and executive director of Guinness Peat Group plc from 1990 to April 2011. He has also held directorships of numerous companies, including The Straits Trading Co Ltd in Singapore, Premier Investments Limited, Tag Pacific Limited, Westfield Group, Tower Australia Ltd, Australian Wealth Management Limited, Tyndall Australia Ltd (Deputy Chairman), Joe White Maltings Ltd (Chairman), CIC Ltd, Whitlam Turnbull & Co Ltd and Industrial Equity Ltd. Dr Weiss was also a director of Brisbane Broncos Ltd (formerly Pacific Sports Entertainment Ltd), an ASX-listed company which owns the Brisbane Broncos.

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Dr Weiss is also a Commissioner of the Australian Rugby League Commission. In 2019, Dr Weiss was awarded the Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to business, and to the community. Dr Weiss holds an LLB (Hons) and LLM from Victoria University of Wellington and a Doctor of the Science of Law (JSD) from Cornell University. He was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand, a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria and as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

Commencing his career as a chartered accountant, Chris Cuffe entered the funds management industry in 1985. In 1988 he joined Colonial First State where he was CEO from 1990 until 2003. In 2003 he became CEO of the listed Challenger Group. Chris is now involved in a portfolio of activities in the investment and non-profit sectors which include:

• member of the Investment Committee of UniSuper, which provides superannuation services to employees of Australia's higher education and research sector;
• member of the investment Committee of the Paul Ramsay Foundation, Australia’s largest charitable foundation;
• chairman of Australian Philanthropic Services and portfolio manager of the APS Foundation;
• director of listed companies Global Value Fund and Argo Investments;
• director of unlisted private debt companies Keyview and Ventra Capital;
• and founder, director and portfolio manager of Third Link Growth Fund.

Chris was previously a non-executive director of UniSuper from 2007 to 2017, of which the last six years was as Chairman. In October 2007 Chris was inducted into the Australian Fund Manager’s RBS Hall of Fame for services to the investment industry. In 2017 he was appointed as an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia. Chris holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of New South Wales and a Diploma from the Securities Institute of Australia. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand, a Fellow of the Institute of Company Directors and an Associate of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.

Ms Berends has worked in the financial services industry for over 35 years and possesses extensive experience in both investment management and superannuation. Before moving to a non-executive career in 2014 she worked for 15 years with US based investment manager Marvin & Palmer Associates. Ms Berends contributed extensively to industry associations throughout her executive career, serving on the boards of the Investment Management Consultants Association (IMCA australia) for 13 years (7 as Chair) and the Association of Superannuation Funds Australia (ASFA) for 12 years (3 as Chair). Ms Berends has been awarded Life Membership of both IMCA Australia and ASFA. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Monash University, is a Fellow of the Actuaries Institute and a Fellow of ASFA.  

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Ms Berends is an independent non-executive director of ASX listed Pinnacle Investment Management Group Limited and of listed investment companies Antipodes Global Investment Company Limited, Plato Income Maximiser Limited and Spheria Emerging Companies Limited. She is also an independent non-executive director of BT Funds Management Limited, BT Funds Management No. 2 Limited and Westpac Securities Administration Limited (collectively the BTFG Superannuation Board). She is a director of MDC Foundation Limited (a not for profit company) and a member of the QSuper Investment Committee.

Commencing his career as a chartered accountant, Chris Cuffe entered the funds management industry in 1985. In 1988 he joined Colonial First State where he was CEO from 1990 until 2003. In 2003 he became CEO of the listed Challenger Group. Chris is now involved in a portfolio of activities in the investment and non-profit sectors which include:

• member of the Investment Committee of UniSuper, which provides superannuation services to employees of Australia's higher education and research sector;
• member of the investment Committee of the Paul Ramsay Foundation, Australia’s largest charitable foundation;
• chairman of Australian Philanthropic Services and portfolio manager of the APS Foundation;
• director of listed companies Global Value Fund and Argo Investments;
• director of unlisted private debt companies Keyview and Ventra Capital;
• and founder, director and portfolio manager of Third Link Growth Fund.

Chris was previously a non-executive director of UniSuper from 2007 to 2017, of which the last six years was as Chairman. In October 2007 Chris was inducted into the Australian Fund Manager’s RBS Hall of Fame for services to the investment industry. In 2017 he was appointed as an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia. Chris holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of New South Wales and a Diploma from the Securities Institute of Australia. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand, a Fellow of the Institute of Company Directors and an Associate of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.

Guy is a co-founder of the Hearts and Minds Investment Conference. He is currently Co-Executive Chairman of Barrenjoey Partners and has been involved in financial markets for over 30 years.  He spent 27 years at UBS Australia in various roles including Head of Corporate Finance and Head of Equity Capital Markets. In these roles he has advised on many of the largest and most complex equity capital markets and corporate transactions completed in Australia.

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Guy is a Panel Member of Adara Partners where he donates his time to advise on corporate transactions. He has a Bachelor of Economics from Macquarie University and is a qualified Chartered Accountant.

Matthew is a co-founder of the Hearts and Minds Investment Conference. He is currently the Co-Executive Chairman of Barrenjoey Capital.

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Prior to Barrenjoey, Matthew held a number of local and global senior leadership roles at UBS over a 25 year period, including Joint Global Head of the Investment Banking business, Head of Capital Markets, Head of the Corporate Advisory business and, most recently, Chief Executive Officer and Country Head of UBS Australasia from 2008 to 2019 when he retired. In these roles Matthew has advised on many of the largest and most complex equity capital markets and corporate transactions completed in Australia.

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Matthew is also Chairman of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, a member of the University of New South Wales Council, an Advisory Board Member of JDRF, a Director of the Financial Markets for Children Foundation, a Panel Member of Adara Partners and Chairman of NSW Govt. Cardiovascular Research Advisory Group.

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Matthew holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance major) from the University of New South Wales and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New South Wales.

Charlie is a former Managing Director of BlackRock, one of the world’s leading fund managers. He was head of the Fundamental Active Equities team in Australia. He has been a fund manager for 30 years with his career also spanning Schroders in London, Platinum Asset Management and Perpetual Investments where he was Deputy Head of Equities. Charlie is the Chair of SurfAid, a not-for-profit charity committed to improving the health, wellbeing and resilience of families living in isolated regions connected to us through surfing. SurfAid operates in the remote areas of Indonesia and the Solomon Islands. Charlie is also a director of The Australia Institute, a think tank based in Canberra.

Maggie O’Neill is passionate about connecting people and bold ideas to drive meaningful change and deliver lasting impact. As a founding team member of Hearts & Minds, she has played a key role in growing the organisation into one of Australia’s leading corporate givers - on track to donate $100 million to Australian medical research within its first 10 years.

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Maggie is Chief Operating Officer of Hearts and Minds Investments Limited (HM1), an $800m+ ASX-listed fund with a dual purpose: delivering investment returns while accelerating medical breakthroughs through long-term funding and strategic partnerships.

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She is also co-founder of Sohn Hearts & Minds - Australia’s premier finance and philanthropy conference - which has toured iconic venues including the Sydney Opera House, Melbourne’s Hamer Hall, MONA in Hobart, and Adelaide’s Festival Theatre.

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Maggie started her career at UBS, gaining multidisciplinary experience across asset management, wealth management, and corporate communications.

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A believer in lifelong learning, she has completed executive education at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and postgraduate studies in Creative Intelligence at UTS. Her international study experiences in Sweden, China, and the United States continue to shape her thinking and curiosity.

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Outside of work, she’s happiest when hosting memorable dinner parties or taking on new fitness challenges.

Brett is currently Chairman of ASX listed Pointsbet Limited and Murray Cod Australia.  He is also Chairman of EFM Asset Management. He has worked in a range of senior positions including Chairman of Escala Pty Ltd, Vice Chairman at UBS Australia where he spent 23 years and 5 years at Citi serving as Vice Chairman Australia, Institutional Clients Group. Brett has served as a Non-Executive Director of Tabcorp Limited and Chair of Audit and Risk for its demerged entity, Echo Entertainment, giving him valuable insights into the functions expected of ASX 100 Boards. He was a Council Member at RMIT University and Chair of the Risk and Audit Committee. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant.

Michael founded Social Ventures Australia in 2002, after 15 years as a co-founder and Executive Director of Macquarie Group’s private equity arm, Macquarie Direct Investment. Having stepped down as CEO of Social Ventures in 2014, Michael currently has a range of primarily social purpose Chair and board roles including Chair of Goodstart Early Learning; Executive Director of For Purpose Investments, a Director of M H Carnegie & Co, Sunsuper and a member of the Council of the National Museum of Australia.

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Michael is the author of ‘Jumping Ship – From the world of corporate Australia to the heart of social investment’ which won the prestigious Ashurst Business Literature Prize. The book reflects on his personal and professional journey and has been a widely acclaimed manifesto for change and action in the social purpose sector. In 2010 Michael was made a member of the Order of Australia in recognition of his services to non-profit organisations.

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Michael holds a BA (Hons) from the University of Melbourne and an MBA from Harvard University.

Dr Weiss has extensive global experience across a range of industries, both at executive and board levels. Dr Weiss is Executive Director of Ariadne Australia Ltd, a diversified investment company with investments in a variety of sectors. He is the Chairman of Ardent Leisure Limited, Cromwell Property Group and Estia Health Limited. He is a Non-Executive Director of Hearts & Minds Investments Limited, Thorney Opportunities Limited, the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute and The Centre for Independent Studies.

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Dr Weiss was Chairman of Ridley Corporation Limited from June 2010 until August 2020, Clearview Wealth Limited from July 2013 until May 2016 and of Coats plc from 2003 until April 2012 and executive director of Guinness Peat Group plc from 1990 to April 2011. He has also held directorships of numerous companies, including The Straits Trading Co Ltd in Singapore, Premier Investments Limited, Tag Pacific Limited, Westfield Group, Tower Australia Ltd, Australian Wealth Management Limited, Tyndall Australia Ltd (Deputy Chairman), Joe White Maltings Ltd (Chairman), CIC Ltd, Whitlam Turnbull & Co Ltd and Industrial Equity Ltd. Dr Weiss was also a director of Brisbane Broncos Ltd (formerly Pacific Sports Entertainment Ltd), an ASX-listed company which owns the Brisbane Broncos.

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Dr Weiss is also a Commissioner of the Australian Rugby League Commission. In 2019, Dr Weiss was awarded the Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to business, and to the community. Dr Weiss holds an LLB (Hons) and LLM from Victoria University of Wellington and a Doctor of the Science of Law (JSD) from Cornell University. He was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand, a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria and as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

Michael Walsh is a founding member of the organising committee for the Sohn Hearts & Minds Investment Leaders Conference and has been critical in the success of the event. Michael Walsh is currently a Senior Advisor, UBS Global Markets and Head of Global Family Offices, UBS ANZ.

Brief history at UBS -

• 2020: Member of the UBS Sustainable taskforce and UBS social impact committee.
• 2019: Founder of the UBS future of Australia series. This is a forum for world’s leading though leaders and speakers. Topics are focused on future insights and industries UBS has been the leading investment bank in ANZ for the last 25 years, my role is to ensure we maintain the thought leadership.
• 2016: Co-founder and arranger of the Annual UBS Australasia Conference. This is now the leading Investment bank conference in ANZ.
• 2015: A member of the foundation and organising committee that established the Sohn Hearts & Minds Conference – the most successful investment conference in Australasia dedicated to supporting medical research.
• 2005: UBS – set up the global equity business in Sydney providing research, sales and advisory to domestic clients in global equities.
• 2003: UBS - foundered the Family Office Business which eventually formed the UBS Global Family Office Business in Australia & NZ. This business continues today and involves advising clients on public markets and private markets opportunities in venture capital and private equity.
• 2001: UBS Warburg, Sydney Co-Founded UBS successful Prime Brokerage business in ANZ. The group was at forefront of the emerging Hedge fund /alternative asset management industry.
• 2000: UBS Warburg – assisted to run desk Hong Kong.
• 1997 – 2000: SBC -Warburg, Sydney Established successful middle markets business which catered for the emerging boutique fund management industry. The group seeded / supported some of the most successful fund managers in ANZ.
• 1994 – 1996: SBC - Warburg Global Markets Institutional Account Management Equity Capital Markets, Sydney. Joint founder of stockbroker’s foundation (raised $29m so far).
• 1989 – 1993: SG Warburg (Potter Warburg Division), London & New York Global Markets Equities Sales / Global Account Management Desk Head, London, UK.
• 1987: Potter Partners, Melbourne Global Markets, Equities Sales Institutional account management.

Geoff Wilson has over 44 years’ direct experience in investment markets having held a variety of senior investment roles in Australia, the UK and the US.  Geoff founded Wilson Asset Management in 1997 and has grown the fund manager to be one of the leading boutique Australian fund managers.  In 2014 Geoff created Australia’s first listed philanthropic wealth creation vehicles, Future Generation Investment Company Limited and subsequently Future Generation Global Investment Company Limited.

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Wilson Asset Management is an investment manager based in Sydney, Australia and owned by Geoff.  Today, Wilson Asset Management is comprised of 17 investment professionals who offer a combined investment experience of more than 200 years. Wilson Asset Management manages $5 billion between eight Listed Investment Companies on the Australian Stock Exchange on behalf of more than 130,000 investors.

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Geoff holds a Bachelor of Science, a Graduate Management Qualification and is a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).

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In addition to Geoff’s Directorships with the Wilson Asset Management Group and the Future Generation Companies, he also holds Directorships with Global Value Fund (since 2014), Hearts and Minds Investments Limited (since 2018), Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation (since 1997) and the Australia Rugby Foundation (2024).

David Wright is a Managing Partner and joint founder of Zenith Investment Partners (Zenith). David established Zenith in October 2002 and has extensive investment industry experience. David’s role includes overall responsibility of the business and remains closely involved in servicing the Firm’s investment consulting clients with portfolio construction, management and monitoring advice.

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Prior to establishing Zenith, David held senior positions within the financial services industry including IWL Ltd (Head of Research), an ASX listed company in which he was also a significant equity holder. David was instrumental in building and further developing IWL's managed investment research methodology and process and expanding the group's distribution of research to financial advisers. Other roles included Associate Director and Head of Managed Funds research at Lonsdale Limited and an analyst with the Advisor Group, a national financial planning group.

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David has extensive experience researching, assessing and rating many forms of managed investments including, unlisted managed funds, listed managed investments including LIC’s, ETF’s, ETMF’s and property syndicates. David is also a former practitioner lecturer of the Securities Institute of Australia (now FINSIA).