Wealth
Meet our fund managers who are responsible for implementing investment strategy and managing performance in line with each fund’s objectives.
Fund Manager | Property Income Fund
View profileDamian joined Australian Unity in 2016 as Fund Manager and Head of Research Property.
With over 20 years of experience in investment management and research of listed and unlisted property securities and direct property, he is the Fund Manager of the Property Income Fund.
Before joining Australian Unity, Damian managed various property securities funds at Karara Capital and 360 Capital Group. He also has experience managing several Australian REIT and direct property funds during a twelve-year career at APN Property Group.
Damian holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Monash University, has completed the FINSIA Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment, and holds a Diploma in Property Investment and Finance from the Property Council of Australia.
Senior Portfolio Analyst | Property Income Fund
View profileAndrew joined Australian Unity in 2018. Working across the Australian Unity Property Income and Australian Unity AREIT Funds, he is responsible for providing strategic analytical and research support across various property and investment fund strategies.
Andrew has over 15 years of experience across both European and Australian real estate markets. Prior to his current role, he managed the internal valuation function and risk review process across Australian Unity’s mortgage and property fund portfolios.
Andrew has also held roles with Avison Young (formerly GVA), Standard & Poor’s and Leighton Properties.
Andrew holds a master’s degree in Property Appraisal & Management from Sheffield Hallam University (UK),
and is a qualified valuer with accreditations from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), and the Australian Property Institute (API).
LinkedIn
General Manager
View profileRoy joined Australian Unity Investments (AUI) in 1998, and is responsible for the management of all mortgage investments. He started Australian Unity’s Mortgage Income Trust in 1999 and the High Yield Mortgage Trust in 2005.
Before joining Australian Unity, Roy worked for Colonial Investment Management Limited for over ten years, where he managed various mortgage portfolios, including credit risk management, portfolio construction and managing originator relationships.
Roy is also a member of the AUI Committee.
Fund Manager | Childcare Property Fund
View profileMark joined Australian Unity in 2021. He is a senior member within the social infrastructure team, and Fund Manager overseeing the growth of the Childcare Property Fund.
Before joining Australian Unity, Mark was a director of a property advisory firm focusing on acquisition and delivery of retail and childcare assets. In this role, Mark undertook a number of childcare developments within Queensland and Victoria with leading childcare operators. These roles incorporated the full development cycle, acquisition, lease negotiations, delivery and disposal of assets.
Mark has also held senior roles at organisations including Mirvac, Woolworths, Frasers and Vicinity. In these roles, he was responsible for the origination and delivery of development opportunities across varied sectors.
Mark is a registered property valuer having graduated from the University of Western Sydney with a Bachelor of Business (Land Economy).
LinkedIn
Portfolio Analyst | Childcare Property Fund
View profileAlex has recently joined Australian Unity and the Social Infrastructure team in 2024 and is the portfolio analyst for the Childcare Property Fund.
Alex possess a multifaceted background in both Property and Finance. Alex has a solid foundation as an Equity Research Analyst at Armytage Private where he covered A-REITS across multiple different sectors, coupled with extensive experience at Ernst & Young where he spent time as a Financial Consultant, working across Corporate and Business Finance engagements.
Alex brings a unique blend of analytical prowess and strategic insight to the Childcare Property Fund, utilising a strong understanding of market dynamics, investment strategies and financial analysis to mitigate risks and deliver tangible value to stakeholders.
Alex graduated with a B.B.A in Finance and Economics from Loyola University Chicago and is currently undertaking his Chartered Accountants Graduate Diploma.
LinkedIn
Fund Manager | Specialist Disability Accommodation Fund
View profileJacob joined Australian Unity in 2021 as the Fund Manager for the Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Fund. Jacob is responsible for the execution of equity and debt funding strategies, fund performance, managing risk, new acquisition and development opportunities. Before joining Australian Unity, Jacob managed Bank Australia’s Impact Finance business. In this role, he was responsible for establishing debt funding for a range of social infrastructure assets, and was most notably involved with a majority of all SDA debt transactions in the country to date. Jacob is a founding Director and Treasurer of the Specialist Disability Accommodation Alliance, a not-for-profit entity established to provide a unified voice to better support development of a diverse and sustainable SDA market. Jacob is also a member of the Australian Property Institute (API) Working Group to establish a valuation standard for SDA.
Portfolio Analyst | Specialist Disability Accommodation Fund
View profileAston joined Australian Unity in 2024 as a Portfolio Analyst in the Specialist Disability Accommodation Fund. Previously, Aston was a Consultant in EY’s Supply Chain & Operations business unit. Aston has a background in data modelling, performance improvement, operational cost reduction programs and procurement support. Aston has a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics & Finance) from Monash University and Bachelor of Communication Design from RMIT.
General Manager | Healthcare Property Trust
View profileChris joined Australian Unity in 2001. He is responsible for all aspects of management for the Australian Unity Healthcare Property Trust, including strategy, asset management, property management, acquisition, and disposals.
Before joining Australian Unity, Chris was Regional Asset Manager Victoria for the Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) Shopping Centre Division, following several years with JLL NSW and a successful 16-year career with Coles Myer.
Chris holds a Post Graduate Certificate of Business Administration from RMIT, a Certificate IV in Property Services (Real Estate), and is a licensed real estate agent.
LinkedIn
Senior Portfolio Analyst | Healthcare Property Trust
View profileSam joined Australian Unity in 2018 as a Portfolio Analyst in the Social Infrastructure team and in 2021 was promoted to the senior portfolio Analyst for the healthcare Property Trust. Previously, Sam was a Graduate Analyst and Analyst at Churston Investment Partners which focused on real estate investment and advisory with a specific focus within the corporate and structured finance, investment management and development sector. Sam has a Masters Degree in Finance from RMIT and a Bachelors Degree in Finance and Entrepreneurship from Swinburne University of Technology.
LinkedIn
Assistant Fund Manager | Healthcare Property Trust
View profileNicole joined Australian Unity in 2014. Nicole leads the healthcare property asset management team and is responsible for the overall direct property portfolio. Nicole has over 20 years of experience in asset and funds management, with experience across all sectors of the property market.
Before joining Australian Unity, Nicole was Fund Manager at 360 Capital, responsible for the performance of a suite of unlisted property funds. She has also held fund manager and asset management roles at Stockland, Mirvac/James Fielding Group and Abacus Property Group. She has extensive experience in funds management, strategic asset management, capital management, transactions and fund structuring.
Nicole holds a Bachelor of Commerce - Property Economics and a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance and Investment from FINSIA.
LinkedIn
Chief Investment Officer | Altius Asset Management
View profileBill is an experienced and highly respected pioneer in responsible investment, leading Altius (now owned by Australian Unity) in being the first Australian bond manager to introduce ESG considerations into cash and fixed-interest asset management.
As a co-founder and CIO for Altius, Bill launched the first local Sustainable Bond Fund in 2014, the first Sustainable Enhanced Cash Fund in 2018 and Australia’s first Green Bond Fund backed by cornerstone investments from Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) and clients of Crestone Wealth Management.
Prior to this, Bill was CEO and Head of Australian Fixed-Income for Aberdeen Asset Management. He also previously ran cash and fixed-income businesses for Schroder Investment Management and Deutsche Asset Management. In his many investment roles, Bill has built successful fixed-income businesses by developing proven investment processes and assembling strong investment teams.
Bill’s career in investment and financial services began in 1984 with the Treasury Corporation of Victoria as a fixed-income Portfolio Manager.
Bill holds a Bachelor of Economics from Monash University.
LinkedIn
Senior Portfolio Manager | Co-founder of Altius Asset Management
View profileGavin has over 30 years of experience in fixed income markets, and was most recently with QBE Asset Management’s fixed income team as senior portfolio manager.
Prior to this, he held roles at Aberdeen Asset Management and Deutsche Asset Management as a senior portfolio manager, responsible for credit and interest rate portfolio management.
Gavin first worked with Bill Bovingdon at Treasury Corporation of Victoria, managing cash and fixed income investments, and has also worked with him at Aberdeen and Deutsche. His other experience includes dealer/portfolio manager of short-term investments at Axiom Funds Management.
Gavin holds a Master of Business in Finance from the University of Technology, Sydney.
LinkedIn
Senior Portfolio Manager | Co-founder of Altius Asset Management
View profileChris has over 30 years of experience in investments and financial services, with particular expertise in fixed interest.
Before co-founding Altius, Chris was with ANZ Bank as director of the fund’s management and public sector business.
Prior to this, he worked as director, fixed income at Credit Suisse Australia and head of Australian institutional fixed income and money markets at Commonwealth Bank of Australia. He has also been a fixed income dealer at Deutsche Bank Australia, and dealer and portfolio manager at National Australia Funds Management. He has particular experience in new issues in debt capital markets, and debt and derivatives sales.
He holds a Bachelor of Economics from La Trobe University in Victoria, is accredited by the Australian Financial Markets Association and is a member of the Institute of Company Directors.
LinkedIn
Fund Manager | Pro-D
View profileAlex joined Australian Unity in 2001. In 2005, he was appointed Portfolio Manager for Australian Unity’s range of diversified products, across various risk profiles and legal and tax structures, after four years as an Investment Analyst.
Alex has ultimate responsibility for investment performance across the range of diversified products, and his primary duties relate to strategic asset allocation, dynamic allocation and investment selection.
Previously, Alex worked for Treasury Funds Management. He has a Bachelor of Commerce and a Master of Applied Finance.
Senior Portfolio Analyst | Pro-D
View profileAllan joined Australian Unity in 2018 as a Senior Financial Adviser, having previously worked for Bridgeport Financial Services. In 2022, after 15 years in the financial advice industry, he transitioned to the funds management team as a Senior Portfolio Analyst.
Allan assists the Portfolio Manager, Alex, who oversees Australian Unity's range of diversified products which span various risk profiles, legal and tax structures.
Allan's primary duties involve asset allocation modelling, portfolio analysis, portfolio cashflow monitoring, portfolio re-balancing and trade execution, as well as creating reports for use by internal and external stakeholders.
Allan has a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance and Financial Planning Majors) and a Master of Applied Finance.