Internal investment management
Our in-house investment team manages more than half of our investment strategies across the following asset classes:
- Australian shares
- International shares
- Cash and fixed interest
- Property
Putting your interests first
Having an internal investment team means we can target particular investment strategies and reduce costs for our members.
It also allows us to be more directly and proactively involved with environmental, social and corporate governance-related issues in our investments.
A skilled and experienced team
The in-house investment team manages our in-house investments and chooses our external investment managers. It’s made up of 47 skilled and experienced investment and finance professionals looking after your retirement savings.
The team is responsible for the Fund's investment performance and risk management. They regularly report on these responsibilities to the Board and the Investment Committee (a Board sub-committee).
Our investment leadership team
John joined UniSuper as Chief Investment Officer in July 2009.
With over 25 years’ experience in financial services, John’s previous positions include Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Investments at Colonial First State (2000-2007) and Head of Global Asset Management for Ping An, China's second largest insurance company (2007-2009).
Dharmendra joined UniSuper in August 2002 and has over 23 years’ experience in financial services.
His previous positions include Head of Investment Performance at National Australia Bank, Manager Investment Products at AXA Asset Management, as well as other senior management roles with Colonial Investment Management (NZ) and the actuarial division of Tower Corporation.
Simon joined UniSuper in March 2010 and is responsible for the Fund’s international and domestic equity strategies which include internally and externally managed portfolios.
He has over 22 years’ experience in equities and financial markets. Before joining UniSuper, Simon was Head of Australian Equities at Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC). His previous positions also include Senior Portfolio Manager, Australian Equities at Colonial First State and Equity Analyst at Ord Minnett Securities (now JPMorgan).
Kent joined UniSuper in 2009 and is responsible for the Fund’s property and infrastructure investments in both the direct and listed markets.
He has over 25 years’ experience in financial markets predominately within the investments sector of the superannuation industry. Before joining UniSuper, Kent was Head of Property at TelstraSuper. His previous positions focused on providing implemented consultancy on property investments to some of Australia’s leading super funds.
Stephen leads UniSuper’s legal team in investments.
He has approximately 20 years’ of legal experience with strong specialist expertise in superannuation and financial services law, investments and general litigation. Before joining UniSuper, Stephen was the Head of Legal at Equipsuper. Stephen has worked in private practice at a major national law firm and as a barrister at the Victorian Bar. He holds a BA, LLB (Hons), a diploma in superannuation, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), and is a past Chair of the ASFA Legislation Discussion Group.
Rob joined UniSuper in March 2016 and, until December 2020, was responsible for the Fund’s international equity strategies which include internally and externally managed portfolios.
In January 2021 Rob moved to head up the Fund’s fixed interest area which is responsible for all of the Fund’s interest rate exposures, managed both internally and externally.
He has over 25 years’ experience in financial markets in a range of asset classes. Before joining UniSuper, Rob was Head of Capital Markets and Asset Allocation at Frontier Advisors (as an asset consultant). His previous positions include Equity Strategies and Portfolio Manager at Colonial First State, and Head of Global Fixed Interest in Commonwealth Bank’s fund management division (Now Colonial First State).
Penny joined UniSuper in April 2019 and is responsible for the Fund’s international equity strategies which include internally and externally managed portfolios.
Penny has over 20 years of experience in equities and financial markets. Before joining UniSuper, she was a Senior Portfolio Manager at boutique fund manager, JCP Investment Partners. Prior to this she had 10 years of experience with Bank of America Merrill Lynch focused on consumer research based in Melbourne and Hong Kong.