Our people

Chairman of the Investment Committee. Member of the Nomination Committee. Non-Executive Director of the Company’s associated entity, Australian Investment Company Services Limited (AICS).

Mr Goldsmith is a Company Director who was appointed to the Board in April 2013, appointed Deputy Chairman in May 2020 and appointed Chairman in October 2022. He is Chairman of SEEK Limited, Deputy Chairman of Gandel Foundation and a Panel Member of Adara Partners. Mr Goldsmith is a former Vice Chairman and a former Managing Director of Goldman Sachs Australia, and its predecessor firm Goldman Sachs JBWere. He was also previously the Chancellor of Swinburne University of Technology.

Member of the Investment Committee. Managing Director of the Company’s associated entity, Australian Investment Company Services Limited (AICS).

Mr Freeman became Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director in January 2018 having been Chief Investment Officer since joining the Company in February 2007. Prior to this he was a Partner with Goldman Sachs JBWere where he spent 12 years advising the Investment Companies on their investment and dealing activities. He has a deep knowledge and experience of investments markets and the Company’s approaches, policies and processes. He is also Managing Director of Australian Foundation Investment Company Limited, Mirrabooka Investments Limited and AMCIL Limited.

Member of the Investment and Nomination Committees.

Mr Bruce Brook joined the Board on 1 August 2021. Mr Brook is a Non-Executive Director of Incitec Pivot Limited and Newmont Corporation. Mr Brook was formerly a Non-Executive Director of CSL Limited. During his executive career, Mr Brook was the Chief Financial Officer of Western Mining Corporation Resources Limited and Deputy Chief Financial Officer of the Australia & New Zealand Banking Group.

Chair of the Nomination Committee and Member of the Investment and Audit Committees.

Ms Fagg joined the Board in May 2014. Her executive and professional roles have been broad and diverse. She started her career as a chemical engineer. She became a management consultant and then held a number of senior executive positions in the banking, steel and logistics industries across Australia, New Zealand and Asia. Ms Fagg is Chair of CSIRO and a Non-Executive Director of Medibank Limited and National Australia Bank Limited. She is Chair of the Breast Cancer Network Australia, Inaugural Chair of Watertrust Australia Limited and is a Board Member of the Grattan Institute, The Myer Foundation and Champions of Change Coalition. Ms Fagg was previously Chair of Boral, a Board member of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Chair of Parks Victoria, President of Chief Executive Women, Chair of Melbourne Recital Centre and Non-Executive Director of Incitec Pivot Limited. She also has a number of other significant interests including as a Fellow of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

Kathryn has been awarded Honorary Doctorates by the University of New South Wales in Business and in Chemical Engineering by the University of Queensland. Kathryn was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in June 2019 for distinguished service to business and finance, to the central banking, logistics and manufacturing sectors, and to women.

Ms McGrath was appointed to the Board in January 2024. Rebecca is an experienced professional company director and Chairman, with substantial international business experience. She spent 25 years at BP plc. where she held various executive positions, including Chief Financial Officer Australasia and served as a member of BP’s Executive Management Board for Australia and New Zealand.

Rebecca is currently a director of Macquarie Group Limited, Melbourne Business School, the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is Chair of Investa Property Group. She has also served as a director of Goodman Group, CSR Limited, Big Sky Credit Union and Incitec Pivot Ltd, and as Chairman of Oz Minerals Limited, Scania Australia Pty Limited and Kilfinan Australia.

Member of the Investment and Audit Committees.

Mr Roberts was appointed to the Board in July 2022.

Mr Roberts has over 35 years finance experience, including as Group Chief Financial Officer of Seek Limited, Managing Partner of Deloitte Victoria, and as Group Chief Financial Officer of AXA Asia Pacific Holdings Limited. Geoff was appointed to the Board of WEHI Institute of Medical Research in September 2022, JB Hi Fi Limited in January 2021 and the Melbourne Cricket Club Committee in March 2019.

Chair of the Audit Committee. Member of the Investment Committee.

Ms Williams was appointed to the Board in May 2010. Ms Williams is a Director of Mercer Investments (Australia) Ltd, Advance Asset Management Ltd, Australian Submarine Corporation, Tobacco Free Portfolios, Vocus Group and Pro Medicus.

She was formerly a Director of Defence Health, Cooper Energy, Equity Trustees Limited, Victorian Funds Management Corporation (VFMC), Port of Melbourne Corporation, Guild Group, Airservices Australia, State Trustees Limited, Western Health, the Australian Accounting Standards Board, Telstra Sale Company, V/Line Passenger Corporation and Barristers Chambers Limited. She previously held senior management positions in the financial services sector including NM Rothschild and Sons (Australia) Limited and JP Morgan Australia and is a former member of the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB).

Ms Brenner was appointed to the Board in August 2024.

Catherine has extensive business experience and has held executive and non-executive roles across many sectors. Catherine is currently Chair of Australian Payments Plus (BPAY, eftpos, NPP, ConnectID) and a Non-Executive Director of Scentre Group Limited, Carindale Property Trust, The George Institute for Global Health and Australian Schools Plus. Catherine was previously non-executive Chair of AMP Limited and a non-executive Director of Boral Limited and Coca-Cola Amatil Limited. She was also a Trustee of the Sydney Opera House Trust and the Art Gallery of NSW and a member of the Takeovers Panel. During her executive career, Catherine was a senior investment banker.

Mr Driver joined the Company in January 2003. Previously, he was with National Australia Bank Ltd for 18 years in various roles covering business strategy, marketing, distribution, investor relations and business operations. Mr Driver was formerly Chairman of Trust for Nature (Victoria).

Mr Porter joined the Company in January 2005. He is a Chartered Accountant and has had over 25 years experience in accounting and financial management both in the United Kingdom with Andersen Consulting and Credit Suisse First Boston, and in Australia where he was Regional Chief Operating Officer for the Corporate and Investment Banking Division of CSFB. He is a Director of the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (AUASB) and a Director of the Anglican Foundation. Mr Porter is a former Chair of The Group of 100 (G100), the peak body for CFOs.

Mr Rowe joined the Company in July 2016. He is a Chartered Secretary with over 18 years of experience in corporate governance with a particular focus in listed investment companies. He was previously a corporate governance advisor at a professional services firm which included acting as Company Secretary for three ASX listed companies. Prior to that Matthew was the Company Secretarial Manager for a Funds Management Company based in the UK.

Brett joined the group in October 2019 as a Portfolio Manager.

Brett has over 18 years of Investment Experience. Prior to joining AFIC, Brett spent 14 years at Antares Capital (previously called Portfolio Partners and Aviva Investors) as a Portfolio Manager and Analyst.

Brett holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics) and is a CFA Charterholder.

David commenced with the group in 2018 as a Portfolio Manager. David has 15 years portfolio management experience having co-founded Concise Asset Management in 2007, which was a specialised midcap Australian equities manager.

David holds a Bachelor of Business and a Masters of Applied Finance.

Kieran has over 18 years’ experience with the group, having commenced in 2001, initially in an Accounting role. He relocated to London to continue working in the financial services industry in 2005.

Upon his return in 2006, Kieran commenced his current focus on researching emerging and midcap companies. He progressed to Portfolio Management responsibilities in 2018.

Kieran holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Melbourne University, and is a CPA and CFA charterholder.

Olga joined the group in 2018 as an Investment Analyst and has 7 years of industry experience. Prior to joining, Olga most recently was an Investment Analyst at Ralton Asset Management focussed on Australian equities.

Olga holds a Master of Finance from the University of Melbourne, a Bachelor of Accounting and Finance from Warsaw School of Economics and is a CFA charterholder.

Stuart has over 17 years in financial services. He joined the group in 2016 and prior to that he spent 2 years as an analyst and PM at JM Financial and previous to that was 10 years in Institutional Research Sales at Bell Potter and Austock.

Stuart holds a Bachelor Commerce - University of Melbourne, Graduate Diploma Applied Finance and Investment – FINSIA.

Winston joined the group in 2024 as an Assistant Portfolio Manager and has 14 years of industry experience.

Prior to joining Winston was an Investment Manager at Antares Equities. He was also previously Deputy Portfolio Manager at the Gandel Group and an equities research analyst at Goldman Sachs.

Winston holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Melbourne, as well as a Master of Social Impact from Swinburne. He is also a CFA Charterholder.

Jaye joined the group in 2021 as an Investment Analyst and has 9 years of industry experience. Prior to joining, Jaye most recently worked as an Investment Analyst at Myer Family Investments focussed on Australian equities and Asian fund/equities.

Jaye holds a Master of Applied Finance from Monash University and a Bachelor of Applied Finance and Bachelor of Business (Property) from University of South Australia.

Gilbert interned with the group in 2019, then commenced working full-time in 2020 after completing his Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Melbourne (Accounting and Finance Major). At university, he was the President of the University Network for Investing and Trading, and interned at VP Capital and Deloitte (Private).

Jeremy has 20 years in industry experience, joining the group in 2001 in the finance and operations team. He transferred into the investment team working originally as an investment analyst for several years before becoming the Dealer for the 4 LICs.

Jeremy holds a Bachelor of Economics and Graduate Diploma Applied Finance and Investment - FINSIA. He has also completed ASX accredited derivatives courses and has many years of experience in the options markets.