• BOARD & SENIOR MANAGEMENT
  • DISTRIBUTION TEAM
  • ALL PROFILES

Jane Tongs

Non-Executive Chair

Ms Tongs is Chair of the Board and was originally appointed as a non-executive director in 2010. She has over 30 years of management expertise, serving on the boards of insurance, funds management, property and other financial services entities. Ms Tongs developed her leadership and management experience as a Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Her board experience is vast with over 20 years’ experience as a Chair, Chair of Audit and Risk Committees and Non-executive Director. Ms Tongs is currently Chair of Columbus Capital Pty Ltd and of the Lendlease Australian Prime Property Fund Investors Committee and a Non-executive Director of Cromwell Property Group, Hollard Insurance Company Pty Ltd and Brighton Grammar School. Ms Tongs is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and of CPA Australia and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Jim McKay

Managing Director

Jim was appointed as Managing Director of Warakirri in 2017. Prior to joining Warakirri, he was most recently Head of Distribution for Franklin Templeton Investments, Managing Director of the wealth management division of Challenger, and the CEO of Boss Software International. Jim holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Tasmania, a Post Graduate Degree in Finance and Investments, and an MBA from the Melbourne Business School. Jim is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Graduate of their Company Directors program.

Dan Mangelsdorf

Non-Executive Director

Dan was appointed as a non-executive director in 2017. He is currently Chairman of the Warakirri Cropping Trusts and is a board member of GrainCorp Limited. Dan holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics (Hons) from the University of New England and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Dan owns and operates farming interests in New South Wales, and is an
experienced company director with agricultural, supply chain, international trade and risk management expertise. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics (Honours) from the University of New England.

Warren Lee

Non-Executive Director

Warren was appointed as a Non-Executive Director in July 2022. He has extensive experience in the Australian and international financial services industry. Warren’s two most recent executive positions were Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Funds Management Corporation and Chief Executive Officer, Australia and New Zealand for AXA Asia Pacific Holdings Limited. Warren is currently a Non-Executive director of Tower Limited, MyState Limited and MetLife Limited. He is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

Adrian Goonan

Investment Director - Agriculture

Adrian Goonan joined Warakirri in 2008 and was appointed to his current role as Investment Director – Agriculture in 2023 after 12 years as CEO of Warakirri Cropping. Adrian is responsible for overseeing Warakirri’s Diversified Agriculture and Cropping business as well as leading the development of new investment strategies and opportunities. Adrian’s background and blend of professional experience is across three main areas; Project Management, Funds Management and Agriculture (particularly agricultural investments). Adrian holds a Bachelor of Applied Science Project Management and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Ben James

CEO - Aurora Dairies

Ben James is CEO of Aurora Dairies. Ben joined Warakirri in May 2012 in the role of Operations Manager. He studied a Bachelor of Applied Science Agriculture at University of Adelaide. Ben has over 20 years’ practical experience within the agriculture industry and more specifically experience in large scale dairy and mixed farming enterprises. Ben commenced his current role in December 2012.

Dale O'Neill

CEO - Warakirri Cropping

Dale joined Warakirri in 2021 and was appointed to his current role as CEO of Warakirri Cropping in 2023. Prior to Warakirri, he spent 11 years as General Manager Commercial at Burra Foods. More broadly, he has over 20 years leadership and management experience in various senior roles across both corporate and privately held Australian agribusinesses. Dale has a Masters of Agribusiness from Melbourne University, Leadership Training from Harvard Business School and completed Farm Business Management at Marcus Oldham. Originally from a family farming operation based in Gippsland in Victoria, Dale has spent time in Western Victoria and in Hong Kong where he was based for four years and successfully led and developed a geographically dispersed workforce across South Asia and Australia.

Matthew Borthwick

Chief Operating Officer

Matt joined Warakirri as Chief Operating Officer in early 2021 and brings more than 20 years’ experience in senior executive roles across Agriculture and Financial Services. His previous executive experience includes Chief Financial and Risk Officer – Westchester Group Australia, Chief Financial Officer – Hassad Australia and Chief Financial Officer at Deutsche Bank (Cayman).

Matt holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Commercial Law and a Graduate Diploma in Taxation both from Deakin University, a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investments from Kaplan and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a graduate of their Company Directors program.

Stuart Devlin

Head Of Distribution

Stuart joined Warakirri September 2018, with over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining Warakirri, Stuart’s previous roles included Head of Family Office and IFA’s for Franklin Templeton, Head of Wholesale Distribution for ING and Region Distribution Manager for AXA. Stuart has a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) from RMIT and Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning from the University of Southern Queensland.

Stuart is also a committee member of a charity fund raising group “The Grassroots Club”, which mainly supports the Mirabel Foundation.

Conor Hayes

Head Of Institutional

Conor joined Warakirri in 2012 and has over 20 years experience in the financial services industry. He is responsible for client management and business development across Warakirri’s institutional client base, both domestically and overseas. In addition, Conor is chair of the Warakirri Investment Committee where he is actively involved in client portfolio asset allocation decisions as well as investment manager due diligence. Conor also has a long standing involvement with Warakirri’s not-for-profit client base. Prior to joining Warakirri, Conor spent close to 10 years working for Bank of Ireland Asset Management across a variety of roles in both Melbourne and Dublin. Conor holds a Master of Science in Investment & Treasury and a Bachelor of Business Studies (Finance, Honours), both from Dublin City University and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Steve Jarrott

Portfolio Manager, Diversified Agriculture

Steve Jarrott joined Warakirri in 2019 as Portfolio Manager of the Diversified Agriculture Fund. Steve is one of Australia’s leading Agricultural investment professionals with a decade of high-quality experience as Portfolio Manager with Westchester, the agriculture investment arm of the US based TIAA-Nuveen Group, the world’s largest farmland investment manager. Steve is highly skilled in investment strategy and asset allocation, deal origination and negotiations, valuation and analysis, portfolio management, governance, risk management and ESG programs. Steve holds a Bachelor of Agriculture and Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance and Investment and maintains an active personal interest in agriculture via his family farm in New South Wales.

Ben Williams

Head Of Private Wealth

Ben joined Warakirri Asset Management in November 2021, as Head of Private Wealth and is responsible for managing our firmwide engagement with portfolio construction experts across the wholesale market and in the strategic development of our multi-boutique investment business.

Ben has spent over 20 years in funds management, holding a range of local and regional leadership positions with BlackRock, Lazard Asset Management and UBS Asset Management. He holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney, Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning from FINSIA, a Master of Business Administration from Macquarie Graduate School of Management and is a Fellow of FINSIA.

Steven Carew

Head Of Multi Boutique Platform

Steven joined Warakirri in 2022 after more than 20 years with JANA Investment Advisers, where he held the role of Chief Investment officer until late 2021. Steven has more than 30 years of experience in the investment management industry, including asset allocation, portfolio construction, manager research and selection, risk management, and superannuation member investment choice and product design.

Steven holds a Masters Degree in Applied Finance from Macquarie University, a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from the University of Melbourne, a Graduate Diploma in Accounting from Monash University and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment from FINSIA.

Melanie Fairbairn

Regional Manager - VIC/TAS/SA

Melanie joined Warakirri Asset Management in April 2022 as Regional Manager for Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. She has over 20 years’ experience in the financial services industry in areas including Investment Bonds, Funds Management, Financial Advice and Technology. Prior to joining Warakirri, Melanie worked as Regional Manager at State Street Global Advisors and National Account Manager at Generation Life. She has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wollongong and an Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning.

Scott Curtis

Regional Manager - NSW/QLD

Scott joined Warakirri in June 2020 and brings over 14 years’ experience working in financial services across Commercial and Business Development roles. Scott joined Warakirri from Liverpool Partners where he worked in the Origination team helping source private investments in the lower mid-market. Prior to this, he worked in business development roles at Microequities Asset Management, Business Spectator and in the operations team at Macquarie Bank.

Scott holds a Master of Commerce majoring in Business Strategy from UNSW.

Tim Lang

Research Relationships Manager

Tim was appointed to his current role in 2021 and is responsible for engaging with platform and dealer group researchers across all aspects of Warakirri’s funds in their model and implemented portfolios, as well as managing the firm’s retail research house and institutional asset consultant relationships. He is also a member of Warakirri’s Investment Committee contributing to client portfolio asset allocation decisions, portfolio analytics and day-to-day management of the Warakirri Cash Deposits Trust. Tim joined Warakirri in 2012 and was previously an Investment Specialist where he worked closely with Warakirri’s institutional clients to develop and deliver tailored investment solutions to meet their needs. Tim holds a Bachelor of Business Administration majoring in Finance from Stetson University (USA). He is a CFA charterholder, having completed the program in 2019.

Claudia Sheers

Senior Business Development Associate

Claudia joined the Distribution team in March 2022 as a Senior Business Development Associate. Prior to joining Warakirri, Claudia worked at an independent financial planning firm (Planning Partners) as an Associate Adviser. Earlier in her career, she also spent time in the investment bonds space at Generation Life, as an Adviser and Investor Services Officer. Claudia holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Financial Planning) from Deakin University and has met all the requirements to become a Qualified Financial Adviser.

Lauren Pereira

Business Development Associate

Lauren joined the Distribution team as a Business Development Associate in November 2020. Prior to Warakirri, Lauren spent her first few years of university working at The Travel Specialists as a Marketing Assistant and more recently spent the last two years as a Client Services Officer at Bridges Financial Services. Lauren holds a Bachelor of Business (Economics & Finance) (Applied) from RMIT.