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About Gardior

Gardior Pty Ltd (ABN 71076835955, AFSL 320173) is an Australian trustee company with a Board of Directors that consists of representatives from our investor base.

Gardior is the Trustee of The Infrastructure Fund (TIF), a $2.5bn infrastructure fund.

At Gardior, we pride ourselves on our ability to add value to each investor through structuring and ultimate alignment of interests.

Click here to experience the Gardior values through the assets we own.

Our role

As Trustee of Gardior Funds, Gardior:

  • Is the legal owner of the assets of Gardior funds
  • Establishes and oversees the framework of governance, risk management, internal control and compliance
  • Considers potential investment proposals
  • Provides feedback to the Investment Manager regarding the management of the assets
  • Prepares notices and reports to be issued to Gardior investors
  • Fosters strong working partnerships with all service providers to Gardior Funds.

 

What we do

  • Deliver superior returns to investors over the long term.
  • Act with integrity, transparency and in the best interest of our investors.
  • Ensure Investment Managers understand the values and expectations of our investors  and are accountable their actions.
  • Apply proper diligence in the investment process.
  • Communicate regularly and openly with our investors.
  • Safeguard investor funds through a responsible approach to processes of governance, internal control and risk management.

Gardior Board of Directors

Annabelle Bennett

Chairman & Director

Appointed 9 November 2020

Independent Chairman and Director

  • Member of the Remuneration & Outsourcing Committee
  • Member of the Risk, Audit and Compliance Committee 

 

The Honourable Dr Annabelle Bennett AC SC is a retired Judge of the Federal Court of Australia and was an additional judge of the Supreme Court of the ACT, and a Deputy President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, having previously practised as a Senior Counsel specialising in intellectual property. She is currently Chancellor of Bond University; the Chair of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), an Arbitrator of the Court of Arbitration for Sport; President (part time) of the Anti-Discrimination Board of NSW; Member of the Board of Directors of the Garvan Institute; Member and past President of Chief Executive Women; Chair of the Advisory Group of Judges to the World Intellectual Property Organisation; and Member of the Advisory Board of the Faculty of Law at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. She has also served as a Commissioner with the NSW Law Reform Commission and as a Royal Commissioner into National Natural Disaster Arrangements.  She is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.

Dr Bennett is a Member of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes Panel of Arbitrators (ICSID), a Member of the WIPO Mediation and Arbitration List of Neutrals and a Member of the indicative List of Government and Non-Governmental Panellists for the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Disputes Settlement Process. She also practises as a Barrister, in an advisory role, and as a mediator and arbitrator.

 

Andrew Agnew

Director

Gardior Director since 20 October 2009

Independent Director

  • Chairman of the Remuneration & Outsourcing Committee

 

Andrew is an experienced company director with in-depth experience in infrastructure, funds management and resource companies having served on a number of infrastructure & funds management boards over the last decade.

Andrew’s executive career was spent as an investment banker and included substantial international business experience including ten years building funds management & financial services businesses within Asia. Within Australia, Andrew advised and executed Australian government asset sales as well as structuring and financing Australian infrastructure funds.

Andrew has served on Australian financial industry committees including being the Secretary of the Australian Financial Futures Association and the Chief Adviser to the Council of Authorised Money Market Dealers, and was a monthly columnist for the Australian Stock Exchange Journal.

Andrew is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Julieanne Alroe

Director

Appointed 9 November 2020

Independent Director

  • Member of the Risk, Audit & Compliance Committee

 

Julieanne Alroe is the Chair of Infrastructure Australia and of the Queensland Ballet. In addition, Julieanne is a member of the University of Queensland Senate and a Board member of BESIX Watpac.

She is also a Member of the Committee for Brisbane Advisory Board, the Inaugural President of the Queensland Futures Institute (QFI) and a Member of the Queensland Thoroughbred Advisory Panel.

Julieanne Alroe retired in June 2018 from Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) where she held the position of CEO and Managing Director since 1 July 2009. She was the Chair of ERM Power Ltd from 2018 until it was sold to Shell in late 2019.

Julieanne has a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Queensland and was granted the Doctor of the Griffith University (honoris causa) in December 2016. She is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Fellow of the Queensland Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the Chief Executive Woman (CEW).

Mark Williamson

Director

Gardior Director since 6 June 2017

Independent Director

  • Member of the Risk, Audit and Compliance Committee
  • Member of the Remuneration & Nominations Commitee

 

Mark Williamson is the former Chairman of the $7b industry super Fund Energy Super.

Mark is an experienced director who has served on the boards of a number of leading Australian companies, as well as holding senior executive roles in the energy, IT, telecommunications and airline industries, both within Australia and overseas.

Grant Smith

Director

Gardior Director since 1 December 2019

Grant is the Senior Managing Director (MIRA), Head of MIRA Australia Infrastructure.  

Grant is responsible for MIRA’s Australian infrastructure investment business, with in excess of $A 10 billion in equity under management across a range of infrastructure funds. Grant joined Macquarie Group in 1996. Between 2002 and 2007, Grant was Senior Managing Director in the Principal Investment Area at Macquarie Capital, where he managed the acquisition and disposal of more than A$6 billion in direct equity investments, including toll roads, airports, telecoms, water, rail, power, regulated assets, consumer products, financial services, retirement care, technology and media.

Between 1996 and 2001, Grant was an adviser in Macquarie Corporate Finance, working principally on public and private company mergers and acquisitions.

Prior to joining Macquarie Group, Grant worked for Mallesons Stephen Jaques (now King & Wood Mallesons) in the Corporate & Commercial and Intellectual Property areas. Grant has an MBA from INSEAD France, and a combined Bachelor of Commerce (honours) and Bachelor of Laws from the University of New South Wales.

Frank Kwok

Director

Gardior Director since 1 December 2019

Frank joined Macquarie in 1997.  He is a Senior Managing Director based in Sydney, Australia.

Frank is the Head of Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA) Asia-Pacific, based in Sydney. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing MIRA’s infrastructure investments in the region, primarily in infrastructure.

Frank has been pivotal in MIRA’s growth in the region, including the establishment of the Macquarie Asia Infrastructure Funds (MAIF), Macquarie Greater China Infrastructure Fund (MGCIF) and the Philippine Investment Alliance for Infrastructure (PINAI).

Since joining Macquarie in 1997, Frank has worked in various offices across the Asia-Pacific and has led and managed investments across sectors including transportation, utilities, renewable energy and digital infrastructure.

Management Team

Charmaine Twomey

Company Secretary

Charmaine has worked with Gardior since December 2001.  As the Company Secretary, Charmaine reports to the Board of Directors and is responsible for enabling the Board to effectively govern its funds, supporting the strategic direction of Gardior as well as overseeing business and compliance performance of the trustee.  Charmaine plays an integral role in building and enhancing relationships with investors, their advisers, shareholders, co-investors and Gardior’s appointed service providers (including portfolio managers). 

Prior to commencing with Gardior, Charmaine was a Consultant with Mercer.  Charmaine has over 15 years of senior management experience in providing services to superannuation funds and managed investment schemes in Australia.  

Charmaine holds a Bachelor of Commerce from The University of Queensland, Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Finance & Investment from the Financial Services Institute of Australasia as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning from the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.  Charmaine is a Fellow of FINSIA and ASFA and a Graduate of AICD.

Investor Advisory Committee (IAC)

In mid-2020, Gardior established an Investor Advisory Committee (IAC).  The purpose of the IAC is to facilitate an effective and interactive relationship between Unitholders, the Board of Gardior and the Investment Manager to ensure that Unitholder perspectives are effectively communicated to decision-makers of The Infrastructure Fund (“TIF” or the “Fund”) on a timely basis.

The IAC operates in accordance with a Charter that is reviewed and approved by the Gardior Board. 

In summary, the scope of the IAC is to assist the Board and the Investment Manager, through consultation, on the following matters:

  • The current portfolio strategy (and any changes proposed) and how the Board expect the Investment Manager to deliver on the strategy;
  • Capital raising activities for TIF;
  • TIF’s valuation policy;
  • Material changes to TIF that include changes to risk framework, fees, Investment Manager;
  • Any related party transactions approved by the Board; and
  • Unitholder matters including any Unitholder meeting and reporting.

 

Following a process where nominations were called from eligible large and smaller investors, a ballot was conducted, and in accordance with the IAC Charter, we are pleased to confirm the following members comprise the Gardior IAC:

  • Chris Artis (2 year term)
  • Nicole Connolly (3 year term)
  • Hamish McKellar (2 year term)
  • John Phokos (1 year term)
  • Andrew Robinson (3 year term)

 

The first IAC meeting will be called in the December 2020 quarter following the completion of the TIF Investment Strategy review process.

Investor Advisory Committee members

Chris Artis

Chris is the CIO of MIESF and has considerable knowledge in investment management encompassing investment policy and strategy setting and implementation. A proven track record in manager research and portfolio configuration across all asset classes, gained in senior investment roles with Emergency Services Super (ESSS) and Telstra Super.

Additional experience in unlisted assets includes serving as a Director on the Board of Gardior, responsible for the $2.5B of infrastructure assets within TIF (The Infrastructure Fund) from August 2018 to November 2019. Chris has served as a Director of UTA, (Hastings Fund Managed Trust) from 2004 to 2006 including being on the Audit Committee of UTA from 2005 to 2006.

Chris is also a Member of the AMP Capital Diversified Property Fund (ADPF) Investor Representative Committee.

He has knowledge in risk management and investment compliance, supported by sound financial management skills and knowledge in corporate governance principles. Investment risk management includes ESG investment policy formulation and investing within the UNPRI framework at Telstra Super.

His overall experience brings together the core principles of governance, risk management, strategy and financial oversight.

Chris holds a MBA from the University of Melbourne, Bachelor of Commerce from Deakin University, Diploma of Superannuation Management and attained Fellow of ASFA and Certified Practicing Accounting (CPA) status.

Nicole Connolly

Nicole has more than 20-years of experience in the superannuation and funds management industry. Prior to establishing IPIF, Nicole was Director of Alternative Assets at Russell Investments and published a report on the history of unlisted infrastructure investment in Australia. Further, Nicole was Head of Alternative Investments at Telstra Super managing a portfolio of unlisted infrastructure assets for the fund. Nicole has extensive experience in the design, implementation and management of the infrastructure asset class for institutional investors in Australia.

Portfolio Management:

- Portfolio Manager for Infrastructure Partners Investment Fund (IPIF).

- Head of Alternative Investments for Telstra Super’s alternative investment portfolio.

- Member of the Model Portfolio Committee (MPC) at Russell Investments. The MPC determined Strategic Asset Allocation for Russell's Consulting Clients.

Investment & Asset Management:

- Investment management across a number of alternative investments including private equity, infrastructure and hedge funds.

- Extensive manager due diligence, selection and ongoing review of the unlisted infrastructure sector.

Strategy & Market Development:

- Establishment of IPIF Management and the IPIF fund.

- Director of Alternative Assets at Russell advising on strategic asset allocation, manager and strategy research.

- Development and implementation of Telstra’s listed and unlisted infrastructure investment program.

Hamish McKellar

Hamish is currently General Counsel and Fund Secretary at Energy Super and has 24 years’ experience as a lawyer and company secretary. He has held leadership roles in the financial services, aviation, infrastructure and manufacturing industries including executive roles in legal, strategy, risk, compliance and procurement at RACQ, Queensland Airports, Sumitomo Australia and Colonial Group, amongst others.

He has extensive experience in large, complex transactions involving mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures and major infrastructure planning & development.

Hamish has held executive director roles in the financial services industry and is currently a non-executive director of Triathlon Queensland. 

John Phokos

John Phokos has been involved in the Australian financial services sector for 25 years across group insurance, actuarial consulting, performance & analytics and investment management for insurance and superannuation funds.

He is currently the Investment Manager – Private Markets at Australian Catholic Super, a $9bn industry super fund, having joined in June 2015. He is responsible for hedge funds, bonds, credit, cash and unlisted real assets including property and infrastructure.

John was previously Senior Investment Analyst at Safety, Return to Work and Support (SRWS) for almost 10 years, where he was responsible for bonds, credit, hedge funds and cash for 5 insurance funds with $22bn in total assets.

John is a CFA charter holder, and is a Fellow of Finsia. He holds both Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Education degrees with majors in pure and applied mathematics from the UNSW, and has a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia.

Andrew Robinson

Andrew Robinson joined Sunsuper in 2011 and has been the Portfolio Manager for Infrastructure since 2016. His responsibilities include portfolio construction, investment research and selection, ongoing reviews and reporting of funds and direct and co-investment assets in Australia and offshore.

 Andrew has over 20 years of investment and financial services experience. Prior to joining Sunsuper he spent 8 years in the corporate Finance department of Deloitte, providing valuation and M&A advice to public and private companies in Australia, the United Kingdom and Switzerland.

He has worked closely with Gardior, Hastings and Macquarie with respect to TIF since commencement of his employment with Sunsuper. He is responsible for a number of Sunsuper's direct infrastructure holdings that are also held in TIF, including QAL, Perth Airport and ElectraNet.

Sunsuper has a strong working relationship with MIRA, having worked with them on investment opportunities since 2011. We believe that this relationship will be a net positive for the ongoing working relationship between Gardior, its investors and the external manager.