Our Team
Our Team
CCI’s global team comprises of 47 executives including 11 full-time portfolio managers and traders, and 15 full-time analysts with decades of fixed-interest trading, quant and credit research capabilities.
CCI’s unique analytical and quantitative capabilities are recognised in Australia and overseas as the basis for unusually high win ratios and prescient projections. CCI’s leadership is often called on to advise government on complex economic policy formulation. CCI’s chief investment officer co-developed the ideas for the Australian government to invest in the residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) market during the global financial crisis and more recently the SME loan market. In 2018 CCI developed the world’s first hedonic index of RMBS default rates. In 2020 CCI published a unique forecasting framework for COVID-19 that correctly predicted the peak of the first COVID-19 wave in April 2020 months ahead of epidemiologists’ forecasts.
The team’s investment philosophy fuses both bottom-up and top-down quant asset pricing, credit rating and macro research with intensive operational, commercial and financial due diligence.
CCI’s Risk & Compliance Committee is chaired by the experienced funds management and superannuation executive, Ms Melda Donnelly, who is supported by Mr Robert Henricks.
47
29
Over
$12bn
Full-time executives
Full-time investment & risk executives
in Funds Under Management
Global & regional fixed-income strategies
Long-only, long-short, zero duration, and long duration strategies
Offices in London, Sydney, Melbourne & Auckland
47
Full-time executives
29
Full-time investment & risk executives
Over
$12b
in Funds Under Management
Global & regional fixed-income strategies
Long-only, long-short, zero duration, and long duration strategies
Offices in London, Sydney & Melbourne
Directors
Melda Donnelly
Melda Donnelly
Chair of the Board and Compliance & Risk Committee, Member, Investment Committee
Ms Donnelly was appointed Chair of Coolabah Capital’s Board and Risk & Compliance Committee in 2015, and is a member of the Investment Committee. She is responsible for managing board processes relating to compliance, governance, strategy, performance and risk management. Ms Donnelly is a director of Treasury Group (ASX: TRG/mkt cap $200m and $49bn in FUM) and a member of HESTA’s ($32bn FUM) investment advisory board. Ms Donnelly’s previous work experience includes being CEO of the Queensland Investment Corporation, Deputy Managing Director of ANZ Funds Management, Managing Director of ANZ Trustees and chairperson of the Centre for Investor Education (CIE), a specialist education and consultancy firm for executives in Australian and overseas superannuation funds, institutional investment bodies and the financial markets. Ms Donnelly has also served as chair of Donnelly Money Management ($1bn in FUA), deputy chairperson of VFMC ($47bn FUM), and a director of: Unisuper ($50bn in FUM); Ashmore Group plc ($61bn FUM); Health Super ($9bn FUM); Network 10 Limited, and the Australian Accounting Standards Board. In addition, Ms Donnelly is a member of the Advisory Committee of the Oxford University Centre for Ageing. Ms Donnelly started her career at PriceWaterhouse as an audit/tax specialist and has a BComm from the University of Queensland and is a Chartered Accountant.
Ms Donnelly was appointed Chair of Coolabah Capital’s Board and Risk & Compliance Committee in 2015, and is a member of the Investment Committee. She is responsible for managing board processes relating to compliance, governance, strategy, performance and risk management. Ms Donnelly is a director of Treasury Group (ASX: TRG/mkt cap $200m and $49bn in FUM) and a member of HESTA’s ($32bn FUM) investment advisory board. Ms Donnelly’s previous work experience includes being CEO of the Queensland Investment Corporation, Deputy Managing Director of ANZ Funds Management, Managing Director of ANZ Trustees and chairperson of the Centre for Investor Education (CIE), a specialist education and consultancy firm for executives in Australian and overseas superannuation funds, institutional investment bodies and the financial markets. Ms Donnelly has also served as chair of Donnelly Money Management ($1bn in FUA), deputy chairperson of VFMC ($47bn FUM), and a director of: Unisuper ($50bn in FUM); Ashmore Group plc ($61bn FUM); Health Super ($9bn FUM); Network 10 Limited, and the Australian Accounting Standards Board. In addition, Ms Donnelly is a member of the Advisory Committee of the Oxford University Centre for Ageing. Ms Donnelly started her career at PriceWaterhouse as an audit/tax specialist and has a BComm from the University of Queensland and is a Chartered Accountant.
Robert Henricks
Robert Hendricks
Independent Non-Executive Director, Board, Investment Committee, Risk & Compliance Committee
Mr Henricks was appointed an Independent Non-Executive Director of Coolabah Capital’s Board, Investment Committee and Compliance & Risk Committee in 2017. Bob was previously the 20 year Chairman of the $6 billion super fund, Energy Super. In 2015 he was named 2015 Trustee of the Year by the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees. He previously served as a director of the $2 billion Gardior Infrastructure Fund, the University of Queensland Diamantina Institute Business Development Board, and was previously the chair of the SPEC(Q) and AUST(Q) super funds, and a director of the CBUS super fund. Bob is a director and chair of Castellan Asset Management, an aircraft leasing company, and brings substantial governance, compliance and risk management expertise to the business.
Mr Henricks was appointed an Independent Non-Executive Director of Coolabah Capital’s Board, Investment Committee and Compliance & Risk Committee in 2017. Bob was previously the 20 year Chairman of the $6 billion super fund, Energy Super. In 2015 he was named 2015 Trustee of the Year by the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees. He previously served as a director of the $2 billion Gardior Infrastructure Fund, the University of Queensland Diamantina Institute Business Development Board, and was previously the chair of the SPEC(Q) and AUST(Q) super funds, and a director of the CBUS super fund. Bob is a director and chair of Castellan Asset Management, an aircraft leasing company, and brings substantial governance, compliance and risk management expertise to the business.
Phil Kearns
Non-Executive Director
Phil Kearns
Phil Kearns was previously Managing Director at InterRISK Australia, a leading corporate insurance broker and equity partner business of ASX-listed Austbrokers Holdings Limited. Prior to this, Phil had more than 10 years’ experience leading financial service organisations from Investment Banking and Capital Raising to Private Wealth and Insurance. In his previous position as Chief Executive Officer at Centric Wealth, Phil was successful in achieving a major transformation of the business which was owned by private equity firm CHAMP. Phil served 12 years as a Director of the Children’s Cancer Institute Australia and is deeply involved in the Humpty Dumpty Foundation. He is credited with being the brain behind the Sydney Charity Event, The Balmoral Burn an annual run up one of Sydney’s steepest streets which has raised $27.5 million to buy lifesaving medical equipment for children’s medical facilities across the country. He is also a Commentator with FoxSports on all things rugby. Prior to his business career, Phil played 67 tests for the Wallabies from 1989 to 1999, during which he captained the team 10 times. Phil has an Arts Degree majoring in Economics and Economic History from the University of NSW.
Phil Kearns was previously Managing Director at InterRISK Australia, a leading corporate insurance broker and equity partner business of ASX-listed Austbrokers Holdings Limited. Prior to this, Phil had more than 10 years’ experience leading financial service organisations from Investment Banking and Capital Raising to Private Wealth and Insurance. In his previous position as Chief Executive Officer at Centric Wealth, Phil was successful in achieving a major transformation of the business which was owned by private equity firm CHAMP. Phil served 12 years as a Director of the Children’s Cancer Institute Australia and is deeply involved in the Humpty Dumpty Foundation. He is credited with being the brain behind the Sydney Charity Event, The Balmoral Burn an annual run up one of Sydney’s steepest streets which has raised $27.5 million to buy lifesaving medical equipment for children’s medical facilities across the country. He is also a Commentator with FoxSports on all things rugby. Prior to his business career, Phil played 67 tests for the Wallabies from 1989 to 1999, during which he captained the team 10 times. Phil has an Arts Degree majoring in Economics and Economic History from the University of NSW.
Darren Harvey
Darren Harvey
Chair of Investment Committee & Director
Darren co-founded Coolabah Capital in 2011 with Christopher Joye. Darren is Chair of the Investment Committee and contributes to investment decisioning, portfolio and risk management. He started his career at McIntosh Hamson Hoare Govett in 1987 in their graduate training program as a junior bond futures adviser and then options adviser. In 1989 Darren was headhunted to join Fay Richwhite to establish their bond option sales business. In that year he also assumed responsibility for trading interest rate options using Fay Richwhite’s balance-sheet and built a team of interest rate option and share price index traders that included five market-makers in total. Fay Richwhite went from no activity to the No. 1 option market‐maker on the Sydney Futures Exchange by volume and reputation. Darren was responsible for all the risk management associated with Fay Richwhite’s exchange-traded derivatives businesses reporting to the Head of Trading. In 1992 Deutsche Bank recruited Darren as an Associate Director and Head of Exchange Traded Options to replicate the market making business he had established inside Fay Richwhite. In 1994 Deutsche Bank promoted Darren to Director and Head of Exchange Traded and OTC Options, which included a team of six market makers reporting to the Head of Trading. During this time Darren was responsible for principal trading off Deutsche Bank’s balance-sheet across multiple asset classes, including equities, currencies, bonds, commodities, and derivatives. Darren was also responsible for risk management and staffing. In 1998 Darren moved to London with Deutsche Bank as a Director of Deutsche Bank Global Proprietary Trading in London where he traded interest rate derivatives, currencies and stock index securities, and reported to the Head of Deutsche Bank Global Proprietary Trading, Steve Kennedy. Darren resigned from Deutsche Bank in 2001 and established his family office, Bower Capital. He was approved as an Independent Member of the Sydney Futures Exchange/Australian Stock Exchange to invest his own money in the interest rate securities markets and received rebates from the exchange as a recognised market-maker. Darren was one of the largest independent interest rate options traders on the SFE/ASX and helped the SFE/ASX design its intraday interest rate option contracts for government bonds. He was Chairman of Sydney Futures Exchange’s Exchange Traded Option Committee between 1993 and 1995, and a Casual Lecturer in Derivatives and Options at Securities Institute of Australia in 1994-1995. Between 1996-1996 he was a member of the Australian Financial Markets Association (AFMA) Over-the-Counter Option Committee. Bower Capital was approved as a recognised market maker and Independent Member of the SFE/ASX between 2001-2008.
Darren co-founded Coolabah Capital in 2011 with Christopher Joye. Darren is Chair of the Investment Committee and contributes to investment decisioning, portfolio and risk management. He started his career at McIntosh Hamson Hoare Govett in 1987 in their graduate training program as a junior bond futures adviser and then options adviser. In 1989 Darren was headhunted to join Fay Richwhite to establish their bond option sales business. In that year he also assumed responsibility for trading interest rate options using Fay Richwhite’s balance-sheet and built a team of interest rate option and share price index traders that included five market-makers in total. Fay Richwhite went from no activity to the No. 1 option market‐maker on the Sydney Futures Exchange by volume and reputation. Darren was responsible for all the risk management associated with Fay Richwhite’s exchange-traded derivatives businesses reporting to the Head of Trading. In 1992 Deutsche Bank recruited Darren as an Associate Director and Head of Exchange Traded Options to replicate the market making business he had established inside Fay Richwhite. In 1994 Deutsche Bank promoted Darren to Director and Head of Exchange Traded and OTC Options, which included a team of six market makers reporting to the Head of Trading. During this time Darren was responsible for principal trading off Deutsche Bank’s balance-sheet across multiple asset classes, including equities, currencies, bonds, commodities, and derivatives. Darren was also responsible for risk management and staffing. In 1998 Darren moved to London with Deutsche Bank as a Director of Deutsche Bank Global Proprietary Trading in London where he traded interest rate derivatives, currencies and stock index securities, and reported to the Head of Deutsche Bank Global Proprietary Trading, Steve Kennedy. Darren resigned from Deutsche Bank in 2001 and established his family office, Bower Capital. He was approved as an Independent Member of the Sydney Futures Exchange/Australian Stock Exchange to invest his own money in the interest rate securities markets and received rebates from the exchange as a recognised market-maker. Darren was one of the largest independent interest rate options traders on the SFE/ASX and helped the SFE/ASX design its intraday interest rate option contracts for government bonds. He was Chairman of Sydney Futures Exchange’s Exchange Traded Option Committee between 1993 and 1995, and a Casual Lecturer in Derivatives and Options at Securities Institute of Australia in 1994-1995. Between 1996-1996 he was a member of the Australian Financial Markets Association (AFMA) Over-the-Counter Option Committee. Bower Capital was approved as a recognised market maker and Independent Member of the SFE/ASX between 2001-2008.
Ian Macoun
Ian Macoun
Non-Executive Director
Ian is Founder and Managing Director of Pinnacle Investment Management Group, a shareholder and partner of Coolabah. Ian was appointed Managing Director of the Company on 17 August 2016 and an Executive Director on 25 August 2016, having been the Managing Director and Chair of PIML since 2006. Ian’s career to date has included more than 25 years as the CEO and chief investment officer of investment management firms, including the establishment of Australia’s first “multi-boutique” funds management firm (Perennial Investment Partners – founding Managing Director from 1998), building a major new investment corporation (Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC)- inaugural Chief Executive from 1988), and the management of a major Australian bank’s investment operation (Westpac Investment Management; Managing Director from 1993). Ian’s early experience, in more than 10 years at Queensland Treasury, included extensive involvement with many major Australian and International financial market participants, and the Queensland Government’s commercial participation in many major industrial development projects during the late 1970s and the 1980s. He was a First Assistant Under Treasurer when he moved to build and lead QIC.
Ian is Founder and Managing Director of Pinnacle Investment Management Group, a shareholder and partner of Coolabah. Ian was appointed Managing Director of the Company on 17 August 2016 and an Executive Director on 25 August 2016, having been the Managing Director and Chair of PIML since 2006. Ian’s career to date has included more than 25 years as the CEO and chief investment officer of investment management firms, including the establishment of Australia’s first “multi-boutique” funds management firm (Perennial Investment Partners – founding Managing Director from 1998), building a major new investment corporation (Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC)- inaugural Chief Executive from 1988), and the management of a major Australian bank’s investment operation (Westpac Investment Management; Managing Director from 1993). Ian’s early experience, in more than 10 years at Queensland Treasury, included extensive involvement with many major Australian and International financial market participants, and the Queensland Government’s commercial participation in many major industrial development projects during the late 1970s and the 1980s. He was a First Assistant Under Treasurer when he moved to build and lead QIC.
Ben Cossey
Ben Cossey
Non-Executive Director
Ben joined Coolabah in 2023 as Pinnacle’s representative on the Board. He joined Pinnacle in 2018 as the first northern hemisphere employee and leads international distribution and origination for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) based out of the Pinnacle London office. Prior to Pinnacle, Ben spent 5 years at Stable Asset Management, a dedicated hedge-fund seeder, where he was responsible for both talent origination and capital raising. Ben’s career started at Lasalle Investment Management, before spending time as an Associate at UBS Wealth Management in London before moving to Stable. Ben has a Masters degree at Cambridge University (Real Estate Finance) and a Bachelor’s Degree at Oxford University (Experimental Psychology). Ben also holds his CAIA (Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst) designation.
Ben joined Coolabah in 2023 as Pinnacle’s representative on the Board. He joined Pinnacle in 2018 as the first northern hemisphere employee and leads international distribution and origination for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) based out of the Pinnacle London office. Prior to Pinnacle, Ben spent 5 years at Stable Asset Management, a dedicated hedge-fund seeder, where he was responsible for both talent origination and capital raising. Ben’s career started at Lasalle Investment Management, before spending time as an Associate at UBS Wealth Management in London before moving to Stable. Ben has a Masters degree at Cambridge University (Real Estate Finance) and a Bachelor’s Degree at Oxford University (Experimental Psychology). Ben also holds his CAIA (Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst) designation.
Senior Executive
Christopher Joye
Christopher Joye
Chief Investment Officer & Senior Portfolio Manager
Christopher founded Coolabah Capital in 2011 and leads the portfolio management effort that has produced one of Australia’s top short-term fixed-interest capabilities. He is responsible for investment decisioning, portfolio management, research and asset pricing, and general business management, running a large team of portfolio managers and analysts. Christopher is also a Contributing Editor with The Australian Financial Review and well-known as one of Australia’s leading economists, policy advisors and fund managers. In 2019, CCI was selected as one of FE fundinfo’s Top 10 “Alpha Managers” based on his risk-adjusted performance throughout his career across all asset-classes. Christopher previously worked for Goldman Sachs in London and Sydney, the Reserve Bank of Australia, and was the founder of an award‐winning research and investment group, Rismark International. In 2009 The Australian newspaper selected Christopher as one of Australia’s top 10 “Emerging Leaders” in its economic/wealth category. In 2007 Christopher was selected by The Bulletin magazine as one of Australia’s “10 Smartest CEOs” and by BRW Magazine as one of “Australia’s Top 10 Innovators”. In 2008, the Australian Government invested $15 billion behind a policy proposal developed by Christopher to provide liquidity to the Australian RMBS market to mitigate the effects of the GFC. In 2019 the Australian government committed $2bn to invest in securitised SME loans on the basis of a policy proposal Christopher developed for the Treasurer at the time to enhance competition and liquidity in the SME finance sector. In February 2009, Christopher was invited by the Rockefeller and MacArthur Foundations to travel to advise the Obama Administration on the US housing crisis. Christopher served as a Director of The Menzies Research Centre, which is a leading Australian think‐tank, from 2003 to 2007. Christopher received Joint 1st Class Honours (Economics & Finance) and the University Medal in Economics & Finance from the University of Sydney, where he was a Credit Suisse First Boston Scholar, SIRCA and University Honours Scholar. He studied in the PhD program at Cambridge University in 2002 and 2003, where he was a Commonwealth Trust scholarship recipient.
Christopher founded Coolabah Capital in 2011 and leads the portfolio management effort that has produced one of Australia’s top short-term fixed-interest capabilities. He is responsible for investment decisioning, portfolio management, research and asset pricing, and general business management, running a large team of portfolio managers and analysts. Christopher is also a Contributing Editor with The Australian Financial Review and well-known as one of Australia’s leading economists, policy advisors and fund managers. In 2019, CCI was selected as one of FE fundinfo’s Top 10 “Alpha Managers” based on his risk-adjusted performance throughout his career across all asset-classes. Christopher previously worked for Goldman Sachs in London and Sydney, the Reserve Bank of Australia, and was the founder of an award‐winning research and investment group, Rismark International. In 2009 The Australian newspaper selected Christopher as one of Australia’s top 10 “Emerging Leaders” in its economic/wealth category. In 2007 Christopher was selected by The Bulletin magazine as one of Australia’s “10 Smartest CEOs” and by BRW Magazine as one of “Australia’s Top 10 Innovators”. In 2008, the Australian Government invested $15 billion behind a policy proposal developed by Christopher to provide liquidity to the Australian RMBS market to mitigate the effects of the GFC. In 2019 the Australian government committed $2bn to invest in securitised SME loans on the basis of a policy proposal Christopher developed for the Treasurer at the time to enhance competition and liquidity in the SME finance sector. In February 2009, Christopher was invited by the Rockefeller and MacArthur Foundations to travel to advise the Obama Administration on the US housing crisis. Christopher served as a Director of The Menzies Research Centre, which is a leading Australian think‐tank, from 2003 to 2007. Christopher received Joint 1st Class Honours (Economics & Finance) and the University Medal in Economics & Finance from the University of Sydney, where he was a Credit Suisse First Boston Scholar, SIRCA and University Honours Scholar. He studied in the PhD program at Cambridge University in 2002 and 2003, where he was a Commonwealth Trust scholarship recipient.
Ashley Kabel
Ashley Kabel
Senior Portfolio Manager, Deputy CIO
Ash joined Coolabah Capital in 2017 in a full-time role as a quantitative analyst and portfolio manager and helps lead all portfolio management and research efforts. Ash was previously Director of Quantitative Strategies at the award-winning and strongly performing FX hedge fund, The Cambridge Strategy, between 2012 and 2016, based in London. At Cambridge Ash managed US$250m (and a small team) in medium-term, quant-based FX strategies spanning 2012-2016 with an average audited annual return of 13.4% and volatility of 8.2%, outperforming FX beta indices and FX and Macro Hedge Fund indices. Prior to Cambridge, Ash served as an investment analyst with portfolio management responsibilities covering FX, equities and fixed-income at the $800bn fund manager, Invesco between 2005 and 2012, based in Sydney. At Invesco he helped develop, analyse and manage multiple quant strategies including direct execution of fixed-income portfolios. Ash graduated with honours degrees in Law and Engineering (Software) from Melbourne University, has extensive quant analytical and programming skills, and in his youth was awarded Australian government prizes for mathematics.
Ash joined Coolabah Capital in 2017 in a full-time role as a quantitative analyst and portfolio manager and helps lead all portfolio management and research efforts. Ash was previously Director of Quantitative Strategies at the award-winning and strongly performing FX hedge fund, The Cambridge Strategy, between 2012 and 2016, based in London. At Cambridge Ash managed US$250m (and a small team) in medium-term, quant-based FX strategies spanning 2012-2016 with an average audited annual return of 13.4% and volatility of 8.2%, outperforming FX beta indices and FX and Macro Hedge Fund indices. Prior to Cambridge, Ash served as an investment analyst with portfolio management responsibilities covering FX, equities and fixed-income at the $800bn fund manager, Invesco between 2005 and 2012, based in Sydney. At Invesco he helped develop, analyse and manage multiple quant strategies including direct execution of fixed-income portfolios. Ash graduated with honours degrees in Law and Engineering (Software) from Melbourne University, has extensive quant analytical and programming skills, and in his youth was awarded Australian government prizes for mathematics.
Roger Douglas
Roger Douglas
Senior Portfolio Manager, Deputy CIO, Co-Head of Interest Rate Trading
Roger Douglas joined Coolabah in 2022 as a Senior Portfolio Manager based in our London and Sydney offices. Roger was previously jointly responsible for EUR30 billion in credit strategies at Deutsche Asset Management as a portfolio manager and Co-Head of Fixed-Income Solutions EMEA. He was directly responsible for GBP10 billion of credit strategies, managing more than 10 portfolio managers. He was lead manager for the absolute return bond fund, and active in credit, rates, inflation bonds, and derivatives. He was also Head of Insurance-Linked Securities and a board director of the UK business. Roger started his career at Deutsche Bank in London as a market-maker in Euro swaps and engaged in relative value government bond and asset swap trading. He was promoted to Managing Director, Global Rates Trading, in 2009 where he started and built the fixed income index Total Return Swap and options trading business and had a leading role in the inception, structuring and trading of the Xtrackers fixed income ETF platform, the related ETF market-making, and TRS and collateral trading. In 2010, Roger was appointed Co-Head of Longevity Markets Trading. In this role he led the establishment of the infrastructure and trading of the pension and insurance risk transfer business, which included structuring, pricing and executing multi GBP billion bespoke liability hedges with pension funds and reinsurers with a focus on return on capital optimisation and lifecycle risk management. Roger graduated with a Masters in Engineering from Cambridge University.
Roger Douglas joined Coolabah in 2022 as a Senior Portfolio Manager based in our London and Sydney offices. Roger was previously jointly responsible for EUR30 billion in credit strategies at Deutsche Asset Management as a portfolio manager and Co-Head of Fixed-Income Solutions EMEA. He was directly responsible for GBP10 billion of credit strategies, managing more than 10 portfolio managers. He was lead manager for the absolute return bond fund, and active in credit, rates, inflation bonds, and derivatives. He was also Head of Insurance-Linked Securities and a board director of the UK business. Roger started his career at Deutsche Bank in London as a market-maker in Euro swaps and engaged in relative value government bond and asset swap trading. He was promoted to Managing Director, Global Rates Trading, in 2009 where he started and built the fixed income index Total Return Swap and options trading business and had a leading role in the inception, structuring and trading of the Xtrackers fixed income ETF platform, the related ETF market-making, and TRS and collateral trading. In 2010, Roger was appointed Co-Head of Longevity Markets Trading. In this role he led the establishment of the infrastructure and trading of the pension and insurance risk transfer business, which included structuring, pricing and executing multi GBP billion bespoke liability hedges with pension funds and reinsurers with a focus on return on capital optimisation and lifecycle risk management. Roger graduated with a Masters in Engineering from Cambridge University.
Jason Lindeman
Jason Lindeman
Head of Credit Research
Jason joined Coolabah Capital in 2017 in a full-time role as a senior credit analyst. Jason has over 20 years buy-side experience specialising in fundamental and technical credit analysis across the capital structure. Previously at Hadron Capital LLP, a London based global relative value and event driven multi-asset class hedge fund, he was jointly responsible for the Credit Long/Short absolute return portfolio. The strategy sought relative value and catalyst driven investments, with portfolio views expressed using Corporate Bonds, Hybrids, Credit Default Swaps and Loans. Prior to Hadron, Jason was the Credit Portfolio Manager at RBC Capital Markets London, responsible for the European Credit Proprietary Trading Portfolio. He built and continually developed the credit process at both funds, while hiring, training and managing the relevant credit analyst teams. At Credit Suisse Capital Markets London, Jason was a Private Equity/Private Placements Analyst, investing proprietary capital in sub investment grade public companies, via the issuance of privately placed structured debt and equity securities. He was involved in the entire investment process from initial on-site due diligence, credit analysis, negotiation of terms, documentation and ongoing portfolio maintenance. Previous roles include Credit Risk Management at Credit Suisse London and NAB Corporate Banking in both London & Melbourne. Jason has a Bachelor of Economics and Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment.
Jason joined Coolabah Capital in 2017 in a full-time role as a senior credit analyst. Jason has over 20 years buy-side experience specialising in fundamental and technical credit analysis across the capital structure. Previously at Hadron Capital LLP, a London based global relative value and event driven multi-asset class hedge fund, he was jointly responsible for the Credit Long/Short absolute return portfolio. The strategy sought relative value and catalyst driven investments, with portfolio views expressed using Corporate Bonds, Hybrids, Credit Default Swaps and Loans. Prior to Hadron, Jason was the Credit Portfolio Manager at RBC Capital Markets London, responsible for the European Credit Proprietary Trading Portfolio. He built and continually developed the credit process at both funds, while hiring, training and managing the relevant credit analyst teams. At Credit Suisse Capital Markets London, Jason was a Private Equity/Private Placements Analyst, investing proprietary capital in sub investment grade public companies, via the issuance of privately placed structured debt and equity securities. He was involved in the entire investment process from initial on-site due diligence, credit analysis, negotiation of terms, documentation and ongoing portfolio maintenance. Previous roles include Credit Risk Management at Credit Suisse London and NAB Corporate Banking in both London & Melbourne. Jason has a Bachelor of Economics and Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment.
Kai Lin
Kai Lin
Head of Data Science & Chief Technology Officer
Kai joined Coolabah Capital in 2017 in a full-time role as a Senior Data Scientist focusing on asset pricing and portfolio management. Kai was previously a Data Scientist at CBA where he built machine learning models to project customer propensities. He was also involved in data mining projects with heavy use of R, Python, Hadoop, Hive, SQL and Linux tools. Prior to CBA Kai interned as signal processing researcher at Cochlear. Kai was awarded the Masters of Statistics from UNSW in 2020. Prior to that, Kai graduated from UNSW with 1st Class Honours and the University Medal in his Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical) program where his thesis researched pose estimation and trajectory matching. Kai was awarded an ATAR of 99.90 in his HSC while at Sydney Boys High. Prizes have included the Ben Rudzyn Memorial Prize in Signal Processing, the Engineers Australia Student Prize (Electrical & IT Division), and the Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET) Student Prize.
Kai joined Coolabah Capital in 2017 in a full-time role as a Senior Data Scientist focusing on asset pricing and portfolio management. Kai was previously a Data Scientist at CBA where he built machine learning models to project customer propensities. He was also involved in data mining projects with heavy use of R, Python, Hadoop, Hive, SQL and Linux tools. Prior to CBA Kai interned as signal processing researcher at Cochlear. Kai was awarded the Masters of Statistics from UNSW in 2020. Prior to that, Kai graduated from UNSW with 1st Class Honours and the University Medal in his Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical) program where his thesis researched pose estimation and trajectory matching. Kai was awarded an ATAR of 99.90 in his HSC while at Sydney Boys High. Prizes have included the Ben Rudzyn Memorial Prize in Signal Processing, the Engineers Australia Student Prize (Electrical & IT Division), and the Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET) Student Prize.
Fionn O'Leary
Fionn O'Leary
Senior Portfolio Manager, Head of European Trading
Fionn joined Coolabah in 2023 as a Senior Portfolio Manager based in London. Fionn previously spent over a decade in various senior interest rate trading roles at Deutsche Bank in London, where he originally started his career in 2002. During this time, he also managed a €16 billion portfolio of on- and off-balance sheet financial assets through the GFC and sovereign credit exposures through the Eurozone crisis. In 2013, Fionn was promoted to Head of Financials, Sovereigns & Credit Index Trading, managing a team of 18 traders. Outside of Deutsche Bank, Fionn worked at Brevan Howard Asset Management between 2015 and 2016 where he was mandated to set up a credit trading business. Most recently Fionn has worked at a large inter-dealer broker on strategic transformation projects, including optimising the commercial operating model in light of the changing regulatory landscape (MiFID II & Brexit). Fionn holds an MSc in Financial Mathematics (with Distinction) and a BSc in Mathematics & Applied Mathematics.
Fionn joined Coolabah in 2023 as a Senior Portfolio Manager based in London. Fionn previously spent over a decade in various senior interest rate trading roles at Deutsche Bank in London, where he originally started his career in 2002. During this time, he also managed a €16 billion portfolio of on- and off-balance sheet financial assets through the GFC and sovereign credit exposures through the Eurozone crisis. In 2013, Fionn was promoted to Head of Financials, Sovereigns & Credit Index Trading, managing a team of 18 traders. Outside of Deutsche Bank, Fionn worked at Brevan Howard Asset Management between 2015 and 2016 where he was mandated to set up a credit trading business. Most recently Fionn has worked at a large inter-dealer broker on strategic transformation projects, including optimising the commercial operating model in light of the changing regulatory landscape (MiFID II & Brexit). Fionn holds an MSc in Financial Mathematics (with Distinction) and a BSc in Mathematics & Applied Mathematics.
Matt Johnson
Matt Johnson
Senior Portfolio Manager, Co-Head of Interest Rate Trading
Matt joined Coolabah in 2021 as a Portfolio Manager & Quant Analyst focussing on interest rate and sovereign bond strategies, amongst other things, based in Sydney. Most of his prior career was spent at UBS where he was a Managing Director and the Global Head of Rates Strategy. Other roles at UBS included the Head of AUD/NZD Rates Strategy in Sydney and the head of the Asia Pacific Knowledge Network in Singapore. Outside of UBS, Matt has worked for MLP (a hedge fund), ICAP (an inter-dealer broker), 4CAST (now Continuum Economics), the Australian Productivity Commission (Microeconomic Policy), and founded an economics consultancy, Signal Macro.
Matt joined Coolabah in 2021 as a Portfolio Manager & Quant Analyst focussing on interest rate and sovereign bond strategies, amongst other things, based in Sydney. Most of his prior career was spent at UBS where he was a Managing Director and the Global Head of Rates Strategy. Other roles at UBS included the Head of AUD/NZD Rates Strategy in Sydney and the head of the Asia Pacific Knowledge Network in Singapore. Outside of UBS, Matt has worked for MLP (a hedge fund), ICAP (an inter-dealer broker), 4CAST (now Continuum Economics), the Australian Productivity Commission (Microeconomic Policy), and founded an economics consultancy, Signal Macro.
Nathan Giang
Nathan Giang
Senior Data Scientist & Deputy Head of Data Science
Nathan joined Coolabah Capital in 2020 as a Data Scientist. Nathan previously spent 4 years working with Macquarie as a senior analyst within the Risk Management Group’s Quantitative Applications Division. At Macquarie he was a lead validator of IFRS9 credit wholesale models and involved in validation of credit models such as consumer loan application scorecards and retail IRB models. He also validated equity and commodity pricing models, including volatility surfaces, and counterparty credit risk and pricing templates, amongst other things. Nathan graduated with an ATAR of 99.55 and then completed a Bachelor of Science (Advanced Maths) and a Bachelor of Commerce from UNSW where he was awarded 1st Class Honours in Statistics and finished with a Weighted Average Mark across both degrees of 88% (or above a high distinction average).
Nathan joined Coolabah Capital in 2020 as a Data Scientist. Nathan previously spent 4 years working with Macquarie as a senior analyst within the Risk Management Group’s Quantitative Applications Division. At Macquarie he was a lead validator of IFRS9 credit wholesale models and involved in validation of credit models such as consumer loan application scorecards and retail IRB models. He also validated equity and commodity pricing models, including volatility surfaces, and counterparty credit risk and pricing templates, amongst other things. Nathan graduated with an ATAR of 99.55 and then completed a Bachelor of Science (Advanced Maths) and a Bachelor of Commerce from UNSW where he was awarded 1st Class Honours in Statistics and finished with a Weighted Average Mark across both degrees of 88% (or above a high distinction average).
Warwick Boys
Warwick Boys
Global Head of Distribution
Warwick joined Coolabah Capital in 2024 in a full-time role as global head of distribution. Warwick has over 30 years of industry experience in a rare combination of credit trading, fixed income dealing and as a funds distribution executive. Previously at Principal Asset Management, he was Head of Sales and responsible for business development across Australia and New Zealand, working closely with institutional investors and asset consultants around Principal’s multi-capability value proposition. Prior to Principal, Warwick was the Head of Institutional Business at Fidelity International, and before that was General Manager Institutional Business at Perpetual. Warwick’s credit trading and fixed income dealing experience was at ABN Amro Bank NV (Australia), ANZ Banking Group and Westpac Banking Corporation in Sydney. He received a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance & Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia, is a Graduate of the AIST Trustee Directors Course (GAIST) and received a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Newcastle.
Warwick joined Coolabah Capital in 2024 in a full-time role as global head of distribution. Warwick has over 30 years of industry experience in a rare combination of credit trading, fixed income dealing and as a funds distribution executive. Previously at Principal Asset Management, he was Head of Sales and responsible for business development across Australia and New Zealand, working closely with institutional investors and asset consultants around Principal’s multi-capability value proposition. Prior to Principal, Warwick was the Head of Institutional Business at Fidelity International, and before that was General Manager Institutional Business at Perpetual. Warwick’s credit trading and fixed income dealing experience was at ABN Amro Bank NV (Australia), ANZ Banking Group and Westpac Banking Corporation in Sydney. He received a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance & Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia, is a Graduate of the AIST Trustee Directors Course (GAIST) and received a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Newcastle.
Ying Yi Ann Cheng
Ying Yi Ann Cheng
Portfolio Management Director & Market Technicals Analyst
Ying Yi joined Coolabah Capital in 2017 as a full-time portfolio management director and market technicals analyst focussing on market research, analysis and technical factors, while also assuming responsibility for external stakeholder management. She spent the majority of her career at Citibank in London, where she was a Vice President, specialising in G10 and Emerging Market currencies, advising hedge fund clients and sovereign asset managers on alpha generating and risk management strategies. She was most recently at RBC Capital Markets working within fixed-income and credit. Prior to the sell side, Ying Yi had interned at Colonial First State and PwC in various quantitative roles. She has also held various advisory roles with tech startups in London and Sydney. After receiving a 99.95 ATAR for her HSC studies, ranking her in the top 0.05% of all secondary students, Ying Yi graduated with honours in Actuarial Science from the University of New South Wales, where she was the recipient of a Co-op Scholarship and included on the Dean’s Honour Roll for her year of exchange at NYU’s Stern School of Business.
Ying Yi joined Coolabah Capital in 2017 as a full-time portfolio management director and market technicals analyst focussing on market research, analysis and technical factors, while also assuming responsibility for external stakeholder management. She spent the majority of her career at Citibank in London, where she was a Vice President, specialising in G10 and Emerging Market currencies, advising hedge fund clients and sovereign asset managers on alpha generating and risk management strategies. She was most recently at RBC Capital Markets working within fixed-income and credit. Prior to the sell side, Ying Yi had interned at Colonial First State and PwC in various quantitative roles. She has also held various advisory roles with tech startups in London and Sydney. After receiving a 99.95 ATAR for her HSC studies, ranking her in the top 0.05% of all secondary students, Ying Yi graduated with honours in Actuarial Science from the University of New South Wales, where she was the recipient of a Co-op Scholarship and included on the Dean’s Honour Roll for her year of exchange at NYU’s Stern School of Business.
Shretan Dholakia
Shretan Dholakia
Chief Risk Officer
Shretan joined Coolabah Capital in 2020 as a compliance executive based in London, and in 2022 was promoted to Global Chief Risk Officer. He has over 20 years of experience encompassing trading, portfolio investment and dual risk-compliance subject matter expertise. Prior to joining Coolabah, he advised KPMG and its clients on trade surveillance compliance under the Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) and conducted algorithmic trading model validations for both first and second lines of defence. These trade surveillance and algorithmic validation programs were designed to ensure compliance with U.K., E.U., U.S. and APAC regulatory regimes. As part of the processes, he was seconded to HSBC, GS and UBS for extended periods over 4 years. He has also previously assisted a start-up (Sibyl Trading) in securing regulatory clearance for low-latency options trading, in his former capacity as a London based co-founder.
Until early 2012, Shretan was head of EMEA convertible bond trading and sales at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where his responsibilities included managing equity-linked volatility trading risk, overseeing the product teams, and working with equity and debt capital market units during the structuring, pricing and placement of primary convertible bond issues. This included authorising pricing backstops and managing underwriting risk for the EMEA convertible derivative unit in the period from 2006 to 2012. The earlier part of his career concentrated on trading equity M&A risk and convertible bond arbitrage at UBS and CS.
Shretan graduated with a BSc degree in Economics and Econometrics from the University of Bath in the U.K. and then qualified as a chartered accountant with Ernst & Young (London) in the 1990s.
Shretan joined Coolabah Capital in 2020 as a compliance executive based in London, and in 2022 was promoted to Global Chief Risk Officer. He has over 20 years of experience encompassing trading, portfolio investment and dual risk-compliance subject matter expertise. Prior to joining Coolabah, he advised KPMG and its clients on trade surveillance compliance under the Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) and conducted algorithmic trading model validations for both first and second lines of defence. These trade surveillance and algorithmic validation programs were designed to ensure compliance with U.K., E.U., U.S. and APAC regulatory regimes. As part of the processes, he was seconded to HSBC, GS and UBS for extended periods over 4 years. He has also previously assisted a start-up (Sibyl Trading) in securing regulatory clearance for low-latency options trading, in his former capacity as a London based co-founder.
Until early 2012, Shretan was head of EMEA convertible bond trading and sales at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where his responsibilities included managing equity-linked volatility trading risk, overseeing the product teams, and working with equity and debt capital market units during the structuring, pricing and placement of primary convertible bond issues. This included authorising pricing backstops and managing underwriting risk for the EMEA convertible derivative unit in the period from 2006 to 2012. The earlier part of his career concentrated on trading equity M&A risk and convertible bond arbitrage at UBS and CS.
Shretan graduated with a BSc degree in Economics and Econometrics from the University of Bath in the U.K. and then qualified as a chartered accountant with Ernst & Young (London) in the 1990s.
Daniel Douma
Daniel Douma
Chief Financial Officer
Daniel is a Chartered Accountant and CFA who has previously held senior finance roles with leading family offices and their associated commercial and investment businesses, including the Salteri family (Olbia Funds Management), Ottomin Investment Group, RF Capital (Andrew Roberts’ family office), and most recently Meriton & the Triguboff family office.
Daniel studied a Bachelor of Business from UTS, majoring in Finance and Accounting, Grad Dip in Chartered Accounting, CFA program, and a Grad Dip in Applied Tax Law.
Daniel is a Chartered Accountant and CFA who has previously held senior finance roles with leading family offices and their associated commercial and investment businesses, including the Salteri family (Olbia Funds Management), Ottomin Investment Group, RF Capital (Andrew Roberts’ family office), and most recently Meriton & the Triguboff family office.
Daniel studied a Bachelor of Business from UTS, majoring in Finance and Accounting, Grad Dip in Chartered Accounting, CFA program, and a Grad Dip in Applied Tax Law.
Luke Bouris
Luke Bouris
Chief Operating Officer
Luke joined Smarter Money Investments in 2016 as an Investment Specialist and in 2019 was promoted to National Product & Strategy Specialist. He is responsible for product and strategy development and management across Coolabah’s wider business. Between 2008 and 2015, Luke worked for one of BBB Capital’s portfolio companies as head of product, strategy and marketing servicing a wide range of stakeholders. Luke holds a Bachelor of Commerce from UNSW with a double major in Finance and Marketing. He is an avid water polo player and the Vice President of Water Polo NSW.
Luke joined Smarter Money Investments in 2016 as an Investment Specialist and in 2019 was promoted to National Product & Strategy Specialist. He is responsible for product and strategy development and management across Coolabah’s wider business. Between 2008 and 2015, Luke worked for one of BBB Capital’s portfolio companies as head of product, strategy and marketing servicing a wide range of stakeholders. Luke holds a Bachelor of Commerce from UNSW with a double major in Finance and Marketing. He is an avid water polo player and the Vice President of Water Polo NSW.
Gary Walsh
Gary Walsh
Head of Asset Origination
Gary joined Smarter Money Investments’ retail fund business in 2014 as a full-time Head of Strategic Alliances and Distribution, focusing on raising awareness of SMI’s retail products in the IFA and Family Office markets. In July 2019, he became Coolabah Capital’s Head of Asset Origination after Coolabah wholly acquired Smarter Money Investments. With over 30 years’ experience in the industry, Gary has had exposure to many aspects of the financial services sector including as a practicing Adviser, AFSL management executive with Total Financial Solutions Australia, investment platform distribution executive and, more recently, product distribution for the Smarter Money Investments’ and Coolabah Capital Investments’ suite of products and custom mandate solutions. Gary holds a Master of Commerce (Marketing) and is focused on maximising CCI’s reach and FUM support by managing both the internal and external distribution relationships across multiple strategic channels and jurisdictions.
Gary joined Smarter Money Investments’ retail fund business in 2014 as a full-time Head of Strategic Alliances and Distribution, focusing on raising awareness of SMI’s retail products in the IFA and Family Office markets. In July 2019, he became Coolabah Capital’s Head of Asset Origination after Coolabah wholly acquired Smarter Money Investments. With over 30 years’ experience in the industry, Gary has had exposure to many aspects of the financial services sector including as a practicing Adviser, AFSL management executive with Total Financial Solutions Australia, investment platform distribution executive and, more recently, product distribution for the Smarter Money Investments’ and Coolabah Capital Investments’ suite of products and custom mandate solutions. Gary holds a Master of Commerce (Marketing) and is focused on maximising CCI’s reach and FUM support by managing both the internal and external distribution relationships across multiple strategic channels and jurisdictions.
John Phokos, CFA
John Phokos, CFA
Portfolio Management Director & Chief Strategy Officer
John joined Coolabah in 2023 as a Portfolio Management Director and Chief Strategy Officer based in Sydney. John previously managed a multi-billion-dollar credit, fixed-income and alternatives portfolio at Australian Catholic Super (ACS), between 2015 and 2022, where he played a key role in research, portfolio construction, and asset and manager selection across fixed interest, credit, cash and hedge funds. While at ACS, John delivered the top ranking for a multi-manager fixed interest product over 1, 3, and 5 years. Prior to ACS, John directly managed and had oversight of a $2 billion sovereign bond portfolio and $1 billion in cash at WorkCover NSW from 2006 to 2015, and also selected and managed external managers across multiple asset classes, including credit. John holds a Bachelor of Science in Pure & Applied Mathematics. John is a CFA Charterholder.
John joined Coolabah in 2023 as a Portfolio Management Director and Chief Strategy Officer based in Sydney. John previously managed a multi-billion-dollar credit, fixed-income and alternatives portfolio at Australian Catholic Super (ACS), between 2015 and 2022, where he played a key role in research, portfolio construction, and asset and manager selection across fixed interest, credit, cash and hedge funds. While at ACS, John delivered the top ranking for a multi-manager fixed interest product over 1, 3, and 5 years. Prior to ACS, John directly managed and had oversight of a $2 billion sovereign bond portfolio and $1 billion in cash at WorkCover NSW from 2006 to 2015, and also selected and managed external managers across multiple asset classes, including credit. John holds a Bachelor of Science in Pure & Applied Mathematics. John is a CFA Charterholder.
James Caughey
James Caughey
Portfolio Management Director, Head of New Zealand
James joined Coolabah in early 2024 to represent and grow the business in New Zealand. He has over 15 year’s experience in financial markets, having worked in asset allocation and strategy roles for several prominent New Zealand wealth management firms. Prior to joining Coolabah he had overall responsibility for Fixed Income strategy at a notable boutique NZ wealth manager, which covered duration and credit positioning, as well the publication of trade ideas, model portfolios, and macroeconomic/market comment and analysis. His other prior experience has included chief responsibility for a wide array of multi-asset discretionary investment strategies, as well as management of a short duration bond fund, and the development of a private credit fund structure. James’s role at Coolabah is primarily focused on developing and maintaining relationships with Institutional, Intermediary, Family Office, and HNW investors in New Zealand. James is also responsible for all issuer and counterparty relationships in New Zealand, and monitoring of portfolio positions there.
James joined Coolabah in early 2024 to represent and grow the business in New Zealand. He has over 15 year’s experience in financial markets, having worked in asset allocation and strategy roles for several prominent New Zealand wealth management firms. Prior to joining Coolabah he had overall responsibility for Fixed Income strategy at a notable boutique NZ wealth manager, which covered duration and credit positioning, as well the publication of trade ideas, model portfolios, and macroeconomic/market comment and analysis. His other prior experience has included chief responsibility for a wide array of multi-asset discretionary investment strategies, as well as management of a short duration bond fund, and the development of a private credit fund structure. James’s role at Coolabah is primarily focused on developing and maintaining relationships with Institutional, Intermediary, Family Office, and HNW investors in New Zealand. James is also responsible for all issuer and counterparty relationships in New Zealand, and monitoring of portfolio positions there.
