Our people

Chairman of the Board and Investment Committee.

Greg was appointed Non-Executive Director to the Board in January 2021 and appointed Chairman of the Board and the Investment Committee in October 2022. Greg was formerly a Non-Executive Director of ASX listed JB Hi-Fi Limited for 12 years, including 8 years as Non-Executive Chairman. Greg was also Chair of the JB Hi-Fi Remuneration Committee and Audit Committee. Greg has over 25 years experience in the investment banking industry, with 19 years at JBWere and Goldman Sachs JBWere, where he was an equity partner for 17 years, working primarily in equity capital markets. Greg was previously Non-Executive Chairman of ASX listed Vitaco Holdings Limited.

Member of the Investment Committee. Managing Director of 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 investment markets and the Company’s approaches, policies and processes. He is also Managing Director of Australian Foundation Investment Company Limited, Djerriwarrh Investments Limited and AMCIL Limited.

Member of the Audit and Investment Committees.

Dr Jackie Fairley was appointed a Director of the Company in February 2018. Dr Fairley has more than 30 years of operational experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries working in senior management roles with companies including CSL and Faulding (now Pfizer). She recently stepped down as Chief Executive Officer of ASX-listed Starpharma Holdings Ltd, having held this position since 2006. Dr Fairley is also a member of the Victorian Trade and Investment Advisory Board and acted as an advisor to the Carnegie Innovation Fund for more than 10 years.

Dr Fairley is a past Director of Starpharma, the Melbourne Business School, and past member of the Australian Federal Government’s Commonwealth Science Council, Pharmaceutical Industry Working Group. She has also participated in a number of Federal and State Government Ministerial advisory councils in pharmaceuticals, economic development and innovation.

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

Annette was appointed a Director of the Company in January 2021. Annette 's executive career has included a range of senior roles with MinterEllison, Ernst & Young and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). She joined the IASB at its inception in 2001 and is one of the founding developers of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). She is the Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission and also a Non-Executive Director of Trawalla Group.

Annette was appointed in 2020 to Monash University's Industry Council of Advisors. She was formerly a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee of the Melbourne Business School since 2010 and a member of the Business Council of Australia's Economic Policy and Competitiveness Committee between 2018 and 2021.

Tony was appointed a Director of the Company in March 2023. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Objective Corporation Limited, a position he has held since founding the business in 1987. He has wide experience as a CEO and a Director. He also brings significant expertise in the IT industry.

Member of the Audit Committee.

Paul was appointed a Director of the Company in May 2024.

Paul Dwyer is currently Non-Executive Chairman of PSC Insurance Group, a company he founded in 2006. Prior to founding PSC Insurance Group, Mr Dwyer held a senior executive position with OAMPS Insurance Brokers Limited.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.