Australian Ethical Investment

Phillip Vernon
BEc, MCom, MBA, FCPA

Managing director

Phil has 25 years experience in financial services covering funds management, superannuation and capital markets. He was a member of the Executive Committee of Perpetual Limited heading up its Corporate Trust division and has extensive experience in corporate governance and industry regulation including a long involvement with the Australian Securitisation Forum, Australia’s peak body representing the securitisation industry in Australia acting as chairman of its National Committee, Education and Regulatory committees. Phil has a long involvement in sustainability and corporate social responsibility and is a director of Planet Ark, a not for profit environmental organisation.

Steve Newnham

Executive director, business development

Steve has over 20 years experience in marketing and distribution in the financial industry. He comes from Lonsec Ltd as a consultant on the marketing and distribution of their research and stockbroking services. Prior to this, Steve was head of distribution at Zurich Financial Services, chairman of a financial planning dealer group, director of a wrap platform and an administration business, and executive vice president of BT Financial Group. Steve has had significant involvement with community and social justice activities, having worked on homeless shelter support schemes, indigenous fellowship programs, environmental and drought relief projects and mental health awareness initiatives. Steve is on the audit, compliance and risk committee.

General manager, business development

Adam has extensive experience in leading business development and client relationship teams in superannuation and retail funds management. Adam previously worked for Australian Catholic Super where he led the business development, marketing and advice teams. Prior to this his career included time with Colonial First State and Skandia where he was responsible for marketing two of the most popular superannuation master trust platforms in the market. He also worked for a time as an adviser with a corporate superannuation consulting firm.

Paul Smith

General manager, strategy and communications

Paul has a background in actuarial consultancy, where he specialised in superannuation and investments working with UK pension fund clients on asset allocation strategies and investment manager appointments. He then moved into marketing initially with Schroders in the UK where he managed a large re-branding project, and in Australia where he has worked with a number of organisations and not for profits, including time as national marketing manager for Carbon Planet.

James Jordan
BEc(Hons)

Chief investment officer

James joined Australian Ethical in 2006 as a senior equities analyst and was acting CIO for much of 2008 before being appointed head of research. Previously, James had a long career as a senior economist with various Commonwealth Government departments, including being senior adviser on tax and superannuation policy; being a member of the working group that prepared the first Intergenerational Report; and working on reform options for pharmaceutical pricing and health system financing.

Gary Leckie
BEc, CA

Chief financial officer and chief operating officer

Gary is responsible for the fiscal management and operational activities of the Australian Ethical group and is a member of Australian Ethical Investment's finance committee. Prior to working in the financial services industry Gary was employed with big four accounting firm Deloitte.

Philip George
BSc, LLB

General manager, client operations and projects

Philip has experience in commercial law, corporate governance, superannuation administration and project management. He has been a company secretary and legal counsel for listed companies. He was a senior associate at the national law firm Minter Ellison and conducted a commercial legal practice in partnership for several years. More recently, Philip's focus has been on superannuation and managed fund administration.

General counsel and company secretary

Tom is the general counsel and company secretary and has experience in the superannuation and distribution aspects of financial services law. His legal career started in the Attorney General’s Department and included stints with the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. He subsequently worked in house with funds management and life insurance companies before working in private practice in London and Tokyo.