CHARLES KIEFEL AM
Bachelor of Commerce (UNSW), FAICD, FAICA, FINSIA
Chairman
Charles Kiefel AM is the Founder and Executive Chair of Principals Funds Management. He founded the Firm to provide global economic analysis and advice to U.S., European, Asian, and Australian money management companies, including investment and manager selection, enterprise and human capital risk management, and board governance. In 2023, Principals Funds Management pivoted to strategic global partnerships.
Of note, Charles identified and advised in securing seven—each in excess of $1B—mandates for new clients and overall sourced more than $18B mandates from corporate superannuation (pension) funds, insurance companies, and government employee retirement and super funds.
In November 2024 Charles was appointed Vice Chair of the GFCC having been voted into the role by delegates from 30 member countries. Charles has been involved with GFCC since 2013.
In 2016, he became a Distinguished Fellow. He then was the Australian Federal Government representative on GFCC’s Board of Trustees. Most recently, Charles became a GFCC Board of Trustees Member, a Corporate Member, and joined the ranks of Sustaining Members for Australia—the other five GFCC Sustaining Members are for Brazil, Greece, Portugal, U.A.E., and U.S.
Since 2018, Charles has served as Co-Chair, Australian Advisory Board on Competitiveness. Initially, he was appointed by the Australian Federal Government to strategise and champion new ideas to drive productivity, prosperity, and economic growth for Australia and U.S.
Since 2024, he is an Advisory Board Member for EC Pohl & Company Private Wealth.
Between 2021 and 2024 Charles was a Board Member for Clean Energy Regulator, Australian Federal Government.
Charles was Board Chairman for Military Superannuation & Benefits Board for 10 years. During this time, he established this pension fund’s office, staffing, systems, processes, policies, and engagements with the Defence Ministers and Chief of the Defence Force for all military members and veterans, growing Fund from <AU$400M to AU$2.6B. Additionally, he significantly increased the number of valuable member services.
Charles was a Non-Executive Board Director for: (1) ASX-listed Universal Biosensors, Inc., giving guidance to Siemens and Johnson & Johnson’s Lifescan Division partnership; (2) Lochard Company, where with other Directors, he devised M&A and organic growth expansion strategy leading to Lochard dominating air traffic control technologies; (3) CHAMP Private Equity Fund II, where he represented LP investors for Castle Harlan Australian Mezzanine Partners; (4) Pacific Equity Partners, where he acted for pension fund investors on Australian & International Advisory Board.
Other past Board Chair roles include Charles as Non-Executive Chair, Wilson HTM Charitable Trust, where he selected contributions, including towards the Great Barrier Reef restoration, and as Inaugural Board Chair, Hyperion Asset Management, which was the first Member of the consortium that became Pinnacle Investment Management Group, an ASX-listed global investments firm.
His community engagement involvement is extensive, including as a Founding Member, National Committee for The Menzies Foundation, which is a non-partisan memorial honoring Sir Robert G. Menzies, Australia’s longest serving Prime Minister. In July 2024, Charles was appointed a Member of the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (ARC) Ambassador’s Circle. In November 2024, Charles accepted the role of Patron of the Gyuto Tantric Buddhist Monastery Library following a meeting with his Holiness the Dalai Lama and in recognition of his substantial financial support of the library in preserving priceless Tibetan texts and providing Tibetan Buddhist education.
Since 2024, he is the Special Strategic Counsel to the Chair and EIG, which is based in Washington, D.C., U.S., and is one of the world’s largest institutional investors in global energy and infrastructure. Charles is also an Advisory Board Director for The Editor’s Circle of Econvue, LLC, based in Chicago, IL, U.S., which is a global consortium of economic and geopolitical experts from a wide range of specialties discussing trending issues.
In 2019, Charles was honored to be awarded by the Commonwealth of Australia as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in recognition “for significant service to Australia – United States relations, and to philanthropy.” Previously, he was honored to be awarded by the Commonwealth of Australia the Order of Australia (OAM) “for service to the Superannuation and Funds Management Industries and as a supporter of charitable and educational institutions.”
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JAMES TSIOLIS
Bachelor Economics; Graduate Diploma, Quantitative Finance
Lead Adviser of Strategic Partnerships
James is an experienced investment management professional focused on delivering consistent returns for institutional investors, with an emphasis on identifying investment opportunities early in investment cycles. James has transformed investment processes for funds management companies and investment banks in a career that spans over 30 years. He is founder and chairman of Strategic Capital Management Limited (SCM) which has advised institutional investors (in excess of $36 billion). He is currently executive chairman and CEO at Netlinkz Limited: the creator of the Virtual Invisible Network, a globally patented, award-winning encrypted cybersecurity network that allows organisations to connect sites, devices, and staff over the internet through a network solution that is invisible when devices are connected.
Prior to this, James was head of research and investment director for Ipac Securities. This role saw him establish key relationships and co-investment with Macquarie Bank and Deutsche Bank. He has also been senior investment analyst with ASSIRT Investment and Technology Pty Limited. Here he was able to reengineer the investment manager rating process to change the emphasis of the rating review from qualitative to quantitative in turn shifting from customer experience to investment performance.
Earlier in his career James had roles with James Capel Australia Limited as Quantitative Analyst and Analyst with Perpetual Trustees. In both these roles he published various financial papers and conducted numerous client presentations.
James worked with Charles Kiefel on the Board of Military Super, during which time, Charles was Chairman.
THE HON. ARTHUR SINODINOS AO
Bachelor of Commerce (Hons)
Non-Executive Director
Arthur is a Partner and Chairman of The Asia Group (TAG) and was Australia’s Ambassador to the United States of America from 2020 - 2023. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Quad Investors Network. Arthur was previously Australia’s Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science and Senator for New South Wales in the Australian Parliament from 2011 to 2019. During his parliamentary career, he also held other key roles in and outside Cabinet, including Cabinet Secretary and Assistant Treasurer. On the election of the Hon. John Howard AC as Prime Minister of Australia in 1996, Arthur was appointed the Prime Minister’s Senior Economic Adviser and in 1997, the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, a position he held for nine years.
In 2006, he left government to work with Goldman Sachs JB Were, followed by the National Australia Bank and various corporate appointments. In 2008, Arthur was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for his service to politics through the executive function of government, to the development of economic policy and reform, and to the Greek community. In 2019, Arthur was made a Distinguished Fellow of the Australia & New Zealand School of Government in recognition of his promotion of public sector leadership.
Over a career spanning four decades, Arthur dedicated his professional life to the advancement of Australia and its people. A full biography is available at: https://theasiagroup.com/talent/the-hon-arthur-sinodinos-ao/
PHILLIP (PHIL) SCANLAN AM
B Ec. MA(Oxford) MPA(Harvard)
Non-Executive Director
Phil Scanlan is a globalist born in Sydney. Phil’s career spans enterprise, education, public policy, NGO entrepreneurship and diplomacy. He is adviser to London based Greater Pacific Capital and New York based P3 Global Management.
He was Australian Consul General New York, 2009-2013. Phil has more than 40 years of global leadership in chief/senior executive, chair, and non- executive Board roles – including his leadership at Coca-Cola Amatil which achieved “best performer” status among Australia’s top 30 listed stocks.
Phil is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD), has served on the Business Council of Australia, and is a longstanding member of the YPO/WPO global entrepreneurial network. He is a 30+ year Governor of the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce, he chaired Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney and has served in senior staff policy roles in the state parliaments of South Australia and New South Wales.
In 1992, Phil founded the bipartisan Australian American Leadership Dialogue. Phil was the first Fellow in 2003 appointed to the Australian and New Zealand School of Government, ANZSOG. He has served on the boards of Fulbright and Asialink, was the inaugural chairman of The Sydney Institute and in the 1970s was South Australian spokesman for Amnesty International.
Educated at Sydney, Oxford, and Harvard universities, in 1998 Phil was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of his voluntary service to international relations and promotion of public health and environmental concerns.
Every available moment Phil spends with his US born wife, Julie Singer Scanlan AO, seven children and ten grandchildren.
STEPHEN J. KNEELEY
Bachelor of Science in Economics and Political Science (University of Richmond USA)
Director
Steve Kneeley has been involved in the investment management industry for over 35 years. He was a Founder of Turner Investment Partners and led the firm for over 10 years as President and CEO.
Since leaving Turner in 2004, he has managed several asset management firms varying in sizes, ownership structures, product line-ups and asset classes. He is known for championing change and leading important enhancements during his tenure at each of them.
His accomplishments include ownership structure modifications, new distribution channel implementation, acquisitions, divestures, and compensation model structuring. The firms include Brandywine Global, Logan Circle Investment Partners, Spider Management, Context Asset Management and most recently, as President and CEO of Driehaus Capital Management in Chicago.
Steve is the Vice-Chair of the Investment Committee at Thomas Jefferson University, a Trustee Emeriti of the University of Richmond where he chaired the Investment Committee and is a Director of the Evans Scholars.
He also has served as both an Independent Trustee and an Interested Trustee of several mutual fund complexes.
MURRAY JONES
Diploma of Financial Planning; Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance & Investments; and Bachelor of Science (Honours)
Compliance and Risk Management Advisor
Murray is a compliance and risk management expert who supplies outsourced compliance, risk management, corporate governance and strategic planning support to financial institutions spanning investment management, superannuation, insurance and financial planning.
He has wide experience in financial services law and regulation, internal controls management, business risk management, and regulatory compliance. He has also had broad experience in the establishment of funds management and superannuation businesses. He has acted as an independent expert under ASIC enforceable undertakings, chaired audit risk and compliance committees, and has been appointed as a responsible manager for a number of AFS Licence holders spanning listed and unlisted fund managers and financial advisory businesses.
He is Founder and CEO of Compliance & Risk Services Pty Ltd and is risk and compliance manager for MARQ Trustees. He was formerly Group Business Risk & Compliance Manager for AXA Pacific Holdings Ltd, and has worked for the Australian Securities Commission where he developed and was responsible for a number of national regulatory programs.
DR. STELLA M. BARBER
PhD; Master of Arts; Bachelor of Arts (Honours); Graduate Diploma Information Management; ARMA, MPHA
Director Communications
Stella is a communications specialist with qualifications and experience as a writer, research and heritage specialist, historian, archivist, and publicity and project manager.
Stella was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy in 2020 for her thesis: Woomera’s Women: Rolls and Roles of Film, women camera operators on the Woomera rocket range 1947 – 1970. The work was assessed by a panel of international examiners as “ground-breaking” and examines the role of women who filmed the weapons and rocket tests in a cold war collaboration between Australia, Britain, and the USA.
Dr Barber has worked in various roles over her 30-year career as a freelance writer, speechwriter and editor and is also the author or over 20 books. Her past clients have included the National Communications Museum, Lady Southey, the Myer Family, Australian Dictionary of Biography, Museum Victoria, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Halliday Engineering, Heritage NSW, Stonnington Council, Coles Myer Ltd, The Sharp Group, Tilley Soaps, CSR Ltd, Goulburn Valley Grammar School, Shepparton Villages, Warner’s Nurseries, The Reece Group, Thomson Geer, Elwood Life Saving Club, The Pratt Foundation, Essential Media, RMIT University, Wesley College, Ballarat Gold Museum, Victoria University and The Institution of Engineers.
Stella serves as Communications Manager for Principals Funds Management.
TRAVIS GREEN
Information Technology & Telecommunications Expert
Chief Information Officer
Stewart has diverse global experience. This includes serving as a Safari Guide in Botswana, Kenya, and South Africa. Thereafter, Stewart attended the University of The West of England, Bristol where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree with First Class Honors. In addition, he has gained a Certificate 4 Cybersecurity at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia.
Stewart has network engineering and cybersecurity analytical skills which includes assembly of hardware and software of modern systems, including windows 10/11, Kali Linux, Arch Linux, VMware, Ubuntu Server management and Python, HTML, CSS, and basic programming.
Stewart assists with technology information and provides technical support to The Principals Funds Management.
Travis has over 25 years of professional experience working in IT support roles for leading technology companies.
Early in his career Travis worked with Vodafone Australia and gained valuable corporate experience and progressed to become the Team Leader of the Server Support team. During his career at Vodafone, he also maintained positions managing the Intel Projects Team and working in the Vodafone ANZ Technical Architecture group as a Technical Solutions Architect. Following this, Travis joined EMC Corporation in 2004 as a Senior Support Engineer providing support for EMC’s worldwide customers.
In 2006, Travis joined Orange Business Services, providing global customer support for prominent companies including as Rio Tinto, Johnson Electric, Societe Generale and McDonalds.
In 2001 Travis founded and continues to manage ON-IT, which provides IT support and consulting services.
Travis serves as Chief Information Officer for Principals Funds Management.
STEWART KIEFEL
Bachelor of Science (First Class Honours)
Information Technology Support
IAN HAMILTON
Bachelor of Commerce and Administration
Assistant to Director Strategic Partnerships
Ian is a highly skilled financial markets professional with over 30 years’ experience in the Fixed Income and Securitisation Markets. Ian has established several Asia Pacific focused Fixed Income and Securitisation businesses for international banks as well as being responsible for 40 Traders, a $15bn liquidity portfolio and a $58bn multi-currency wholesale funding program for an Australian $100bn Bank.
In addition, he has specialised Asset Back Securitises expertise achieved through the role of Chief Investment Officer for a $3bn Securitisation Asset Backed CP Conduit Fund investing in Residential Mortgage Backed (RMBS), Commercial Mortgage Backed (CMBS) and Other Asset Backed (ABS) securities including the First Australian Auto Securitisation for Crusade Auto Trust (St George Bank) in 1999.
PAUL NICOLAOU
Bachelor of Arts, Master of Commerce
Associate Public Relations and business development
Paul has had a successful career in political and business advocacy, fund raising, marketing and new business development, focused mainly on Sydney.
He has had senior roles with the University of New South Wales, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Business Sydney, and the Australian Hotels Association.
Prior to this he has worked with the ANZ Private Bank, the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife at Watsons Bay, and the Children’s Hospital Fund (Westmead) and in several NFP roles. Paul is also an ambassador for Start Up Australia and a non-executive director of Dymocks Children’s Charities and is an Associate Fellow and Certified Practicing Marketer of the Marketing Institute of Australia. Paul has been a tireless worker for multiculturalism in many areas including as the inaugural chair of the Greek Australian Museum.