Our People

Iain is Chairman of Fullbridge Capital having co-founded the firm to provide international investment managers the opportunity to connect with institutional, family office and private wealth investors in Australia and New Zealand. He sets the strategic direction of the firm and actively engages managers to form rewarding, long-term partnerships.

Iain’s extensive investment career spans five decades across investment banking and funds management, which has seen him work around the globe including Liverpool, London, Johannesburg, Sydney, Hong Kong, New York and Melbourne. His executive and senior leadership positions have included Executive Director at Copia Investment Partners, Chief Executive at WCM Group Ltd, Principal at Clay Finlay Inc, Chief Executive at Clay Finlay Australia, Chief Executive at Smith New Court Australia, Chief Executive at Macintosh Securities Inc, Chief Investment Officer International Investments at National Mutual Life and Partner at Astaire & Co Far East. Currently, Iain is a Partner at Learmonth Investment Advisory.

Iain also holds directorships on several boards in the medical research and financial services sectors.

Marketing | Communications

Jane brings over two decades of investment industry experience having started her career in investment banking in mergers and acquisitions research at J.P. Morgan, London.

Retuning to Melbourne, Jane joined IOOF (now Insignia Financial) in funds management, where she supported asset raising into partner firm Perennial Investment Partners’ investment strategies and IOOF’s superannuation and pension funds.

Following IOOF, she held senior marketing positions at global investment firms Mercer and Goldman Sachs JBWere Asset Management, where she was instrumental in raising assets for a range of local and international investment strategies. At Mercer, Jane supported the growth of the firm’s corporate superannuation offerings, including the Mercer Super Trust.

Jane later joined multi-boutique asset management group Copia Investment Partners as Head of Marketing & Communications, where she led its market engagement efforts. Later undertaking a similar role, she partnered with the co-founders of a fintech start-up to raise working capital and to commercialise the firm’s investment offering.

Today, Jane is an Executive Director of Fullbridge Capital and is Chief Executive Officer of related charitable organisation, The Unconditional Love Foundation. She is also currently a Trustee of the Royal Melbourne Hospital Neuroscience Foundation.

Jane holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Melbourne and is RG146 compliant in managed investments.

Stephen is a co-founder and Director of Fullbridge Capital, which provides international investment managers the opportunity to access sophisticated investors in Australia and New Zealand. Stephen is also founder, Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of investment firm, Pilgrim Private, which he established in 1996 to provide family offices and private wealth clients exposure to equity markets via individually managed accounts.

With five decades of experience leading and managing investment firms, Stephen brings substantial expertise in investment management having previously held executive roles including co-founder of Ralton Asset Management, founder, Director and Investment Manager at Patriot Asset Management, Group Investment Manager at Australian Eagle Insurance Co, founder and Investment Manager at SPAL Management Ltd and co-founder of Investors Life Insurance Co of Australia Ltd.

Stephen is actively involved in philanthropic endeavours having established several foundations. He also holds directorships on a number of boards.

John is a Director and Company Secretary of Fullbridge Capital. A qualified Chartered Accountant, he brings over three decades of chartered accounting and company secretarial experience from a range of public and private companies in the investment management and financial services industries. His expertise spans financial report preparation, AFSL licensing management and auditor and taxation advisor liaison.

Currently, John holds the position of Finance Director at Pilgrim Private, as well as holding directorships on several boards.

A renowned and highly regarded investment management executive, Steve’s career spans more than four decades across some of Australia’s most recognised superannuation funds and institutional investment firms.

Most notably, Steve held the position of Chief Investment Officer at Insignia (previously IOOF), where he was responsible for managing in excess of $17 billion in investments. He held the same role at Telstra Super for 10 years prior with responsibility for a $10 billion portfolio. During his time there, Telstra Super was consistently a top-performing and highly awarded fund.

One of the longest serving Chief Investment Officers in Australia, Steve has been duly recognised for his contribution to the sector, including being inducted into the Rainmaker SelectingSuper Awards Hall of Fame in 2019 for his 25 years of service to the superannuation industry. His other awards include:

• 2017 – Lonsec Industry Icon Award
• 2016 – Winner: Multi-Sector Fund of the Year
• 2016 – Finalist: Asset Allocation of the Year
• 2012 – Inaugural winner: Chief Investment Officer of the Year
• 2004 – Winner: Pension Fund of the Year (Telstra Super)

Steve’s contribution extends to board directorships including director of ASX-listed WCM International Equities Manager and previous director of Trustee Partners and AvSuper. He has also been an investment committee member of the Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute and the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research.

Steve holds a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) from Monash University and a Master of Commerce (Honours) from The University of Melbourne and is a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australia (FINSIA).

Prior to entering the investment industry, Steve served as a regular soldier in the Australian Army (1 RAR).

Finance | Corporate Advisory

Mark is a senior business leader bringing almost three decades of corporate finance and business strategy expertise across the technology, retail and health sectors. With extensive experience securing venture capital, private equity and government grants, he has been responsible for capitalising start-ups, managing IPOs and successfully leading company mergers, acquisitions and exits.

In his current role as Managing Director of software business, Clevertar, Mark works with the board to provide strategic direction and to support business execution. Previously, Mark held the roles of Chief Financial Officer and Finance Director at Shaw Group and Taste Master, respectively. Complementing his executive experience, Mark also holds non-executive directorships in technology businesses in the robotics and FMCG sectors.

Mark is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD) and is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA). He holds a Master of Business Administration from the International Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts (Accounting) from the University of South Australia.

Legal | Governance | Risk

Rita is a highly experienced board director bringing expertise in governance, strategy, risk and regulatory change. She currently holds several directorships including Chair of Netwealth Superannuation Services, member of the interim board of CRC Longevity and The School of St Jude, where she is a Director and Secretary of the Australian fundraising arm.

Her professional career spans over three decades across several industries and functions where she has been engaged as a lawyer, consultant and client management leader. In her last financial services role, Rita was a Senior Partner at global investment firm, Mercer, where she led the client experience function before becoming a full-time Non-Executive Director in 2020. During her time at Mercer, she was also appointed to the board of the Mercer Super Trust, chaired several committees and was Chair of Mercer’s Partner Group.

Rita holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Economics from Monash University, is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and is a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria and the High Court of Australia.

Family Office Wealth Advisory

Francesco is a leading global expert on the emotional impact money and wealth have on relationships within family businesses and family office operations.

For more than two decades, he has been a business adviser and facilitator working with some of the world’s most successful and affluent business families and family offices. Through his extensive work with these families, Francesco has identified a universal connection between people’s relationship with money and the impact it has on their relationships, family, business and legacy. To progress his work, he founded Veritage, which helps families establish guiding principles and governance frameworks within which family members can responsibly and harmoniously manage their wealth. 

Francesco is also an international speaker and has authored several books including SafeSpace: Governance in action, where he explores behavioural risk and the importance of emotional and psychological safety in maintaining healthy family dynamics, especially during succession planning and the transition of wealth.