Our staff

Louise Davidson 1

Louise Davidson AM

Chief Executive Officer

Louise is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI). Appointed CEO in 2015, Louise has more than 25 years senior experience in the financial services and superannuation industry. She joined ACSI from Cbus, where, as Investment Manager, ESG, she was responsible for the integration of ESG into the Cbus’ investment portfolio. Louise is the co-founder of the Mother’s Day Classic Walk/Run for Breast Cancer Research. Established in 1998, this national event has raised almost $41.5m for breast cancer research. In 2015 Louise was named Victoria’s Local Hero in the Australian of the Year Awards in recognition of this work and in 2019, Louise was made a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the superannuation and funds management sectors, and to breast cancer research. Louise is a Director of the Mother’s Day Classic Foundation, a Director of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Deputy Chair of the Federated Hermes Client Advisory Board. 

Karen Griffiths

Karen Griffiths

Chief Financial Officer / Chief Operating Officer

Karen is responsible for overseeing ACSI’s finance, risk, and HR function, our strategic and business planning processes as well as managing our office facilities. Karen’s extensive career in finance and governance includes audit and assurance at Ernst & Young and over 14 years at Aviva and the National Australia Bank both in Melbourne and the UK where she held roles in accounting policy, group financial governance and CFO business partnering. Karen holds a Bachelor of Business in Accounting and a Bachelor of Business in Banking & Finance from Monash University. She is a qualified Chartered Accountant and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Kate Griffiths 1

Kate Griffiths

Executive Manager, Research and Policy

Kate is responsible for leading the team that delivers for ACSI’s research and policy program, working with our members to cover a range of financially material ESG issues and provide guidance on good corporate practice and regulatory reforms that contribute positively to the sustainability of markets. Kate was formerly the Head of Governance, Risk and Audit Committee and Disclosure and a Company Secretary at BHP, and, prior to that, a senior associate at Blake Dawson (now Ashurst). Kate was also previously a non-executive director and Chair of ShareGift Australia, a not-for-profit organisation that facilitates the donation of shares to community organisations. Kate holds a Bachelor of Laws (with honours) and a Bachelor of Arts. She is a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course and a fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia.

Brooke Haigh 1

Brooke Haigh

Company Secretary

Brooke is an experienced Chartered Secretary with over 15 years corporate governance, company secretariat and compliance experience working for listed and unlisted companies such as Bank Australia, Jemena, MLC Life Insurance, Bupa and Kinetic Superannuation (Sunsuper/Australian Retirement Trust). Brooke is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia (GIA) and Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) with a focus on whole of company governance and exceeding Board expectations through a best fit and commercial approach. She has also sat on the GIA’s Victorian State Council for the last 7 years. Brooke’s qualifications include an Advanced Diploma of Business (Legal Practice) (RMIT), Graduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance (GIA), Diploma of Financial Services – Superannuation RG146, Company Directors Course (AICD) and Mt Eliza Business School – Leadership Development Programs.

Ed John 2

Ed John

Executive Manager, Stewardship

Ed has over sixteen years’ experience advising ACSI members on responsible investment issues. Ed is responsible for ACSI’s engagement with ASX-listed boards, policy formation and proxy voting research. With a background in law and financial services, Ed has extensive experience producing research and engaging with the boards of Australia’s largest companies on a range of ESG investment issues.

Ed holds a Bachelor of Laws with honours, Master of Commercial Law from the University of Melbourne and a Diploma in Financial Services (Financial Planning). He is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Nathan Robertson

Nathan Robertson

Executive Manager, Corporate Affairs

Nathan is Executive Manager, Corporate Affairs of the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI) and is responsible for leading the team that delivers for ACSI’s government relations, media advocacy, communications and events, and member engagement programs. Nathan focuses on highlighting the benefits of active ownership and promoting regulatory reforms on ACSI’s priority areas to government and the media. Nathan has worked in media relations, public policy and communications roles in a number of sectors including financial services. Nathan was formerly a parliamentary adviser, and, prior to that, held roles at Industry Super Australia and Essential Media. Nathan holds a Bachelor of International Relations from La Trobe University.

Hannah Armitage

Hannah Armitage

Manager, Research

Hannah is responsible for ACSI’s research programme.

Most recently Hannah worked in London at the Financial Reporting Council, the UK’s audit and reporting regulator, where her work covered corporate governance, stewardship policy and ESG reporting best practice. She has a background in public policy, having worked at the Australian Department of the Treasury on executive remuneration legislation, director duties and an organisational change initiative to encourage women to enter senior leadership.

Phoebe Bowen

Phoebe Bowen

Communications and Events Officer

Phoebe Bowen joined ACSI in April 2023. Phoebe has completed a Bachelor of Media and Communications, majoring in media industries and minoring in social media from LaTrobe University.

As Communications and Events Officer, she assists with planning ACSI events, develops member communications, and uses her digital media skills on social media design and delivery.

Adrienne Bisset

Adrienne Bisset

Research and Policy Analyst

Adrienne joined ACSI in 2022 as a Research and Policy Analyst.

Adrienne has completed a Bachelor of Commerce from Monash University and is currently undertaking a Masters of Global Studies at RMIT.  Prior to working at ACSI, Adrienne worked as an Investment Consulting Associate.

Kim Eden 1

Kim Eden

Manager, Communications

Kim joined ACSI in July 2008 to coordinate the organisation’s communications needs. Her primary responsibility is to manage ACSI’s member information, website, publications, marketing materials and event promotions.

Prior to ACSI, Kim was based in the UK for seven years working for international oil and gas company Statoil (now Equinor), as their Public Affairs Consultant.

Romy Faulkner 3

Romy Faulkner

Senior Analyst

Romy is a Senior Analyst in the public policy and advocacy team at ACSI. She works across a range of ACSI’s focus areas, including human rights, First Nations issues, biodiversity, just transitions and others. Prior to working at ACSI, she was an Advisor to the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva, focusing on new models of financing humanitarian work. Romy holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Law (with honours) from The University of Melbourne, a Masters in Migration Studies from Oxford University and a Masters of Law from Harvard University. Her Masters of Law focused on business and human rights, particularly corporate- community engagement. 

Jordy Finch

Jordy Finch

Senior Analyst

Jordan is an analyst in ACSI’s stewardship, proxy voting and equity research team. She works across a range of ACSI’s focus areas, with a particular focus on environmental issues including climate change and biodiversity. Prior to joining ACSI, Jordan worked as a commercial lawyer at Clarendon Lawyers primarily in mergers and acquisitions, corporate transactions and providing company law and governance advice to Australian-based and foreign companies. Jordan holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law (with honours) from Monash University and is admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria. She is currently completing a Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance at the University of New South Wales.

Fiona Manning

Fiona Manning

Manager, ESG Engagement (Climate)

Having joined the investment industry in 1999, Fiona has a diverse background with experience across multi-asset and multi-manager investment strategies, climate change and ESG research, equity analysis, investment communications and liability-driven investment. Prior to joining ACSI, Fiona had most recently been a portfolio manager of diversified, ethical and impact funds at AMP Capital and Apostle Funds Management. She was an equity analyst with clean energy fund manager Arkx Investment Management and an investment analyst at The Climate Institute. This was preceded by five years in the UK with Insight Investment where she focussed on liability-driven investment and, in Australia, working within the investment team at the Government Employee’s Superannuation Board (GESB) of Western Australia and as an investment reporting analyst with MLC Implemented Consulting. Fiona holds a Bachelor of Mathematics and Finance from the University of Technology, Sydney, and is also a CFA Charterholder.

MMW Picture

Maryann Mannix-White

Senior Events and Partnerships Manager

Maryann joined ACSI in January 2023 and is a seasoned professional in the realm of events, partnership cultivation, and stakeholder engagement. With a wealth of experience, she’s navigated diverse landscapes in both the Australian market and internationally, fostering an extensive network of business relationships. Her expertise spans across event management, sponsorship partnerships, and specialized projects, offering a comprehensive understanding of the significance of stakeholder engagement.

Ian McIlwraith

Ian McIIwraith

Manager, Engagement Implementation and Reporting

Ian is part of ACSI’s governance research, voting and company engagement program. An experienced business journalist by background, he is leading ACSI’s drive to increase the amount of women on company boards to a minimum 30%.
Quyen Ngo

Quyen Ngo

Finance Manager

Quyen provides assistance to the CFO/COO. Quyen joined ACSI in 2017 and her diverse career in finance ranges from roles in public practice, to commercial and non-profit organisations. 

Quyen graduated from RMIT University with a Bachelor of Business (Accountancy) and is a qualified Chartered Accountant. 

Chris Panagiotopoulos

Chris Panagiotopoulos

Engagement Team Assistant

Chris has been with ACSI since its formation in 2001, providing overall administrative support to the organisation. In addition to her responsibilities with ACSI, Chris also worked for IFS Legal, as executive assistant to the partners of the firm. After a short break, Chris re-joined ACSI providing administrative support to the governance research, voting and company engagement team.

Sunil Rao

Sunil Rao

ESG Manager

An experience lawyer, academic and advisor, Sunil has extensive experience on assessing corporate human rights frameworks. He has been part of the Government’s Modern Slavery Expert Advisory Group Member over the past few years and his most recent role has been at HealthShare Victorian providing subject matter expert advice to 30 public hospitals and health services on modern slavery risk and operational and legal compliance with Modern Slavery Act.

Brigid Richmond

Brigid Richmond

Research and Policy Analyst

Brigid is an analyst in the policy and research team at ACSI. She works across a range of ACSI’s topic areas, with a particular focus on climate change policy and diversity.

Prior to joining ACSI, Brigid worked in policy and research for both government and private sector organisations, focusing on energy, communications and media, and the digital economy.

Brigid holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Masters of Applied Commerce, and a Masters of Social Policy from the University of Melbourne.

Mary Spink

Mary Spink

ESG Analyst

Mary is an analyst in ACSI’s stewardship, proxy voting and equity research team.

Prior to joining ACSI, Mary worked in the sustainability & climate change team at Deloitte, focusing on supporting companies with ESG reporting advisory and assurance services.

Mary holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Queensland, and is also a qualified Chartered Accountant.

Cath Sullivan 1

Cath Sullivan

Manager, Media and Public Affairs 

Cath joined ACSI after a career largely spent in television news and current affairs, including as interview producer for the ABC’s Lateline program and stints at Channel 7 and BBC World Service TV.

She has also been a parliamentary advisor, a writer and a copy editor, among other things.

 
Christine Tang

Christine Tang 

ESG Analyst

Christine joined ACSI in 2022 as an analyst in the stewardship, proxy voting and equity research team. 

Prior to joining ACSI, Christine worked in the financial services assurance team at PriceWaterhouseCoopers as well as in performance audit of the Victorian government at the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office. 

Christine holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Master of Finance from the University of Melbourne. 

1Phoenix Tang

Phoenix Tang 

Finance Officer

Phoenix joined ACSI in 2022 and has worked in finance roles in a number of industries. Her primary responsibility is to provide assistance to the finance manager. 

Phoenix graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Commerce.

[["Accountability"],["Advocacy"],["AISC"],["Board"],["CEO pay"],["Climate change"],["Code of conduct"],["Culture"],["Directors"],["Diversity"],["Engagement"],["Environment"],["ESG"],["First Nations"],["Framework"],["Governance"],["Hermes"],["Investment"],["Investors"],["Legal"],["Modern slavery"],["Opinion"],["Policy"],["PRI"],["Remuneration"],["Reporting"],["Safety"],["Shareholder"],["Social"],["Stewardship"],["Submission"],["Sustainability"],["Transparency"],["Whistleblowing"],["Workforce"]][["accountability"],["advocacy"],["aisc"],["board"],["ceo-pay"],["climate-change"],["code-of-conduct"],["culture"],["directors"],["diversity"],["engagement"],["environment"],["esg"],["first-nations"],["framework"],["governance"],["hermes"],["investment"],["investors"],["legal"],["modern-slavery"],["opinion"],["policy"],["pri"],["remuneration"],["reporting"],["safety"],["shareholder"],["social"],["stewardship"],["submission"],["sustainability"],["transparency"],["whistleblowing"],["workforce"]]