The National Reconstruction Fund Corporation has appointed experienced investment fund manager Dr Mary Manning as its chief investment officer, who brings more than 25 years’ of experience to the role.
Dr Manning has spent the last three years at Alphinity Investment Management as portfolio manager for the global fund and for its global sustainable fund. Currently based in Sydney, she had previously spent nine and a half years as a portfolio manager at Ellerston Capital.
During the latest round of Senate Estimates, National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC) chief operating officer Rebecca Manen said more than 140 investment proposals are being “actively managed” while the corporation is “actively working” with 30 potential co-investment partners.
In a joint statement, NRFC chair Martijn Wilder and chief executive Ivan Power said they are “delighted to have someone of Mary’s calibre to join the NRFC and lead its investment strategy”.
Dr Manning was also previously based in Singapore as Oaktree Capital Management’s vice-president for emerging markets, and has also been based New York as an emerging markets analyst in the same area.
Dr Manning will start work at the National Reconstruction Fund in July.
Agricultural expert Dr Elizabeth Woods began her three-year term as chair of the federal government’s Fisheries Research and Development Corporation on June 3, bringing a wealth of executive, committee, and board leadership experience.
Dr Woods retired from her position as director-general of the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in early 2021. She is currently chair of the Australian Institute of Marine Science Council and a commissioner at the Australian Centre for International Agricultural research.
The Department of Home Affairs has appointed Tharanie Vithanage as first assistant secretary strategy and policy, who moves from Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Meanwhile, at the Australian Taxation Office has promoted Helen Wilson to the role of assistant commissioner for the system integrity program.
The Academy of Technology Science and Engineering has appointed Melbourne-based engineering firm Aurecon’s chief executive William Cox as co-chair of its Elevate Advisory Group. Elevate is a STEM scholarship program for women and non-binary people that is funded by the Department of Industry and Defence.
Industry representative group Blockchain Australia is rebranding to become the Digital Economy Council of Australia as incumbent chief executive Simon Callaghan steps down. He is being replaced by Amy-Rose Goodey who is currently the chief operating officer of the group. Ms Goodey is also on the Australian Securities and Investments Commission’s digital finance advisory panel.
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner has been appointed to the eight-member executive committee of the International Conference of Information Commissioners, an international body that aims to “foster the protection and the promotion of access to public information as a fundamental pillar of social, economic and democratic governance” according to the Australian regulator.
