Board of directors

Michael Cole

Chairman

Mr Cole is a Graduate of the University of Sydney in Economics and possesses a Master of Economics. He is also a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australia. Mr Cole had over 30 years experience in the investment banking and funds management industry. He was an Executive Director/EVP at Bankers Trust Australia for over a decade. Mr Cole is currently Chair of Platinum Asset Management Ltd, Ironbark Capital Limited, and IMB Ltd (Illawarra Mutual Building Society). As well, Mr Cole is a director of NSW Treasury-Corp and a director of State Super Financial Services Australia Ltd. In 2007 Mr Cole retired as Chair of SAS Trustee Corporation, a position he held from 2000.

Ian Martens

Mr Martens is a chartered accountant and was senior partner at BDO Chartered Accountants (SA), where he is now a consultant. Throughout his career, Mr Martens has advised a broad range of public and private companies on financial measurement and reporting, strategy development and evaluation and merger and acquisitions activities. Mr Martens retired as Chairman of RAA Insurance Ltd in March 2008 and is currently a director of RAA Investments Pty Ltd and the Royal Automobile Association of SA Inc. Mr Martens is Chairman of the CLIL Audit and Compliance Committee.

Ian Moore

Mr Moore has extensive experience in investment banking and structured finance. Mr Moore was Head of Corporate Finance at Bankers Trust Investment Bank where he was responsible for all forms of corporate debt, project debt and asset backed debt financings. Mr Moore is currently a director of Artesian Capital Management and a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia and the Institute of Actuaries in London. Mr Moore is a member of the CLIL Audit and Compliance Committee and Chairman of the CLIL Infrastructure Investment Committee.

Geoff McWilliam

Mr McWilliam has had an extensive career in the Australian property investment industry. Most recently, Mr McWilliam spent 10 years building the Commonwealth Bank's property funds management division, Colonial First State Property. As head of this business, he was responsible for the management and performance of over $16 billion in listed and unlisted property funds. Prior to this, Mr McWilliam spent 23 years with Lend Lease Corporation in a variety of senior management roles. Mr McWilliam is a director of Lend Lease Funds management Limited, Lend Lease Asian Retail Investments Limited, Lend Lease Real Estate Investments Limited, St Laurence Limited NZ), Dunmore Lang College Limited, the Gandel Group Limited and the Dusseldorp Skills Forum Incorporated, and a Fellow of the Australian Property Institute. Mr McWilliam is Chairman of the CLIL Property Investment Committee.

Rob Woods

Joint Chief Executive, Funds Management

Mr Woods is Chief Executive, Funds Management at Challenger. In this role, Mr Woods is responsible for managing Challenger's $10 billion portfolio of investments in direct property, infrastructure and fixed income. The Asset Management business manages assets for third party investors, policyholders and shareholders, generating spread and fee based income. Prior to joining Challenger, Mr Woods was a founder of Zurich Capital Markets Asia, where he was responsible for the alternative asset business. Prior to this, Mr Woods spent 11 years with Bankers Trust in investment banking. Mr Woods is a member of the CLIL Infrastructure Investment Committee.

Brendan O'Connor

Chief Financial Officer, Funds Management

Mr O'Connor is the Chief Financial Officer for Challenger's Funds Management division. Mr O'Connor is responsible for the services that support the Funds Management business as well as the financial management and reporting for the Funds Management division's funds, including CIF, CDI. CKT and CWT. Prior to joining Challenger in 2006, Mr O'Connor held several senior finance roles with Westpac Banking Corporation. Prior to this, Mr O'Connor spent over six years at KPMG.