Donald Williams

Founder and Chief Investment Officer, Australian Equities Fund

Don has more than twenty years’ experience in the world’s financial markets working in research, trading and funds management.   

Immediately prior to establishing Platypus Asset Management in 1998, Don spent four years with Credit Suisse First Boston in proprietary trading. Don’s primary focus was managing a trading book in equities and commodities as well as conducting the fundamental research for the group’s commodity positions. From 1990-1994 he worked for AMP Investments Ltd., initially as a commodities analyst then as a portfolio manager. The commodities research role involved forecasting a number of key variables that were employed by the economics and equity groups. In 1993, Don moved to a specialist small companies team that managed small companies’ portfolios’ totaling A$500 million. 

Don holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics, Sydney University and is an Affiliate of the Securities Institute of Australia.

Simon Bonouvrie

Portfolio Manager, Top 100 Fund, Australian Equities Fund

Simon has been working in banking and finance for more than ten years and joined Platypus in February 2005. Prior to Platypus he was with ANZ Banking Group for three years in the capacity of Industry Analyst within their Institutional Banking team. Here he performed industry due diligence as well as credit analysis. Simon began his career in finance at the Commonwealth Bank as a graduate in their Equities division, soon after migrating to their Institutional Banking division as an Associate.

Simon's qualifications include a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering (Hons, USyd), Bachelor of Commerce (USyd), and a Masters of Commerce (Finance) (UNSW).

Jelena Stevanovic

Analyst

Jelena joined Platypus in October 2008 from Deloitte where she worked in Corporate Finance as a Valuations Senior Analyst; Jelena had been with Deloitte since 2005. In this role Jelena was involved in various industry and company valuation projects and the provision of supporting research reports. Prior to this Jelena worked in Deloitte’s Pricing and Economics Group, where she was involved in assessing international related party transactions, debt pricing, and the preparation of supporting research reports.

Jelena holds a Bachelor of Economics (USyd) and a Graduate Diploma of Tax Law (U Syd).

Jasmin Zhao

Quantitative Analyst

Since joining Platypus in mid June 2008, Jasmin has been working on the expansion of quantitative capabilities in the areas of database development, risk and performance reporting. She is also assisting with the in house quantitative research projects focusing on portfolio simulation and back testing. Jasmin worked previously as a research analyst with Van Eyk Research, Three Pillars portfolio managers.

Jasmin holds a Master of commerce (Finance) and a Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honor) from The University of New South Wales.

Peter Brooke

Portfolio Manager, Quantitative Growth Fund

Peter joined Platypus Asset Management in January 2008, and in addition to managing the quantitative portfolios, is responsible for all aspects of quantitative research. From May 2006, Peter worked as a Quantitative Analyst with MIR Investment Management. During this period, he worked on various research projects and in quantitative portfolio management.

Peter holds an MSci degree in Physics and Astronomy from the University of Durham, UK and has a PhD in Physics from Macquarie University, Sydney.

Gary Adamson

Chief Operating Officer

Gary has over twenty years experience in financial markets. Prior to joining Platypus in 2003 he worked privately, advising high net worth individuals in regard to global portfolio investment. Until year 2000 Gary spent seven years with Credit Suisse First Boston, the latter four years as Director, Head of Foreign Exchange distribution for Non Japanese Asia, Australia and NZ.

At Platypus Gary’s role also encompasses growth of funds under management and institutional client relationships.

Prasad Patkar

Portfolio Manager, Top 100 Fund, Australian Equities Fund

Prasad has over eight year’s investment management experience.

Prior to joining Platypus Prasad was the Chief Investment Officer with Audant Investments Pty Ltd, joining that company in 2001. The role carried executive responsibility for the performance of all asset classes for the Whyte Family Office including listed equities, alternative investments, property, operating businesses and private equity investments. 

Prasad holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Bombay University is a Graduate Member of the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India and holds an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management, Sydney.

Jason Sedawie

Analyst

Jason joined Platypus Asset Management in May 2007 from KPMG, where he was a Senior Accountant with the Audit team. Jason had been working with institutions in the areas of balance sheet and financial statement analytical reviews, the testing of controls and other audit functions.

Jason has a Bachelor of International Finance from Griffith University, a Postgraduate Diploma of Chartered Accounting and a Diploma of Financial Markets, from FINSIA. Jason also received the highest achievement Morningstar Prize for Managed Investments, highest achievement William Buck Prize for Analysing Financial Statements, and is a member of the ICAA and the CFA Institute.

Amy Hallihan

Senior Manager, Client Services

Amy joined Platypus in July 2010 from Australian Unity Investments, where she managed the Investment Operations team responsible for portfolio information, trade execution, compliance monitoring and performance calculations. Amy’s career began at KPMG, working in Information Risk Management and Financial Services Consulting for a range of clients, undertaking risk reviews, business process reviews, systems implementations and the development of business cases. Amy holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Deakin), Bachelor of Science (Deakin) and a Graduate Certificate of Change Management from the Australian Graduate School of Management, Sydney.

Steven Best

Client Relationship Manager

Steven joined Platypus in 2000 and is responsible for monitoring performance and reporting to Institutional clients, as well as Compliance in all areas within the business. Prior to this he spent two years at Vodafone and nine years at the Commonwealth Bank in administration and operational roles. 

Brendan Warton

Portfolio Administrator

Brendan joined Platypus in June 2007 and is a newcomer to the financial markets. Brendan is responsible for the administration of our Managed Discretionary Accounts.

He has a Bachelor of Business from the University of Western Sydney majoring in Economics and Finance.

Full biographies are available upon request.