Our investment team has deep expertise and transaction experience across all asset classes and operates in a collaborative and insight-driven environment, focused on delivering strong long-term returns for members.
Investments senior leadership team
Meet the senior executives who lead our global investment capability.-
Our people
Shaun ManuellChief Investment Officer
Shaun is responsible for leading AustralianSuper’s investment teams to deliver its investment program. Shaun joined AustralianSuper in 2013 as Head of Australian Equities and was appointed Chief Investment Officer on 1 July 2026.
Before joining AustralianSuper, Shaun was the Chief Investment Officer and Head of Private Clients at ASX listed company Equity Trustees for 10 years. Prior to this he worked at JB Were and Cazenove & Co in London, having started his career as a solicitor in Melbourne. He was previously a director of Navitas from 2019 to 2021.
Shaun has a Bachelor of Economics/Law from Monash University and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) receiving Deans Honours, from Melbourne Business School. He is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Damian MoloneyChief Global Officer
As the Chief Global Officer Damian leads the strategy, operations, governance and performance of the Fund’s UK and US offices ensuring effective delivery of the Fund’s strategy in these international jurisdictions.
Based in London, Damian is also responsible for overall management of the Fund’s international offices in the UK and US. Damian joined the Fund in 2018 and has more than 30 years of experience at the most senior levels of the investment and superannuation industries.
Prior to joining AustralianSuper he was Chief Executive Officer of IFM Investors and also Chief Executive Officer of Frontier Advisors and responsible for the overall management of each organisation. He was also a consultant in the Asset Consulting Services division of Towers Perrin and a Lecturer in Finance at the University of Melbourne.
Damian holds a Master of Commerce (Hons) from the University of Melbourne and a Bachelor of Business (Banking and Finance) from Monash University.
Alistair BarkerHead of Asset Allocation
Alistair is responsible for the Fund’s asset allocation strategy across all of our diversified options, as well as the oversight of key investment parameters, such as return objectives, performance, risk, liquidity and cost.
He joined AustralianSuper in 2008 and has more than 25 years’ financial markets experience, from direct investing through to high-level strategy and asset allocation.
Prior to joining AustralianSuper, Alistair was an Investment Director at Hastings Funds Management, where he was responsible for portfolio construction, executed a range of infrastructure and other private market investments and served as a company director on several investee companies.
Alistair is a Visiting Scholar at Stanford University in the United States.
Alistair holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours in both Finance and Actuarial Studies) from the University of Melbourne and is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia.
Katie DeanHead of Fixed Income & Currency
Katie oversees the Fund’s portfolio of fixed income, currency and cash. She joined AustralianSuper in August 2014 and worked in strategy and portfolio manager positions in the FIC team before being appointed to her current role.
Katie has over 20 years of experience in financial markets and economics. Prior to joining AustralianSuper, Katie spent over a decade as a market strategist and economist with ANZ, including time as the Head of Australian Macroeconomics and Head of Industry Research. Katie commenced her career at Commonwealth Treasury, working in the Australian and International economic forecasting teams.
Katie holds a Bachelor of Economics (Honours).
Mark HargravesHead of International & Private Equity
Mark is responsible for leading the Fund’s International Equities and Private Equity teams, who are based in the UK, US and Australia.
His strategic responsibilities are focused on developing internal investment capabilities and ensuring the portfolio construction process can deliver on targeted performance objectives at scale.
Mark is also a member of AustralianSuper’s asset allocation committee and the senior leadership executive team for the Fund’s Investments division.
Mark has more than 25 years’ experience in asset management. Prior to joining AustralianSuper in 2023, he spent 23 years at AXA Investment Managers. At AXA IM Mark managed a variety of equity strategies focussed mainly on institutional clients. In 2012 Mark became Head of Global Equities at AXA IM, before becoming Co-Head of Investments for Equity in 2016 and then Head of Equities in 2021.
Mark completed his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Bristol and in 2000 completed his Master of Finance from the London Business School.
Chandu BhindiChief Liquidity Officer
Chandu oversees treasury, exposure management and trade execution across public markets, including equities, fixed income, currency and derivatives. He is also responsible for developing new capabilities which leverage the Fund’s competitive advantages of growth, size, scale and long-term investment horizon.
Chandu is a senior finance executive with over 25 years’ industry and leadership experience across treasury, retail banking, wealth management and investment banking.
He joined AustralianSuper from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, where he held various roles, including Head of Funding, Liquidity and Capital Management, and was also Treasurer for 5 years at their New Zealand subsidiary, ASB Bank.
Chandu has a Bachelor of Business from Charles Sturt University.
Justine O’ConnellHead of Portfolio Strategy and Risk
Justine is accountable for the strategy, oversight and risk management of the Fund’s investment portfolio. This includes the design and oversight of the portfolio, as well as the identification, management and mitigation of investment-related risks.
Her team works closely with senior leaders and forums including the CIO, Investments Executive, Investment Committee, Investment Review Committee and Risk and Compliance Committee to inform strategic decision-making and risk management.
Prior to AustralianSuper, Justine spent 10 years at Frontier Advisors as Head of Debt and Alternatives and Principal Consultant. She has also worked at Willis Towers Watson and Goldman Sachs.
Justine holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from the University of Melbourne and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Our investment teams
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Asset Allocation
The Asset Allocation team determines the asset allocation for our investment options, aiming to exceed performance objectives and maximise returns for members through active management.
The team generates actionable insights through in-depth macroeconomic, thematic and investment strategy research. These insights are integrated into a clear allocation target for each portfolio, aiming to meet their risk/return objectives.
The Asset Allocation team has dedicated specialists based in Australia, the United Kingdom and China, and comprises 4 key teams:
- Macroeconomic & Thematic Research: Undertake research on major economies and secular themes.
- Investment Strategy: Identify how asset classes are likely to perform to inform how we position the portfolio.
- Portfolio Construction: Translate asset class views into asset allocation targets to meet our return objectives.
- Investment Risk: Integrate key risks into investment decisions to ensure we are taking enough risk to reach our return objectives.
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Portfolio Strategy & Risk
Our Portfolio Strategy & Risk team is responsible for the design, management and oversight of our Investment Options to ensure they meet their risk and return objectives. The team also oversees investment-related risks across the portfolio and manages the governance, risk and compliance framework for the broader Investments team.
Discover our Investment Options -
International & Private Equity
This team manages the Fund’s largest portfolio, comprising Listed International Equities and Private Equity.
Our dedicated International Equities team uses a robust portfolio construction framework and fundamental research-driven approach to actively identify and invest in high conviction companies.
Our specialist Private Equity team builds strategic partnerships with some of the world’s best private equity investors, investing in funds, co-investment and co-underwrites.
Learn more about our equities portfolio -
Australian Equities
Our Australian Equities team is the largest active fund manager of listed equities in Australia.4 The team leverages deep sector expertise and research to identify high-quality companies with sustainable competitive advantages. The team’s rigorous investment process and company engagement gives them the conviction to own large positions in companies for a long time – and to support long-term growth and value-creation strategies.
Our equities portfolio -
Mid Risk (Real Assets & Private Credit)
Our Mid Risk portfolio is a core component of the Fund’s investment strategy, comprising investments in Real Assets and Private Credit. The team takes a research-led approach to investing focusing on long-term investment opportunities across key investment themes.
Learn more about our Mid Risk portfolio -
Fixed Income & Currency
The Fixed Income & Currency team actively manages the Fund’s fixed income and currency portfolios to optimise returns based on global market conditions.
Learn more about our Fixed Income & Currency portfolio -
Liquidity & Implementation
Our Liquidity & Implementation team manages the Fund’s Cash portfolio and brings together the market-facing disciplines of dealing, exposure management and treasury.
Learn more about our Liquidity and Implementation team -
ESG & Stewardship
This team is responsible for the implementation of the Fund’s ESG and Stewardship program. They work to integrate consideration of relevant ESG factors into our investment decision-making and stewardship processes with the application of our approach varying by asset class and investment characteristics. They also work with other investors and industry groups to gain insights and broader influence on ESG issues.
Learn more about our approach to ESG
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Disclaimers
- Thinking Ahead Institute, Global Top 300 Pension Funds, September 2025.
- AustralianSuper Balanced investment option compared to the SuperRatings Fund Crediting Rate Survey - SR50 Balanced (60–76) Index to 31 December 2025. Investment returns aren’t guaranteed. Past performance isn’t a reliable indicator of future returns. Returns from equivalent investment options of the ARF and STA super funds are used for periods before 1 July 2006. Balanced Option inception date was 1 August 1985.
- As at 31 December 2025
- Frontier Advisors, January 2025