Chris joined the Guardians in 2012, working first in the macro strategy team before taking up his current role as a Senior Investment Strategist in the Asset Allocation team. In this role he is responsible for supporting the Reference Portfolio, the Fund’s long-term benchmark, modelling liquidity risk, as well as capital allocation (risk budgeting) across the Fund’s value-add activities. Chris was instrumental in the development of the Fund’s Climate Change Investment Strategy, devising the methodology used to decarbonise its passive equity holdings. Before his time at the Guardians Chris worked as an economist with Gareth Morgan Investments and Infometrics Ltd.

Michael joined the Fund in 2005 to establish the Fund’s Responsible Investment processes. Since then, he has switched his focus to the Guardians’ risk requirements and has been instrumental in establishing the Risk Record framework, the development of the in-house trading for liquidity and reference portfolio completion. Prior to starting at the Guardians, Michael worked for the Reserve Bank of New Zealand in Wellington before moving on to Morgan Stanley, Westpac Investment Management and ABN Amro.

Prior to joining the Fund in 2011, Garry worked with large financial services organisations in New Zealand, as the Chief Internal Auditor at the ASB Group of Companies. His responsibilities covered risk management and leading the internal audit and credit review functions of the business. At the Fund, Garry heads Internal Audit and is a member of the Risk Committee.

Prior to joining the Fund as Head of Human Resources in 2012, Ms Austin was a Senior Associate with Russell McVeagh, specialising in commercial litigation. She has also worked for the Financial Services Authority in London. Ms Austin has a LLB/BA from the University of Auckland.

Sarah joined the Guardians in 2007 from Westpac/BT Funds Management where she was senior legal counsel/company secretary for the Westpac wealth management companies. Prior to this Sarah was a Senior Associate at Minter Ellison Rudd Watts, and before that DLA Phillips Fox, specialising in funds management/superannuation and commercial law.

Paula joined the Guardians in July 2021, from ASB Bank where she was the Chief Internal Auditor. Paula has 25 years experience in financial services and banking, starting her career as an auditor with professional services firm Deloitte and holding various executive finance and general management roles with AMP, ANZ and ASB. Paula is a Chartered Accountant, and has a BCA majoring in Accounting and Commercial Law from Victoria University.