Our people
Board of Directors
Melissa Holzberger
Non-executive Director (Independent)
BA, LLB, LLM (Resources Law), Dip International Nuclear Law, GDLP, FGIA, GAICD
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Melissa Holzberger
Non-executive Director (Independent)
BA, LLB, LLM (Resources Law), Dip International Nuclear Law, GDLP, FGIA, GAICD
© 2024
Argo Investments Limited
ABN 35 007 519 520
Non-executive Chairman (Independent)
BEc, FAICD
Russell Higgins joined the Board in 2011 and was appointed Chairman on 1 July 2018. He is also a member of the Audit & Risk Committee.
Russell is an experienced company director who has worked at very senior levels of both government and private sectors. Russell has extensive experience in the energy sector and in the development of economic and fiscal policy, both in Australia and internationally. He is also Chairman of Argo Global Listed Infrastructure Ltd and Telstra Foundation Ltd. He was previously a non-executive Director of APA Group, Telstra Corporation Ltd, Ricegrowers Ltd and Leighton Holdings Ltd.
Russell had a highly-acclaimed career with the Commonwealth of Australia Public Service and was Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Energy Task Force from 2003 to 2004. Prior to this, he was Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Department of Industry, Science and Resources; after being Executive Director, Resources and Energy Group, Department of Primary Industries and Energy; and previously had held various positions in Treasury and the Department of Finance, and worked at the OECD in Paris.
In addition, Russell is a former Chairman of Snowy Hydro-Electric Scheme, Cooperative Research Centre for Coal in Sustainable Development, APEC Energy Working Group; a former non-executive Director of Export Finance and Insurance Corporation, CSIRO, Austrade, Australian Industry Development Corporation, Australian Biodiesel Group Ltd, Australian Sports Commission; and a former member of the Australian Government Joint Economic Forecasting Group, National Grid Management Council and COAG Gas Reform Task Force. In 2006-07, Russell was a member of the Prime Ministerial Task Group on Emissions Trading.
Non-executive Director
(Independent)
BCom, FCA, FFin, FAICD
Christopher Cuffe joined the Board in 2016 and is a member of the Audit & Risk Committee. He has more than 30 years of experience in wealth management practices. He was CEO of Colonial First State leading the company from a start-up operation to become Australia’s largest investment manager.
Later he became the CEO of Challenger Financial Services Group and subsequently headed up Challenger’s Wealth Management business.
Chris is currently Chairman of Hearts & Minds Investments and Australian Philanthropic Services. He is also a non-executive director of Global Value Fund, Keyview Financial Group and The James Fairfax Foundation. He was previously a non-executive director of Antipodes Global Investment Company, Class and UniSuper.
In 2007, Chris was inducted into the Australian Fund Manager’s Hall of Fame for services to the investment industry.
Non-executive Director
(Independent)
GAICD
Elizabeth Lewin was appointed to the Board on 1 July 2018 and is currently a member of the Remuneration Committee.
She has over 25 years of international experience in the financial services sector, with an extensive background in wealth management, investment banking and superannuation as a director and a senior executive.
Her executive experience includes leading large investment banking and wealth management teams in Europe and Australia with UBS Wealth Management.
Elizabeth is also a Non-executive Director of Australian Chamber Orchestra and Kaldor Public Art Projects and a trustee of the Art Gallery of NSW and St. Vincent’s Clinic Foundation.
Non-executive Director
(Independent)
BA, LLB, LLM (Resources Law), Dip International Nuclear Law,
GDLP, FGIA, GAICD
Melissa Holzberger joined the Board in 2023. She is a member of the Remuneration Committee.
Melissa is an experienced director and commercial, energy and resources lawyer with over 20 years’ experience in the international energy and resources sector.
She is currently a Non-executive Director of Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) and Karoon Energy (ASX: KAR); and a former Non-executive Director of Silex Systems Ltd and Andromeda Metals Ltd. She has also served on government, public and not-for-profit boards including the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency’s Radiation Health and Safety Advisory Council (current), Tyre Stewardship Australia, Australian Livestock Export Corporation and Karting Australia.
Melissa holds a Master of Laws in Resources Law; a Diploma in International Nuclear Law (Hons); a Bachelor of Laws and Arts; and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice. She is a graduate of the University of Oxford’s Leading Sustainable Corporations; a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors; and a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia.
Non-executive Director
(Independent)
BCom, MAcc, GAICD
Lianne Buck joined the Board in 2022 as an independent Non-executive Director. She is currently Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee and a Non-executive Director of Argo’s wholly-owned subsidiary Argo Service Company Pty Ltd.
Lianne has over 20 years of experience in Australian and global investment markets. She commenced her executive career in Canada as a Chartered Accountant before working in various roles for Macquarie Group, Westpac Banking Corporation, Hastings Funds Management and NSW Treasury Corporation where she was Head of Direct Investments and Infrastructure.
Lianne has valuable board experience and is currently also a Non-executive Director of AusNet Services and St. George Community Housing. Previously, she served on the boards of ISPT, Spark Infrastructure, Australian Pacific Airports Corporation and Utilities Trust of Australia.
Lianne holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Non-executive Director (Independent)
BA(Actuarial Studies), FAICD
Peter Warne joined the Board in 2022 and is Chair of the Remuneration Committee.
He is an experienced director with extensive knowledge of the financial services and investment banking sectors. An actuary by background, his executive career included a number of senior roles at Bankers Trust Australia, including as head of its global Financial Markets Group.
Peter’s previous non-executive director roles include as Chairman of Macquarie Group, ALE Property Group, OFX Group and New South Wales Treasury Corporation. He was also a non-executive director of Crowe Horwath, Sydney Futures Exchange and ASX.
Peter is currently Chairman of IPH and a non-executive director of UniSuper and Allens.
Managing Director
BEng, GdipAppFin(SecInst), GAICD
Jason Beddow was appointed Managing Director in February 2014 after four years as Chief Executive Officer. He has over 20 years’ experience in the investment industry.
After completing an engineering degree while working in the mining industry, Jason became a research analyst in the resources sector with Hartley Poynton and Deutsche Bank. He then moved to funds management in 2001 when he joined Argo as an investment analyst. He was appointed Chief Investment Officer of Argo in 2008 and Chief Executive Officer in 2010. He is also Managing Director of Argo Global Listed Infrastructure.
Chief Operating Officer
BEc, CA, FGIA, GAICD
Tim Binks joined Argo in 2007, has been Company Secretary since 2010 and was appointed Chief Operating Officer in 2015. He is a Chartered Accountant and a Chartered Company Secretary, with an extensive background in a variety of roles within the funds management, stockbroking and accounting sectors.
His experience in Australia includes audit and insolvency roles with Coopers & Lybrand (now PricewaterhouseCoopers), institutional stockbroking with ABN Amro and retail stockbroking with Goldman Sachs JB Were. He also spent 10 years in London, working in management accounting, stock lending and equity trading roles across UK and European share markets with AMP Asset Management (now Henderson) and Capital Group.
Chief Financial Officer
BScFin, CPA, GAICD
Stephen Mortimer joined Argo in 2012 as Operations Officer and was promoted to Finance Officer in 2023. In 2024, Stephen was promoted as Chief Financial Officer. He is an experienced accountant and also manages the Company’s information technology requirements.
Prior to joining Argo, Stephen worked in accounting firms Deloitte and Schulz Hobbs, providing taxation, accounting and general business advice to clients across a range of industries.
He studied finance at Adelphi University US, while on athletic scholarship, and was a co-captain of the 2014 Australian Men’s Lacrosse team. He is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).
Senior Investment Officer
BCom (Hons), CFA, GAICD
Andy Forster joined Argo in 2010 as an Investment Analyst and was promoted to Senior Investment Officer in 2015. Andy has over 20 years experience as an analyst and portfolio manager.
Prior to joining the Company, Andy was a founding partner and portfolio manager at boutique fund manager, Cannae Capital. His experience also includes portfolio manager positions at Deutsche Asset Management, State Street Global Advisors and as an equities analyst at Westpac Investment Management.
Investment Analyst
BEc
Paul Frost re-joined Argo in January 2015 as an Investment Analyst. He previously served as an Investment Executive at Argo from 1997-2003. Paul has over 18 years’ experience as an investment analyst and portfolio manager.
Prior to re-joining the Company, Paul was a portfolio manager at boutique fund manager, PM Capital. His experience also includes roles as a senior portfolio manager at Investors Mutual, credit research manager in Westpac’s Institutional Banking Group and several years in chartered accounting.
Investment Analyst
BCom, GAICD
Brydie Lloyd-Roberts joined Argo in 2004 as an Investment Analyst. Brydie has over 15 years’ experience in equities research across the market for listed investment companies.
Prior to this Brydie worked at investment bank UBS AG. She has a Commerce degree from the University of Sydney, an Advanced Certificate of Analysis from UTS and has completed level one of the CFA program.
Investment Analyst
BA (Hons)
Accounting and Finance, CFA
Colin Whitehead joined the company in 2012 as an Investment Analyst and has over 15 years of industry experience.
Before joining Argo, Colin was Head of Research at a leading Australian equities research house. His earlier experience includes analyst roles with State Street Bank and BNP Paribas in Sydney, prior to NatWest Investments and State Street Bank in London. Colin is a Chartered Financial Analyst with an undergraduate degree in Accounting and Finance.
Investment Analyst
BCom, CFA
Andrew Moller joined Argo in 2017 as an Investment Analyst and has over 10 years’ experience analysing listed companies across multiple sectors and regions.
Before joining the Company, Andrew worked as an equity research analyst at Shaw and Partners. His experience also includes roles as a Director in the UBS equities research team, an analyst in Morgan Stanley’s equity research team and various accounting roles. Andrew is a Chartered Financial Analyst and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of New South Wales.
Junior Investment Analyst
BEc, CFA
James Sewell joined Argo in 2022 as a Junior Investment Analyst.
Prior to this, James was a research analyst in the economics team at property consulting firm Urbis. He has an economics degree from the University of Sydney and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Legal Officer
LLB(Hons), BCom(Acc), GDipLegal, AGIA ACG (CS)
Josephine Chipperfield joined Argo as in-house legal counsel in 2014.
Josephine is an experienced corporate and commercial lawyer whose specialist skills include risk, company secretarial and financial services industry compliance.
She holds a current legal practising certificate and a graduate diploma in applied corporate governance.
She has previously held legal and commercial roles at ElectraNet, Thomson Geer and Ferrier Hodgson.
Communications Manager
LLB BA GradDipJournalism
Meredith Hemsley joined Argo in 2018 as the Company’s inaugural Communications Manager. She has more than 15 years’ experience in corporate communications, investor relations and stakeholder engagement across a range of industries, including the listed investment company (LIC) sector.
Meredith is a qualified lawyer previously working for a multi-national law firm in Western Australia. While on a student exchange in Washington DC, she interned for a senior US Congresswoman.
In addition to her law degree, Meredith completed an arts degree (communications and history double major), and a post graduate diploma in journalism.
Communications Officer
Lesley-May Josevski joined Argo in 2017. She has more than a decade of marketing and sales experience with extensive knowledge and experience in design and web content applications.
Previously, Lesley-May managed marketing and sales for a distribution company in the healthcare industry. She also has considerable experience providing administrative support for companies, including Jones Lang LaSalle, Morgan Lewis, Mysis and Osborne Clarke in London.
Lesley-May holds qualifications in business and marketing from the Australian College of Business and Management.
Finance Officer
BBus (Fin)
Kody Watts joined Argo in 2023 as an Accountant and was promoted to Finance Officer in 2024.
Prior to this, Kody was an associate at a wealth advisory firm. He has a Finance degree from the University of South Australia and is currently completing his CPA program.
Administration
Cheryl Day joined Argo as an investment clerk in 1994 and during her more than 30 years with the Company has undertaken a number of roles including investment clerk, share registry, receptionist and administration.
Cheryl has over 30 years’ experience in the application of the Hiportfolio investment and fund accounting software. More recently, Cheryl has assisted with the set-up and management of the Company website.
Previously, Cheryl was with the State Government Insurance Commission (SGIC) for seven years as part of the investment team.
Administration
Sharon Markwick joined Argo as a receptionist in 1985 and during her more than 35 years with the Company has undertaken a number of roles including reception, share registry, administration and payroll.
Sharon has seen many changes during this time, especially in technology. Sharon’s skills and experience allow her to assist in several areas across the Company.
Sharon worked for a chartered accounting firm prior to joining Argo.
