Scott Bennett, Head of Quantitative Research and Client Solutions, Australasia, Northern Trust Asset Management

Scott is Head of Quantitative Research and Client Solutions, Australasia where he is responsible for working with institutional clients across Australian and Global Equity markets.

Scott has over 18 years of investment experience in investment markets. Prior to joining Northern Trust Asset Management, Scott lead the global quantitative research effort at Russell Investments, where he was responsible for over $45 billion in AUM across single factor, multi-factor, factor timing, ESG and portfolio completion strategies. He was previously responsible for managing over $7bn in Australian equity portfolios that included After-Tax, Smart Beta and Multi-Manager strategies.

Scott has been published in several academic journals covering ESG, Risk Measurement and Portfolio Construction. In 2010, Scott won the JASSA prize for “best paper” for his work on Active Share across Australian equity managers.

Scott earned a Bachelor of Business (Economics & Finance) with Distinction from RMIT University and a Masters of Finance (Applied Finance) from UNSW Business School.

Zachary May, Executive Director, Strategy and Policy, IFM Investors

Zak May is an Executive Director at IFM Investors, and is part of IFM’s global management team. Zak is the co-lead of IFM’s climate change strategy.  He is also responsible for leading IFM’s public policy program and supporting the firm’s strategy to represent a distinct form of capital that delivers superior sustainable long-term investor returns in a manner that respects the environment, labour rights and the communities in which IFM’s assets operate.

Zak joined IFM with significant experience in both the public and private sector. Prior to joining IFM, Zak was Director of Policy for Industry Super Australia, where Zak led the development and advocacy of the organisation’s policy positions, research function, and strategic projects on matters of common interest among the industry superannuation funds. Before relocating to Australia, Zak served on the executive staff of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, after working as an attorney at Shearman & Sterling in San Francisco and at Weil, Gotshal & Manges in New York.  Zak is a frequent participant in industry, government, and civil society expert panels.

Zak holds a doctor of jurisprudence from New York University, and is admitted to practice law in New York and California.

Kirsten Temple, Head of Research, JANA

Kirsten Temple is JANA’s Manager of Research and is responsible for JANA’s research programme.

In her time at JANA, Kirsten has consulted to a range of industry superannuation and charity clients. She has also contributed to JANA’s research efforts, leading the Responsible Investment team until 2017, and as a senior member of the Global Equities and Alternative Investment Strategies research teams.

Prior to joining JANA in 2009, Kirsten held roles in investment management and research for institutional clients River & Mercantile Solutions (UK) and Aon (UK), with a strong focus on global investments and ESG.

Kirsten holds a Master of Applied Finance from Macquarie University, a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics) and a Bachelor of Arts (Asian Studies) from the University of New England.

Mary Delahunty, Head of Impact, HESTA

Mary is the Head of Impact for HESTA and has been with the fund since early 2013. She has held senior roles in financial services organisations for over 15 years and is passionate about progressing responsible investment practices. HESTA is one of Australia’s largest superannuation funds with $50bn under management and over 880,000 members.

Mary is a 2015 Churchill Fellow awarded for the completion of international research on equity for women in pension systems.

Mary is the Chair of the Ministerial Advisory Council for Gender Equality in the State of Victoria.  The Council’s role is to advise the Minister for Women on the Safe and Strong equality strategy.

Mary is also a councillor and former Mayor of the City of Glen Eira.  Mary is also a Board Member of The Emergency Services Telecommunication Authority and an advisory panel member for the State Government, she is a past Chair of Reclink Australia, a National Not For Profit organisation offering sports and recreation opportunities to break the cycle for disadvantaged Australians.

Mary holds a Masters of Finance (Corporate Advisory) and has three young children.