WAM Global June 2024 Webinar Q&A Transcript

Geoff Wilson has more than 44 years’ direct experience in investment markets having held a variety of senior investment roles in Australia, the UK and the US. Geoff founded Wilson Asset Management in 1997, which today, comprises of 19 investment professionals who offer a combined investment experience of more than 200 years. Wilson Asset Management manages over $5 billion on behalf of more than 130,000 investors as the investment manager for eight listed investment companies and the Wilson Asset Management Leaders Trust. Geoff is currently Chairman of WAM Capital Limited, WAM Leaders Limited, WAM Global Limited, WAM Microcap Limited, WAM Research Limited, WAM Active Limited and WAM Strategic Value Limited. He is the founder and Director of Future Generation Australia Limited and Future Generation Global Limited, and Director of WAM Alternative Assets Limited. In 2014 Geoff created Australia’s first listed philanthropic wealth creation vehicles, Future Generation Australia, and subsequently Future Generation Global in 2015. To date, the Future Generation companies have donated more than $75 million to Australian not-for-profits. Geoff holds a Bachelor of Science, a Graduate Management Qualification and is a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). In addition to Geoff’s Directorships with the Wilson Asset Management Group and the Future Generation companies, he also holds Directorships with Global Value Fund Limited (since 2014), Hearts and Minds Investments Limited (since 2018), Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation (since 1997) and the Australian Rugby Foundation (2024).

Gabrielle Trainor is an experienced non-executive director and advisor with over 30 years on public and private boards. Gabrielle’s executive career has spanned law, journalism, government and consultancy. Gabrielle is Interim Chair of Infrastructure Australia, a director of Built Group Limited, and co-chair of BuildSkills Australia. Gabrielle has a Bachelor of Laws, Master of Arts and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD) and was named an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2017.

Kate Thorley has over 20 years’ experience in the funds management industry and more than 25 years of financial accounting and corporate governance experience. Kate is the Chief Executive Officer of Wilson Asset Management, Director of WAM Capital, WAM Leaders, WAM Global, WAM Research, WAM Active, WAM Microcap and WAM Strategic Value. Kate is a Director of Future Generation Australia and Future Generation Global. Kate is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a Chartered Accountant.

Caesar Bryan is an international fund manager with 43 years’ investment experience gained primarily with Gabelli Funds, which manages more than USD31 billion. Caesar manages the GAMCO International Growth Fund and Gabelli Gold Fund. He is also a member of the global investment team which is responsible for the GAMCO Global Growth Fund and the Gabelli International Small Cap Fund. In addition, he is on the management team of the GAMCO Global Gold and Natural Resources & Income Trust and GAMCO Natural Resources, Gold & Income. He has been with GAMCO Investors, Inc. since 1994. Prior to joining GAMCO, Caesar was a portfolio manager at Lexington Management for seven years managing international and precious metals equity portfolios. Caesar began his investment career in 1979 at Samuel Montagu Company Ltd., the London based merchant bank. While at Samuel Montagu he spent two years at Aetna Life and Casualty in Hartford, Connecticut assisting in the management of their global equity fund. Caesar is a graduate of the University of Southampton, England and is a member of the English Bar.

Linda has over 19 years’ experience in financial accounting including more than 15 years in the funds management industry. As the Finance Manager of Wilson Asset Management (International) Pty Limited, Linda oversees finance and accounting and is also the Joint Company Secretary for six listed investment companies, WAM Capital Limited, WAM Leaders Limited, WAM Global Limited, WAM Microcap Limited, WAM Research Limited and WAM Active Limited. Linda holds a Bachelor of Commerce and is a fully qualified CPA. She is a certified member of the Governance Institute of Australia. Linda was appointed Company Secretary of WAM Global Limited in February 2018.

Jesse is a Chartered Accountant with more than 16 years’ experience working in advisory and assurance services, specialising in funds management. As the Chief Financial Officer, Jesse oversees all finance and accounting of Wilson Asset Management (International) Pty limited. Jesse is Company Secretary for WAM Alternative Assets Limited and WAM Strategic Value Limited and Joint Company Secretary for WAM Capital Limited, WAM Leaders Limited, WAM Global Limited, WAM Microcap Limited, WAM Research Limited and WAM Active Limited, in addition to Future Generation Australia Limited and Future Generation Global Limited. Prior to joining Wilson Asset Management, Jesse worked as Chief Financial Officer of an ASX listed company, and also as an advisor specialising in assurance services, valuations, mergers and acquisitions, financial due diligence and capital raising activities for listed investment companies. Jesse was appointed Joint Company Secretary of WAM Global Limited in November 2020.