Board of Directors

David Peever BEc, MSc (Mineral Economics) – Chairman

David is a Non-Executive Director of the Australian Foundation Investment Company and Naval Group.

He was previously Chairman of Cricket Australia and World Twenty20 2020 Ltd, a Director of the International Cricket Council, a Member of the Foreign Investment Review Board, a Director of The Stars Foundation, the Chair of the Minister of Defence's First Principles Review of Defence (until July 2017) and, following the acceptance of the review by Government, the Oversight Board which helped guide implementation of the Review's recommendations, a Director of the Business Council of Australia and Vice Chairman of the Minerals Council of Australia.

David retired as Managing Director of Rio Tinto Australia in October 2014 after 27 years with Rio Tinto. During his career with Rio Tinto, David worked across a range of disciplines including strategy and planning, industrial relations, operations, sales and marketing, business improvement, shipping and policy. David worked in many parts of Australia and across most of Rio Tinto’s commodity suites. His Rio Tinto career also saw him live in Singapore, Los Angeles and London. He travelled extensively with Rio Tinto and has done business in most parts of the world.
 

 

Dick Benschop – Director 

Dick is President & CEO of Royal Schiphol Group. Dick studied History at the Vrije University in Amsterdam, and worked in various functions in the Dutch Parliament and in the Dutch Labour Party. In 1994, Dick founded his own consultancy firm before returning to politics as Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Dutch Government from 1998 to 2002.

Dick joined Shell in 2003 and worked for Shell Energy Europe before moving to Kuala Lumpur in 2006 overseeing the Gas & Power business in Malaysia. In 2009, he took up the role of Vice President Strategy for the Royal Dutch Shell Group. From 2011 to 2016, he was President Director of Shell Netherlands, followed by Vice President Non-Operated Ventures in Shell International.
 

 

John Borghetti AO - Director

With more than 47 years in the aviation industry, John retired from Virgin Australia in 2019,after nine years as CEO and Managing Director. Prior to joining Virgin Australia he spent his entire career at Qantas Airways, starting in 1973 and rising to the position of Executive General Manager, responsible for Qantas Domestic, International and QantasLink. 

John has previously served as a Director of Coca-Cola Amatil, V8 Supercars Holdings, Energy Australia, Australian Chamber Orchestra, NSW Customer Advisory Board, Jetset Travelworld, Sydney Football Club, Piper Aircraft (USA), The Australian Ballet and CARE Australia.

John is a Director of Alinta Energy, Balmoral Pastoral Investments, the Charlie Teo Foundation and the John Sample Group Advisory Board. He is also a Member of the Art Gallery of NSW Trust, and the Technical and Further Education (TAFE) NSW Commission Board. 

 

 

Joshua Crane MAppFin, BCom, LLB(Hons), GAICD - Director

Joshua is an Investment Director in the IFM Investors infrastructure team.

He is responsible for the origination and execution of infrastructure investments, and the ongoing investment management of IFM’s existing infrastructure portfolio companies, with a particular focus on transport and regulated utilities. 

Joshua previously worked with Major Projects Victoria and, prior to that, Herbert Smith Freehills, where he was involved in the procurement, delivery, acquisition and financing of domestic and international infrastructure assets. 

Joshua has represented IFM Investors as a Director on the board of Wyuna Water.
 

 

Paul DeSouza BCom, BBus(Acc)(Hons), CA – Director

Paul is a Partner in the QIC Global Infrastructure team having been with QIC since 2006. Within QIC Global Infrastructure, Paul is a member of the Investment Committee and the Asset and Investment Management Committee.

Paul has more than 25 years of experience in investment management, banking and finance and professional services, including more than 16 years in the infrastructure sector where he has been involved in a broad range of transactions in Australia, Europe, Asia and North America across the transport, energy and utility and social infrastructure sectors.

Prior to joining QIC, Paul was a Director in the Infrastructure Advisory and Lending team at ING Bank in London and worked in the Corporate Finance and Audit divisions of Deloitte, both in London and Australia.

Paul is on the board of the Titles Queensland group of entities, Nexus Hospitals group of entities and Sea Swift group of entities (where he is the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee). Paul is also an alternate director of the Epic Energy South Australia group of entities.

Paul previously served for more than six years on the board of the Port of Brisbane group of entities (including being the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee). 

Paul has also been a Director (or Alternate Director) of the Epic Energy Group of entities, MI Longbeach LLC (the project vehicle for the Long Beach Courthouse PPP project), Portobar Capital (investment entity for Grup Maritim TCB, a container terminal developer and operator) and the Westlink M7 toll road group of entities in Sydney.

 

Chris Freeman AM, BCom, FAICD, FFin, FDIA - Director

Chris was born and educated in Queensland and has significant company directorship experience in Australia and abroad in the property and finance sectors.

He is Chair of Queensland Symphony Orchestra, a Director of Sunland Group Ltd, a member of the Brisbane City Council Urban Futures Board, and is a past Chair of Watpac, Tennis Australia and the Queensland Performing Arts Trust.

Prior to joining Watpac, Chris held the position of Executive Chairman, Development for Queensland, United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates at Mirvac. Previously, Chris was the Chief Executive Officer for Mirvac Queensland from 1998 to 2008. Chris’ former roles include Executive Director, Sunland Group, Director of Translink Ltd and prior to that, Head of Business Banking at QIDC. 

Chris is a past President of the Urban Development Institute of Australia and remains a life member. He has a strong interest in the arts and sport.

In June 2009, Chris was awarded a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM) for his contribution to the property development industry, the arts and other cultural affairs.
 

 

Brad Geatches BCOMM, MAICD – Director

Brad has over 30 years of senior executive experience in underground mining, airports and seaports, including 16 years as CEO of four corporations.

From 2007 to 2016 Brad was CEO of Perth Airport and in that capacity led a $1.1billion capital investment program that greatly expanded the airport's capacity and transformed the airport's customer experience. Prior to this, Brad was CEO of Cairns Port Authority, the operator of the Cairns airport and seaport.

Through these capacities Brad has developed expertise in governance, financial and risk management, land use and infrastructure planning, capital development and life cycle asset management of complex facilities with high levels of public engagement.

Brad is currently a Director of MATES in Construction WA, a charity providing mental health and suicide prevention services to workers in the construction and mining industries. He is also Chair of Pilbara Ports Authority, a Director of Perth Zoo Authority and Capital Airport Group Pty Ltd.

 

Belinda Gibson BEc, LLB, LLM, FAICD, FGIA - Director

Belinda is a Non-Executive Director of Citigroup Australian retail bank, and a Director of Ausgrid (representing the NSW State interests in the Ausgrid partnership). 

She was a Corporate and Securities Partner with the global law firm Mallesons Stephen Jaques for 20 years. She particularly focused on transaction strategies, partnerships and joint venture arrangements and governance issues. In 2007, Belinda was appointed Commissioner and then Deputy Chairman of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (‘ASIC’), with primary responsibility for oversight of the capital markets. In 2013, she left ASIC and established her independent corporate advisory and legal business.

Belinda is a former Director of Airservices Australia, the air traffic control agency, GetSwift Limited, Chief Executive Women Inc, The Sir Robert Menzies Memorial Foundation and Thorn Group Ltd.

 

Robert Carsouw – Director

Robert Carsouw is the Executive Vice President & CFO of Royal Schiphol Group. 

Prior to starting his journey at Schiphol, Robert worked at Procter & Gamble and for 23 years at McKinsey & Company in various roles, since 2011 as a Senior Partner. He served clients mainly in the public sector and in the mobility/logistics sector. In addition, Robert worked with clients on digital transformations across a wide range of sectors. 

Robert was co-founder and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Social Enterprise NL and co-founder and Vice-Chairman of LittleBitz.

Robert is a graduate of the Erasmus University in Rotterdam and has a master’s degree in Econometrics/Computer Science.

 

John Ward BSc, FAICD, FCILT, FRAeS – Director

John is a professional company director and corporate advisor. He was interim Chairman of the Board from 30 January 2009 to 25 September 2009, and is a member of the FARM Committee, previously holding the position of Committee Chairman for 13 years.

John retired as the General Manager Commercial of News Limited in May 2001. Prior to joining News Corporation in mid-1994, he was Managing Director and Chief Executive of Qantas Airways Limited. This culminated a 25-year career with the airline in a variety of corporate and line management roles covering Australia, Asia, Europe and North America. 

John is an Honorary Life Governor of the Research Foundation of Information Technology and a Director of Adelaide Airport, Ward Advisory Services and Ward Securities Pty Limited.

He was the Chairman of Wolseley Private Equity for 10 years until July 2014 and Chairman of the NSW Freight Advisory Council from June 2010 until its dissolution in January 2012.

 

Alan Wu MCom, CFA, GAICD - Director

Alan is Director, Infrastructure Investment for First Sentier Investors ('FSI). He is responsible for the management of transport and utilities infrastructure assets, as well as sourcing, evaluating and securing investment opportunities within the Infrastructure team.

He currently serves as a Director on the boards of International Parking Group, and Water Utilities Australia, and as an Alternate Director of First Gas and Adelaide Airport. He has previously served as a Director of Bankstown and Camden Airports, and an Alternate Director of Perth Airport. 

Alan has been involved in the investment, management and divestment of infrastructure assets, as well as portfolio management since 2000. Prior to being appointed Director, Alan held various roles within the team including Head of the Analytics team. Alan was also actively involved in the establishment and growth of FSI’s flagship infrastructure funds in Australia. 

 

Tony Harrington AM, BComm, FCA, SFFin – Alternate Director for Dick Benschop

Tony has a distinguished career in financial and professional services, with over 35 years of business and strategic leadership experience, in Australia and internationally. 

Tony is a strategic advisor to MA Financial Limited, Chairman of Optimum Equity Partners Limited and an alternate Director on the Hobart Airport Board. 

Prior to this, he was CEO and Managing Partner of MinterEllison and was Managing Director of the fast-growing and innovative global investment bank, Moelis & Company.  He also held a number of senior roles at PwC including Global Managing Partner, Strategy & Transformation at PwC and was a member of the PwC Global Executive Leadership Team. 
From 2000 to 2008, Tony was Australian Senior Partner and Chief Executive of PwC, coming into the position not long after the merger of Price Waterhouse with Coopers & Lybrand, and oversaw the successful cultural integration and significant growth of the merged firm in Australia. 

At Coopers & Lybrand, Tony was Deputy Chairman of the firm and National Managing Partner of Taxation Services. 
He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2011 in recognition of his charitable work.
 

 

Liam Tierney BCom, BSc, CFA – Alternate Director for Brad Geatches

Liam is an Investment Director at Whitehelm Capital and has been responsible for the management of infrastructure assets across both Australia and Asia since 2006. In this capacity, he currently serves as a Director on the Board of Whitehelm MBK Fund Management. He is also an Alternate Director on the Boards of Flinders Ports, International Parking Group, Rowville Transmission Facility. 

He is also an Alternate Director on the boards of Flinders Ports, International Parking Group and the Challenger Emerging Market Infrastructure Fund. 

Liam also has experience in assessing transactions, investments and divestments across a wide range of infrastructure and other sectors across Australia, Asia and Europe. He spent two years overseeing the European portfolio and investing activities while based in Whitehelm Capital’s London office.

 

Gerhard Vorster BSc (Civil Engineering), MBA (Cum Laude),  MAICD - Alternate Director for Robert Carsouw

Gerhard is the Managing Director of Quidni Advisory, a boutique strategy advisory firm. Working directly with boards and senior leaders, Gerhard guides businesses to reposition them in pragmatic yet unexpected ways.

Previously, Gerhard was the Chief Strategy Officer for Deloitte Australia and Asia-Pacific, a position he held for five years. 
Prior to that Gerhard was the Managing Partner (Consulting) for the South African, East Asian, Australian and Asia-Pacific practice regions. He has broad sector experience with a specific focus on growth, innovation, technology and leadership. He is published widely on these topics.

Gerhard trained and practised as a professional engineer and spent some time at an investment bank prior to joining Deloitte in 1987. In addition to his MBA he also completed several executive education programs at Harvard, Stanford, Kellogg, INSEAD, IESE and IMD.

Gerhard is the Chairman of the Advisory Board of Bio Capital Impact Fund, a member of the Advisory Board of Intersective, a Director of Seeing Machines Limited and the Patron Emeritus of Good Design Australia. He was a Director of Georgiou Group and also the inaugural Chairman of the RMIT University College of Business Advisory Board.
 

Kirsten Whitehead BCom, LLB (Hons), GDLP - Alternate Director for Paul DeSouza and Belinda Gibson

Kirsten joined QIC in early 2010 and has overall responsibility for portfolio management across QIC Global Infrastructure’s separately managed accounts, large co-investors and pooled products. Her role is focused on infrastructure investment management with a focus on investment analysis, asset management, governance and structuring, together with portfolio construction and analytics, research and thought leadership, and managing the overall client relationships. 

Since joining QIC, Kirsten has had a broad exposure to a variety of sub-sectors from both an investment origination and asset management perspective. This has included being an integral part of the teams that successfully acquired Epic Energy South Australia and Heathrow Toggle, and implementing the strategy for the US public private partnership investments. She has also held asset management roles in the transport and utilities sectors, in particular with respect to Brisbane Airport, Port of Brisbane and Thames Water. Kirsten has also worked closely with a number of the separately managed account clients on investment management matters and mandate negotiations. 

Prior to working with QIC, Kirsten was employed by the Virgin Group in London for two years where she evaluated and managed a portfolio of investments in various sectors including renewable energy, telecommunications, healthcare and aviation. Previously, Kirsten was employed as a corporate solicitor at King & Wood Mallesons where she had experience in mergers and acquisitions, joint venture arrangements, corporate restructurings and acting for investors in infrastructure and resource projects.  

Katherine McCaw - Alternate Director for Alan Wu 

Kate is an Associate Director, Infrastructure Investments at First Sentier Investors ('FSI').

Kate is responsible for transaction origination and execution and the ongoing asset management of FSI's portfolio assets. Kate currently serves as a director on the board of International Parking Group and is an Alternate Director on the board of Adelaide Airport. 

Kate has been with FSI since 2015. Prior to joining the business, Kate was an equities research associate at CLSA covering the infrastructure and transport sector. Prior to that, Kate worked in corporate finance at KPMG specialising in valuations.