Brisbane alumni ambassadors

General Manager, Risk Management Group, QIC

UQ qualifications
Bachelor of Economics, Bachelor of Information Technology 2005

Deb joined QIC’s Risk, Legal and Tax team in 2016 after ten years in the Global Fixed Income (later named Global Liquid Strategies) team. From 2011 to 2015, she led the firm’s global trading function from London which executed trades across fixed income, currency, equity and commodity markets.

As the General Manager, Risk Management Group, Deb is currently responsible for managing QIC’s enterprise-wide risk framework and strengthening the culture of accountability, governance and risk management across the organisation.

Since joining QIC’s inaugural graduate program in 2006, her commitment to continued learning and development has led to Executive Education studies at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Harvard Business School in the areas of leadership and advanced risk management.

Over the last 13 years with QIC, Deb has attended dinners with prominent central bankers, travelled extensively, and been on a journey of continual learning and development.

Deb said, “At each turn I’ve been encouraged to broaden my skill set and embrace new challenges. That included being in London and New York at the height of the financial crisis and leading QIC’s global trading function from London who were on two occasions recognised as performing at industry best practice. In my current Risk role, I have the privilege of leading an outstanding team which has a broad and exciting mandate of overseeing QIC’s operational, portfolio, strategic and emerging risks.”

In her speech to new graduates at the July 2018 graduation ceremony, Deb shared three things she “knows for sure”:

1. the power of finding meaning in your work;
2. that success depends on your willingness to take risk; and
3. the inevitability of, and need to embrace change.

Deb said she has always enjoyed studying and loved to learn, but has particularly fond memories of representing UQ in volleyball at the State and Australian University games.

Outside of work, Deb enjoys running, boxing, reading, travelling and enjoying good food and wine.

Ambassador Emeritus

Managing Director, Global Fixed Interest at QIC

UQ qualifications
Bachelor of Economics 1985, Master of Business Administration 2010

Professional memberships
Fellow, Australian Institute of Management
Member, Australian Business Economist Association (NSW)
Member, Financial Advisory Council for Sisters of Mercy
Member, Chief Executive Women

Susan leads QIC’s Global Liquid Strategies (GLS) capability in the successful management of a diverse range of global listed market solutions for QIC’s clients.

Recognised as an innovative, high-performing team of 28 investment professionals based in Brisbane and London, GLS manages approximately $33 billion in funds for 60 institutional clients. Solutions the team mange include absolute return, unconstrained and benchmark aware global fixed interest, incorporating active strategies across interest rate, inflation, currency and credit markets, as well as implementation and targeted exposure management services across fixed interest, currency, equities and commodities.

Before joining QIC in November 2001, Susan held positions as the Head of Strategy for NRMA Asset Management; Senior Vice President at Bankers Trust Funds Management; and Manager, Fixed Interest, at Suncorp Investment Management. She also worked as an economist for National Australia Bank and was Director, Foreign Exchange Services with Syntec Economic Services.

Consultant & Advisor

UQ qualifications
Bachelor of Laws (Hons) 2013

After completing a Bachelors of Management in Canada, Chad left the company he founded to study law at UQ. He was heavily involved in student societies, becoming President of the UQ Law Society for 2013.

Graduating from UQ Law in 2013, Chad was admitted to the legal profession while working at a law firm.

Chad is currently working as a consultant and advisor. He was recently Chief Operating Officer at GoCatch, an Australian rideshare and taxi booking app. He worked closely with Municipal, State, and Federal governments to develop technologically integrated transport networks with GoCatch.

Prior to GoCatch, Chad was the Commercial Lead for Brisbane based technology company VroomVroomVroom where he negotiated global agreements with leading car hire companies and set corporate strategy and policy.

Chad has extensive experience in the rideshare space, having spent nearly 2 years at Uber growing the Queensland rideshare market.

Chad’s career highlight was growing Uber Queensland into a reliable way to get around and an opportunity for those under and un-employed. His areas of specialty include law, technology, commerce and start ups.

He advises new graduates to try many things to see what they really enjoy and where they excel. They should use those passions to make their mark. His favourite memory from UQ is working on the UQ Law Revue – long days of planning, rehearsals and building, weeks of labour, and a brilliant final product. Best of all, he worked with a group of brilliant and dedicated people.

Chad is always looking for the next opportunity to throw on a pair of skis. He is an avid reader and cinema goer.

Former CEO and President, General Electric Europe

UQ qualifications
Bachelor of Commerce 1986, Doctor of Business honoris causa 2014

Mark Hutchinson is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Europe, responsible for managing GE's European activities and leading the efforts to strengthen GE's operations across Europe.

Prior to his appointment, Mark was President and CEO, GE Greater China, responsible for GE’s growth strategy and leading a team across manufacturing, sourcing, sales and other functions. During his tenure in China, Mark developed and executed a shared growth strategy for all the GE businesses helping to drive double-digit growth, year-over-year, under his leadership.

He was previously President of GE Capital Real Estate, International, where he led the real estate team in Europe and Asia successfully through a dramatic cycle. During his decade-long stint as a leader of GE’s capital markets team, Mark successfully led a host of complex transactions in North America, Europe and the Pacific Rim.

Prior to joining GE, Mark was head of the Asian project advisory team based in Hong Kong for Barclays Merchant Bank. The successful privatisation of Western Harbour Crossing and the Route 3 Project, both key elements of Hong Kong’s infrastructure development, was a central accomplishment during his tenure.

Associate Director – Corporate and Project Finance (Origination and Transactions), Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC)

UQ qualifications
Bachelor of Applied Science (Human Movement Studies) (Hons) 2008, Master of Commerce 2010

After completing a Master of Commerce at UQ, Mac began his career in banking at NAB specialising in corporate transactions and relationship management.

In 2012, he moved to London where he managed an international portfolio of infrastructure, renewable energy, power and utilities and real estate assets across UK, Ireland and France for Barclays Investment Bank.

He later moved to KPMG London’s Corporate Finance division, specialising in the infrastructure, renewable energy and power and utilities sectors where he advised both private and public sector clients on project financing, deal structuring, procurement, strategy and execution.

Mac returned to Brisbane in 2015 and now works as Associate Director in the Origination and Transactions team at the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC). In this role, he has exposure to a number of sectors, specialising in project finance debt and equity transactions.

Mac’s career highlight is his current role at the CEFC, which provides him with the opportunity to engage with passionate, innovative people on interesting projects every day as they strive to catalyse investment in the clean energy sector in Australia.

His advice to new graduates is: “You’re not expected to have all the answers as soon as you graduate, so don’t put that pressure on yourself. Early on in your career, take the time to get as much exposure to as many different facets and as many people as possible within your chosen profession. Only then will you be able to make an informed decision about the direction you want to take.”

The people – lecturers, tutors and classmates – and the sum of experiences with all of these people, was what made Mac’s experience at UQ so memorable.

Outside of work, Mac enjoys travel, golf, rugby and snowboarding.

Associate Director, Australian Equity Research Sales, Macquarie Group

UQ qualifications
Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) 2005

Ambassador Emeritus

Founder, Blue Sky Alternative Investments Ltd

UQ qualifications
Bachelor of Agricultural Science 1993, MBA 2003

Mark's first job was as a trainee cotton trader with a US based cotton merchant. After eight years, he had gained valuable experience in commodity trading, futures, derivatives, and the physical trade of products into export channels around the world. Importantly, he learned a lot about people and human behaviour through the inevitable challenges of global crises, financial market volatility and weather events.

Mark was driven to start his own business, and in 2006 he founded Blue Sky Private Equity Pty Ltd. As Blue Sky evolved, Mark found they had more to offer than just private equity, and branched into private real estate, hedge funds, water and infrastructure.

Mark has this advice for new graduates: “So many young people I speak to are focused on building a career. That's fine, but what does it really mean? Most think it is about building a strong CV – having the right degree, good marks, some social responsibility, sporting and leadership achievements, and working for the right "brands". But when you scratch the surface so often the CV is a pretty picture but it has no substance.

“Building a career is more than ticking boxes – it is really about making a difference, demonstrating conviction and commitment to the company you work for, and working there long enough to deal with the consequences (good and bad) of the decisions you make. The 10000 hour rule of working in one place applies more often than not, and we actively seek out people who have built up experiences, not brands. Your CV has no real value if you haven't built experiences to match the story you are telling about yourself.”

As an undergraduate, Mark was a resident of Emmanuel College for four years where he built friendships that would last a lifetime. Mark said, “Emmanuel was a brilliant place to study, as are all the residential colleges at UQ. This unique and cloistered environment is the perfect place to transition from school to the real world.”

Mark’s primary interest outside of work is horse racing and breeding.

Financial Adviser, More Life Planning

UQ qualifications
Bachelor of Commerce (Hons), Bachelor of Economics 1999

Professional memberships
Financial Planning Association of Australia

Upon graduating from UQ, Mark was hired by a Global Management consulting firm. Two weeks later, he was in Korea advising a consortium of international banks and the Board of one of Korea’s largest technology companies on how to restructure their business.

After a number of years in management consulting and private equity, Mark joined a small management buy-out team to purchase a business outsourcing firm from administration, which was subsequently restructured and developed over a number of years.

More recently, Mark’s passion has been to assist others to achieve their financial freedom. Currently a Financial Adviser at More Life Planning, Mark works with people to achieve their desired balance between work, financial goals, lifestyle and family time, and focus on living an amazing life rather than “making a living”.

Mark’s advice to graduates is: “Take time to study yourself. Understand your strengths, your weakness and most importantly your passion. People respond to authenticity, if you are pursuing your passion you will find opportunities will open up for you. You will wake every day with enthusiasm and energy to pursue your dream and you won’t look back on a life of regret. Continue to read, study widely and take time reflect on your life – regardless of your age or experience, you can continue to learn and grow.”

Mark considers his BCom Honours year with supervisor Professor Gray to be the foundation upon which he has built his career.

“I still consider myself extremely lucky for having Professor Gray as a supervisor in my honours year. Having such a world class professor encourage you to achieve your best and take your thinking to a new level was amazing. I am still lucky enough to be able to still call Professor Gray a good friend and mentor.”

Outside of the office, Mark enjoys spending time bushwalking and hiking, and spending time with his family.

Deputy Chairman, Blue Sky Alternative Investments Ltd, and
Managing Director, Blue Sky Private Equity & Venture Capital

UQ qualifications
Bachelor of Commerce 1990, Bachelor of Laws 1992

After graduating from UQ, Tim Wilson began his career as a corporate lawyer with Minter Ellison in Brisbane.

He completed a Masters of Finance at London Business School and shifted to twelve years of Investment banking in London, Sydney and Brisbane.

Tim joined Blue Sky Alternative Investments in its infancy, and enjoyed helping to build it from a tiny business to a significant presence in Australian funds management.

A specialist in Private Equity, Tim is currently Deputy Chairman of Blue Sky Alternative Investments Ltd and Managing Director of Private Equity and Venture Capital.

His advice to new graduates is to nurture the friendships along the way, and says a good network has as much value as exceptional grades.

Tim fondly remembers commerce lectures with Professor Stephen Gray and his favourite law lecturer was Professor Suri Ratnapala.

Tim enjoys family time with his four sons, travelling, and supporting rugby.