$120bn fund announces key appointment

UniSuper has announced the appointment of a new chief risk officer. 

Wade Martin will commence as UniSuper’s new chief risk officer effective from 21 February, succeeding Andrew Raftis who retired at the end of 2023. 

With 15 years of risk management experience in the financial services industry, Martin’s most recent role was chief risk officer at Cbus, where he spent 10 years, prior to which he was employed at KPMG for eight years.

UniSuper chief executive Peter Chun said he was delighted to welcome Martin to the UniSuper team. 

“Wade’s lived risk experience, understanding of the superannuation sector, strategic mindset and leadership were standout attributes during the selection process,” said Chun.

“He will be a valuable addition to our executive leadership team and our fund as a whole.”

Chun also thanked Mr Raftis for his hard work and dedication to UniSuper over the past three years. 

“Andrew has been an integral part of our executive leadership team and has made a significant contribution to ensuring UniSuper’s risk and compliance are in the best position that they could be. He leaves UniSuper in a better place with a strong reputation with our regulators and auditors. I wish him all the best,” said Chun.

Commenting on the appointment at the $124 billion fund, Martin said he welcomed the opportunity. 

“UniSuper is an outstanding fund, and I look forward to contributing to upholding UniSuper’s impressive risk management track record,” Martin said.

Back in October, UniSuper announced it had joined forces with the UK’s Pension Protection Fund (PPF) and Dutch pension fund asset manager APG Asset Management to acquire a 170,000-hectare plantation forestry estate in Tasmania and the state’s largest private forest management company Forico.

UniSuper, PPF, and APG would each own 33 per cent of Forico and the forestry estate, it was confirmed at the time. 

At the time, Sandra Lee, head of private markets at UniSuper, said the fund was delighted to be investing in an asset of such scale and quality. 

“This adds further momentum to our growing private markets and forestry portfolios, as we continue to be on the lookout for quality investments that help our members grow their retirement savings over the long term,” she said.

“Not only is forestry a portfolio diversifier, but it also supports the global transition towards decarbonisation through carbon storage as well as substitution to sustainable timber material. We look forward to working closely with New Forests and our co-investors as we further develop this asset.”