Australian Ethical Investment

Phillip Vernon
BEc, MCom, MBA

Chief executive officer

Phil has 25 years experience in financial services covering funds management, capital markets and superannuation. Most recently he was a member of the Executive Committee of Perpetual Limited heading up its Corporate Trust division. He also has extensive experience in corporate governance and industry regulation, having been the Chairman of the Australian Securitisation Forum. Phil has a long held interest in sustainability and corporate social responsibility and has recently been invited to join the board of Planet Ark.

Philip George
BSc, LLB

Head of client service and product

Philip has experience in commercial law, corporate governance and project management. He has been a company secretary and legal counsel for listed companies for over five years. He was a senior associate at the national law firm Minter Ellison and conducted a commercial legal practice in partnership for two years.

James Jordan
BEc(Hons)

Chief investment officer

James joined australian Ethical in 2006 as a senior equities analyst and was Acting CIO for much of 2008 before being appointed Head of Research.  Previously, James had a long career as a senior economist with various Commonwealth Government departments, including being senior adviser on tax and superannuation policy; being a member of the working group that prepared the first Intergenerational Report; and working on reform options for pharmaceutical pricing and health system financing.

Paul Harding-Davis
BBus, FAICD

Head of sales and marketing

Paul comes to Australian Ethical with significant experience in the financial services industry including with boutique SRI firm Glebe Asset Management, Absolute Capital and Zurich Financial Services Australia. In addition to years of business development and marketing, his experience includes managing compliance and regulatory requirements; conducting seminars; leading the establishment and growth of successful new ventures in financial planning; and influencing the strategic direction of organisations to capture market share.

Timothy Xirakis
BCom, CPA

Head of client relationships

Tim was a director and major shareholder of a company that established and managed the Canberra office of Morgans Stockbroking (now ABN Amro Morgans), which offered full stockbroking, financial planning, accounting, tax and legal services. As a long time advocate of renewable and alternative energy, Tim was a founding shareholder and director of a fuel cell start-up company, now listed in the United States.

Gary Leckie
BEc, CA

Chief financial officer and Chief operating officer

Gary is responsible for the fiscal management and operational activities of the Australian Ethical group and is a member of Australian Ethical Investment's finance committee. Prior to working in the financial services industry Gary was employed with big four accounting firm Deloitte.