Our people are our strength. Our team comprises more than 100 professionals with an outstanding range of skills and experience, who share a common set of values and approach to investing.
CEO and Executive Chairman
B.Comm, B.Acc (Cum Laude), Adv. Dip Banking (Cum Laude), Chartered Accountant
Farrel founded Wingate in 2004 after a successful career as an investment banker, including positions as head of ANZ Private Bank and Group Managing Director of Investec Bank (Australia) Ltd.
Recognised as one of Australia’s outstanding specialised financial service innovators and business builders, Farrel’s experience spans property investment & financing, listed equities, corporate and consumer debt and private equity.
Farrel serves on several boards, investment & risk management committees and is an advisor to and confidant of many of Australia’s substantial private investment groups and families. He credits Wingate’s success to it having been guided by a measured approach to risk and a deep sense of responsibility to co-investors, partners and clients.
Chief Operating Officer
BA/BComm (Monash); Post-graduate Diploma Applied Finance & Investment (FINSIA)
Graeme has more than 20 years of experience in international banking and finance markets and has built operational capabilities across the banking and structured finance industry in Australia, Asia and the UK. This includes a number of senior operational and strategy roles at National Australia Bank, including Chief Operating Officer for NAB’s business in Japan. Graeme joined Wingate in 2019 and is responsible for oversight of Wingate’s Property and Corporate Investments operational functions.
Managing Director, Property
Mark Harrison has more than twenty-five years of experience in the Australian property and property finance sectors. Since assuming his role at Wingate in 2008, Mark has overseen the growth of the property division into one of Australia’s most active property debt and equity platforms.
Mark’s extensive experience in property includes direct property investment, development, and structured capital transactions, both as principal and lender.
At Wingate, Mark leads Wingate’s property business across debt and equity, including the origination of high-quality property investment opportunities. Mark is a member of the Wingate Group Holdings Board of Directors.
Managing Director, Property
B.Comm and B.Law
Nick Jacobson is a highly regarded property and finance expert with more than 30 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Wingate, Nick was the Founder and Managing Director of CapStra, a leading independent Australian real estate financier and advisory firm.
Nick’s experience spans the full range of real estate capital and advisory solutions from financing to deal origination, structuring, development expertise, credit underwriting, and acquisition and divestment services. He has significant international experience with leading global investment banks across Australia, Europe and Asia, including as Chairman of Real Estate and Head of Investment Banking Services at Goldman Sachs Australia.
At Wingate, Nick is a joint Managing Director of the property business, responsible for driving growth and strategy, particularly in institutional funding solutions and capital partnerships.
Chief Financial Officer
B.Comm, Chartered Accountant, GAICD
Adam Carew is a finance leader with experience at leading national accounting and tax firm, Pitcher Partners, and as Group Financial Controller at one of Australia’s largest family offices. In addition to group financial management and control, Adam was responsible for the management of the family’s private equity investment portfolio.
Adam has vast experience in financial management, corporate governance, accounting, taxation, investment structuring and private equity investing.
Adam is responsible for Wingate’s financial management, taxation and regulatory compliance, operational risk management as well the Group’s statutory and secretarial functions.
Portfolio Manager
B.Eng (hons), MBA
Andrew is a seasoned finance professional with over 25 years of experience across investment, treasury, credit advisory, and capital structuring roles. He has been with Wingate since 2021 during which time he has focussed on property fund liquidity management and capital raising.
Prior to joining Wingate, Andrew served as a Company Director at CapStra, managing ~$750m of real estate loans and providing financial advisory services on over $5bn of property developments. Andrew also spent a decade at Goldman Sachs where his roles encompassed treasury, bespoke financing, credit rating and capital structure advisory functions.
Earlier in his career, Andrew gained valuable capital markets, trading and strategy experience at Deutsche Bank.
Andrew holds an MBA from the University of Texas and a BEng (Civil/Structural, Hons) from the University of Tasmania.
Managing Director, Corporate Investments
Selwyn has over 20 years’ experience in property and corporate finance in Australia and internationally. His extensive experience includes credit risk approval, credit portfolio management as well as the management of distressed corporate and property debt and equity portfolios.
Selwyn has experience in driving performance and corporate turnarounds at board level in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
Head of Property Analysis and Risk
Michael has more than 15 years of experience in real estate finance and property development.
Prior to joining Wingate, he held roles at Macquarie Group, including as Fund Manager of Macquarie Real Estate Equity Funds and Senior Manager within Macquarie Development Capital. Michael was integral in acquiring, structuring, and delivering many residential apartments, townhouses, and land subdivision projects across Australia. He also provided property advisory services within Macquarie Group for infrastructure and structured finance projects. Michael has also had various property and finance roles in two major financial institutions in Melbourne and London.
At Wingate, Michael is responsible for assessing risk at Wingate Property.
Managing Director, Funds Management
B.Comm, BCompt Hons, Adv. Dip Banking (Cum Laude) Chartered Accountant, CCIS
Michael Sack is a highly accomplished financial services executive who has held senior roles with Investec Bank (Australia) Ltd. and ANZ Banking Group. Prior to joining Wingate, Michael was Executive Director at one of Australia’s largest family offices. Michael was also a founder of Openpay Pty Ltd, a leading ASX-listed provider of buy now, pay later solutions.
Michael’s experience extends across capital markets, growth and acquisition finance, investor relations and funds management.
Michael leads Wingate’s Funds Management activities which are responsible for institutional and private funding, product development and management.
Group General Counsel
LLB (Hons), B.BSys, GDLP
Charles is an accomplished corporate lawyer with extensive experience in private practice and in-house roles in Australia and the United States, including at Ashurst, National Australia Bank, AIA Australia and Weil, Gotshal & Manges.
Charles’ experience extends across a broad range of industry sectors and jurisdictions with a focus on finance, mergers and acquisitions and general corporate law.
Charles leads Wingate’s legal, risk & compliance team and is responsible for governance, legal risk management and provision of legal services across the Group.
Head of Corporate Development
B.Comm, Grad. Dip. Applied Finance and Investment
James Brest is an experienced corporate finance professional with a background in private equity having worked in Australia and in the UK. James worked at Citi in London and also Ingenious Group where he was the Senior Investment Director in charge of a number of alternative investment funds.
James has considerable experience in financial management, corporate finance, M&A, investment structuring and private equity investing.
James is responsible for Wingate’s corporate development and strategy function, in addition to shareholder liaison and communication and exploring opportunities for the Group’s balance sheet investment activities.
Head of Marketing and Communications
For over twenty-five years, Andy has worked within client, agency and consultancy organisations to define and deliver customer strategy and marketing solutions across a diverse range of industries and operating environments. His experience spans the banking, insurance, real estate, Not For Profit, retail and automotive sectors with an emphasis on the customer, leveraging data to drive growth and delivering commercial outcomes aligned to corporate strategy. His most recent experiences in private banking and wealth management have positioned him well for his role at Wingate.
Director, Human Resources
B.Sc, MBA
Sahar is a human resources leader with experience within diverse sectors such as higher education and private banking space such as American Express and Standard Chartered Bank. Sahar has an unwavering commitment to fostering organisational success through a ‘people-first’ approach, creating supportive and inclusive work environments. Her experience is across organisational development, capability building, change management, and employee engagement with an emphasis on aligning people practices with operational and strategic needs of the organisation. As a certified leadership coach, she has consistently empowered individuals to reach their full potential, making a lasting difference for the people and teams she has partnered with.
B.Comm, B.Compt, Chartered Accountant
Richard Blumberg has extensive experience in financial markets gained in both Australia and overseas, including roles with ING Barings, Investec Bank, Hindal Group and River Capital.
Richard has deep exposure across credit markets, structured debt, consumer credit, and both domestic and international private equity. Richard is Chief Executive Officer and Founder of NOW FINANCE (Wingate Consumer Finance) responsible for the strategy and development of the platform, a significant participant in the Australian consumer lending space. In addition, Richard serves on a number of Wingate Investment Committees and is a member of the Wingate Group Holdings Board of Directors.
B.Comm, B.Acc, Chartered Accountant, CMA
Franco joined Wingate in 2006 as a founding partner and, together with Farrel Meltzer, pioneered and guided the success of the Firm over almost two decades.
Through the course of his career, Franco initiated, advised on and completed transactions valued at many billions of dollars in corporate finance, mergers & acquisitions and capital markets.
Franco’s role at Wingate included advising large families, private and public companies on local and cross-border transactions, and overseeing and managing the Firm’s corporate development, financing, balance sheet and capital management requirements and activities.
Prior to joining Wingate, Franco was a partner at PwC for 18 years and a key member of the PwC Corporate Finance team. In 2022, Franco became a Non-Executive Director of Wingate and continues as a member on a number of Wingate boards, investment and risk committees.
Board Member and Chief Executive Officer (Interim)
B.Business, MBA
Nick Palmer is a deeply experienced business leader. He has worked across multiple industries for over 30 years with a focus on strategy, performance improvement and leadership.
Nick has been CEO and director of two large privately owned groups, and is a former partner and financial services practice leader at Bain & Company, a top tier global strategy consulting firm. He has also held senior positions at companies including the Boston Consulting Group and Macquarie Bank. Nick has worked with and advised a broad range of asset managers, banks and investment houses throughout his extensive career in the US, Asia and here in Australia.
Nick is a longstanding Senior Advisor to Wingate and is a member of the Wingate Group Holdings Board. He has recently stepped into the role of Wingate CEO on an interim basis.
Jennifer has extensive senior executive experience in governance, law, conduct risk and regulatory risk across a range of sectors and in a variety of roles and organisations, including international experience. She currently sits on the Boards of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival and the Melbourne Theatre Company Foundation. Previous directorships include the Australian Financial Complaints Authority, the Financial Ombudsman Service Limited, Heide Museum of Modern Art (Chair) and St Vincent’s & Mercy Private Hospital.
Jennifer previously worked at the National Australia Bank, where her roles included EGM Conduct & Regulatory Risk, General Counsel Governance and General Counsel of NAB’s subsidiary Clydesdale & Yorkshire Bank in the UK. She also previously worked in private legal practice (including King & Wood Mallesons in Melbourne and Linklaters in London).
Jennifer is Chair of Wingate’s Risk & Compliance Committee.
B App Sc, Grad Dip Acc; and Fellow of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia
Antony is a globally focussed Commercial Senior Executive with 32 years of experience. During his 28 years at KPMG he held positions as a partner including Head of Valuations, Head of Mergers & Acquisitions, Head of Industry Restructuring & Privatisation, Head of Energy & Natural Resources and a member of the Board. He was also CFO of Better Place Australia – an electric vehicle recharge network operator for three years and then its CEO. Antony has world recognised industry experience in energy and utilities along with many other industries including mining, retail, airlines, transport and logistics, media, manufacturing and real estate. He has played many community roles including Council member and former Treasurer of Bialik College; two terms as a Council member of Questacon, the National science and technology centre; former Member of the Solar Flagships Council; Former Director of the Australia Israel Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of AUSiMED (current).
Fellow of Australia Property Institute, Associate Real Estate Institute, Certified Practising Practitioner (Finance), Certified Development Practitioner, Certified Facility Manager, Certified Practising Valuer (Business)
Scott Keck is Chairman of Charter Keck Cramer, a leading Australian independent, strategic property consulting firm. Scott has 48 years property valuation and Corporate Real Estate experience across the national markets. He is frequently engaged as a senior negotiator in complex commercial and statutory issues related to the property market and for advice in relation to large portfolio valuations for major statutory and private corporations. He has consulted to many corporate clients on asset acquisition and disposal and accommodation solutions. He regularly appears as an expert witness in litigation proceedings. Scott has a strong understanding of corporate governance, accountability, growth strategies and operations.
Matt is a thirty-year veteran of the leasing industry and pioneered the novated car lease as a popular employee benefit. Matt founded fleet manager nlc in 1990 and was Managing Director until 2015 when he sold the company to the listed SG Fleet Group. Matt continues to be involved in the industry and is Chairman of NALSPA, an industry group representing the interests of fleet managers and the salary packaging industry of Australia. Matt has strong executive experience in leasing, insurance and consumer finance.
Matt’s career has also included experience in the mining sector. Matt is Director and major shareholder of Kalamazoo Resources, a listed gold and base metals explorer. Matt is also the Director and major shareholder of North Rossa; a company that is developing export opportunities of reclamation sand to the Asian market.
Matt is chairman of the Reinehr Family Foundation which seeks to partner with charitable organisations addressing youth homelessness, domestic violence and early intervention programs to help at-risk youth
Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, Fellow of the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants, Certified Cost Accountant
Ron is the founder and former Senior Partner of Pitcher Partners, Australia’s leading and most prominent mid-market accounting and tax practice. Prior to the founding of Pitcher Partners, Ron was Deputy Managing Partner of KPMG, Melbourne. He has over fifty years of experience in the accounting and business advisory professions, having advised and been counsel to some of Australia’s largest family businesses. Ron has served on the boards of several listed and private companies in the roles of Chairman and Chair of Audit and Remuneration Committees. Ron’s key areas of expertise include audit, business and financial advisory and counsel, in a vast array of sectors, including financial services, manufacturing, service industries, wholesale, import, retail and agriculture.
Jeff has more than 25 years’ experience in property finance and associated areas during which time he has built an outstanding track record in meeting clients’ objectives. He spent 10 years with BankWest and was responsible for establishing the successful BankWest Property Finance Unit in Perth in 1995.
He spent several years as a Director at Ashe Morgan Winthrop where he established the company’s structured finance capability in Melbourne and its national commercial property lending business under a CMBS program. Prior to founding Cohenca Consulting, Jeff was Division Director Real Estate Structured Finance at Macquarie Group.