Meet the Platypus Free-range Investment Thinking™ Team
We not only look happy, we genuinely are. Because as Platypus analysts, we’re free to explore and interrogate any investment opportunity that comes our way. As an individual then as a team. The net result is better investment decisions and better outcomes for our clients as we collectively strive to outperform the ordinary on their behalf.
The Qualitative Side of the Platypus Brain
Prasad Patkar
Head of Investments
Prior to joining Platypus in February 2008 Prasad was the Chief Investment Officer with Audant Investments Pty Ltd, joining that company in 2001. The role carried executive responsibility for the performance of all asset classes for the Whyte Family Office including listed equities, alternative investments, property, operating businesses and private equity investments. Prasad’s career commenced in India in 1995 as General Manager for PNH Alloys Pty Limited. Prasad holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Bombay University, is a Graduate Member of the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India and holds an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management, Sydney.
Stephen Butel
Portfolio Manager
Profile
Stephen joined Platypus in July 2017. Prior to joining Platypus Stephen spent five years working with Pacific Road Capital Management a Private Equity Fund specialising in the resources sector. Prior to this he worked as a Senior Mining Engineer with RPM Global and as an Engineer across operations in both Australia and North America. Stephen holds Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) specialising in Mining and Master of Commerce (Finance) both from University of New South Wales. He is also a member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Brendan Warton
Analyst
Profile
Brendan joined Platypus in June 2007. Brendan began with Platypus in portfolio administration before being trained as an analyst within the investment management team transitioning to the role full time in 2012. Brendan holds a Bachelor of Business from the University of Western Sydney (Economics and Finance) and a Masters of Applied Finance (MAppFin), Kaplan Higher Education.
Pelen Ji
Analyst
Profile
Pelen joined Platypus in May 2019. In the years 2006 to 2018, Pelen enjoyed a successful career with the Macquarie Group, where she spent time as a Senior Risk Associate before moving to the role of Senior Equity Research Analyst. In her latter role, Pelen worked in Hong Kong for a period. Pelen holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Actuarial Studies and Accounting) from the University of New South Wales and a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance and Investment from FINSIA.
Tua Thuvarakan
Analyst
Profile
Tua joined Platypus in July 2024. Prior to joining Platypus Tua was employed by Macquarie Group as an equity analyst and had been with the group since 2021. Before joining Macquarie, Tua built his experience whilst studying holding various graduate and post graduate positions at Munich Re, The Commonwealth Treasury and The Department of Agriculture and Water.
Jared Grylls
Analyst
Profile
Jared joined Platypus in June 2021 in the role of Equities Dealer. Jared previously worked as a Trader at Schroders Australia where he had responsibility for the execution of Australian and New Zealand equity and derivative orders for the global investment teams, in addition to other dealings and investment team activities. Prior to this Jared worked with Macquarie Bank in Massachusetts and New York and began his career with Rare Infrastructure, Australia. Jared holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from the University of Western Australia, majoring in Actuarial Studies and Accounting.
The Quantitative Side of the Platypus Brain
Peter Brooke
Head of Quantitative Research and Responsible Investments
Peter joined Platypus in January 2008 and, in addition to managing our responsible investing activities, is responsible for all aspects of quantitative research. From May 2006, Peter worked as a Quantitative Analyst with MIR Investment Management. During this period, he worked on various research projects and in quantitative portfolio management. Peter holds an MSc degree in Physics and Astronomy from the University of Durham, UK and has a PhD in Physics from Macquarie University, Sydney.
Ying Wang
Quantitative Analyst
Profile
Ying joined Platypus in December 2015 after having previously worked as a Senior Consultant in the Enterprise Performance Solutions team at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she provided technical support for a variety of business operations. During her time at PwC, Ying also worked on customer relationship management systems, and helped implement file security for PwC Exchange. Prior to PwC, Ying was an Analyst Programmer at Rostima Ltd, where she worked on their core algorithms. Ying has a Master of Applied Science (Computer Science) from RMIT University and a Master of Commerce (Finance) from the University of Sydney. Ying completed her CFA studies in 2019 and is a CFA Charterholder.
Our Management and Operations Team
Jelena Stevanovic
Chief Executive Officer
Jelena was appointed CEO in July, 2024, following a successful (and enduring) period of leadership by Gary Adamson. Previously serving as our Portfolio Manager and Senior Analyst, Jelena originally joined Platypus in 2008 from Deloitte where she was employed in Corporate Finance as a Valuations Senior Analyst. In this role Jelena was involved in various industry and company valuation projects and the provision of supporting research reports. Prior to this Jelena worked in Deloitte’s Pricing and Economics Group, assessing international related party transactions, debt pricing, and the preparation of supporting research reports. Jelena holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney and a Graduate Diploma of Tax Law the University of Sydney.
Steven Best
Head of Compliance
Profile
Steven joined Platypus in 2000 and is responsible for monitoring performance and reporting to Institutional clients, as well as Compliance in all areas within the business. Prior to this he spent two years at Vodafone and nine years at the Commonwealth Bank in administration and operational roles.
Hugh Donaldson
Executive Director
Profile
Hugh has over 30 years of financial markets experience, across asset classes and geographies. Hugh joined Platypus as an executive in April 2019 after joining the board in early 2018. In his executive capacity Hugh has responsibility for both market operations and business operations at Platypus. Hugh is a board member of Platypus Asset Management.
Kara Gurney
Portfolio Administrator
Profile
Kara joined Platypus in June 2024. Prior to joining us, Kara practiced as an Architect. Kara has a Master of Architecture (DAB and AAA) from UTS Sydney and Aarhus Architecture Association Denmark. Further Kara has a Bachelor of Environmental Design (UWA Architecture) from the University of Western Australia Perth. In 2024 Kara completed her Master of Applied Finance (Business School) at the UNSW Sydney.
We are proud to be the Program Patron of the ‘Artful: Art and Dementia’ program at the Museum of Contemporary Art
We are so pleased to partner with the Museum of Contemporary Art as the sponsor of their Artful Program an online and on-site six-week program created specifically for people living with dementia and, equally importantly, their support partners.
This is a program that’s very dear to the hearts of our entire Platypus paddle. (Yes, that’s right. ‘Paddle’ is the collective noun for a group of platypuses.) If you would like to join Platypus as a partner of the MCA and the Artful program please do not hesitate in contacting us or the MCA team.
We are committed to helping protect the unique creature we’re named after.
(No real suprises there.)
Over the last 30 years the range of the platypus has shrunk by over 20% and it’s feared that this Aussie icon could disappear from the wild forever. So we wanted to help. That’s why we proudly sponsor the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in their quest to help reintroduce this much-loved Australian species back into the habitats from which they’ve almost completely disappeared. By investing in the WWF’s ‘Rewilding’ program, we’re playing a big part in helping restore platypus ecosystems so these much loved monotremes can once again live where they were meant to.
Indeed, the reintroduction of the first 10 platypuses to the Royal National Park shows that we can move beyond just protecting what remains, and actually restore what we’ve lost. It’s the first program of its kind in NSW and aims to re-establish a self-sustaining and genetically diverse population.
Our partnership for the future
Platypus Asset Management was founded in 1998, and strengthened via a joint venture with Australian Unity in 2006. In 2022, Australian Unity moved to full ownership of Platypus Asset Management. This distinctive partnership model provides us with innovative resources and backend support services while preserving the entrepreneurialism, independence and flexibility of our boutique investment house.
Australian Unity is a national healthcare, financial services and retirement living organisation providing services to around 1,000,000 Australians, including 300,000 members nationwide. Its wealth offering incorporates banking and investment products including specialist mortgage, property, fixed interest, equity and investment bond products.
For further information about Australian Unity please visit: australianunity.com.au/wealth
