Joe Fernandes

Head of Global Investment Solutions Group
Colonial First State Global Asset Management

Bachelor of Science (Honours)
PhD in mathematics

"My role involves directing a talented cross-disciplinary team in providing leadership to our business in the development of our investment offers."

Colonial First State Global Asset Management is Australia’s largest investment management business, with a presence in select markets around the world.

The Global Investment Solutions Group is responsible for the integrity and development of our investment products globally. Located in Sydney, Hong Kong and London, the Group comprises three teams with responsibility for product strategy and execution, investment development and multi-strategy portfolio management.

As the head of the Global Investment Solutions Group, I direct a diverse team of investment and business professionals who are collectively charged with providing leadership to our organisation in the development of our investment offers, and the delivery of relevant investment solutions to our clients. In addition, I am a member of Colonial First State Global Asset Management’s global executive management team.

Formerly I have held investment management and business building and leadership roles within Colonial First State and, before that, Mercer.

I began my career in 1996, after completing a PhD in General Relativity in what was then the Department of Mathematics at Monash University.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Monash. I had the opportunity to interact with some of the best minds in the world working in their areas of expertise. My time as a PhD student allowed me to explore some of the fundamental questions about the structure of the universe, which was intellectually demanding as well as fulfilling. I don’t often apply the technical component of my studies in my current day to day work, however my background in mathematics provides a useful framework for the consideration of business and investment problems. Questioning assumptions, formulating alternative solutions and understanding the implications of these across multiple dimensions are key parts of successful investment management.

In addition to my science qualifications, I am a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australia, a Visiting Fellow of the Macquarie University Applied Finance Centre and a Visiting Adjunct Professor at the School of Banking and Finance, University of New South Wales.