Independent member named for new HESTA Investment Committee

HESTA has announced that Tim Hughes has been appointed as an independent adviser on the super fund's new investment committee, effective April 2017.

Hughes has over 30 years' experience in senior roles in investment management and superannuation, including as CIO of Rothschild Australia, Value Capital Management and Catholic Super and as the investment counsel at NGS Super. He currently sits on the board of emerging biotech company, Factor Therapeutics, and is on the advisory board of the Centre for Investor Education.

He is joined on HESTA's investment committee by fellow independent adviser, Melda Donnelly, and inaugural chair and former Future Fund head, Mark Burgess

HESTA CEO, Debby Blakey, said the establishment of the committee, which followed an announcement in January of a new five year investment strategy for the fund, "is an important step that sets up the $37 billion fund's investment processes and structures to continue to deliver sustainable, ambitious long-term returns for members."

She added: "Mark, Melda and Tim all bring outstanding investment experience and insights that give us further specialist expertise that can supplement the skills and experience we already have at Board level."

Hughes was formerly a member of HESTA's investment advisory panel.