The ACCR Team

Our Global Climate Insight team, with deep experience in equities analysis, climate and carbon research, provides investors with clear actionable insights on the climate transition plans of major global companies.

Adam Verwey

Office bearer

Adam has a long history in ethical investment, shareholder advocacy and using capital in a way that seeks to create systemic change on climate change and inequality.

Adam is a founder of Future Super, Australia’s first 100% fossil fuel free superannuation fund. He developed the super fund product and operations before leading the investment and impact/ESG teams. Future Super Group is the investment manager and ESG services provider for $10 Billion in FUMA including ethical super funds Future Super, Verve Super and Cruelty Free Super, as well as Australia's leading sustainability ETFs. Prior to founding Future Super he spent nine years at Australian Ethical Investment.

He is currently a director at climate investing start up Bloom Impact. He has been on the board of the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility since 2014.

Ainslee Hunter

Digital & Marketing Lead

Ainslee is a digital media pioneer with over fifteen years experience in content production for television, digital and social media platforms. Prior to joining ACCR in February 2021, she was in marketing, communications and community management for ABC Kids and ABC’s flagship program, Q&A. Ainslee started in digital production at MTV Australia in 2004 and has spent her career adapting to rapidly changing technologies and environments while driving both impact and increased awareness.

Brynn O'Brien

Executive Director

Brynn has 15 years’ experience as a lawyer and strategist. Prior to joining ACCR in January 2017, she worked as a consultant and advisor on business and human rights projects and practised as a corporations and international lawyer. She has degrees in Medical Science and Law from the University of Technology Sydney and a Master of Laws from Columbia University.

Dimitri Lafleur

Chief Scientist

Dimitri Lafleur is our Chief Scientist, providing rigorous assessments of company climate plans, with a deep understanding of GHG emissions and energy markets, as well as oil and gas value chains. After an 11 year career as a geoscientist in the oil and gas industry, working for Shell globally, Dimitri subsequently completed a PhD on climate change and energy transition. He holds bachelor and master of science degrees in geophysics and geology (University of Utrecht) and a PhD in climate and energy (University of Melbourne).

Gemma Yeates

Investor Engagement Lead

Gemma is responsible for investor and company relationships. She works collaboratively across ACCR to understand investors' needs and build long-term and lasting relationships. She has worked in financial markets for 15 years, in both investment banking (equity research sales) and funds management (investor relations and marketing) where she has always sought to add value via timely and relevant service for her clients. Gemma holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Business Management (University of Queensland) and a Business Sustainability Certificate from the Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership (CISL).

Howard Pender

Convener, Office bearer

Howard was awarded a university medal in Economics at the Australian National University. He worked at the Australian Treasury, an investment bank and was a Visiting Fellow at the Centre for International and Public Law at the Australian National University. He co-founded and was a Director of Australian Ethical Investment for 20 years until 2011. Howard was also a Director of 2 other ASX listed companies.

James Fitzgerald

Legal Counsel / First Nations Engagement Lead

James is a lawyer, negotiator and strategist for more than 28 years’ experience. James has been closely involved in the development of native title law and land use policy, and has worked with Indigenous peoples, governments and industry peak bodies in state and Commonwealth land use policy and legislation development. James is currently a director of the Diplomacy Training Program Ltd, a human rights training organisation, and is adjunct associate professor at the Law School of the University of NSW.

Judy Mills

Chief of Staff

Judy oversees the management of the team. She worked for more than 20 years in investment banking, predominantly in equity and financial markets across Australasia, UK and Europe. She has held senior management, legal and operational roles, and has also sat on a number of boards. Judy holds a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws (Hons) double degree (University of Sydney) and is a graduate of the Australian Institute for Company Directors (AICD).

Fiona Deutsch

Company Analyst

Fiona has worked as a researcher and campaigner for six years in both the union and climate movements. She is a Company Analyst and Strategist for ACCR’s work on the diversified miners and leads our research on steel decarbonisation. Fiona holds a Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Technology Sydney.

Alex Hillman

Lead Carbon Analyst

Alex has spent over a decade working in oil and gas, including five years as Woodside's climate change advisor. This has given him an understanding of the energy transition, LNG business models and technology, asset and company forecasting, climate policy, and climate reporting. Since starting work with ACCR, he has developed a keen interest in how climate change should be included in financial statements.

Alia Hutchison

Supporter Engagement Officer

Alia is the Supporter Engagement Officer responsible for maintaining close ties to our shareholder community and support in the filing of resolutions. Alia is an Indigenous woman with connections to Wongutha, Ngadju and Mirning language groups in Western Australia. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Australian Indigenous Studies and is incredibly passionate about caring for Country. Alia joined ACCR from a role at Rio Tinto in which she provided advocacy & support for Indigenous employees, facilitated the implementation of Native Title Agreements & collaboration with Traditional Owners and supported the design, implementation and execution of the Indigenous Ranger program.

Eva Kiriakoff

Strategic Partnerships Lead

Eva is the Strategic Partnerships Lead at ACCR and brings with her over 12 years’ experience in project design and implementation in complex environments, monitoring and evaluation, donor engagement and business operations. She has worked in Australia and globally for not-for-profits, research institutions, social entrepreneurs and government in areas she is deeply passionate about - environmental protection and sustainable development, education, public health, human rights, and ethical business/social enterprise development. Eva holds a Master of Development Practice (International Political Development) and a Bachelor of Arts (Extended Major International Relations), both from The University of Queensland.

Harriet Kater

Company Strategy Lead

Harriet joined ACCR's national climate team in February 2021, bringing 18 years' experience in climate, energy and the NGO sector. She started her career working in a series of environmental NGOs and then worked for a decade with Energetics, consulting to ASX-listed clients in the oil and gas, mining, chemicals and retail industries on climate and energy strategies. Following Energetics, she worked with Indigenous Business Australia in a renewable energy portfolio management role.

Naomi Hogan

Strategic Projects Lead

Naomi is the Strategic Projects Lead at ACCR, bringing a background in research and advocacy on the impacts of coal and gas projects in Australia. Naomi trained in science communication, climate science and natural resource management at the Australian National University. She has a background in building and supporting diverse coalitions to develop strategies and work together for improved environmental and climate outcomes. Over the past 14 years, Naomi has worked with regional communities, Traditional Owners, scientists, policy makers, NGOs, investors, lawyers, journalists and companies to help improve environmental protections and highlight inappropriate new coal and gas projects.

Paul De Josselin

Companies Research Lead

Prior to joining ACCR in December 2022, Paul gained extensive experience working within Templeton Global Equities, a premier international funds management organisation managing A$70bn of funds, specialising in global equities, with a focus on long-term bottom-up fundamental research. He has worked previously as a portfolio manager/research analyst across numerous sectors in Asia, Europe & ANZ. Paul is a Chartered Financial Analyst with a long-term track record of leveraging detailed financial analysis and modelling to drive alpha generation.

Qualifications:

  • Chartered Financial Analyst
  • Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investments, Securities Institute of Australia
  • Bachelor of Commerce major in Accounting, Monash University

Martin Norman

Investor Engagement Lead

Martin supports the team by expanding the reach of our research to key European investors. Based in Norway, Martin has deep climate and energy experience, and has built extensive networks with the finance industry in Europe, as well as parts of Asia and America. Martin has a background in anthropology, as well as sports training, having trained alpine sports teams at national level in Norway and Iceland.