Sydney Investor Forum - Speaker biographies

Tim Murphy
Head of Managed Funds Research
Morningstar


Tim is the Head of Managed Funds Research at Morningstar, a leading global provider of investment research, offering an extensive line of print, software, and web-based products and services. Tim is responsible for conducting qualitative research on Australian fund managers and their funds.

Before joining Morningstar in 2005, Tim worked in equity derivatives trading with Optiver Australia, and prior to that, in lending with the Commonwealth Bank and mortgage securitization with Macquarie Bank. He has a Bachelor of Applied Finance from Macquarie University, a Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting from Macquarie University, and is currently undertaking further study for the Master of Applied Finance at the Macquarie University Applied Finance Centre, as well as being a candidate for Level III of the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.
He is also an Associate Member of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.

In his spare time, Tim plays rugby and oztag, and enjoys travel as well as following most sports, particularly rugby union, rugby league, and cricket.

James Holt
Vice President and Investment Specialist - International Equities
BlackRock


Mr Holt is a member of BlackRock's Equity Portfolio Management Group. Mr Holt is a Product Specialist - International Equities, providing a link between the global Portfolio Management Group and the Account Management Group.

Prior to joining BlackRock in 2008, Mr Holt was with Zurich Financial Services. He joined the firm in 2002 and was an investment specialist for their equity and diversified funds and was a participating member of their Tactical Asset Allocation Committee. Prior to joining Zurich, Mr Holt was Marketing & Operations Manager with Zurich Scudder Investments. He began his career as an asset consultant manager with BT Funds Management.

Mr Holt earned a Bachelor of Economics degree from the Australian National University in 1995.

Piers Bolger
Wholesale, Head of Research & Investments
Executive Director
UBS Global Asset Management


Years of investment industry experience: 13
Education: Melbourne University (Australia), BA, B.Comm; Securities Institute of Australia, Graduate Diploma Applied Finance & Investment; Macquarie University (Australia), M App Finance

Piers Bolger joined UBS in 2003 and is Head of Research & Investments within the wholesale business of UBS Global Asset Management.

Piers has a background in asset consulting and investment research having worked for a number of consulting and fund-of-fund investment manager groups. His responsibilities included the development of asset allocation and investment strategies, as well as the research and ongoing monitoring of investment managers.

Piers Bolger is an Associate of the Securities Institute of Australian (ASIA) and a Member of the Investment Management Consultants Assoc (IMCA).