BY SERVICE

THE FIRST TEAM

Victoria Geddes

Executive Director

Ben Rebbeck

Executive Director

Ron Cameron

Giles Rafferty

Saloni Suri

Adityan Anil

Neel Porwal

Anna Nguyen

Campbell Venrooy

Our Community

GLOBAL IR NETWORK

Financial markets are dynamic and ever changing. Today the market place for investors is a global one and companies know that to be successful in attracting both talent and capital they must replicate what they are doing locally, in markets offshore.

Established in 2013, the Global IR Network is an exclusive list of IR firms, specialists in the US and European markets. We are expanding to include markets in Asia, China, South America and South Africa however membership is by invitation only, and a stringent selection process ensures the network is comprised of only the most experienced firms. We are owner-operators, leaders within the IR industry with at least a decade of experience advising corporates on a range of IR issues, including transactions.

FIRST Advisers is one of the founding members of the network and its Australian representative. We provide our clients with access to global capital markets, secure in the knowledge that when visiting cities around the globe, they will receive the same personal attention as at home. If you would like to know more about how our network can assist you with your next roadshow or targeting new investors in specific markets, please contact FIRST Advisers’ IR team.

PHILANTHROPY

We are committed to ‘giving back’ by supporting organisations dedicated to helping individuals or groups build a financially sustainable future. FIRST Advisers does this by providing support through donation, fund raising or work undertaken pro-bono. Two organisations that we have been proud to support in this way are SEFA and Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia (Australia).

In addition, each year we also identify a not for profit organisation whose work has particular meaning or relevance to a staff member. We have provided donations to:

  • 2019, 2020: Beyond Blue
  • 2017: Birds of Passage
  • 2015, 2016, 2018: Tuberous Sclerosis Australia
  • 2015: Sydney Coastrek
  • 2014: Blue Mountains Bush Fire Appeal
  • 2013: Rites of Passage

Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia (Australia)

Philippa Ellis, our senior consultant on Governance and IR, is a non-executive director of Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia (Australia), bringing to the board her extensive experience in corporate communication and governance.

FIRST Advisers supports the work of Dr Hamlin, a wonderful Australian who has devoted her life to treating Ethiopian women suffering from obstetric fistula. She has done this not only by providing access to emergency obstetric services all around the country but also by ensuring that Ethiopia developed its own resources through the training of mid-wives. At its core, Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia’s work on the ground in Africa is all about sustainability – it is run by Ethiopians, for Ethiopians and for this reason we believe their work deserves support.

ABOUT HAMLIN FISTUAL ETHIOPIA (AUSTRALIA)

Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia raises funds and awareness in Australia for the work of legendary Australian obstetrician-gynaecologist Dr Catherine Hamlin AC and her team in Ethiopia. Dr Hamlin is a Companion of the Order of Australia, is a two-time Nobel Prize nominee and is on the list of Australian Living Legends for her humanitarian work in Ethiopia for more than half a century.

Obstetric fistula patients have suffered serious childbirth injuries caused by unrelieved obstructed labour. They have usually lost their baby and live with the misery of permanent incontinence if left untreated. With specialist surgery these patients, some of the most marginalised women in the world, can have their dignity restored. A standard fistula operation costs $AUD600.

Dr Hamlin’s goal is to eradicate Ethiopia of obstetric fistula altogether. Key to this is an ambitious prevention strategy to train midwives and deploy them into regional Ethiopia where the need is so great. All patients are treated free of charge and all midwives are trained on full scholarships thanks to generous donors.

Find out more at hamlin.org.au

Social Enterprise Finance Australia (SEFA)

FIRST Advisers became involved with SEFA in 2011 when it was in the early stages of seeking funding from SEDIF and gathering support from a range of investors. Victoria Geddes had worked with SEFA’s Managing Director, David Rickards, at Macquarie Bank in the early nineties and recognised the unmet need that organisations such as this were seeking to fill within the financial sector. A key strength of SEFA’s business model is that it combines financial support with capacity building so that loan recipients are provided with every opportunity to make their venture succeed. FIRST Advisers provided communications advice and support to SEFA in building its media profile during the first few years of its establishment.

ABOUT SEFA

Social Enterprise Finance Australia (SEFA) provides finance to social enterprises on commercial terms together with targeted business advice and support. Integral to this business objective is a commitment to helping its customers build their capacity to manage debt and become financially sustainable over time. SEFA seeks to create positive social and environmental impact in addition to financial returns.

It was established in August 2011 when selected by the Australian Government to receive funding from its Social Enterprise Development and Investment Fund (SEDIF). On top of the $10 million grant, an additional $10 million was raised via equity investors and lenders. SEFA recently became B Corp certified (August 2015). B Corps use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems, and are certified by not-for-profit B Lab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.

Find out more at sefa.com.au