FinClear Team

MEET THE TEAM

David FerrallGROUP CEO & MANAGING DIRECTOR

David is a highly experienced financial services executive with more than 30 years in financial and investment markets. He has built and managed businesses in Australia, Asia and Japan for companies including CBA, Shinsei Bank, JPMorgan and Citigroup.

Spend 5 Min with David Ferrall

What book should everyone read?

I’m into books about Antarctic exploration, particularly Ernest Shackleton and the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914–1917. An abject failure as an expedition but a triumph of human endeavour, resilience and leadership.

Shackleton’s Epic by Tim Jarvis is a fabulous read as a modern day re-creation of an extraordinary and possibly greatest survival journey of all time!

What was the best holiday you’ve ever taken?

A family safari to Kruger National Park in South Africa was pretty special. I was highly bemused by the fact that we spent days tracking down African Hunting dogs only to find out they looked like mangy street dogs and smelled like an open pit of hell. Compared to the other majestic animals, they were outstanding in their averageness!

A life changing trip many years ago was spending a couple of months in Antarctica. In the mid-90s I sailed there on a privately funded expedition to build a hut for a couple who were going to live there for a year. We sailed down there on a 60-foot racing yacht, built them a hut, dropped them off and sailed back. There were seven of us going down, five coming back.

I think what struck me most was that the place was teeming with life. You imagine it would be a very barren place, but there is an abundance of whales, seals, penguins and sea birds everywhere you look. I remember a pod of killer whales coming up off the back of the boast and popping their heads out, looking us up and down with their beady eyes and seeming to say “yum, I’d really like to eat you if you’d just please jump into the water.”

If you could wake up one day magically able to play any sport perfectly which would you choose and why?

I think if I had my time again, I’d like to be a really good surfer, because I’m a really crap surfer. I’ve tried so very hard, and I’m just an abject failure! I’d like to step on to a longboard at Byron, on that break that goes from Wategos to Main Beach, and ride the endless wave.

Spend five minutes with CEO David Ferrall and find out where he dreams of riding the endless wave; why you should never try to get the best side of a deal, and what killer whales would like to have for lunch

What do you love about going to work?

Right now, I don’t go to work and I miss it a lot! In all seriousness, I love building a business, and finding cheaper, more efficient processes within the archaic world of finance. I like challenging the status quo and creating new ways of doing things.

Building a start-up was great, I particularly enjoyed the ability we had to explore many different opportunities and see what spins out of them. Now we’re a more mature business, I like that we are still small and nimble enough to pivot quickly toward opportunity, despite being in a highly structured and tightly regulated part of the financial system.

Any business is only as strong as its team of course, and I love that we have a great team of free thinkers and self-starters, who we can give rein to pursue opportunities. For those who have been with us for some time, they took a risk coming on board a new, small business and I’m delighted that their faith in us has paid off.

What is the best career advice you’ve been given?

Always leave something for the next guy. Never try to extract the very last ounce of value, whether you’re talking to investors or partners, don’t try to whittle people down to the lowest common denominator in terms of a deal. Always make sure everyone feels they’re getting a good deal, and that there’s enough margin for everyone.

What advice would you offer others?

Never close your mind to opportunity and different ways of doing things.

What keeps you busy outside of work?

I don’t have much spare time running this business, it’s probably a bit sad really but other than family, I honestly haven’t done much apart from FinClear for the past five years – it’s been all consuming. Pre-FinClear I did all sorts of things, including sailing my yacht competitively. I’d like to go sailing again, probably not racing but just for myself. I can see myself cruising around the Med, the Greek islands and the Amalfi coast. One day.

What emerging technology are you excited about?

ASX CHESS replacement and the open architecture facilitating access to data. Ultimately it will lead to a world where multiple layers of fees are stripped away and investors can manage their own investments in their own name on HIN even more easily than they can today.

Andrea MaraniChief Executive Officer FinClear

Andrea’s extensive financial services career spans more than 20 years and includes senior management and executive roles at firms such as Shaw & Partners, Wilson HTM, Global Trader, Rabobank, Bankers Trust, JP Morgan and Investec. He was most recently CEO of OpenMarkets, building the company from startup to top 15 ASX participant.

Spend 5 Min with Andrea Marani

Spend five minutes with Andrea Marani, COO, and find out why he’d like to live with the lions; what it means to lead from behind, and why he’s not scared of his iPhone.

What do you love about going to work?

I love the diversity of what we’re doing. No day is the same and we have such a wide range of clients, from planners to fintechs to brokers, which makes it interesting. Keeping ahead of technology change and the regulation is very challenging and I enjoy that.

What is the best career advice you’ve been given?

Someone who said to me lead from the back and let others understand that they’re in front. Being more consensus focused than dictatorial in approach, making people feel they’re part of the team, and you’re there to support them.

What advice would you offer others?

It’s would probably be to never give up. I believe you only know if someone is successful by how many times they’ve failed. Don’t fear making mistakes, have a crack. “A winner is a dreamer who never gives up,” right?

What keeps you busy outside of work?

My kids. I have three boys close together – twins 14 and my eldest 16 and they’re all heavily into sport. We (normally) shuttle from basketball to footy on the weekends. I cycle as well; I meet my little group on Saturdays or Sundays and go for a ride. I like riding because your body takes over and your mind is free to wander – the trick is remembering those great ideas till you get home and can write them down!

What emerging technology are you excited about?

Artificial intelligence I think, purely because of the convenience it brings. I’m not too worried about who’s watching you and what they’ll do with your data, I’m pragmatic about that as “they” have so much of our data already. I really enjoy ease and convenience and sure maybe it’s a little bit scary that your phone knows your routine and suggests who you should meet up with and which way to go, but it adds a lot of convenience. We take it for granted, and sure we all used to drive and run around the cities without Google Maps, but if it all went away tomorrow most of us would not like that at all.

What book should everyone read?

A book I really like is “Outliers.” It’s a fascinating book about how you can change a few things in your child’s life that will have significant impact later on.

Bill KeoghChief Executive Officer Transact1

Bill has accumulated over 30 years of experience in the capital markets and funds management industry. His experience has been broad and includes risk management, portfolio management, securities trading, derivatives, and foreign exchange markets.

Bill has a Bachelor of Business, Master of Applied Finance and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Tony LynchChief Financial Officer

Tony has been with FinClear since inception and, before that, had a distinguished career in financial services across Australia and Europe, specialising in wealth management, broking and advisory.

Most recently Tony was the CFO at Pershing Australia. He has held listed CFO roles at SenSen Networks in Australia and Artilium plc in Europe. He was Group Financial Controller at Egg plc (at the time, the world’s largest on-line bank) and held board advisory positions at Australian FinTech’s Spriggy and Macrovue.

Spend 5 Min with Tony Lynch

What emerging technology are you most excited about?

Not really an emerging technology but I have learned a lot recently about the initial moon landing. I think it was one of humanity’s most extraordinary achievements, and I genuinely believe it wouldn’t happen today. In 1961 Kennedy said, “We’re going to the moon” and all these people who didn’t have any technology – software hadn’t even been invented yet! – had to go, ‘right, so that’s what we’re doing now.’ And they just worked it out and they did it. Today there is just no way a government would say, ‘we’re going to spend whatever it takes to achieve this audacious goal for humanity’ and just do it. Which is a shame.

Where do you live and what do you like about it?

I live with my family near Manly on the northern beaches. I wander around in thongs and think it’s a very long way from where I was born in Cork, Ireland – there, if you don’t wear heavy boots, you get blown into the Atlantic! Like most northern beaches people I consider it to be God’s Country and if we had our way we’d put up the Spit Bridge on Friday night and lower it down again on Monday morning.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I’d live here in Australia six months of the year, and the other six months I’d base myself in Ireland and go travelling around Europe. As much as I adore Australia it really is a very long way away from everywhere else.

What was the best holiday you’ve ever taken?

Last year we went to Paris en route to see my parents in Ireland, and it was so totally full on! Not the tranquil café, art and architecture scene from the movies AT ALL. We were there on Bastille Day and there was a full scale riot – tear gas, people running down the street, police sirens all day. The African Nations Championship (soccer) was on as well – not in France mind you, they were playing in Egypt – but every time Algeria or Morocco was playing you’d see people sitting on car roofs as they were driving down the Champs-Élysées, flying flags, screaming, blowing horns, getting chased by the gendarmerie – it was really something.

We did find some tranquillity by getting up early – nobody in Paris is out of bed before 9 it seems, so my daughter and I got up and rode Lime scooters all over Paris in the early morning and it was glorious, all that stunning Parisian scenery and just us there to enjoy it.

If you could wake up one day magically able to play any sport perfectly, which would you choose and why?

I used to play rugby when I was young and stupid enough to do that, and I loved it – the camaraderie of it and the fun. I’d need to grow another foot wide and high to do it now, plus grow some new cartilage, but that would be great to get back to. I think team sports are really important, I see my kids learning to back each other up, be a team, and show up even when you don’t feel like it so you’re not letting people down.

Spend five minutes with Tony Lynch, Director, FinClear, and find out why you have to wear heavy boots in Cork, and why Paris is so glorious in riot season.

What are your favourite things about your job?

I like working at an entrepreneurial company rather than a traditional corporation. We can be really clear about what we’re trying to do for customers, and we can make decisions and change course super fast. It’s been fascinating growing from the early days when it was just me, David [Ferrall] and Hurley the dog, to now an office that’s bursting at the seams, no spare seats anywhere and knocking down walls into the next office to fit everyone in.

Having the right people on the team is even more critical in an entrepreneurial business than in a regular one. People have to be comfortable with change, and be happy to work at a different pace than you do in a corporate job.

What are your favourite things to do outside of work?

I’ve got a 12 and a 14 year old, so I spend most of my free time ferrying them around to sports events, matches and tournaments. And I have to say that netball mums are much more ferocious than anything I ever see at work!

Like most parents I don’t get huge amounts of time for myself, but I do like listening to podcasts. I always recommend Seth Godin’s Akimbo and The Tropical MBA podcasts. Also anything with Naval Ravikant, he’s a silicon valley dude and just the most zen guy ever who’s amazing to listen to.

What was the best career advice you’ve been given?

You can never please everyone. There’s a quote by Seth Godin on that that I really like – “You can spend your time on stage pleasing the heckler in the back, or you can devote it to the audience that came to see you.” Finding a niche and excelling within it is a much better strategy than building something to please everyone and ending up pleasing nobody.

What advice would you offer to others?

One thing I always say is, keep saying yes until you have to say no. I hear it so frequently – when talking to people, they’re desperately trying to find a reason to say no, just so they can move on to the next thing they’re going to say no to! Let an idea breathe and don’t shut it down until you have to. Often a great solution will fall out of a conversation even if you weren’t sold on the idea at the start.

The other thing I believe is that the only sure way to fail is not to start. Just try things, at least then you’ll know.

Jessica LeongHead of Legal and Compliance

Jessica has over 25 years’ experience in the financial services industry as a legal and compliance professional. She started her career with ASIC where she also completed her Articles. Following a number of years with the corporate regulator she entered the world of stockbroking where she has established and ran legal and compliance departments.

Jessica has also got significant experience in applying for AFSLs and putting together applications for ASX Trading, Clearing and Settlement memberships, having played a key role in helping both Pershing Australia and FinClear in this regard and has been with FinClear since its establishment in 2015.

Nick AveryChief Commercial Officer

Nick is a career financial management and stockbroking professional with more than 15 years’ experience servicing individual, high net worth and institutional clients. His expertise expands across all things equities, with experience managing stockbroking operations, developing business strategy and leading the development and delivery of new business channels. Nick holds a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance, Diplomas in Financial Services and Financial planning and is a Master Member of SAFAA.

David BowlesTechnology, Strategy and Innovation Officer

David’s extensive 20+ years’ experience in the UK, US and Australia has included founding, developing and leading extensive IT programs and projects across multiple countries. The past 15 years has seen David undertake significant roles as a corporate executive / senior manager and transformation change leader across both the financial services industry and resource industry.

A passionate IT professional, David enjoys the challenge of managing stakeholders while implementing large strategic programs of work and delights in solving complex business problems with clever technology.

Daniel BowerCHIEF PRODUCT OFFICER

Daniel joined FinClear in October 2021 as Head of Platform. He has over 20 years of experience in financial services, particularly focussing on design, build and implementation of proprietary investment management and wealth administration platforms.

Since 2003, he has built managed account platforms for alternative hedge fund firms, family offices, private wealth intermediaries and retail investors across all asset classes, trading styles and frequencies including global equity long/short, managed futures, option market making, FX and credit in the UK, Europe and Australia.

Daniel is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales.

Gavin DawChief Technology Officer

Gavin has thirty years’ experience in enterprise software development. Formative years as a programmer and project manager, later years as technical lead, CTO, managing director and head of software engineering. Gavin has worked in a range of different technical roles supporting a diverse range of clients including Bank of England, Lloyds TSB, Oracle, Amazon and Telstra.

An avid technology enthusiast, he has also designed and implemented a solution to control and audit access to privileged accounts as well as founding a company that developed mobile and cloud solutions. Gavin is passionate about customer satisfaction through services and technology. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) Information Technology from Curtin University.

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OUR TEAM

MEET THE TEAM

David FerrallGROUP CEO & MANAGING DIRECTOR

What book should everyone read?

What was the best holiday you’ve ever taken?

If you could wake up one day magically able to play any sport perfectly which would you choose and why?

What do you love about going to work?

What is the best career advice you’ve been given?

What advice would you offer others?

What keeps you busy outside of work?

What emerging technology are you excited about?

Andrea MaraniChief Executive Officer FinClear

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

What was the best holiday you’ve ever taken?

If you could wake up one day magically able to play any sport perfectly which would you choose and why?

What do you love about going to work?

What is the best career advice you’ve been given?

What advice would you offer others?

What keeps you busy outside of work?

What emerging technology are you excited about?

What book should everyone read?

Bill KeoghChief Executive Officer Transact1

Tony LynchChief Financial Officer

What emerging technology are you most excited about?

Where do you live and what do you like about it?

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

What was the best holiday you’ve ever taken?

If you could wake up one day magically able to play any sport perfectly, which would you choose and why?

What are your favourite things about your job?

What are your favourite things to do outside of work?

What was the best career advice you’ve been given?

What advice would you offer to others?

Jessica LeongHead of Legal and Compliance

Nick AveryChief Commercial Officer

David BowlesTechnology, Strategy and Innovation Officer

What is the best Career Advice You’ve have been Given?

WHAT KEEPS YOU BUSY OUTSIDE OF WORK?

What is the best Career Advice You’ve have been Given?

WHAT KEEPS YOU BUSY OUTSIDE OF WORK?

Daniel BowerCHIEF PRODUCT OFFICER

Gavin DawChief Technology Officer