Our People

The People Behind
the Purpose

Our team brings together investment expertise, impact knowledge and operational rigour — united by a shared commitment to values-led investing.

Brightlight is built on people who care deeply: about the craft of investing, the integrity of impact measurement, and the clients and communities they serve. Collectively, our team brings decades of institutional experience across public and private markets, impact advisory, due diligence, governance, and portfolio management. This depth of experience gives us genuine breadth across the full investment lifecycle — from strategy and policy design through to portfolio construction, stewardship, and reporting — and enables us to support clients operating across different markets and contexts.

The majority of our senior leaders are equity partners in the business. That matters to us, and we believe it matters to our clients. It means the people shaping Brightlight’s direction are the same people working alongside clients day‑to‑day, and the team you engage at the outset is the team that stays with you over the long term. We work in a highly collaborative way — across disciplines, with clients, and with partners — bringing together different perspectives to steward capital with care, discipline, and conviction.

Corporate & Clients

  • Samuel Richards is the Managing Director of Brightlight. A member of the firm's board and investment committee, he is responsible for developing innovative impact investment solutions, setting firm-wide strategy, and establishing key partnerships addressing the needs of institutional investors, government agencies, and not-for-profits.

    Before joining Brightlight at its inception as Chief Strategy Officer, Samuel was Chief Operating Officer of Goldman Sachs Asset Management Australia and New Zealand. He gained extensive experience in this role, focusing on strategy development and implementation across Australia, New Zealand, and Asian markets. He spent 15 years across the Goldman Sachs and JB Were businesses.

    While with Goldman Sachs, he developed an interest in values-based investing and saw Brightlight as a perfect fit for aligning his skills and values. Authentic in his commitment to impact investing, he is dedicated to supporting the Brightlight team achieve its mission of helping clients harmonize values and investment. He believes values-based investment can make a profoundly positive difference to the world.

  • Tim Macready is the Head of Global Advisory. He partners with clients to help them align all aspects of their portfolio with their values.

    Vastly experienced in impact, faith, and values-driven investment, before joining Brightlight, Tim spent 15 years as the Chief Investment Officer of Christian Super, an Australian superannuation fund with 30,000 members. At Christian Super, he was responsible for all aspects of investment portfolios strategy, design, and construction to deliver a $1.5bn portfolio that was values aligned and consistently achieved investment objectives.

    Tim's qualifications and experience in values and faith-driven investment are first-class. His formal education includes a Bachelor of Commerce (Actuarial Studies) from Macquarie University, a Master of Divinity from the Australian College of Theology, and Certified Investment Management Analyst accreditation.

    Insightful and transformative, Tim believes every client has different needs and objectives, requiring a different approach to values alignment that goes beyond applying a single framework to a client's portfolio. He is passionate about ensuring Brightlight's clients are equipped and served to align their portfolios with their values.

  • Simba Marekera is the Global Head of Private Markets at Brightlight. He leads Brightlight's investment team in researching, designing, developing, and managing innovative Private Markets investment products that aim to empower and restore dignity to underserved communities and individuals while driving commercial outcomes for our clients.

    Simba has extensive experience partnering with institutional investors, government entities, non-profit organisations, foundations, and family offices, helping clients understand and navigate the impact investment space. He brings to the table a significant array of experience, including almost six years at Christian Super, where he was the Senior Portfolio Analyst. He led the portfolio management activities at Christian Super for Fixed Income and Private Markets portfolios, including a $150+ million Impact Investment Portfolio.

    As well as being the co-founder of the New Africa Foundation, Simba is currently an Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity, a fellowship for Indigenous social equity in Australia, Aotearoa, and the Pacific region, focusing on Indigenous-led social change through a powerful network of Fellows.

    Simba has a Bachelor of Science (Electrical Engineering) degree from Yale University and a Masters in Applied Finance from Western Sydney University and currently studying a Masters in Social Change Leadership with the University of Melbourne.

  • Matthew Zschech is Chief Strategy Officer of the Brightlight. He is responsible for developing, communicating, executing, and sustaining strategic initiatives, focusing on private equity deals, complex investment vehicles and solutions for clients.

    With a focus on early-stage client business, account commercialisation strategies and development, Matthew oversees the development of the group's capital markets, distribution strategy, and partnerships within a global context. He brings his vast experience and skills to Brightlight, playing a vital role in strategy and imparting the knowledge he has gained from 25 years of experience working within a global corporate environment.

    Before joining Brightlight, Matthew was Head of Investments/Research for a large wealth management firm with $3.4b in funds under advice and the direct portfolio manager across five multi-manager funds and model portfolios. His professional journey takes in a broad range of executive-level and board experience, coupled with formal qualifications, including a Master's Degree in Management and a Master's Certificate in Project Management.

    Matthew is passionate about helping Brightlight become a successful impact investment manager, undertaking investments in the values-led impact investing sector.

  • Linda Stroud is the Business Support Manager for the Brightlight Group. Her role encompasses providing business administration, supporting the team by driving client events, facilitating team coordination, and ensuring clear communication.

    With qualifications in both business administration and ministry, she understands the mission of Brightlight perfectly. She has the skills and experience to help the team achieve its goals. Authentic, reliable, and efficient, she blends compassion with procedural clarity to ensure all elements of the business are running smoothly and harmoniously.

    Before joining Brightlight, Linda worked for three-and-a-half years as the executive assistant to the CIO and the CEO of Christian Super, one of Australia's leading ethically responsible superannuation funds. Working at Christian Super gave her a great deal of experience in the investment sector. It opened her eyes to the transformative potential of impact-focused values investment.

    As a person of faith, she is passionate and motivated to see our world changed for the better. She is grateful to play her part in that endeavour by supporting Brightlight's mission.

Investment Team

  • Ivan Chew is the Deputy Chief Investment Officer - Executive Director Investments and Impact at Brightlight. He is responsible for oversight of Brightlight's investment strategy and operations, and supervision of the investment and impact team. Ivan provides expertise input on asset allocation, portfolio construction manager selection, due diligence and investment structuring across multi-asset and private market strategies. He is a member of Brightlight's investment committee.

    Ivan is an investment and strategy professional with experience spanning private equity, management consulting and manufacturing sectors across the Asia Pacific region. He has led and managed investment deal cycles, due diligence and advisory engagements and feasibility studies for large capital projects. Before joining Brightlight, Ivan was the Head of Impact Investing at Tearfund Australia, a faith-based international development organisation, pioneering an impact investing program. His career focus on impact investing has been inspired by his faith which encourages him to live for a bigger purpose and serve others while still leveraging the skills and knowledge he has built. He is passionate about leveraging business models and investment capital to deliver sustainable economic development, and social and environmental impact outcomes.

    Ivan holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter holder. At Brightlight, Ivan is excited to work and journey with mission-aligned clients who are equally passionate about ethical and impact investing.

  • Sandy Carvajal is the Director of Impact with Brightlight. She leads the strategic development and implementation of Brightlight’s impact measurement and management capabilities across managed funds and client portfolios.

    Working closely with the Investment Team, her role includes impact evaluation and due diligence and implementing and building capability in integrating gender lens considerations into investment products and deals.

    Before joining Brightlight, Sandra worked with the Impact Team consulting on new tenders. In her previous role as a Senior Advisor for World Vision Australia, Sandra led innovative business initiatives and pilots in Sri Lanka, Rwanda, Ethiopia and the Solomon Islands to test the viability of impact investing and the use of blended finance for a not-for-profit to reduce their reliance on donor funding.

    Sandra holds a Bachelor of International Studies and a Bachelor of Communication. Passionate, professional, and personable, she brings her worldly experience in international development to Brightlight. With her dedication to implementing and testing new frameworks and strategies, Sandra hopes to create a more equitable world, utilising capital allocation to serve marginalised sectors better and further the Sustainable Development Goals.

  • Benedict Foo is the Director of Investments & Impact at Brightlight, where he stewards capital to deliver blended financial, social, and environmental returns in private markets. He is responsible for the full investment lifecycle, from design and structuring, due diligence and evaluation, to ongoing portfolio management through performance monitoring, client reporting, and business development activities, including deal structuring and financial modelling.

    Benedict brings unparalleled clarity and communication to his work at Brightlight, managing relationships and deliverables with reliability and integrity. Before joining Brightlight, Benedict was a Development Manager at Development Victoria, which involved seeing through sizeable urban renewal projects from initial conceptualisation, master planning, coordination, and final delivery.

    A firm believer in leaving the world a better place than he found it, Benedict takes on each project with integrity and a desire to achieve the best possible social, environmental and economic outcomes for all stakeholders.

    Benedict holds a Bachelor of Applied Science with First Class Honours from RMIT, majoring in Property & Valuations. Outside of impact investment, he is also passionate about sailing, skiing, and sound engineering.

  • Jolyon is an Associate Director – Investments & Impact at Brightlight. He specialises in applying faith and values-based investing principles to multi-asset investment portfolios, through negative screening, company engagement, and the integration of investments seeking a meaningfully positive social, spiritual, or environmental impact.

    Before joining Brightlight, Jolyon held a similar position at Christian Super, assessing the merits or faults of companies and the many factors to consider when aligning client portfolios. With a firm belief that one can enact meaningful change using the power of capital, he hopes to build investment products that enable clients to catalyse tangible impact outcomes.

    Jolyon holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics and Business Information Systems) and is currently completing a Graduate Diploma of Divinity. Outside of impact investment, Jolyon is a keen automobile enthusiast and has fully restored and modified a classic Mini from scratch.

  • Tim Symons is the Director, Investments & Impact NZ at Brightlight. His role includes identifying, evaluating, and structuring new impact-focused infrastructural investment projects. He also identifies investors around single asset infrastructure projects, prepares project collateral, and negotiates commercial and legal terms with investors.

    Representing and promoting Brightlight's Te Puna Hapori Fund across Aotearoa, Tim utilises 20 years of experience up to the Associate Director level with some leading commercial and investment banks globally, including Macquarie Bank, Barclays Bank and Investec, as well as vast experience in his own investment consultancy.

    He combines his skills in strategy formulation, commercial business development, communication, networking, and visionary leadership with a deep commitment to Christian values. By aligning his commercial skills and faith-based outlook, he strives to make a difference in other people's lives and help them realise their God-given potential.

    Caring, professional and innovative, Tim enjoys the opportunity to engage with the incredibly talented people in Brightlight and aid in transforming the lives of disadvantaged people through Brightlight's work. He revels in the challenge of building Brightlight's profile and business across New Zealand, undertaking his mission with faith, positivity, and compassion.

  • Henry Mason, a Senior Analyst – Investment and Impact at Brightlight, excels in tailoring solutions across multi-asset portfolios and providing specialised asset allocation advice within the impact and ethical investment realms. A University of Sydney Commerce graduate, Henry's expertise stems from a solid educational foundation and hands-on experience in the field.

    His path to Brightlight began as an intern. Previously, he honed his skills as a member of his College Investment Club, managing a conservative investment fund. This experience laid the groundwork for his current role, where he thrives on assisting clients, especially charities and superfunds, in achieving their financial objectives and maximising their societal impact.

    Clients describe Henry as diligent, relentless, and accommodating. He embraces the challenge of communicating effectively across diverse stakeholder groups. Committed to personal and professional growth, he aims to deepen his industry understanding and demonstrate the harmony between faith-led and secular values within finance.

    Deeply passionate about impact investing, Henry believes in aligning market operations with social and environmental responsibility. Outside of finance, he is a qualified bushfire fighter, showcasing his dedication to community service. Henry's diverse skills and commitment make him a vital part of the Brightlight team.

  • Ano joined Brightlight as an undergraduate analyst while completing his Commerce/Advanced Studies (Finance & Economics) degree at the University of Sydney. In this role, he developed hands-on experience applying investment theory in practice, working alongside experienced professionals within a collaborative team. Following the completion of his studies, Anotidaishe transitioned into a full-time Analyst position, continuing to build depth across portfolio analysis, due diligence, and client-focused investment support.

    Anotidaishe worked as an Accounts Clerk for a law firm in Sydney. His strong interest in values-led investing led him to join the Brightlight team as an investment team member.

    He is a final year Commerce/Advanced Studies (Finance & Economics) student at the University of Sydney. He applies his investment knowledge in a practical setting, working alongside experienced professionals in a team with aligned goals and values.

    Anotidaishe believes there should be no trade-off between financial returns and cultivating society. Through values-led investing, he helps clients achieve investment goals beyond monetary returns. Navigating the complexity of Brightlight's intersecting components, Anotidaishe contributes to the team's meaningful work, providing dedicated and thoughtful service to clients.

Business Infrastructure

  • Meng Lee is General Counsel – Head of Transaction Advisory for Brightlight. He is responsible for assisting clients in structuring corporate and investment transactions, and manages Brightlight's legal, compliance, risk issues, corporate governance, and risk management frameworks in his role. This includes legal advice on regulatory matters concerning corporate matters, portfolio management, and transaction structuring.

    Meng has extensive experience advising clients operating in the impact investing and social finance space, including financial institutions, faith-based organizations, charities, and endowments. He has expertise in structuring investment solutions, taxation, and governance matters.

    Before joining Brightlight, he was a Partner with the legal firm Cornwalls, working within their Revenue Law and Corporate teams. He provided legal services to corporate, family offices, financial institutions, and not-for-profit organizations. He has also advised on a range of consultations, including financial inclusion development programs launched by the United Nations Capital Development Fund and the Australian Government's Entrepreneurs Infrastructure Programme.

    Meng has Bachelor of Laws and Commerce (Finance) degrees from the University of Melbourne. His commitment to social and legal justice practice is longstanding, dating back to his days as a Case Worker with the Darebin Community Legal Centre in the mid-2000s.

  • Sandy Rodgers is the Chief of Staff at Brightlight, overseeing People & Culture, HR, Brand & Marketing, and Project Management policy and operations.

    Sandy harmonises people, strategy, and intention in her role, striving to align purpose between Brightlight's mission and client investment goals. She creates, manages, and leads an overarching people strategy informing Brightlight's value-aligned culture, supports strategic decisions, and drives performance through capability and workforce planning.

    With a strong background in the finance sector, including across areas such as advice practice management and technology development, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Brightlight team. A few years ago, a mission trip to Madagascar ignited her passion for values-led investment, inspiring her to switch directions in her career and follow her spirit to support the poor and vulnerable through her work. Before joining Brightlight in 2020, she was the interim CEO of WorldShare, a Christian aid and development organisation.

    Passionate and focused, Sandy is grateful for the opportunity she gets at Brightlight to help transform lives and make the world a better place.

  • Farisayi Chawora is the Head of Investment Operations and Finance at Brightlight. She oversees Brightlight's Finances, focusing on financial planning and analysis and implementing investment fund operations, policies and procedures.

    Before Brightlight, she was the Senior Manager at Unity Fund services, managing a team of eleven Fund Accountants. As a manager, Farisayi sees her role as being in service to her team, assisting in achieving team-wide corporate and personal goals, and creating clear and concise processes to streamline operations and procedures.

    As a qualified accountant, Farisayi holds a CPA, a Bachelor of Banking, Finance & Risk Management, and a Masters in Professional Accounting. Living by the motto "Do No Harm", she sees Brightlight's vision as fully aligned with her own and is excited to become an asset to a team that works towards stewarding capital for society's betterment. In addition to the world of finance, Farisayi had a brief television role on ABC's "You Can't Ask That" and, on behalf of the team, accepted their award (Best Factual Entertainment Program) at the 2019 AACTA Awards show.

Brightlight Newsroom

About Brightlight

Brightlight exists to transform lives through purposeful investing — directing capital to opportunities that support people and planet. Our team brings more than a decade of practical experience across impact, ethical and responsible investing, with work spanning Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the United States.

We serve wealth firms, super funds, governments, community trusts, foundations, mission-aligned organisations and dedicated impact investors.