MATT WHINERAY
Matt is Chair of FirstCape Group, an asset and wealth management firm with more than $55 billion under advice and management, making it one of the largest investment firms in New Zealand. Matt is Chair of Netball New Zealand and Chair of Toitu Tahua, the Centre for Sustainable Finance. Matt is Chair of the Independent Reference Group advising the Ministry for the Environment on the development of a Climate Change Adaptation Framework for New Zealand.
Matt spent fifteen years working for the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation, the Manager of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund. He joined the Guardians in May 2008 as General Manager, Private Markets, became Chief Investment Officer in 2014 and was appointed as CEO in July 2018, finishing up in December 2023.
During his time with the Guardians, the Super Fund has become a globally-respected, high-performing sovereign wealth fund that has made a strong contribution to the nation’s wealth – delivering more than $40 billion in value to New Zealanders. The Super Fund’s strength in investment management, responsible investment and reporting has been recognised through multiple global awards. In 2023, it was recognised as the highest performing of 50 sovereign wealth funds for the previous 10-year period, as well as being awarded a perfect score in the GSR (governance, sustainability and resilience) scorecard for the second year in a row.
Before joining the Guardians, Matt was at Credit Suisse (Hong Kong) where he was Head of Financial Sponsor Coverage for non-Japan Asia. Prior to this, he was a Managing Director at First NZ Capital in New Zealand and a Vice President in the Leveraged Finance Group at Credit Suisse First Boston in New York. Matt began his career as a Barrister and Solicitor with Russell McVeagh in Auckland.
Matt has previously served as Co-Chair of the Aotearoa Circle’s Sustainable Finance Forum, as a member of the World Economic Forum General Agenda Council on the Future of Investing, and as Chair of the InZone Education Foundation.