Fund Manager of the Year Awards 2024 finalists announced

The finalists to be honoured at this year’s Fund Manager of the Year Awards are announced today, with a total of 76 investment managers recognised for their achievements in the last financial year to May 30.

This year’s awards, to be delivered at the annual gala dinner hosted by Financial Newswire and research partner, SQM Research, also sees the introduction of four new categories to better reflect the wider range of asset classes and investment vehicles that are not only performing strongly but continue to be investor favourites.

The new categories are Managed Accounts Managers, Private Equities, Private Debt/Credit and Mortgage Trusts.

SQM Managing Director, Louis Christopher, said he was pleased to deliver the results of the top-performing managers for the this year.

“The 2024 Fund Manager of the Year finalists reflect the challenge active managers are currently facing and the reality of a growing preference for passive investment strategies and index funds,” he said.

“However, there are a number of topline active managers who have been recognised as finalists this year. It will be interesting to see how it plays out at the awards night in September.”

This year’s awards celebration will take place on Thursday 12 September at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney. View the full list of finalists below, and find out more information about the gala dinner.

2024 FINALISTS

Australian Equities – Large Cap

• AB Concentrated Australian Equities Fund (Class A)
• Allan Gray Australia Equity Fund (Class B)
• Elston Australian Large Companies Fund – Class A
• Lazard Australian Equity Fund (W Class)
• Maple-Brown Abbott Australian Share Fund – Wholesale

Australian Equities – Small/Mid Cap

• Dimensional Australian Small Company Trust
• Investors Mutual Wholesale Australian Smaller Companies Fund
• Perpetual ESG Australian Share Fund
• Spheria Opportunities Fund
• Yarra Ex-20 Australian Equities Fund

Global Equities – Large Cap

• AXA IM Sustainable Equity Fund
• Dimensional Global Value Trust
• GQG Partners Global Equity Fund
• MFS Blended Research Global Equity Trust
• Vinva Global Systematic Equities Fund

Emerging Markets Equities

• Capital Group New World Fund (AU)
• Dimensional Emerging Markets Value Trust
• GQG Partners Emerging Markets Equity Fund
• Pzena Emerging Markets Value Wholesale Fund
• Robeco Emerging Conservative Equity Fund (AUD)

A-REITs

• Martin Currie Property Securities Fund – Class A
• Pendal Wholesale Plus Property Securities Fund
• Resolution Capital Core Plus Property Securities Fund – Series II
• Resolution Capital Real Assets Fund (Class B)
• Zurich Investments Australian Property Securities Fund

G-REITs

• CBRE Global Real Assets Fund
• Dexus Global REIT Fund
• Dimensional Global Real Estate Trust
• Quay Global Real Estate Fund (Unhedged)
• SGH LaSalle Concentrated Global Property Fund

Listed Infrastructure

• BlackRock Global Listed Infrastructure Fund (Class D)
• ClearBridge RARE Infrastructure Value Fund – Unhedged
• ClearBridge RARE Wholesale Plus Infrastructure Value Fund – Unhedged
• Macquarie International Infrastructure Securities Fund – Unhedged
• Maple-Brown Abbott Global Listed Infrastructure Fund

Long/Short Equities

• Apis Global Long/Short Fund (W Class)
• Atlantic Pacific Australian Equity Fund (Class A)
• Investors Mutual Private Portfolio Fund
• Totus Alpha Fund – Platform Class
• WaveStone Dynamic Australian Equity Fund

Multi-Sector Growth

• IOOF Foundation Assertive Fund
• JANA Moderate Trust
• Martin Currie Diversified Growth Fund – Class A
• MLC Navigator Access Pre Select Growth Fund
• Pendal Wholesale Plus Active Balanced Fund

Multi-Sector Growth – SMAs

• Drummond Strategic 70 – SMA
• Innova Traditional Portfolio – Growth
• MLC Premium Growth 85 Model Portfolio
• Morningstar Growth (70) Managed Account Portfolio
• Watershed Growth Model

Other Alternatives

• DigitalX Bitcoin Fund
• Global Risk Premia Strategies Fund
• Global Long Short Strategies Fund
• Harvest Lane Asset Management Absolute Return Fund
• Spire US Data Centre Colocation Fund (AUD)

Direct Property Funds

• Australian Unity Healthcare Property Trust (Retail)
• GDA Diversified Property Trust
• JANA Real Estate Trust
• Trilogy Industrial Property Trust

ETF Provider

• Aoris Investment Management
• iShares by BlackRock
• State Street Global Advisors
• Vanguard Australia

Australian Fixed Income

• Altius Sustainable Bond Fund
• Antares Diversified Fixed Income Fund
• Fortlake Real-Income Fund
• Perpetual Active Fixed Interest Fund
• PIMCO Australian Short-Term Bond Fund

Global Fixed Income

• Dimensional Five-Year Diversified Fixed Interest Trust
• Dimensional Two-Year Sustainability Fixed Interest Trust (AUD)
• PIMCO Global Bond Fund (Wholesale)
• PIMCO Global Fixed Interest MPS Fund
• Wellington Global Bond MPS Fund

Emerging Funds

• iShares High Growth ESG ETF
• iShares Balanced ESG ETF
• JANA Diversified Infrastructure Trust
• Loomis Sayles Global Equity Fund (Quoted)
• Roadnight Capital Diversified Income Fund

Responsible Investments (ESG)

• AXA IM Sustainable Equity Fund
• Candriam Sustainable Global Equity Fund
• Pendal Sustainable International Share Fund
• Schroder Sustainable Global Core Fund (Wholesale Class)
• Warakirri Ethical Australian Equities Fund

Managed Accounts Manager

• Drummond Capital Partners
• MLC Asset Management
• Morningstar
• State Street Global Advisors
• Watershed Funds Management

Private Equities

• Ellerston JAADE Australian Private Assets Fund (Retail)
• Hamilton Lane Global Private Asset Fund (AUD) Hedged
• MLC Global Private Equity Fund
• Neuberger Berman Global Private Equity Access Fund (AUD)
• Partners Group Global Value Fund

Private Debt/Credit

• MA Credit Opportunities Fund
• MA Secured Loan Series (Class A)
• MCP Secured Private Debt Fund II
• Metrics Direct Income Fund
• Wentworth Williamson Stable Income Fund

Mortgage Trusts

• Centuria Bass Credit Fund
• CVS Lane Property Finance Fund
• La Trobe Australian Credit Fund – Select Investment Account
• MA Secured Real Estate Income Fund
• Mulpha Real Estate Debt Fund