Telstra Super interim CIO jumps to HESTA

Elizabeth Fry

28 April 2026

Telstra Super’s acting chief investment officer Kate Misic is joining HESTA as head of portfolio design at the $100 billion fund.

Reporting to HESTA chief investment officer Sonya Sawtell-Rickson, Misic will oversee portfolio construction and risk analysis, economic and capital market research, and portfolio overlays.

Misic replaces Dianne Sandoval, who was last year appointed chief investment officer of the US$74 billion Maryland State Retirement and Pension System.

Misic, who served as interim investment chief at Telstra Super since March 2025 was also the $29 billion asset owner’s head of alternative investments and real assets. She previously held roles at Warakirri Asset Management, Frontier Investment Consulting and Wilshire Australia.

HESTA chief executive Debby Blakey said Misic brought “a strong track record in investments” to a “critical role” within the fund.

Sawtell-Rickson said: “Kate has broad and deep experience navigating a range of market conditions and asset classes, including internal management, which will be invaluable for HESTA as we continue to leverage our total portfolio approach.”

The appointment comes as HESTA reshapes its senior ranks.

The super fund recently named ESSSuper chief Robbie Campo as its next chief executive, with Campo to replace Blakey in August after around four years in the top job at the Victorian fund.

HESTA has also created a deputy chief investment officer role, appointing Jeff Brunton from within.

Brunton will retain his role as head of portfolio management alongside the new title.

He joined HESTA in July 2021 from AMP Capital, where he was deputy CIO, and has also served as CIO of AMP Life. He spent nearly 16 years at QIC in a range of investment roles.