The Asia Pacific Investment Forum provided delegates the opportunity to hear from Mercer’s top global investment professionals:

	Ake Ayawongs
	Andy Barber
	Lily Choh
	Tony Cole
	Tim Gardener
	Garry Hawker
	Andrew Kirton
	Harry Liem
	Nick McDonald
	Kian Lee Soon
	Serene Tan

Ake Ayawongs

Ake Ayawongs is a principal and regional leader of Mercer’s M&A consulting practice in ASEAN, based in Bangkok. His focus is in advising organisations on the people issues resulting from transactions including mergers, acquisitions, and business transformations.

Ake has led a broad range of consulting assignments involving business strategy development, marketing and branding, organisation transformation, operations improvement, performance management, leadership development, and HR development across multiple sectors, including manufacturing, services, and government in Southeast Asia. Before joining Mercer, Ake was a Consulting Manager at a boutique strategy consulting firm, an Investment Analyst at the Board of Investment, an Economic Policy Analyst at the Royal Thai Government House, and a Consultant at Accenture.

Ake holds a Bachelor of Engineering from the Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thammasat University and a Master of Engineering from the University of New South Wales.

Andy Barber

Andy is the head of the global manager research division, a unit within Mercer’s investment consulting business. Based in London, Andy has responsibility for primary research on investment managers across various investment strategies. Andy chairs our UK Ratings Review Committee.

Andy has more than 20 years of experience within the pensions and investment industry. Prior to joining Mercer in 1984, he spent two years with Tate & Lyle as a futures trader.

Andy graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics and economic history from Leicester University.

Lily Choh

Lily is a senior research consultant based in Singapore with Mercer’s investment consulting business. She leads and co-ordinates Mercer’s manager research effort for the Asia ex Japan region and chairs the Asia Pacific ratings review committee.

Prior to joining Mercer in April 2005, Lily was with the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) for about 6 years. At the GIC, she was involved in pioneering the developmental external fund manager program, where GIC placed out S$25billion to global fund management companies to facilitate the development of the local fund management industry. Prior to joining the GIC, she worked for a local bank in Singapore for about 2 years.

Lily holds a BSc from the National University of Singapore. She is a CFA charterholder and a member of the CFA Institute.

Tony Cole

Tony Cole leads Mercer’s Asia Pacific investment consulting business. He is a member of Mercer's global investment consulting business leaders’ group and a director of the Australian company.

Before joining Mercer in 1996, he was executive director of the Life Investment and Superannuation Association of Australia. Earlier, he served the Australian government in various senior positions, including Chairman of the Industry Commission, Secretary to the Treasury, and Secretary of the Department of Human Services and Health.

Tony has a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Sydney. In 1995, he was awarded an Order of Australia for service to government and industry. Tony is the Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, a member of the Advisory Board of the Australian Office of Financial Management and of the Advisory Board of the Northern Territory Corporation.

Tim Gardener

Tim is the president and leader of Mercer’s investment consulting business. Tim also advises a small number of UK funds on a range of investment matters, with particular emphasis on broad investment strategy.

Tim has nearly 30 years of experience within the pensions and investment consulting industry. He is an influential figure in the institutional investment market and is a well-known speaker at investment conferences.

Tim has an honours degree in mathematics from Birmingham University and is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries.

Garry Hawker

Garry leads Mercer’s investment consulting business in the Asia ex Japan region based in Shanghai.

Garry initially joined Mercer in New Zealand in September 1992 after having worked for seven years with another consulting firm. In New Zealand, he consulted to institutional investors on investment policy matters and the selection of investment managers. Prior to his transfer to Singapore in February 2000, Garry had been responsible for the management of Mercer’s investment consulting business in New Zealand. In October 2007, Garry relocated to Shanghai to oversee the establishment and development of Mercer’s investment consulting business in China. Garry’s major clients include the national social security funds, central banks and national reserve investment agencies of several Asian countries.

Garry is an associate member of the CFA Institute. He is also an actuary. He received his BSc. in mathematics and statistics from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand.

Andrew Kirton

Andrew leads Mercer's European Investment Consulting business. He is a member of Mercer's European Operating Committee and the Global Leadership Group for Investment Consulting.

Andrew joined Mercer in 1998 from a competitor and has over 20 years experience in the investment industry. He is extensively involved in advising clients in addition to his leadership responsibilities.

Andrew has a bachelor's degree in industrial economics from Nottingham University and is a qualified investment analyst. He is a member of the National Association of Pension Funds Investment Council. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Harry Liem

Harry Liem is a principal with Mercer’s investment consulting business in Sydney, where he undertakes specialist research on hedge funds and various strategic issues.

Harry joined Mercer in 2004 and has 14 years of international experience in the investment management industry working as a portfolio manager and strategist for a number of reputable companies, including ING, Perennial and Rabobank/Stroeve Investment Bank.

He regularly presents at conferences and has lectured at institutions such as the University of Technology, Sydney. He is also author of the book '2020 Vision: Investment Wisdom for Tomorrow'.

Harry holds a BSc and MSc in Computing Science from Delft University of Technology (the Netherlands), an MBA from Stirling University (UK) and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Nick McDonald

Nicholas (Nick) is a senior associate with Mercer Sentinel in Sydney relocating to Asia in early May. He consults to clients on all aspects of investment operations, including custody, back and middle office operations, investment administration, unitisation and transition management.

Nick has almost 20 years experience with leading Australian and international corporations, including seven years at PricewaterhouseCoopers and eight years at State Street. His roles have included client relationship management, management and delivery of a diverse range of operational, product and support services within the financial services industry. Nick’s strengths are in the technicality of complex financial transactions for the delivery of financial reporting products.

More recently, Nick has worked on projects such as the introduction of hedge fund administration, middle/back office outsourcing and SMA platform start ups as well as several securities lending program and transition manager consulting reviews. Nick has been an active member of various working groups within IFSA and ASCA throughout his career.

Nick holds a Bachelor of Business in Accounting and Finance from the University of Technology Sydney. He is also a member of Institute of Chartered Accountants, Tax Institute of Australia and ASCA working groups.

Kian Lee Soon

Kian Lee is a principal consultant in Mercer’s investment consulting business. Based in Singapore, he advises clients on a wide range of issues including investment strategy, manager selection, and performance/ manager monitoring. He also contributes actively to Mercer’s manager research programme.

Kian Lee has over 20 years of experience in the investment business, and has experience in asset management, manager search and organisation change consulting. He joined Mercer in 2006 following an 18 year career in fund management as a global fund manager in two different organisations. He spent 17 years with the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation, where he was an assistant director, and regional head of Europe Equities team managing multi-billion dollar portfolios. He also participated actively in the Asset Allocation Group meeting.

Kian Lee has experience in the setting up of a boutique fund outfit as well as advising in the inception and growth of a mass affluence financial advisory company in Singapore.

Kian Lee graduated from National University of Singapore with a first class degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst since 1988.

Serene Tan

Serene joined Mercer’s investment consulting business in October 2007 as a Principal in the Singapore office.

Serene was previously CEO at ING Investment Management Asia Pacific (S) Ltd and has over 10 years experience in the fund management industry in portfolio management and strategic business roles.

At Mercer, Serene provides consulting advice to clients on all aspects of their investment programs. She leads project work for clients in Singapore and in ASEAN and contributes to Mercer's thought leadership in the region.