In a year marked by extraordinary market volatility and global uncertainty, this year’s winners are particularly special. They represent the very best of Australia’s alternative investment funds and asset management industry—demonstrating resilience, innovation, and exceptional leadership through challenging conditions. Their recognition in 2025 highlights not only strong performance, but also the ability to adapt with agility and deliver value when it matters most.

On the night, we also celebrated two of the industry’s most prestigious honours: the Contribution to the Industry Award which went to the very deserving Dominic McCormick – A pioneer in conducting research into alternative investment managers and strategies since the inception of the alternative investment industry in Australia over 25 years ago. Dominic continues to be a respected voice today with advisors on the prudent use of alternative investments.

The Alternative Fund Manager of the Year Award – Antipodes – One of Australia’s preeminent equity market investors with a global reach and vision. Majority owned by their employees, adopting decades of pragmatic value investing with thoughtful portfolio construction, Antipodes continues to be a market leader in the Australian asset management industry.

And congratulations to all of our other Winners in each of their respective categories.

A heartfelt thank you goes to our generous award sponsors for their ongoing support—and to everyone who helps drive The Alternative Future Foundation’s mission to support our four key charities – Redkite, Noro, Women’s Community Shelter and Tranby. The fundraising, the awards, the inspiring (and often funny) fund videos, and the invaluable networking all combined to make this another unforgettable night.

Finally, we extend our sincere thanks to our main sponsor, La Trobe Financial, for their continued support of both the Awards and the Foundation’s charitable work.

Winners:

Fund Manager of the Year: Antipodes

Contribution to the Australian Alternative Funds Industry: Dominic McCormick

Best Emerging Fund Manager: Minotaur

Best Long Short Equity Fund – Antipodes Global Fund

Best Market Neutral Fund: Arcadian Defensive Income Class A

Best Global Macro & Managed Futures Fund: Ironbark Fulcrum Div Absolute Return Fund

Best Multi Strategy Fund: Cor Capital

Best Alternative Fixed Income & Credit Fund: Perpetual Pure Credit Alpha Fund Class W

Best Private Debt Manager: Mosaic Private

Best Sustainable Investment Manager: Metrics Credit Partners

Best Offshore Manager Operating in Australia: BlackRock

Best Investor Supporting Australian Managers: Pinnacle Investment Management

Best Listed Alternative Investment Product: L1 Long Short Fund

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Hedge Funds Rock is the flagship event during Sydney Alternative Investment Week (SAIW) and by association La Trobe Financial will play a key role in the week-long event schedule, showcasing innovation and excellence in alternative investments.

SAIW features a stellar line-up of events, including forums on Private Credit, M&A Transactions, Hedge Funds Rock, and the Family Office IN Day, bringing together investment leaders to discuss emerging trends, innovative products and an opportunity for industry collaboration.

Since its inception in 2002, Hedge Funds Rock has raised more than $5 million for the Alternative Future Foundation’s charitable initiatives, making a tangible impact on communities in need.

Chris Paton, Chief Investment Officer, at La Trobe Financial expressed excitement about the partnership saying, “La Trobe Financial is pleased to partner with Hedge Funds Rock & The Alternative Investment Awards. This collaboration presents a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the growth of Australia’s alternative investment sector while supporting impactful initiatives. We’re looking forward to an exciting three years ahead.”

Michael Gallagher, Chairman of the Alternative Future Foundation added, “We are delighted to welcome La Trobe Financial as our Major Sponsor Partner of Hedge Funds Rock. Their support will amplify the impact of Sydney Alternative Investment Week, which has become a cornerstone event for the alternative investment community. This three-year partnership will allow us to enhance the experience for attendees and increase access to market leading insights. Together, we will continue to raise vital funds for charitable causes and promote the importance of alternative investments.”

The Alternative Future Foundation extends its gratitude to La Trobe Financial for their commitment to the alternative investment community.

Sydney Alternative Investment Week will take place the week of 22 September  2025.

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Kim Ivey

An elite group of Funds Managers were recognized last night for their excellent performance and contribution to the industry at the 2017 Hedge Funds Rock and The Australian Alternative Investment Awards, one of the Australian financial sector’s most enduring charitable efforts.

Over 450 guests attended the awards dinner at the Shangri- La Hotel in Sydney.

The nominees and winners were selected by a combination of quantitative and qualitative factors developed by the following panel of judges: Matt Olsen from Lonsec Research (Chair) Simon Ibbetson from Eternal Wealth, Daniel Liptak from Australia Ratings and Kim Ivey from Vertex Capital Advisers. Lonsec Research, one of Australia’s largest investment research and ratings groups, became a partner in 2017 and were instrumental in assisting the judges with collecting and collating the fund data.

Kim Ivey, an alternative investment industry stalwart, HFR Chairman and a founder of the event congratulated all the winners and the nominees: “Based on the long deliberations of the Judging Committee, this year’s awards were some of the hardest to assess, with many managers producing excellent numbers.

“The awards recognise fund managers in the Australian alternative investment industry who have produced superior risk adjusted returns and those groups or individuals who have made exemplary investment or contributions to the local alternatives industry.”

The event raised over $150,000 adding to the nearly $3 million already raised by the alternative investment industry since the event began in 2002.

The Redkiteorganization is again the major sponsored charity for the event.

‘We are thrilled to be part of this wonderful event again this year. On behalf of the children and young people with cancer we support, we would like to thank the entire Hedge Funds Rock and The Australian Alternative Investment Awards community for their ongoing generosity’ said Tyler Juel, Red Kite National Corporate Partnerships Manager.

The category winners in the 2017 Australian Alternative Investment Awards are:

• Best Long Short Equity Fund: Macquarie Australia Plus Fund
• Best Global Macro/Futures Fund: AE Capital Fully Geared USD Systematic FX Fund
• Best Emerging Manager: Tribeca Global Natural Resources Fund – Class A units
• Best Market Neutral Fund: Macquarie Pure Alpha Fund
• Best Fixed Income and Credit Fund: JPMorgan Global Bond Opportunities Fund
• Best Multi Strategy Fund: Aberdeen Multi Asset Real Return Fund
• Best Listed Alternative Investment Product (new for 2017): ETFS Physical Palladium (ETPMPD)
• Best Offshore Manager Operating in Australia: Man Investments
• Best Investor Supporting Australian Alternative Investment Managers: Pinnacle Investment Management
• Contribution to the Australian Alternative Investment Industry: Daniel Liptak- Australia Ratings
• Australian Alternative Investment Fund of the Year: Macquarie Australia Plus Fund

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Kim Ivey

One of the Australian financial sector’s most enduring charitable efforts, Hedge Funds Rock (HFR) & The Australian Alternative Investment Awards has announced the nominees for its 2017 awards event.

The event, now in its 16th year, is an annual charitable and networking evening. It is traditionally held in Sydney in conjunction with the Alternative Investment Management Association’s (AIMA) Australia Annual Forum. HFR attracts all the major participants in the local alternative investment industry together with a growing contingent of offshore investors, advisers and service providers to raise money for charity.

According to Kim Ivey, an alternative investment industry stalwart and HFR Chairman, “Many investors have been increasing their allocation to alternative investment strategies in the wake of steeper valuations in capital markets, increased global geo-political risk, and heightened uncertainty regarding future central bank policies.

“Based on the long deliberations of the Judging Committee, this year’s awards were some of the hardest to assess, with many managers producing excellent numbers.

“The awards recognise fund managers in the Australian alternative investment industry who have produced superior risk adjusted returns and those groups or individuals who have made exemplary investment or contributions to the local alternatives industry.”

The award winners will be announced at Sydney’s Shangri La Hotel on Thursday, September 14th, 2017. The HFR committee is hoping to increase its donation to local charities this year and a wide selection of prizes and auction items have been donated by generous benefactors. The Redkite (http://www.redkite.org.au/) organization is again the major sponsored charity for the event. The HFR committee is hoping to add to the nearly $3 million already raised by the alternative investment industry since the event began in 2002.

“The awards have become an established industry event, attended by nearly 500 people from the alternative investment industry each year,” said HFR Chairman Kim Ivey.

Here are the 2017 award nominees:

Best Long Short Equity Fund

• Antipodes Global Fund
• LI Capital Long Short Fund
• Macquarie Australia Plus Fund

Best Global Macro/Futures Fund

• AE Capital Fully Geared USD Systematic FX Fund
• Kaiser Global Diversified Program
• Man AHL Evolution (AUD hedged)

Best Emerging Manager

• AIM Global High Conviction Fund
• Alleron Australian Eagle Trust Long-Short Fund
• Tribeca Global Natural Resources Fund – Class A units

Best Market Neutral Fund

• Bennelong Long Short Fund
• Macquarie Pure Alpha Fund
• Pengana PanAgora Absolute Return Global Equities Fund

Best Fixed Income and Credit Fund

• Janus Henderson Global Fixed Interest Total Return Fund
• JPMorgan Global Bond Opportunities Fund
• Alexander Credit Opportunities Fund

Best Multi Strategy Fund

• Aberdeen Multi Asset Real Return Fund
• Insight Investment Diversified Inflation Plus Fund
• MLC Wholesale Inflation Plus – Assertive Portfolio A

Best Listed Alternative Investment Product (new for 2017)

• Blue Sky Alternatives Access Fund Limited (BAF
• ETFS Physical Palladium (ETPMPD)
• PM CAPITAL Global Opportunities Fund Limited (PGF)

Best Offshore Manager Operating in Australia

• Aberdeen
• Man Investments
• Partners Group

Best Investor Supporting Australian Alternative Investment Managers

A cross section of the Australian investment industry was invited to nominate candidates for the best investor supporting local alternative investment managers.

Contribution to the Australian Alternative Investment Industry

A cross-section of the Australian industry was invited to nominate candidates for the best contributor to the Australian alternative investment industry.

Australian Alternative Investment Fund of the Year

(Winner to be announced on the awards night)

The category finalists were selected by a combination of quantitative and qualitative factors developed by the following panel of judges: Matt Olsen from Lonsec Research (Chair) Simon Ibbetson from Eternal Wealth, Daniel Liptak from Australia Ratings and Kim Ivey from Vertex Capital Advisers. Lonsec Research, one of Australia’s largest investment research and ratings groups, became an HFR partner in 2017 and were instrumental in assisting the judges with collecting and collating the fund data.

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Kim Ivey

One of the Australian financial sector’s most enduring charitable efforts has announced its 2017 awards event – involving the unusual combination of hedge fund managers and rock music.

Hedge Funds Rock (HFR) & The Australian Alternative Investment Awards event is an annual charitable event running in conjunction with the Alternative Investment Management Association’s (AIMA) Australia Annual Forum.

The event has raised over $3 million for local children’s charities over the past sixteen years.

This year’s Hedge Funds Rock & Alternative Investment Awards will be held on 14 September 2017 at a great new location, The Shangri La Hotel Ballroom, then moving upstairs to the Blu Bar, where organisers are bringing the ‘rock’ back into after party. Stay tuned for a big announcement of who this year’s feature artist will be.

Attendees can also enjoy some serious, ‘money can’t buy’ auction items, that will burn a hole in the corporate budgets – all for a good cause.

Registrations are now open, click here to purchase a ticket or here to book a table, with sponsorship opportunities still available.*

This industry-leading event brings all the major participants in the local alternative investment industry together with a growing contingent of offshore investors, advisers and service providers to raise money for charity.

True to its name, Hedge Funds Rock & The Australian Alternative Investment Awards began as a combination of hedge fund managers and rock music. The celebrated event was launched in 2002 in Sydney when a group of talented musicians from the financial sector formed a ‘band night’ to play for their friends and raise money for Cure Our Kids, a local children’s charity.

“The awards event has become an established industry event, attended by over 500 people from the alternative investment industry each year,” said HFR Chairman Kim Ivey.

“Our goal for 2017 is to increase our donation to our key charity partner, Redkite, by 50% this year to $150,000.”

Over $100,000 was donated in 2016 to Redkite which provides professional counselling, financial assistance, education and bereavement support for families.

The annual awards and fund raiser also sees an elite group of hedge fund managers recognised for their excellent performance and contribution to the industry.

“The awards overall recognise fund managers in the Australian alternative investment industry who have produced superior risk adjusted returns and those groups or individuals who have made exemplary investment or contributions to the local alternatives industry,” Mr Ivey said.

*Interested potential sponsors can email Damien Jasczyk at Deutsche Bank (damien.jasczyk@db.com) or Damian Crowley at Pengana Capital Group (damian.crowley@pengana.com for details.

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Kim Ivey

An elite group of hedge fund managers were recognised last night for their excellent performance and contribution to the industry at the annual Hedge Funds Rock & The Australian Hedge Fund Awards.

Kim Ivey, a founder of the event, now in its 15th year, and an industry stalwart, congratulated the winning hedge fund managers and said that this year’s winners showcase high performing fund managers.

The awards overall recognise fund managers in the Australian hedge fund industry who have produced superior returns over the 2015/2016 period and those groups or individuals who have made exemplary investment or commitment to the local alternatives industry, he said.

“Regal was a natural choice for the judges for as the Hedge Fund of the Year award as it has successfully broadened its product range over the past couple of years, with several of its funds performing strongly within their respective strategy sector,” said Ivey.

And the winners are:

1. HEDGE FUND OF THE YEAR 2016: Regal Funds Management Pty Limited
2. BEST INVESTOR SUPPORTING AUSTRALIAN MANAGERS: NWQ Capital Management
3. BEST OFFSHORE MANAGER OPERATING IN AUSTRALIA: Aspect Capital
4. CONTRIBUTION TO THE AUSTRALIAN HEDGE FUND INDUSTRY: Jon Pye
5. BEST LONG SHORT EQUITY FUND: Regal Atlantic Absolute Return Fund
6. BEST GLOBAL MACRO/ FUTURES FUND: ISAM Systematic Trend Fund
7. BEST MARKET NEUTRAL FUND: Bennelong Funds Management Ltd – Bennelong Long Short Equity Fund
8. BEST MULTI STRATEGY FUND: CQS – CQS Directional Opportunities Fund
9. BEST FIXED INCOME & CREDIT FUND: BlueBay Asset Management LLP – The BlueBay Credit Alpha Long

Short Fund

1. BEST EMERGING MANAGER: Antipodes Partners Limited

“In the current distorted environment of negative bond yields and widespread central bank liquidity, the performance bar for hedge funds has never been higher.

“Unlike the traditional asset management industry, the prime determinant of hedge fund manager return is their investment skill, rather than any lift they might obtain from strategy tail winds or market movements. They use a variety of tools unavailable to traditional managers to capitalise on the investment skills that they bring to the process.

“Simon Ibbetson, Head of the HFR judging panel, states “One of the driving principles for many hedge fund strategies is the preservation of capital. This requires these managers to assess and manage the absolute level of risk in their portfolios, aiming to generate positive returns agnostic of market movements.”

The event also raised funds from net sponsorships, ticket sales and donations for Redkite charity, adding to about $4 million raised by the hedge fund industry since the first event in 2002.

“We are thrilled to be part of the Hedge Funds Rock family. On behalf of the children and young people with cancer we support, we would like to thank the entire Hedge Funds Rock community for their ongoing generosity,” said Tyler Juel, Redkite National Corporate Partnerships Manager.

The important funds raised will ensure families across Australia can access Redkite’s essential services from the hospital bedside to the family home, she added.

Over 400 guests attended the 2016 Hedge Funds Rock & The Australian Hedge Fund Awards at The Ivy ballroom on Thursday night.

The finalists were selected upon by a combination of quantitative and qualitative factors agreed by the following panel of judges: Simon Ibbetson (Chair) from 358 Pty Ltd., Matthew Jeremy from Caravel Consulting Services , Daniel Liptak from Arkaba Advisors, Angela Ashton from Evergreen Consultants, as well as Kim Ivey from Vertex Capital.

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Kim Ivey

Hedge funds have recovered from the outflows which occurred during the global financial crisis, according to industry stalwart Kim Ivey, now an adviser to hedge fund managers and family offices.

Some are having a particularly good year now thanks to the extra volatility from the nervousness over China and the ramifications of Brexit.

Ivey, a founder of the annual Hedge Funds Rock & The Australian Hedge Fund Awards charity night, which is in its 15th year, and judging committee member of the Hedge Fund Awards, says trend-following strategies such as CTAs and managed futures have seen increased investor interest in the past few months, especially since Brexit.

But longer term, since 2008, it is “anything with a yield component” which has proved popular as investors become concerned with growing negative yields in traditional fixed interest markets.

“There is great diversity in the alternatives space,” Ivey says, “and as managers position themselves in changing market environments, there tends to be some cyclicality among strategy returns.”

There are 12 categories in the Hedge Fund Awards, including Best “Hedgie” video, which coincide with Hedge Funds Rock & The Australian Hedge Fund Awards at Sydney’s Ivy Ballroom on September 15, 2016.  $100,000 from net sponsorships, ticket sales and donations is expected to be raised for the Red Kite charity, adding to about $4 million raised by the hedge fund industry since the first event in 2002.

Perennial challenges for Australian hedge fund managers include a propensity for big local super funds to look offshore to larger hedge fund managers for their exposures and, consequently, where to get the best traction in terms of meeting their intended fund flows.

Ivey says that family offices and high net worth investors were early supporters of the local industry in the 1990s, followed, gradually, by super funds and other institutional investors.

Later in the 1990s, super funds began investing in funds of hedge funds. Since the GFC, many fiduciary investors subsequently developed their due diligence efforts and internal teams to build customized alternative investment programs, augmenting their FoHF exposures with single-strategy funds or multi-strategy funds.

“There’s been good progress from the investor side understanding alternative managers and their strategies in the past 10 years,” Ivey says, “ but given the growing appeal of alternative investments, managers are still digesting the differing requirements of sovereign wealth, superannuation, offshore pension, HNW, family office and retail client bases.”

Super funds, in particular since the global financial crisis, are demanding their hedge funds be of “institutional grade” with respect to their business management and infrastructure.

“It’s not just with back office operations,” Ivey says. “If managers desire fiduciary institutions as clients, it is incumbent upon them to build quality client and consultant reporting mechanisms, automated trade reconciliations and collateral management systems, with dedicated operation, compliance and client service teams. This all takes time and money.”

Ivey says that “Investors are also interested in the sustainability of their alternative investment managers. Independent directors, board governance, strategic planning, and brand  management….are all issues that managers should be prepared to discuss when in the due diligence phase with institutional investors.”

Alternative investment managers are becoming popular in the non-institutional market. Mathew Jeremy, another of the HFR judges says that “The Australian hedge fund industry has demonstrated flexibility and competiveness be responding to the demand for platform- friendly products from investors in the SMSF, adviser driven and pure retail space.”

Outside of the local investor base, “many successful Australian managers have also been able to attract Asian, European and North American investors which make up the nearly US$3 Trillion invested in alternative investment strategies”, Ivey says.

2016 Category finalists are:

Australian Hedge Fund of the Year (Winner to be announced on the Awards night)

Best Emerging Manager (Winner to be announced on the Awards night)

Best Fixed Income and Credit Fund

• Alexander Funds Management – Alexander Credit Opportunities Fund
• Bluebay Asset Management LLP – The Bluebay Credit Alpha Long Short Fund
• Equity Trustees – The Spectrum Strategic Income Fund

Best Global Macro / Futures Fund

• Man AHL Evolution Programme
• ISAM Systematic Trend Fund
• Commonwealth/Colonial First State Group – Aspect Diversified Futures-Class A

Best Long Short Equity Fund

• The Paragon Fund
• The Macquarie Alpha Opportunities Fund
• Regal Atlantic Absolute Return Fund

Best Market Neutral Fund

• The Macquarie European Alpha Fund
• The Bennelong Long Short Equity Fund
• Regal Tasman Market Neutral Fund

Best Multi Strategy Fund

• The CQS Directional Opportunities Fund
• The Aurum Investor Fund
• The Atrium Evolution Series Diversified Fund – AEF 9

Best Offshore Alternative Manager Operating in Australia 

• AQR
• Aspect Capital
• Angelo Gordon & Co.

Hedge Funds Rock will also present an award to individuals in the below categories.

Best Investor Supporting Australian Managers

A cross section of the Australian Hedge Fund industry were invited to nominate candidates for the best investor supporting local hedge funds.

Contribution to the Australian Hedge Fund Industry

A cross-section of the Australian Hedge Fund industry were invited to nominate candidates for the best contributor to the Australian Hedge Fund industry.

Australian Hedge Fund of the Year (A winner decided by the judges will be announced on the Awards night)

The category finalists were selected upon by a combination of quantitative and qualitative factors agreed by the following panel of judges:  Simon Ibbetson (Chair) from 358 Pty Ltd. , Matthew Jeremy from Caravel Consulting Services , Daniel Liptak from Arkaba Advisors, Angela Ashton from Evergreen Consultants, as well as Kim Ivey from Vertex Capital.

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Ellerston’s outstanding performance was recognised last night when Hedge Funds Rock & the Australian Hedge Fund Awards announced the winners of the 2015 Australian Hedge Fund Awards. There were eight hedge fund winners across different categories, as well as two non-manager awards.

Kim Ivey, co-founder and president of Hedge Funds Rock, congratulated all winners and nominees across 10 categories, saying that hedge funds attention to risk management and capital preservation”are in demand by investors of all types”.

“Good risk managers, particularly smaller, nimble hedge fund managers have the capability to implement their investment decisions very efficiently. They are being picked for their skills by investors who in aggregate are increasing their allocation to hedge funds.”

“These investors include platforms and wraps in the retail financial services sector, as well as family offices that are ramping up their in-house capabilities to invest directly in hedge funds that offer a wide choice of investment styles.”
Ivey said that the current market volatility had provided an ideal environment for some hedge fund managers to shine.

“That’s one of the reasons why Ellerston has been awarded the Australian Hedge Fund of the Year – the ability of its market neutral strategy to outperform in volatile markets.”

The other outstanding manager this year is Qato Capital that has been awarded the best emerging manager for the Qato Capital Market Neutral Long/Short Fund.

Ivey said this year had presented challenges for the industry.

“One aspect which is heartening to see is the increased focus on manager due diligence that has increased dramatically post the GFC.

“All funds now have to work in the new regime where a large amount of data is available to investors and their advisors. Not just the investment information, but also staff and operating data. It is a welcome trend towards transparency and proactive disclosures, which bodes well for the long-term health of the industry.”

He also thanked the industry for again contributing generously to raise money for its chosen charity – RedKite – where an estimate of over $50,000 was raised on the evening from pledges and surplus ticket revenues.

The complete list of winners:

Best Long Short Equity Fund
Acadian Wholesale Global Equity Long Short Fund

Best Global Macro / Futures Fund
AQR Wholesale Managed Future Fund

Best Fixed Income and Credit Fund
Laminar Credit Opportunities Fund

Best Market Neutral Fund
Ellerston Australian Market Neutral Fund

Best Multi Strategy Fund
AMP Super Easy Alternatives Fund (managed by K2 Advisors)

Best Emerging Manager
Qato Capital Market Neutral Long/Short Fund

Best Offshore Manager Operating in Australia
Henderson Global Investors Australia

Australian Hedge Fund of the Year
Ellerston Australian Market Neutral Fund

Contribution to the Australian Hedge Fund Industry
Mark Bennett

Best Investor Supporting Australian Managers
Boris Liberman Family Office – Jagen

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