Ross Youngman

Milford is delighted to announce the appointment of Ross Youngman to the Board of Directors of Milford Australia Pty Ltd, effective 19 January 2026.

Ross joins us with an outstanding career spanning corporate leadership, and the philanthropic and education sectors. Ross is currently the CEO of the General Sir John Monash Foundation, Australia’s most prestigious post-graduate scholarship program. Prior to this role, Ross served as the CEO and a Board Director of Ausbil Investment Management, which manages approximately A$20 billion in assets.

His impressive leadership journey also includes roles as CEO of Deutsche Asset Management Australia, Managing Director of Deutsche Bank New York, and co-founder, CEO and Executive Chairman of Five Oceans Asset Management. Across these positions, Ross has built deep expertise in global funds management, corporate strategy, and international financial services.

Philanthropic and Governance Contributions

Ross has a long-standing dedication to giving back and supporting governance excellence. He has been a Board Trustee of International House in New York for over 25 years, fostering global student communities, and serves as an Ambassador for the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation. His work reflects a strong commitment to education, cultural exchange, and environmental responsibility.

Ross holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Tasmania, an MBA from Columbia Business School, and a Master of Science in Coaching Psychology from the University of Sydney. He is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. “We are delighted to welcome Ross,” said Anthony Quirk, Chair, Milford Australia Board of Directors. “His global leadership experience, combined with his philanthropic and governance contributions, will be invaluable as Milford pursues its strategic goals.”

Ross added, “I’m honoured to join the Board of Milford, Australia. Throughout my career, I’ve believed in the power of governance, innovation, and purpose-driven leadership. I look forward to contributing to the company’s vision and growth.”

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Kristine Brooks

Australian financial advisers are turning to AI to simplify and sharpen their client communications during times of market turbulence.

This is one of the headline findings of Milford’s newly released research paper, Calm over Calamity.

Based on extensive interviews with investment focused advisers from around Australia, the paper identified 15 best practice communication strategies being used to help keep clients calm, connected, and disciplined during market drawdowns.

The use of AI to filter and distil fund manager updates and economic commentary down into clear, tailored client messaging, is the latest way innovative advisers and practices are applying AI to high value, sensitive client interactions.

“When portfolios are turning red and media headlines are amplifying bad news, advisers can find themselves under pressure to keep clients calm and focused. But at the same time, they can find themselves dealing with a deluge of research reports, market updates, and economic commentary, much of it very jargon heavy,” said Kristine Brooks, Chief Country Officer for Milford Australia.

“Collating and simplifying all this complex data into client friendly talking points can be a daunting task without specialised expert assistance.

“The more tech savvy practices are recognising the power of AI to handle such a vital task without the need for expensive external support,” Brooks said.

Along with 14 other best practice communication insights, Calm over Calamity highlights how leading advisers have become behavioural coaches and storytellers more than portfolio managers, using an extensive strategy toolkit to filter out market noise and prevent knee-jerk, emotional, wealth destroying client reactions to market events.

“Advisers are now using AI to cut through complexity and deliver clarity, driving not just more efficiency but ultimately better client outcomes,” said Brooks.

Read the paper.

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The Milford Group team

Specialist investment firm Milford has announced a lineup of additional domestic and global funds following a process of consultation with asset consultants and advisers to identify opportunities and demand, where Milford’s investment philosophy, capability and proven track record would create value.

Launching to the market throughout 2025, the three funds will target returns across Australian and global equities and corporate bonds.

While identifying the opportunity to expand its offering, Milford recognised the importance of creating products that meet the desires of advisers and investors, while addressing key investment challenges.

In early 2024, Milford launched a substantial discovery process, engaging quantitative researchers and a panel of consultants and advisers to assess a series of strategic investment concepts – prepared by Milford – that would fill potential gaps in the market.

Ms Kristine Brooks, Chief Country Officer & Executive Director said: “By engaging extensively with advisers and researchers we gained a deeper and broader understanding of the market and identified the apex of where product was not meeting demand, including where there was significant investment need or opportunity.”

“From this investigative process we determined several areas we could create value for advisers and investors that match Milford’s extensive active management capabilities.”

“We are thrilled to unveil these new funds that reinforce our commitment to the Australian market and complement our suite of existing funds, including our Dynamic Small Companies Fund which continues to go from strength to strength,” said Ms Brooks.

Milford’s Dynamic Small Companies Fund provides capital growth by investing in small to mid-cap Australian equities. It aims to outperform the S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries Index over the minimum recommended investment timeframe. “While the fund has yet to reach its full investment timeframe journey, we are very encouraged by its performance to date,” says Ms Brooks.

Additionally, the Milford Australian Absolute Growth Fund invests in a diversified portfolio of predominantly Australian equities, complemented by selective exposure to international equities and cash while the Milford Global Opportunities Fund invests in global equity securities that are attractively valued.

As Milford continues to adapt to meet market demands, its investment team will also dissolve two current fund offerings; the Diversified Income Fund and Global Real Asset Fund, delivering more capacity to pursue its new strategies.

Milford was formed in New Zealand in 2003, by an experienced group of investors who recognised the need for a company that provided locals with a world-class investment partnership. Building on its success, the Sydney office opened in 2014, and Milford now also has offices in Melbourne and Brisbane, servicing Advisers across Australia.

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