Sonya Sawtell-Rickson

Sonya Sawtell-Rickson has over 20 years’ experience in the investment management and financial services industry. Sonya was appointed to the role of Chief Investment Officer of HESTA in July 2017, responsible for overseeing the $68 billion investment program on behalf of 950,000 members (as at August 2022). Sonya leads a team of investment professionals, working with the HESTA Board and Investment Committee to develop and implement the investment framework and strategy of the Fund. Prior to HESTA, Sonya was an Investment Director at QIC. In this role, she led a global multi-asset team, advising clients on investment strategy and overseeing portfolio management across a broad range of traditional and alternative asset classes, and a dynamic asset allocation process, for portfolios in excess of $45 billion. Prior this Sonya was the Head of Portfolio Management, and specialised in the real assets and private equity sectors. Sonya also previously held the role of General Manager, Investment Services at QSuper and other positions at Queensland Treasury. Sonya currently serves as a Director of the Investor Group for Climate Change (IGCC), a Member of the IFM Shareholder Advisory Board, a Board Member of the Australian Advosry Board on Technology & Healthcare Competitiveness, and an Executive Member of the Australia/New Zealand Chapter of the Bloomberg Women’s Buy Side Network. Sonya holds a Masters of Applied Finance, Bachelor of Arts (Economics & Political Science), is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and is a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia. Sonya is passionate about improving gender equality in financial services, and integrating responsible investment – especially climate action – into investment processes and decision-making. In her spare time, Sonya likes to read, and spend quality time with her husband and two sons.