Australian Aus$2.5m RI Academy names new manager

The Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA), has named the first permanent manager to oversee one of the world’s first dedicated RI academies for training, education and research. Neb Jovicic has been appointed general manager of the Responsible Investment Academy, which was kicked off in February 2009 when the Australian government gave a huge boost to the development of responsible investment in Australia’s pensions and finance industry by awarding a grant worth Aus$2.5m (€1.25m) for its creation. Jovicic, who has spent the last 18 years in the United States and moved to Australia in November 2009, previously worked for Citizens Funds in securities analysis and portfolio management. In addition, RIAA has appointedDuncan Paterson, chief executive officer and founder of leading RI research firm, CAER, as its new president. Paterson, a board member of RIAA’s sister organisation in Asia, Hong Kong-based ASrIA, is an experienced RI professional, having worked both in Australia and the UK with EIRIS. In addition, RIAA has also Sarah Clawson has been hired as marketing and membership manager at RIAA, taking her from Paris to Sydney. Clawson spent seven years with the Paris-based European Sustainable Investment Forum (Eurosif), as head of communications. She was part of Eurosif’s European Commission project team and acted as co-ordinator for various initiatives at the European Union level.