KangaNews Market People of the Year 2018 announced

The individuals recognised as the KangaNews Market People of the Year in the KangaNews Awards 2018 were revealed for the first time at the KangaNews Awards Gala Dinner in Sydney on 19 March. The individual categories in the KangaNews Awards were open to participants across the Australasian debt markets.

The individual categories in the KangaNews Awards recognise industry professionals that have contributed to the development of the market above and beyond the parameters of their roles – regardless of what those roles are. There are five KangaNews Market People of the Year for 2018.

You can see all the institutional winners from the KangaNews Awards 2018 by clicking here.

KangaNews Market People of the Year

KangaNews Market People of the Year

SAM DIREEN HOUSING NEW ZEALAND

As the man most responsible for guiding New Zealand’s most significant new bond issuer back to market in 2018, Sam is acclaimed by his peers for his tireless efforts in telling the Housing New Zealand story, coolness under pressure and – at least as important – his consistently positive and receptive approach. One voter notes: “The market needs more like Sam”.

EILA KREIVI EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK

Eila’s history with the Australian market goes back well over a decade, as she headed up the Americas and Asia-Pacific funding operation at European Investment Bank during a period in which it was the largest issuer in a rapidly developing market. More recently, Eila has taken a leading role in the global development of the green and social bond market that is now growing fast in Australia and New Zealand, while offering her time to help that evolution in Australasia.

SOPHIE GILDER COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA

When distributed ledger technology is the norm for bond execution, no individual will have as much claim on the role of champion for this development in Australia – and, arguably, globally – than Sophie. Having overseen the world’s first blockchain bond executed in Australia in 2018, now is the time to acknowledge Sophie as the leading light of a market evolution for which Australia is at the frontier.

KATHERINE PALMER NEW SOUTH WALES TREASURY CORPORATION

As Australia’s green-bond market grows and evolves, the key development in 2018 was undoubtedly New South Wales Treasury Corporation’s debut deal. Katherine is recognised by market participants as much for her work behind the scenes as in the market itself – as a driving force in bringing together disparate elements of government, the wider public sector and the bond market.

PAUL WHITE ANZ

ANZ’s run at the top of the pile among banks in the Australian bond market has coincided with Paul time at the helm – but the two are not coincidental. Navigating internal change and the challenge of numerous competitors across nearly a decade, White has been instrumental in keeping ANZ ahead of the pack.