KangaNews Awards 2024: Market People of the Year

KangaNews is pleased to reveal its Market People of the Year for 2024, which were announced at the KangaNews Gala Dinner in Sydney on 3 April. These are the individuals who voters in the KangaNews Awards 2024 said went above and beyond to contribute to the development of the Australian and New Zealand debt markets. There are no restrictions on the firms, role or seniority of winners – voters were simply asked to consider who contributed most to the market in either or both 2024 specifically or across the span of a career.

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 seven KangaNews Market People of the Year for 2024. See below for the list of winners and their achievements in 2024, and click here to revisit the full list of 2024 deal and house award winners.

The KangaNews Awards: Market People of the Year 2024

JAMES AUSTIN
FIRSTMAC

Firstmac is one of a handful of major Australian nonbank lenders that have ridden the ups and downs of the GFC, the slow path back to health and subsequent rejuvenation of the sector, the more recent challenges of the pandemic and now the impact of a record Australian securitisation market. During that time, James Austin has steered one of Australia’s premier nonbank funding programmes including pioneering investor relations work in Japan and beyond.

MARK BROWN
HARBOUR ASSET MANAGEMENT

A stalwart of the New Zealand investment scene, Mark Brown joined Harbour Asset Management within months of the firm’s launch and has since overseen its fixed-income investment business’s growth to become one of the largest and most respected local market participants. Throughout, Mark has been a thoughtful and insightful contributor to New Zealand market development.

MAX BULLOCH
WESTPAC INSTITUTIONAL BANK

Westpac Institutional Bank’s phenomenal success across a raft of sectors in the Australian and New Zealand debt markets is plain to see from results in the KangaNews Awards for two years running. Many individuals deserve a share of the credit for Westpac’s rise, but perhaps none more so than Max Bulloch. Credited with delivering a vision and ambition that has unified disparate aspects of the business, Max has overseen the creation of a true market leader.

PENNY DELL
ANZ NEW ZEALAND

Even more so than in Australia, New Zealand’s economy leans on its big-four banks as supporters of growth and bastions of financial security. As treasurer of the largest local bank, Penny Dell has supported ANZ’s management of an unprecedented capital and funding transition most recently including innovative additional capital issuance that market participants believe delivered a critical pressure release valve for a sector that was previously dependent on its local market.

ANNA HUGHES
AUSTRALIAN OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

Since taking over the top job at Australia’s sovereign debt manager at the start of 2023, Anna Hughes has overseen significant changes within the AOFM during a time of increasing global investor engagement with the Australian dollar market. In 2024, she oversaw Australia’s debut as a green-bond issuer and market participants commend her commitment to transparency and tireless investor relations approach.

SU-LIN ONG
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS

Su-Lin Ong is one of Australia’s leading economic commentators and arguably one of the most closely associated with the fixed-income market. Market participants credit her consistency and depth of insight and deep understanding of the relevance of capital markets in wider economic commentary, and also her willingness to use her voice for positive advocacy – including for women in economics and as part of the Women in Banking and Finance network.

NICOLE YAZBEK-MARTIN
AUSTRALIAN SUSTAINABLE FINANCE INSTITUTE 

As the media and political noise around climate change mitigation and adaptation – and ESG principles more broadly – ramps up once again, the heavy lifting that may allow economies to transition at least somewhat successfully continues in the background. Market participants credit Nicole Yazbek-Martin for steering an Australian sustainable finance taxonomy process that is tuned in to the needs of the real economy and markets, and should pave the way for renewed progress toward critical goals.