Culture

Hear from our people

• Greg Wilkinson, Head of Insurance Strategy and Actuary

  

  

  I joined JANA in 2014 after spending over a decade working in actuarial analysis and consulting in both Cape Town and London. JANA has provided me with opportunities I hadn’t anticipated or expected, and upon joining, I switched from focusing on the liability side of the balance sheet to the asset side.

  I am delighted to be part of a firm with such a strong focus on delivering superior investment performance and outstanding service. Our relentless pursuit of meaningful investment insights means we also spend considerable time and effort on investment research, and as a result, we are granted access to some of the finest investment experts in the world. JANA’s inclusive and collaborative work culture, where everyone has a voice and is able to contribute, is another key standout.

  Outside of work, having two children in high school means I spend a great deal of time on the sidelines watching cricket, rugby (union of course), soccer, touch footy and tennis. I also enjoy boating in the Hawkesbury and on Sydney harbour, where my patience is constantly tested due to my unfortunate lack of skill and ability when it comes to catching fish.

• Prashanthi Nadarajah, Senior Consultant

  

  

  When I became part of the JANA team in 2006, the recruitment process was a little different! JANA was a separate business unit within MLC, where I was working as an investment analyst. I was asked to help the JANA team out for two days a week, on a project that involved developing a multi-manager hedge fund product, and the rest is history. This initial project was to build a multi-manager hedge fund product, and I was part of a team that helped manage that product up until 2014. In 2015 I returned to work on a part time basis after having my second child, and moved into a role that allowed me to continue utilising my manager research experience, but which expanded into client consulting, and I am now a senior consultant, in more of a client-focused role.

  I’ve stayed at JANA because I like the people I work with and because I find the work incredibly motivating. During my spare time I’m raising two young girls with my husband (who I met in high school) and trying to squeeze in different forms of exercise to stay fit and healthy.

• Bharat Satghare, Senior Consultant

  

  

  I have been at JANA since 2018, when I moved to Sydney from South Korea. I was pleasantly surprised on my first day to find the colleague sitting next to me had not only worked in the same Korean business group, but had gone to the same university as me. To this day I’m not sure whether it was a coincidence or an intentional move from HR to make me feel welcome! I have worked and lived in a number of countries and found the transition to JANA to be very smooth. From day one, I was impressed with JANA’s collaborative and open culture. My colleagues were incredibly supportive in helping me understand the nuances of asset consulting.

  The work is challenging and the hours are occasionally long, but we are all encouraged to find the working style that suits us best – a level of flexibility I have appreciated even more since having a baby. In my free time, I used to enjoy exploring Sydney’s hiking trails, though recently most of my free time is spent taking care of my newborn. I also enjoy reading about history and politics, and can’t go past an interesting science fiction book.

• Jeremy Wilmot, Principal Consultant 

  

  

  When I joined JANA in 2008 as an analyst, the world of asset consulting was completely new to me. Over a decade later, joining JANA was the best professional decision I have made. JANA offers such a great environment to develop your skills, as continuous learning is a constant. Whether it be analysing data, researching managers, debating investment issues with colleagues or presenting strategies and ideas to client boards, no single day is the same.

  Today, the thing I value the most about JANA is the ability to learn from some of the best investment minds in the world, whether colleagues, clients or investment managers. The idea of knowledge sharing is another key to JANA and the flat structure allows information to be shared with ease. I would also be lying if I said the global travel – to places like New York, Moscow and Mexico City – hasn’t been enjoyable.

  Outside of JANA, my main life achievement would be my beautiful family. I’m also pretty proud of being able to run a marathon in 2 hours 40 minutes, although not sure my legs would get me moving that fast anymore.

• Tyson Yeo, Senior Consultant

  

  

  I joined JANA in 2017 as an analyst and was introduced to this unfamiliar company by a friend who was a JANA consultant. The two prongs of my friend’s pitch were the truly broad and global nature of the exposure to investment markets and strategies, and the strong culture facilitated by a flat organisational structure. To both points, he was spot on.

  Prior to joining JANA I’d been working in the duty-free industry for eight years across a range of roles. While far-removed from the world of asset consulting, this experience provided a good foundation for the challenges of asset consulting. At the start I was as green as they come, but while there will always be a vast knowledge gap to try and bridge, JANA fosters an environment that encourages critical and deep thinking. This is fertile ground for a steep learning trajectory if you’re willing to put in the work and ask a lot of questions.

  Outside of JANA, I can’t think of a better way to spend time than with good food, wine, music and company, preferably on a summer’s day. I hope my main life’s achievements are ahead of me. In a previous life I played cricket with (and against) quite a few Australian international and domestic players, past and present.