Social Ventures Australia

Karen Kennedy is Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer at Raffles Family Office, working in the financial industry and family office sector with a focus on investment management. Her areas of expertise include quantitative research, portfolio management, investor relations, risk management, ETFs, securities, fixed income, and private equities. She has led and managed cross-functional teams of more than 300 people and worked on infrastructure building and firm management.

Justin McCurdy is a Managing Director and Financial Advisor at Manhattan West, where he offers wealth management services including retirement, tax, and estate planning, budgeting, cash management, and investment management. He holds the CFP designation and previously worked at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management and Advice Period. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Communications with a minor in Accounting/Finance from the University of Southern California, and founded Pro Skills, a youth basketball mentorship program in Southern California.

Amanda Brisot is Director of Business Development at Social Ventures Australia, where she focuses on philanthropy, corporate partnerships, and systems change. She has experience in business growth, advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and events, and serves on boards and committees in the arts, environment, business, and sport sectors.

Shini de Silva is a brand and marketing leader with over 15 years of experience across professional and financial services and social impact organisations. She most recently served as Director, Brand and Marketing at Social Ventures Australia, following senior roles at Australian Red Cross and NAB. Her work spans brand strategy, integrated communications, creative and studio leadership, governance, digital transformation and stakeholder engagement, including a national appeal that raised more than $26 million across three television networks.

Stephanie Erev is Interim Head of Sustainability at Polaris Private Equity, working at the intersection of sustainability and capital markets with over 15 years of experience across private equity, hedge funds, and academia. She previously served as ESG and IR Advisor to FSN Capital, where she contributed to green transition and ESG commercialization strategies across the portfolio and helped position the firm's ESG efforts ahead of fundraising. Her background includes investor relations and communications work involving C-suite executives, boards, and limited partners.

Human Resources Business Partner managing HR functions and supporting stakeholders.

Vik Sasi is Chief Strategy Officer at Manhattan West, where he oversees corporate strategy, business development, partnerships, strategic investments, and acquisitions, and leads the firm's inaugural Digital Assets fund. He previously worked on deals at Dreamers, TMC Tech Fund, AmFam Ventures, and Healthbox, and serves as Chief Instructor of Venture Capital at Wall Street Oasis. Earlier in his career he advised Haiti's Ministry of Health and worked as an analyst with the Clinton Foundation. He holds a BA in Biology from Washington University in St. Louis and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.