Finding the Front

In the lead up to the much anticipated 26th annual Euroz Hartleys Institutional Investor Conference at Rottnest Island, in this episode of Finding the Front we take the opportunity to have a chat to three leading Australian Small Companies Fund Managers who are long time attendees of the conference. A big thanks to Andrew Mitchell, Founder & Senior Portfolio Manager of Ophir Asset Management Liam Donohue, Principal and Portfolio Manager, Lennox Capital Partners and, Matt Griffin, Co-Portfolio Manager, Maple-Brown Abbott for their thoughts and insights on the investing landscape, sectors and stocks and how they are approaching the year ahead. Lots of takeaways! To request a Euroz Hartleys team member to contact you or to leave some feedback on the podcast please click here Please follow us and stay up to date with Euroz Hartleys on LinkedIn To be added to the podcast “new release” email distribution list please click here

Our special guest for this episode is highly regarded, Sydney based fund manager Chris Stott. Chris earnt his stripes working for some 12 years with funds management luminaries Geoff Wilson and Matthew Kidman and the team at Wilson Asset Management, the majority as Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager responsible for managing the investment team and overseeing the investment portfolios. He did well. So much so that in 2014, the Australian Financial Review named Chris as one of the Five Best Young Fund Managers in Australia. In 2019 Chris co-founded 1851 Capital leveraging his 22 years’ experience in the Australian funds management industry, and kicked off his one and only fund at the start of February in 2020. With COVID, unbeknown to Chris, literally around the corner, timing was everything and provides for a fascinating insight into investment portfolio management in very challenging times. Outside of investment management, Chris is also Deputy Chairman of the foundation of his beloved Sydney AFL team the Sydney Swans. This certainly is a captivating conversation. To request a Euroz Hartleys team member to contact you or if you have some feedback on the podcast please click here Please follow us and stay up to date with Euroz Hartleys on LinkedIn To be added to the podcast “new release” email distribution list please click here

Our special guest for this Episode of Finding the Front is Tony Ottaviano, the Managing Director & CEO of lithium producer Liontown Resources and what an insightful and educational story it is! Raised in a close Italian family, Tony started as a graduate with a mining job in the Pilbara. He rose to the senior level management of BHP and shares his deep insights into the iron ore sector including the introduction of Fortescue Metals, the proposed takeover of Rio Tinto by BHP, drilling, leading teams, mines and production. He made the move from big business to a small lithium company called Liontown Resources after getting a call from Chair Tim Goyder and what a journey this has been. Building a company, securing offtake agreements with Ford, LG and Tesla, construction, challenges of the lithium market, the impact of China: overcapacity, involution, CATL and the recent capital raising including the cornerstone investment of $50m by the National Reconstruction Fund investment. Tony is passionate and shines through in what really is a fantastic insight with so many takeaways. To request a Euroz Hartleys team member to contact you or if you have some feedback on the podcast please click here Please follow us and stay up to date with Euroz Hartleys on LinkedIn To be added to the podcast “new release” email distribution list please click here

50th Ep. Gold. China. Leadership. Strategy. Australian Mining’s Challenges. Unfiltered. Our special guest is one of Australia’s most influential mining leaders, Jake Klein, Executive Chair of Evolution Mining. In this jam packed Finding the Front 50thepisode Jake provides valuable lessons and observations in gold, China and importantly, the future of Australia's mining sector. A seriously insightful discussion, Jake opens up on his: early days in Cape Town and arriving in Australia with $1,000 in his pocket, the major influence of his first job at Macquarie Group, views on early China and leading the largest foreign gold miner in China Sino Gold to a $2.2B exit, insights into the founding of Lynas Rare Earths Ltd where he was a long term Non-Exec Director, his journey over 15 years and the steps to build Evolution into a gold powerhouse - M&A, gold assets (inc. Mt Rawdon, its mine life to now becoming a Pumped Hydro Project for Qld energy), costs, people, gold price and the challenges facing the future of the Australian mining sector including the major influence of China. For those who love mining or are involved in the industry, opportunities like this don’t come along often. To request a Euroz Hartleys team member to contact you or if you have some feedback on the podcast please click here Please follow us and stay up to date with Euroz Hartleys on LinkedIn To be added to the podcast “new release” email distribution list please click here

New Episode: Finding the Front with Dino Otranto, CEO of Fortescue Metals (FMG.ASX)In this rare and candid episode, Dino reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped his career—from his early upbringing to leading operations in Mozambique and navigating major challenges in Canada, including a 77-day employee strike and the devastating Brumadinho tailings dam disaster.Dino opens up about his journey to FMG, his transition into the CEO role, and the values he brings to leadership: transparency, authenticity, and deep respect for the company's legacy. He also acknowledges the powerful influence of Dr Andrew Forrest and the contribution and culture of FMG’s 20,000+ strong team.This episode goes beyond mining. It explores innovation at the intersection of technology and sustainability, and Fortescue’s vision of producing Green Iron—a bold roadmap that’s redefining the future of iron ore.A hugely insightful listen with a proud WA leader who is helping lead a global shift. To request a Euroz Hartleys team member to contact you or if you have some feedback on the podcast please click here Please follow us and stay up to date with Euroz Hartleys on LinkedIn To be added to the podcast “new release” email distribution list please click here

In this Ep of Finding the Front it was a privilege to host Robert Millner AO, widely regarded as one of Australia’s most experienced and respected investors and Chair of iconic company, the 120+ year old Soul Patts (Washington H. Soul Pattinson). Rob is the 4th generation of his family to lead the business and the simple but important takeaways from this conversation are compelling for all investors. Rob has been Chair of Soul Patts over the past quarter of a century overseeing significant growth in shareholder value and increasing the dividends paid every year over the last 25 years. This podcast covers comparison to Berkshire Hathaway, his family upbringing, first job in the markets, the Soul Patts journey and focusing on good people and cash generation, New Hope Coal, Brickworks, TPG, buying businesses and what is key, his view on the cost of doing business, the current market conditions and the US and much more. To request a Euroz Hartleys team member to contact you or if you have some feedback on the podcast please click here Please follow us and stay up to date with Euroz Hartleys on LinkedIn To be added to the podcast “new release” email distribution list please click here

Welcome to our latest Ep of Finding the Front. We are very fortunate to have leading, award winning, Western Australian property developer Paul Blackburne as our special guest. Paul’s 20+ year old business Blackburne has developed and settled some $1 billion of property in the last two years alone with a strong future pipeline of high end apartments in hand. In this wide ranging podcast, Paul provides a unique insight into his background, travel, building his business and property development including risk, using your own equity, buyer types, assessing a potential development, cost of building and lots more. For those who love their property, there is plenty to take away from this conversation given Paul’s vast experience and understanding of the industry. To request a Euroz Hartleys team member to contact you or if you have some feedback on the podcast please click here Please follow us and stay up to date with Euroz Hartleys on LinkedIn To be added to the podcast “new release” email distribution list please click here

Our special guest is one of Australia’s legendary stock pickers, Mr David Paradice AO, the founder of Paradice Investment Management. The Paradice Investment Management team manage a phenomenal amount of money - around $17 billion in assets under management. Its namesake founder, David Paradice AO, is so passionate about his craft. In this deep dive, David shares his experiences on just about everything from growing up in Scone in the Hunter region, boarding school, trying to find a job, how he made his way into the public markets, building a funds management business, his team, his love of picking stocks and the small cap sector, meeting with management, doing the work and how there is no “short cut” and his current views on the markets. He also shares his thoughts on why he learns from Warren Buffett but doesn't follow him - they have their own way of doing things including going out and picking the stocks, doing the numbers, working out if something is cheap or expensive and then having a real crack at it! Plus we hear first-hand about his love of giving back, the game of Polo, including meeting the Queen and of course, family. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro 4:03 - Tales from growing up on a 150 acre farm just outside of Scone, NSW 10:37 - Paradice's first role as a research analyst at a stock broker, investing through the 1987 crash 15:38 - The pressure of managing others people’s money 17:59 - Paradice's five-year stint managing small caps at Mercantile Mutual/ING Group + Why company visits are not a chore 19:34 - Why Paradice decided to go out on his own despite the knock backs 23:09 - The super funds that have supported Paradice IM + How the Paradice team's culture has evolved over time 27:17 - What company visits reveal to stock pickers and analysts + Why Paradice wants to take inspiration from Warren Buffett but not follow him 30:33 - Why Paradice respects businesses and funds who cap their returns + Is managing too much money a bad thing? 33:21 - Should portfolio managers be generalists or sector specialists? 36:12 - How Paradice and his team approached the 2008 GFC + how they make a decision on when and what to deploy cash into 42:39 - 'Part of the skill is sticking to the right stocks so that your performance doesn't get belted during the bad times' 44:40 - A good investment can be expensive - but if they grow at 30-40%, it's warranted 46:26 - Receiving the Order of Australia for philanthropic services 48:50 - How Paradice's selection of funds has grown over time + Why doing the work, even at the earliest hours, is what makes the difference 51:28 - Current market views: Trump, Musk, China, growth, commodities, themes 57:32 - Commodities, threats with AI, gold, bitcoin, silver 1:01:53 - Working with Geoff Wilson's Future Generation, supporting the Taronga Zoo Foundation, and other charitable pursuits 1:06:01 - Health, work and life balance, trust, love of polo, teamwork, the Queen To request a Euroz Hartleys team member to contact you or if you have some feedback on the podcast please click here Please follow us and stay up to date with Euroz Hartleys on LinkedIn To be added to the podcast “new release” email distribution list please click here Paradice Investment Management This material represents only the views of David Paradice and is not intended, and may not, represent the views of Paradice Investment Management Pty Ltd (ABN 64 090 148 619, AFSL No. 224158)(Paradice) or any of its investment teams. The information is of a general nature only and was current only at the time of initial discussion. This material (or contribution to it) is not intended to constitute advertising or advice (including legal, tax or investment advice or security recommendation) of any kind. Where this includes reference to securities, Paradice may have a relevant interest in securities mentioned therein. Returns are not guaranteed by any person and reference to past performance is not an indicator of future performanc

For all those who love property and seek some insight into the property development sector and current property market - look no further. Our special guest for this brand new episode is Nathan Blackburne, the Managing Director of one of Australia’s leading property developers Cedar Woods Properties that was established way back in 1987. Nathan is a leader in his field. He comes from a family upbringing steeped in property history and his national journey to his current role, including 17 years in Melbourne and some 23 years with Cedar Woods provides some very valuable insights. Nathan shares his perspective on the opportunities but also the challenges of Australia’s property market. There are some such excellent takeaways. To request a Euroz Hartleys team member to contact you or if you have some feedback on the podcast please click here Please follow us and stay up to date with Euroz Hartleys on LinkedIn To be added to the podcast “new release” email distribution list please click here

In this episode we are very lucky to have a Managing Director and a leader in mining giant Rio Tinto, and a Non-Executive Director gold miner Northern Star, join the show. Marnie Finlayson is truly a leader in the field she loves – mining - and what a story this is! Her journey, from being just out of school doing the hard yards shovelling 12 hours a day under the crusher on the Sons of Gwalia mine to being the Managing Director of Rio’s Battery Materials business really is something. Moving around Australia as a metallurgist gaining experience across a range of commodities including iron ore, base metals, diamonds and coal is just the start. Overlay this with being General Manager for Port Maintenance for Rio Tinto Iron Ore, General Manager Operations for Dampier Salt and Serbia Country Head for Rio Tinto responsible for their Jadar deposit in Western Serbia provides some hugely valuable insights into building a career in mining, leadership, being part of a team, her challenges and the difficult decisions, and her deep insights across the mining sector including her global lithium views and understanding. Marnie speaks so well and provides an inspiring showcase for women in mining and makes for seriously compelling listening. To request a Euroz Hartleys team member to contact you or if you have some feedback on the podcast please click here Please follow us and stay up to date with Euroz Hartleys on LinkedIn To be added to the podcast “new release” email distribution list please click here

Our special guest on this episode is Brandon Munro, the Executive Chair and MD of listed Uranium development company, Bannerman Energy. Brandon is a corporate lawyer by profession who has built an entrepreneurial career that developed into a passion and leadership in the field of mining, in the country of Namibia in southern Africa, in the commodity of Uranium. Brandon was born in South Africa but moved to Australia when he was very young, his family background is fascinating when you see where he has ended up (eg. amongst other things Brandon co-authored the Namibian Mining Charter). Brandon has deep insights into the world of Uranium and Nuclear Power. We talk about the impacts of the Fukushima earthquake on the nuclear industry and the long journey back to the current standing and the future possibilities for Uranium. As a side note, Brandon was also the Captain of the Prague Cricket Club, leading them to a trifecta of trophies in the Czech/Eastern European League! A great conversation with many takeaways. To request a Euroz Hartleys team member to contact you or if you have some feedback on the podcast please click here Please follow us and stay up to date with Euroz Hartleys on LinkedIn To be added to the podcast “new release” email distribution list please click here

Our very special guest for this episode is a Lycopodium legend, an original founding member and Chair since inception until last year – 40 year mineral processing industry veteran - Mr Michael (Mick) Caratti. An electrical engineer that grew up in Wollongong in NSW who through a couple of sliding door decisions ended up in WA and became a key founding member of the team that has grown Lycopodium into the leading global integrated engineering, construction and asset management solutions provider success story it has become. This is truly a wonderful story told by an understated, highly regarded, absolute leader in his field. To request a Euroz Hartleys team member to contact you or if you have some feedback on the podcast please click here Please follow us and stay up to date with Euroz Hartleys on LinkedIn To be added to the podcast “new release” email distribution list please click here