Our Team

Adviser Edge Senior Management

Shane Kelly BBus(Agr)
Managing Director

As Managing Director, Shane is responsible for all core research functions undertaken by Adviser Edge, and for coordinating the advice provided to Adviser Edge’s wide range of financial services clients throughout Australia. Shane’s strong reputation in the financial services sector and Australian agribusiness has enabled Adviser Edge to develop and maintain market-leading coverage of agribusiness-related Managed Investment Schemes for the Australian financial services sector.

In all, Shane has over 20 years of experience in the Australian agricultural and agribusiness sectors, stemming from his background in dryland cropping in the Mallee region of Victoria. Prior to founding Adviser Edge, Shane was co-director of a nationally-focused agribusiness consultancy firm (1997-2001), and was also a full-time consultant to the Arthur Anderson Agribusiness Team (1996-97). During this time, Shane consulted to industry groups, agribusiness companies and government organisations across areas such as marketing, research and development, and strategic business planning.

Louis Christopher BBus(Acc&Eco), PGDipAppFin&Invest
Managing Director – SQM Research
Head of Property Research – Adviser Edge

Louis Christopher is recognised as one of Australia’s leading research property analysts and commentators. Prior to joining Sdviser Edge as the Head of Property Research in 2006, Louis was Head of Research and then General Manager of the property statistics agency Australian Property Monitors. At Adviser Edge, Louis is responsible for coordinating a team of three analysts. Major review sequences completed recently include Global and Domestic Property Securities.

Louis has been credited with being the first to correctly forecast the Australian residential property boom of 2001–2003, as well as being the first to correctly predict the east coast residential property correction of 2004–2006. In his role at Australian Property Monitors Louis was also the creator of the stratified housing price index, which was first published by the Reserve Bank of Australia in 2005, and is published regularly today. Louis regularly features in Australia’s television and print media.

Geoff Watkins BCom(Hons)
Managing Director – Path Independent
Head of Structured Products Research – Adviser Edge

Geoff Watkins joined Adviser Edge in November 2007, taking on the role of Head of Research for the then-newly formed Structured Products Research Division. Prior to joining Adviser Edge, Geoff worked with German Bank WestLB AG over a period of 15 years. During this time Geoff held several roles, including Senior Structurer (Capital Markets), Director (Risk in Specialised Finance/Management), and Head of Risk Management (Asia Pacific).

Prior to Geoff’s overseas experience, he worked for Commonwealth Bank of Australia in Sydney for four years, primarily in its interest rate derivatives sales and advisory group.

Geoff’s experience and personal fascination with financial innovation make him excellently placed to understand the complexity and relevance of both the products themselves, and the business process around the creation, hedging and sale of the products.

Charles Beaton BCom, DipArts, GDipCA
Senior Investment Analyst – Property & Agribusiness

Charles was recruited to the Adviser Edge team in April 2007 to further strengthen the company’s finance and business analysis credentials. Charles has a strong finance background, developed through his experience in chartered accounting firm Pitcher Partners. While at Pitcher Partners, Charles gained a Graduate Diploma in Chartered Accounting, and was admitted as a Chartered Accountant in 2006. Prior to joining Adviser Edge, Charles worked in an analyst role at Tabcorp Holdings, where he focused on business analysis and viability, business modelling (including budgeting and forecasting), and investment recommendation.

During 2009 Charles took leave of absence to gain further experience and work in London. During this time, Charles was employed by The Economist Group, one of the world’s leading sources of analysis on international business and world affairs.

Charles’ key responsibilities at Adviser Edge include conducting and overseeing research and investment analysis on both property and agribusiness investments. Charles also completes detailed assessments of the management capabilities, corporate governance procedures and financial performance of all product providers.

Tommy Mermelshtayn BSc(ScFin&IS), CFA
Investment Analyst – Structured Products

Tommy gained first-hand experience of alternative investments through his five years at Mercer Partners, a New York-based hedge fund. Tommy managed both the trading and operational functions for the fund at various times. His insight into the way that financial markets, including derivatives, trade, as well as his strength in process development, provide him with valuable tools for delivering outcomes for clients. Tommy has also completed numerous consulting projects in the United States, and is now finishing his second university degree, a PhD focusing on hedge fund survival analysis at the University of New South Wales’ Australian School of Business.

Alan Zhao BCom(ActSt), BAppFin
Senior Investment Analyst - Structured Products

Alan can be credited with developing and programming most of the complex quantitative modelling used by Path Independent. Alan joined the team in early 2008 and has designed and analysed literally hundreds of thousands of product result scenarios in that time. He has worked opposite many of the investment banks in Australia to challenge their product marketing, gaining valuable insight to the exact workings of structured products and quantitative strategies, while proving his attention to detail by being able to defend his analytic findings. Prior to joining the Path Independent team, Alan gained two years experience with ANZ, giving him a solid grounding in the workings of financial institutions. Alan has a Bachelor of Commerce in Actuarial Studies and an honours degree in Applied Finance. He is now working towards his CFA Level II, having successfully achieved Level I.