About the investment team

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Specialist team with unique skills 

Our dedicated specialist team of nine individuals is one of the most experienced global resources investment teams in the industry. The team's expertise is based on a combination of rigorous financial skills with specialist scientific training – including physics, metallurgy, agriculture and chemistry. This expert knowledge is fundamental to understanding the risks and opportunities associated with resource projects, and gives us a distinct advantage few competitors can match.

 dr joanne warner   

Dr Joanne Warner – Head of Global Resources and Portfolio Manager, First State Global Resources Fund 

  • Joined First State Investments in August 1997 and became the Head of Global Resources in June 2010.
  • Has more than 15 years’ experience as a specialist Global Resources portfolio manager and analyst.
  • Won the Outstanding Achievement Award for Mining Funds Management at the annual Mines and Money Conference, sponsored by the Mining Journal in London in November 2007.
  • Holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Applied Chemistry) from the University of Technology, Sydney, where she won the University Medal.
  • She was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship to study at the University of Oxford where she was awarded a PhD in Solid State Chemistry.
 
 renzo casarotto   

Renzo Casarotto – Senior Portfolio Manager, First State Global Agribusiness Fund 

  • Joined First State Investments’ Global Resources team in February 2006.
  • Prior to First State Investments, Renzo was the Portfolio Manager for Prudential and Nomura Asset Management.
  • Holds a Bachelor of Business and a post graduate diploma in Applied Finance and Investments from the Securities Institute of Australia.
 
 skye macpherson   

Skye Macpherson – Portfolio Manager, First State Global Agribusiness Fund 

  • Joined First State Investments in January 2000 and joined the Global Resources team in November 2005.
  • Gained solid experience and understanding of the culture by working in various departments within First State Investments: Information and Research, Investment Markets Research and Finance.
  • Grew up in central Western Australia with a genuine interest in and knowledge of agriculture.
  • Holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics from the University of New England, Armidale, where she won the University Medal. She also holds a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investments, specialising in Investment Analysis, from the Securities Institute of Australia.
  • A Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst charterholder.