Australia’s Telstra Super appoints head of infra and property

Telstra Super has appointed Miriam Patterson as its new head of infrastructure and property to manage a combined portfolio of A$2.5 billion ($1.8 billion; €1.61 billion). 

Patterson has been acting head of the super fund's real assets division since December. Prior to that, she was an investment manager in the team for almost five years, responsible for a range of property and infrastructure investments across the portfolio. 

Before joining Telstra Super, she worked at Hastings on assets and transactions including Sydney’s M4 and M5 toll roads. At the time, she was also an alternative director on Perth Airport Board. 

Graeme Miller, Telstra Super’s chief investment officer, said the fund had undertaken an extensive search both internally and externally to fill the role. 

“Patterson is the perfect candidate given her thorough knowledge of the portfolio. She has an excellent track record in these asset classes,” said Miller, who joined Telstra Super from Willis Towers Watson last month. Jim Christensen, his predecessor, returned to QIC in January.   

With A$17 billion under management, Melbourne-based Telstra Super invests in real assets through a portfolio of external managers. In infrastructure, it works with Hastings, JPMorgan Asset Management, RARE Infrastructure and Whitehelm Capital.