Why PFS?
We do more than solve our clients’ problems. We add value by leaving them in a stronger position than when they engaged us – and knowing we’re there when next they need us.
Our history
Meet our key people, who are supported by a dedicated team of consultants and analysts
John Newman
Managing Director BBusSc (Hons) FIAA FAICDJohn is the Managing Director of PFS, an actuary by training, and a very experienced and highly respected consultant. As well as advising on actuarial issues, financial modelling, and risk management, John has extensive governance, strategic, and operational expertise. He is also on the Board of a charitable Foundation, and is a past President of the Actuaries’ Institute (Australia).
Speak to John about actuarial and risk matters, sailing, and financial services – including running a financial services business.
Martin Fitzpatrick
Director BA (Actuarial Studies)Martin has deep experience in both the financial services and technology sectors. He provides advice on financial modelling, IT systems, and risk management to insurers, superannuation funds, industry associations, and government entities.
Speak to Martin about using financial modelling to solve real business problems (not just actuarial ones!) as well as any good sci-fi and fantasy books you have read.
Jane Byrne
Director B Com MBA (Exec) FGIA FFinJane is an experienced governance and risk management professional who has worked at senior executive and Board level in public, private and government businesses. She is committed to helping superannuation Trustees and other Directors improve their governance, and their management of strategy and risk.
Jane’s expertise includes general management, corporate governance, strategic planning, risk management, audit, and legal management. She is also a non-executive director on a not-for-profit board.
Speak to Jane about governance and risk, crime fiction and the Sydney theatre scene.
Ian Laughlin
Principal FIAA FIA BSc FAICDIan has had a long career in financial services senior management and board roles, in Australia, the UK, New Zealand and Hong Kong.
He was Managing Director of Pearl, London Life and NPI in the UK, at a time of major upheaval. Until recently, he chaired the boards of OnePath Life, and OnePath General Insurance. Prior to mid 2015, he was Deputy Chairman of APRA, the prudential regulator of banks, insurance companies and superannuation funds.
He has a deep interest in risk management and risk culture. In recent years, he has had a particular interest in the impact of social attitudes and norms on risks for financial services businesses.
Speak to Ian about risk management and culture, governance, prudential regulation and classic cars.
Adrian McGarva
Principal BEc (Actuarial) FIAAAdrian qualified as an actuary in both Australia and the UK, and has extensive experience within the general insurance, reinsurance and corporate finance industries in Australia, the UK, and Switzerland. Adrian has over 20 years’ experience including seven years as the Chief Actuary of a global insurance and reinsurance group where he was responsible for the pricing, reserving, and capital adequacy functions as well as providing significant input into underwriting and business strategy.
Speak to Adrian about anything to do with actuarial and insurance matters, finance, running, snowboarding or twins.
Thach Huynh
Principal BEc (Actuarial) AIAA, SA FINThach is an actuary and senior associate of FINSIA, and a leading practitioner in the areas of valuation and financial modelling. He has worked in specialist financial modelling roles, and as a management consultant, both in Australia and overseas.
Speak to Thach about stochastic analysis and modelling, unlocking insights from data, executive remuneration, and the benefits of living and working in Canberra.
Stephen Crump
Senior Consultant BA FIAAStephen is an actuary with extensive experience in the financial services sector, including more than 20 years as a consultant. He provides advice to employers and Trustees on superannuation and employee benefits, to banks and credit providers, and to insurers and other financial institutions. Stephen is also an experienced financial modeller and assists a wide range of clients with financial analysis, assessing reserves, and budgeting and reporting.
Talk to Stephen about superannuation, banking, financial modelling, and cycling (but not while he’s going uphill!)
Doug Drysdale
Principal BSc (Hons) FIAADoug is one of the founders of PFS, having established the company in April 2001 with two others. He specialises in providing strategic as well as technical actuarial advice to superannuation funds and to statutory long service leave schemes. He has overseen the successful merger of three industry funds and provided expert witness opinions on a range of issues including super splitting under family law legislation.
Speak to Doug about superannuation, his insights and expert opinion on any financial issues with an actuarial element, and football (with a round ball!)
Lynton Norris
Principal BBUS(Acc) BBUS(IntTrade) FCPA GAICDLynton has a background in the public sector, focussed on developing and implementing policy initiatives and operational reforms in complex areas of public policy. His past roles include Deputy Director-General in ACT Health; CEO of the Commonwealth’s National Health Funding Body; and Director Budget Management and Funding in the Victorian Department of Health.
Combining expert financial acumen and understanding of data and analytics, Lynton applies his extensive policy design and reform experience at Board and Executive levels to help organisations achieve desired strategic, commercial and operational objectives.
Lynton has successfully led national reforms and integrity/performance reviews; evaluated investment models and frameworks; and developed policies and procedures.
Speak to Lynton about all things policy and programs, investment frameworks, budgeting, financial analysis and how data and analytics can be used to gain new insights into business performance. He is also always up for a chat in respect to cycling (both on and off-road!!).
Rhonda Virtue
Principal Dip SM, Dip FS (Brok) GAICDRhonda Virtue is one of Australia’s leading group insurance consultants. Rhonda headed group insurance for two major consulting firms and an insurer. She has subsequently provided consulting services specialising in group insurance and has deep insight into the issues of insurance product design, policy documentation and associated administration processes and systems.
Speak to Rhonda about the operational risks associated with superannuation funds’ insurance arrangements, and whenever you need independent expertise on group insurance.
Fred Rowley
Principal MA FIAA CERAFred Rowley is a senior actuary and an experienced financial and general manager with over 40 years’ experience in the life insurance industry in Australia and the UK. He advises companies, boards, and insurance regulators on financial reporting; embedded values; capital and risk management; corporate reconstructions; demutualisation; M&A transactions; product development; corporate planning and strategy
Fred has held a number of senior roles in the industry, including Chief Corporate Actuary of AMP where he managed the actuarial aspects of the AMP demutualisation, and Chief Actuary and Appointed Actuary of TAL Life Ltd. He is a past President of the Actuaries’ Institute (Australia), has received the Actuary of the Year award in recognition of his contribution to the profession, and was President of the International Actuarial Association in 2015, giving him an extensive global network.
David Rush
Principal BEc FIAADavid is an actuary with over 30 years’ experience. Before joining PFS he was with a big four accounting firm, and prior to that with APRA in various senior executive roles, including involvement with international regulators.
He has detailed knowledge of the new Insurance Accounting regime (IFRS 17 and the associated AASB 17) and its implications for all types of business. As a member of the Australian Transition Resource Group for AASB 17, and of the relevant actuarial taskforce, David is deeply involved with the development, interpretation and implementation of the new standard. He has also advised regulatory authorities in a number of jurisdictions on a range of supervisory matters.
Talk to David about the new Insurance Accounting standard, prudential regulation, retirement incomes, and the history of musicals.
Ian Pollard
Principal BA MA(Oxon) DPhil(IMC) Hon. DBus FIAA FAICDIan is an actuary and Rhodes Scholar. He has been a CEO, Director, or Chairman of more than 30 companies over the past 40 years and has written a number of books on corporate finance and on building human and social capital.
Ian is currently Chairman of RGA Australia and a director of Milton Corporation, the Purves Environmental Fund and the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists.
Jules Gribble
Principal FIAA, CERA, GAICD, Ph.DJules has over 30 years professional and consulting experience. He was a Senior Policy Advisor at the IAIS for over 5 years, and prior to that was a Partner at Ernst & Young, and a director of Askit Consulting.
At the IAIS Jules managed several activities including updating the IAIS Core Curriculum, actuarial aspects of financial inclusion, supervisory capacity building, and the IAIS relationship with the actuarial profession. Prior to the IAIS he consulted, in Australia and overseas, on a wide range of topics. These included all aspects of unit pricing from governance to remediation, operational risk, model building, and policy development and governance in life insurance and superannuation. Jules also has an ongoing interest in the provision of lifelong retirement incomes
Jules has also been involved with capacity building since 2000. He has developed actuarial syllabuses for the Institute of Actuaries and led the Actuarial Control Cycle and Actuarial Practice honours level subjects at the University of Melbourne for over 10 years. He has designed, developing and delivered international supervisory training in over 25 programs.
Jules was elected to the Council of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia in 2019, is part of the ICA 2022 organising committee, and is an Institute representative to the International Actuarial Association.
Philip Maguire
Principal ANZIIF (Snr Assoc) CIPPhilip Maguire has extensive experience in the general insurance industry, including as managing director of the Commonwealth-supported HIH Claims Support Limited. He also has over 20 years experience in industry association activities, including as deputy chief executive of the Insurance Council of Australia. His expertise includes issues management, strategy development, government and stakeholder relations, communications and media strategies, policy research and development, international trade and regulation, and crisis management. Philip has experience on a number of boards including as a director (both executive and non-executive) of insurance organisations.
David Lewis
Principal FIAADavid is an actuary specialising in superannuation and employee benefits. In his career he has been involved in the establishment and management of two superannuation related businesses and has acted in many roles. In addition to his role as a consultant advising corporates and trustees, he has acted as a non-executive director of public offer superannuation funds and as a compliance officer and compliance committee member for various financial services businesses.
Talk to David about superannuation and related matters and, at the moment, the relative success of Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League.
Peter May
Principal BSc FIAAPeter May is an actuary who specialises in providing practical consulting advice to superannuation trustee boards and corporate clients on defined benefit funding, insurance arrangements, and investment. He also provides other actuarial services including valuations for portable long service leave schemes and projected fund cash flows.
Julie Cook
Principal BEc FIAAJulie Cook is an actuary with extensive experience in strategic advice to superannuation trustee boards and corporate clients. She provides practical advice on financial risk management of defined benefit funds including funding, insurance, investment and windup. Her expertise includes benchmarking global pension systems and project management.
Get in touch to discuss how we can help.