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 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.
Daniel Frank
Director BA LLB MBLDaniel provides risk and compliance advice to APRA, ASIC and AUSTRAC regulated entities based on his experience across a range of financial services businesses, as well as with APRA. He is passionate about integrating risk management into operations, facilitating training to executives and Directors, developing and reviewing risk and compliance frameworks, and driving the right risk culture to support business objectives.
Speak to Daniel about all things risk management, compliance, hiking, wine and rugby.
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!)
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.
Michael Monaghan
Principal BA FIA FIAA FAICDMichael is an actuary with more than 35 years’ experience in financial services, investment and management consulting and financial planning. He is Deputy Chair and a non-executive director of Hammond Care, a specialist not-for-profit aged care provider and a non-executive director of Alpha Vista Financial Services Holdings, a start-up global asset manager built on big data and artificial intelligence. He is the former Managing Director of State Super Financial Services Australia (StatePlus), has been a partner of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and CEO of Intech Investment Consultants. Michael has held senior executive positions at Deutsche Bank in Australia and Japan, IBM, Lend Lease Corporation and Capita Financial Group.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 to the end of 2018. Prior to that, he was a Partner at Ernst & Young, and a director of Askit Consulting.
At the IAIS, Jules managed several implementation activities, including updated in the IAIS Core Curriculum, actuarial aspects of financial inclusion, supervisory capacity building, and the IAIS relationship with the actuarial profession. Jules also has an ongoing interest in the provision of lifelong retirement incomes. Prior to the IAIS he consulted, in Australia and overseas, over 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 has also been involved with capacity building since 2000. He has developed actuarial syllabuses for the Institute of Actuaries and led the Actuarial Control and 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 for 2019-2021, is part of the ICA 2022 organising committee, and is an Institute representative to the International Actuarial Association.
Get in touch to discuss how we can help.