David Thomas Email & Phone Number

Partner, founder and director of Chartwell Group. Chartwell Group are a boutique investment and advisory firm that is dedicated to creating a sustainable future for our clients.With over 25 years of experience in the finance industry, we assist clients to develop solutions that build dynamic businesses with strong sustainability and commercial outcomes..

Perth, AU

Executive Chairman and shareholder. Wind with Purpose is building out a portfolio of embedded behind the meter wind energy assets to assist heavy base load energy users rapidly decarbonise.

London, GB

I led supply chain finance, working capital and structured commodity and trade finance initiatives with corporate and global clients in the Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean regions. My focus was on large structured finance transactions along commodity flows - through both structured funded risk participation and direct bilateral, syndicated or club lending.

• The Perth Market Authority was a government owned corporation which owned and operated the fresh produce logistics and distribution complex (“Market City”) servicing Western Australia and located in Canning Vale, Perth.
• Appointed as Chairman in 2008.
• Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee
• First appointed as a Director between 1993 and 1998 and then between 2001 and 2008, serving as Chair of the Finance Committee.
• Led discussion and negotiation with government that restored the financial management of the PMA to a sound footing.
• Led a reform of management, strategy and governance.

Sydney, NSW, AU

• Responsible for leading the Regional and Agribusiness Banking team in Western Australian as State Manager (Sep 2008 – May 2010) and then as General Manager for WA, SA and NT (May 2010 to Sept 2011) – with a large team.
• Loan balances grew from less than AUD 1.0 billion to just over AUD 2 billion. Revenue growth for 2011 and 2010 was 14% and 25% respectively.
• Achieved a number one (among the big four Australian banks) in regular external customer satisfaction surveys (regional markets).
• Seconded in July 2011 to the CBA Advisory and Equities team to support the policy and product response to the Australian Government’s Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) and Clean Energy Futures (carbon tax) legislation.

Sydney, NSW, AU

Restored compliance results and morale and achieved significant uplift in asset volumes, including securing large transactions in commodities and agribusiness.

Perth, Western Australia, AU

• Responsible for all commercial and corporate banking relationships across the Perth CBD through a team of 40 bankers and support staff.
• Grew revenue by over 20% year on year.
• Achieved excellent performance based culture from a young and engaged team (majority aged under 30 years).

Utrecht, Utrecht, NL

• Appointed as Senior Manager in 2001. Appointed State Manager in 2003.
• Introduced Rabobank to the corporate banking market in Western Australia and established strong business growth with many of the significant food and agribusiness players in Western Australia.
• Originated “Deal of the Year” for Rabobank in the Asia Pacific region in 2002 with an innovative leveraged MBO transaction.

• CLIMA was responsible for groundbreaking innovation in Australian dry land agriculture.
• Member of the Advisory Board comprising scientists, business people and academics.
• Appointed in recognition of skills and understanding of finance, supply chain strategy and agribusiness.
• Assisted in developing strategy that secured multiple seasons of funding from the Commonwealth Government and other sources. CLIMA is regarded as one of the most effective CRC’s in Australia and has transformed the.

• Provided input to the Minister for Water in Western Australia in development of draft legislation consistent with National Water Policy.

• The Partnership Group was comprised of external senior commercial people constituted as a board to oversee the governance and strategic development of the Western Australian Department of Agriculture and Food.
• Specific focus was on improving the level of financial integrity and management of the agency.
• Achieved significant success in implementing improved governance and financial management, resulting in much higher levels of stakeholder satisfaction.

• Overhauled branding and product suite and restored market share
• Implemented significant internal reform and innovation – including in systems development, customer relationship management, budgeting and planning and product development

• AWB was then the Commonwealth’s Statutory Exporter of Western Australia’s wheat crop – with a value of AUD 4 – 6 billion per annum. With a team of 75 staff my responsibility included grain acquisition, grower.
• Through effective negotiation of port and transport contracts I delivered savings of over $25 m per annum to growers in Western Australia.
• Through leadership of industry committees I initiated further significant innovations in the WA grain sector, including active stack management and unique market led segregations.
• I was active in marketing of Australian grain to local markets and buyers in South East Asia and the Middle East.

• Assisted the WA Government respond proactively to National Competition Policy forthe agricultural sector as a member of a Review Panel

• Appointed as an independent member with expertise in finance.
• The Council overhauled the corporate governance and funding framework for the Department of Fisheries and significantly improved stakeholder satisfaction.
• The Council assisted in the implementation of a user pays funding model that now has wide acceptance by the WA fishing industry

Melbourne, Victoria, AU

Bachelor Of Economics, Economics

Certificate In Green And Sustainable Finance, Sustainable Finance

Company Directors Course (Graduate), Company Governance

Graduate Diploma Of Financial Services, Wealth Management And Financial Planning

Post Graduate Diploma In Business Administration, Business Administration And Management, General