The PEP investment team shares more than 600 years of collective experience
Comprehensive investment experience
Strong and consistent track record
Deep global networks
PEP Gateway Investment Team
Cameron Blanks
Managing Director
Cameron joined Pacific Equity Partners in 2002. Prior to joining PEP, Cameron spent three years with Bain & Company in Australia and North America. Previously, Cameron worked for seven years in the mining and construction industry in Australia, Asia and North America. He received an MBA from MIT Sloan, and a MEng and BEng (First Class Honours) from the University of South Australia where he was a Graduate Society Scholar.
Cathie Catalan Wilson
Associate
Cathie joined Pacific Equity Partners in 2023. Prior to joining the team, she worked as a marketing assistant in the medical industry. Cathie is currently completing a Bachelor of Business (Finance) and Bachelor of Laws at the University of Technology Sydney.
Justine Gainsford
General Counsel
Justine joined Pacific Equity Partners in 2022. Before joining PEP, Justine was a Senior Associate in the Funds, Super and Wealth team at Allens. Justine holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Science (Environmental Studies) from Victoria University of Wellington.
Rickard Gardell
Managing Director
Rickard is a founder of Pacific Equity Partners and a member of the firm’s Operating Committee. Prior to founding PEP, Rickard was a Director of Bain & Company and had 14 years of consulting experience in Europe, Asia and Australasia. Rickard received a Bachelor of Science from the Stockholm School of Economics (SSE) (1981-84) where he was awarded Carl Liljevalchs Scholar and IMP Scholar. As IMP scholar, he attended the MBA program at McGill University for half of his last year.
Alannah Green
Associate
Alannah joined Pacific Equity Partners in 2023 as an intern and has since progressed to the role of Associate in the Partner and Client Group. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Sydney, majoring in Human Physiology and Commerce.
Gopi Giritharan
Legal Associate
Gopi joined Pacific Equity Partners in 2023. Before joining PEP, Gopi was a Lawyer with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. Gopi holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) from Macquarie University.
David Horwitz
Head of Wealth & Family Office
David joined Pacific Equity Partners in 2022. Prior to joining PEP, he was a manager in the Investment Solutions team at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. David holds a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) from the University of Sydney.
Bowrun Hou
Associate
Bowrun joined Pacific Equity Partners in 2022. Prior to joining PEP he was a management consultant at EY Port Jackson Partners. Bowrun graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws.
Kelly Ho
Senior Finance Associate - Finance
Kelly joined Pacific Equity Partners in 2019. Prior to joining PEP, she was an Intermediate Accountant at Champion’s Business Growth Advisers. Kelly holds a Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology Sydney.
Rosie Johnson
Director - ESG
Rosie joined Pacific Equity Partners in 2021. Before joining PEP, Rosie was a Senior Associate at Brookfield Asset Management where she was heavily involved in their Property Group’s ESG initiatives both as a founding member of the ESG Steering Committee and as a contact for their portfolio companies to build sustainable businesses and to integrate ESG initiatives into their investment theses. Prior to that, Rosie was an associate at MinterEllison’s Sydney Corporate M&A Group. Rosie received a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce from Monash University, completing a number finance and marketing subjects at Babson College, Massachusetts.
Sam Kong
Managing Director
Prior to joining Pacific Equity Partners in 1998, Sam was a senior accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers where he advised clients in the financial services, retail, shipping and manufacturing industries. Also, he was involved in several mergers and acquisitions in the Greater China region. Sam received a BEc from the University of Sydney and an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management, University of New South Wales. He is a Certified Practising Accountant.
Alex Ovchar
Managing Director
Alex joined Pacific Equity Partners in 2011. Before joining PEP, Alex was an investment banker with Morgan Stanley in London. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Alex was a management consultant with The Boston Consulting Group in Sydney. Alex received a PLD from Harvard Business School, and Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) and Bachelor of Commerce degrees from the University of Adelaide, where he was the Valedictorian.
Simon Pillar
Managing Director
Simon is a founder of Pacific Equity Partners and chairs the firm’s Operating Committee. Prior to founding PEP, Simon was a Partner with Bain & Company and worked as a strategy consultant in the US, Singapore and Sydney. He started his working life as an engineer with The Royal Dutch/Shell Group in The Netherlands. Simon received a first class degree (BSc (Eng) in Civil Engineering) from the University of Bristol where he received the Institution of Civil Engineers Award, and an MBA from the Wharton School where he was a Thouron Scholar.
James Randall
Associate Director - PEP Gateway
James joined Pacific Equity Partners in 2017. Prior to joining PEP, he was a Consultant with L.E.K. Consulting in Australia and China. James holds a MBA (Hons) from The Wharton School where he was a Palmer Scholar; a MA in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania; and a BBus & LLB (Hons) from Bond University.
Paul Ryan
Portfolio Manager
Paul joined Pacific Equity Partners in 2013. Before joining PEP, he was at Deustche Bank and Dakota Capital. He holds a Bcom (Hons) from the University of Auckland.
Tim Sims
Managing Director
Tim is a founder of Pacific Equity Partners and is a member of the firm’s Operating Committee. Prior to founding PEP, Tim was the Chairman and Managing Director of Bain & Company’s Australasian and African operations and a member of Bain & Company’s Global Executive Committee. Tim has also served on a number of government committees and led national strategy projects. Tim received a BA/MA from Oxford University where he was a Mitsui European Scholar and an MPA from Harvard where he was a Kennedy Scholar. In 2019, Tim was made a member in the general division of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to the community through philanthropic initiatives.
Justin Zhu
Senior Analyst
Justin joined Pacific Equity Partners in 2024. Prior to joining PEP, he worked as an Investment Banking Analyst at Record Point. Justin holds a Bachelor of Commerce & Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney.
Monica Zhou
Fund Accounting Manager - Finance
Monica joined Pacific Equity Partners in 2018. Before joining PEP, Monica was a Senior Analyst at Deloitte in the Audit and Assurance Division. Monica graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Commerce (Liberal Studies) and is a Member of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand.