Board of Directors
Chris Knoblanche, B.Comm, CA, FCPA
Chairman and Non-executive Director. Member of the PGF Audit Committee. Member of the PGF Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee.
Mr Knoblanche has over 36 years experience in the financial markets in corporate strategy, financing, risk control and management. Mr Knoblanche's previous executive experience includes serving as Managing Director and Head of Citigroup Corporate and Investment Banking Australia & NZ, partner in Caliburn (now Greenhill Investment Bank) and CEO of Andersen Australia and Andersen Business Consulting — Asia.
Mr Knoblanche is currently Chairman and Non-executive Director of HiPages Limited, Non-executive Director of Latitude Financial Insurance (Hallmark companies). Boards on which Mr Knoblanche has previously served include: Environment Protection Authority of NSW; iSelect Limited; Aussie Home Loans Limited; Greencross Limited; The Australian Ballet; and Australian Business Arts Foundation.
Mr Knoblanche holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Financial Management) and is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA) and Fellow of the Australian Society of CPA's (FCPA). In 2014 Mr Knoblanche was awarded an Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to arts administration, the community and the business and finance sector. In 2000 Mr Knoblanche was awarded the Centenary Medal by the Australian Government for services to the arts and business.
Brett Spork, B.Bus
Indepedent Non-executive Director. Chairman of the Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee. Chairman of the PGF Audit Committee.
Mr Spork has over 28 years’ experience in the financial markets industry as a trader, advisor and senior manager, both within Australia and overseas. He currently provides consulting services to a broad range of financial institutions. Such consulting services comprise the provision of commercial, business development and regulatory advice. Previously, Mr Spork was the Chief Executive Officer of InvestorFirst Limited and BTIG Australia Limited.
During the period 2002 to 2006, Mr Spork was the Chief Executive Officer of E*Trade Australia Limited. Before joining E*Trade Australia Limited, he worked at Macquarie Bank for 14 years, the latter part as an Executive Director of Macquarie Financial Services. Mr Spork also serves as Non-executive director of Clime Investment Management Limited, and a Director of APP Securities Limited.
Mr Spork holds a Bachelor of Business from the Queensland University of Technology. In 2004, he was recognised by the Australian Stockbrokers Foundation and admitted to its “Hall of Fame”.
Mike Ryan, B.Agr
Independent Director (appointed 13 August 2024). Member of the PGF Audit Committee. Member of the PGF Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee.
Mr Ryan is a highly accomplished director and executive with over 35 years’ experience in domestic and international capital markets. As Managing Director of Ryan Capital, he currently provides director and strategic advisory services across various industries.
Mr Ryan is currently a director of Energy One (ASX:EOL), East33 (ASX:E33) and MyWave.ai, and previously served as director of Australian Pacific Coal, CIMB Global, Morgan Stanley Australia and Shaw and Partners. Before moving into board and board advisory roles, Mr Ryan was Head of Equities at Shaw and Partners and the Managing Director, Head of Equities and Operations at CIMB.
Mr Ryan holds a Bachelor of Agriculture – Rural Valuation, Production and Management from Massey University.