Businessman and experienced director

1. DAVID WARD
03/05/20 Page 1 of 5
M: 0412630999 E: dpmward1@gmail.com
Home address: Unit 812,54 West Esplanade, Manly 2095
______________________ PROFILE _____________________
_
David has over 40 years of commercial experience and recognised achievements across
NFPs and FPs sectors- including in both small and large organisations across manufacturing,
wholesaling and retail operations and spanning different industries – particularly wealth
management. He has experience across startup through to mature businesses in both B2B
and B2C markets.
He has worked in various positions with firms such as Unilever and MLC (while owned by
Lend Lease and NAB). David has had 0ver 20 years of board experience and have achieved
the following qualifications while working full time and studying part-time; B.Bus (UTS), Dip
FP(Deakin), MBA(Melb), plus a CPA designation.
His reputation is one of an innovative and celebrative businessman with strong skills in
business development, distribution/marketing and strategic project management (e.g. IT
development; mergers and acquisitions; product and process simplifications; new product
development).
David is for his collaborative style of leadership. He has a strong risk-management and
compliance ethic, and a commitment to innovation and quality standards.
_____________________________ EXPERIENCE _______________________
2015 –NOW – THE SYDNEY RUM DISTILLERY PTY LTD
Chairman and founder – 1.2mil LAL , state of art ,sustainable rum distillery based in Sydney planning to
produce quality rums for the global and Australian markets. We have finished Proof of Concept and
Design stages and entering construction and production phases following next capital raising
2005 – JUNE 2019 - AED ENTERPRISES PTY LTD
Sole Director - AED Enterprises is an advisory practice which has allowed me to build on my
professional business career. I have undertaken a number of mandates and held directorships
predominantly in financial services. Some examples of mandates and roles appear below:
STRATEGIC ADVISORY:
 Challenger Group – developed a strategic paper re development of an advice brand
 Volunteering NSW - developed a 5-year strategic plan – successful board sign-off
 Erskine Dental Equipment – completed a 5-year strategic plan
 AICD - short term contract(employment) assisting the develop and take to market their
new B2B offering
 various activities dealing with Hub 24 and other industry IT platforms from inception of
platforms through to current day functioning businesses.For example introduced broker
for listing Hub 24 and also dealt with executive team on how to adjust Hub24 for direct
consumer play.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT/SALES MANAGEMENT
 NABInvest - contract to introduce fund managers to acquire part ownership

2. DAVID WARD
03/05/20 Page 2 of 5
 Datalynx – developed a sales management system/database and pipeline for business
opportunities for an IT data migration and conversion company
 SIJA Solutions – an introducer’s agreement to identify business opportunities for
financial services specialist software developer
CAPITAL RAISING
 Integrity Life - a startup life office - $30 mil
 RMW Williams agriculture – $50mil
 Straight Through Solutions – a life insurance underwriting system - $5mil
MERGERS AND ACQUISITION
 Count financial planning – third party “sell side” adviser to a merger
 Shadforths financial planning - mandate to acquire businesses up to $60mil and
overviewed the Laughlin partners transaction
 Fitzpatrick financial planning– third party “buy side” adviser to a merger
DIRECTORSHIPS/ADVISORY COMMITTEE
 MyAdviser Group – Chairman - this was a project to develop the first company with the
capacity to deliver “online, real-time advice over the Internet”.2005-2006
 A&T Funds Management - Director - start-up equity-based Australian Funds
Management Company - 2009-2010
 Gunawirra – Non Executive Director -a charity set up to assist aboriginal mothers and
families during pregnancy through to when the child is 5 years old.2009-2010
 REAL Group - Advisory committee for a startup social impact investment fund – 2011 to
current
 Perpetuity Capital - Director - a private equity and capital raising firm – 2012-2013

Nov. 2014 – CURRENT – SYDNEY RUM DISTILLERY PTY LTD - Chairman. Establishing a
premium Rum Distillery in Sydney producing 2.6 mil litres of various rums for the global market.
DEC. 2014 – June 2017 – PLUTO MEDIA PTY LTD – Chairman - Pluto is an innovative internet
platform that brings together creative storytelling and behind-the scenes artist discovery across
genres.Founding director/shareholder working with a great team to build a multi revenue stream media
business.When I sold out we had good revenue and internet results such as over 100,000 reach.
1986-2005 - MLC
My executive career spans over numerous roles within the Lend Lease/MLC group from 1986 through
to 2000 when Lend Lease divested MLC to NAB. I then went on a 5-year contract to the new MLC/NAB
group until 2005, when I decided to leave as a result of family health issues.
The key areas of responsibility over the almost twenty years can be broken into three core stages
covering distribution, business development, product management, strategic projects and M and A
activities as follows:
STAGE 1 - 1998-2005: DISTRIBUTION/ STRATEGIC PROJECTS/ M AND A
Positions
 2000-2005 MLC/NAB General Manager Mergers and Acquisitions
 1998-2000 MLC/Lend Lease General Manger Distribution Strategy

3. DAVID WARD
03/05/20 Page 3 of 5
Over this period I lead the group M and A activities which included coordinating
sometimes up to 20 different projects at any given time in Asia, UK and Australia. It
also involved developing and assisting with key distribution initiatives across all
advice channels from retail (aligned and non-aligned advisers) through to corporate
superannuation and direct. Some of these projects were:
o Acquired Deutsche FP
o Acquired Godfrey Pembroke FP
o Acquiring Flexiplan – discretionary master trust
o Developing and executing the BOLR agreement
o The “Power” project (potential AMP acquisition)
I also worked on special projects, while still holding line role. Often these involved
working with major consulting firms such as Bain & Co, Boston Consulting,
McKinsey and Accenture. Projects included:
o IT Transformational – new product and advice platform
development(master trusts)
o Integration - NAB/MLC and AXA/MLC
o UK expansion plan - Reviewing major banking and financial planning
operations in UK
o Operational transformation –
o Centralising 18 dealership back office services and designing
white labelling wholesale market offering
o Advising CPA Australia Board, regarding strategic options for
providing licensing services to CPAs
o Participated on a committee for the MLC Enterprise Agreement
o Participated and helped build the MLC mentoring programs
o Participated in risk audits and compliance systems design
STAGE 2 - 1989-1998 – BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ROLES:
Positions
 1989-1991 Lend Lease Adviser Services - State Manager – Victoria
 1991-1993 MLC Life - Branch Manager– WA
 1993-1994 CUSCAL – General Manager Marketing
 1994-1997 Lend Lease FP - Development manager - NSW
In 1989 I was part of a team which developed a board paper to move MLC from a
long history of only tied agency operations to multi distribution. Once the board
approved it, I was sent around Australia in different distribution roles in both tied
and IFA’s to restructure and centralise operations and to build new distribution for
the company.
Over this period I was part of a team which designed, built, launched and grew
Lend Lease FP and General Agency (now Apogee FP) in NSW to over 200
advisers in 2 years. I also lead the built from scratch Lend Lease Advisor Services
in Victoria and ended up with a team of 15 administration and development
managers. I led the MLC limited branch with 125 staff and 375 advisers in WA
during the recession and my key objectives were to half the staff and adviser
numbers, plus centralise key administration functions back to HO. I oversaw the
Capita merger locally.
In addition I worked on:
o Transformational projects - Product and Process simplification
o Sealcorp potential acquisition
o Sat on numerous Life Insurance industry association state boards in
Vic/WA

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o Developed a paper for the WA government and coordinated through
Uni of WA to help find ways of kick-starting the economy in the
recession of early 90s – many recommendations were adopted.
o In ‘93-94 head-hunted to CUSCAL and after a year I was offered a job
back at MLC.
STAGE 3 -1986-1989 – MARKETING/PRODUCT MANAGEMENT:
Positions
 1986-1987 MLC National Investment Products Manager
 1987-1989 MLC National Superannuation Product Manager
I was one of the first new staff recruited by a Civil and Civic director into the MLC
marketing department after the Lend Lease took over. MLC hadn’t launched a new
product for twenty years. Some of the key achievements were:
o Designed, built (marketing material and systems support) and
launched
o Retail investment capital guaranteed and unit linked offerings
o Insurance offerings
o Superannuation investment and savings range
o Insurance bond
o MLC’s first licensed dealership offering
o Worked on MLC nest egg branding
1978 – 1986 PRE MLC CAREER
 1984-1986 SILENT GLISS - Marketing Manager – Head hunted from Casa Mia -
Contributed to overseas furnishing supplier contracts and developed marketing plan and
implemented major initiatives such as opening of new retail store.
 1979-1984 CASA MIA – Marketing Manager - Left Unilever to establish a start-up importing
and manufacturing Furniture Company. After 5 years we were employing 45 people turning
over $24million and distributing through most Australian retail furniture stores.
 1978-1979 UNILEVER –Assistant Marketing Manager Unilever Export – Full range of foods
and consumer goods – Launched Norske into the pacific.
_______________________ QUALIFICATIONS &
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
______________________
QUALIFICATIONS
 Diploma Financial Planning (Dip FP) - Deakin University – 1998
 Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA) – Melbourne University – 1990
 Bachelor of Business Studies (B. Bus) - University of Technology Sydney -1984
All degrees completed part time while working full time
DESIGNATIONS
 CPA - CPA Australia – 1997
 MACID - Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors 2006
 Held a range of financial services licensing responsibilities under numerous AFSL (or
equivalent) -1988-to 2005

5. DAVID WARD
03/05/20 Page 5 of 5
_______________________ OTHER INTERESTS/PERSONAL
ACHIEVEMENTS
______________________
 Commodore Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron
 UTS Blues for yachting – 1980
 Represented Australia in six sailing (Yngling) world championships:
Norway 1979, Austria 1980, Sydney 1996/ 2004, Denmark 2000, Switzerland 2002
 Three trecks of Kokoda Trail PNG, also trekked South West Tasmania and SW/central
highlands of Scotland
 Completed two marathons (Sydney 2004; Canberra 2005)
 Member at Royal Sydney Golf Club, Australian Club,BBC.