HESTA has today announced the appointments of Briar Dowsett as General Manager, Property and Daniel Tait as General Manager, Investment and Financial Risk.
Bringing over 30 years’ experience across superannuation, institutional funds management and real estate, Ms Dowsett will lead the Property team in this newly created role from November 2026, reporting to Deputy Chief Investment Officer and Head of Portfolio Management Jeff Brunton.
“Property plays an important role in helping us deliver strong, long-term returns for our more than one million members. Briar’s appointment to this new role will strengthen our ability to keep identifying quality opportunities, in Australia and offshore, as we continue to grow and diversify this asset class,” Mr Brunton said.
Ms Dowsett joins the Fund after almost a decade in senior leadership at QIC Real Estate. Her career has centred on delivering member-focused outcomes, strengthening investment governance and shaping property programs that balance return, risk and long-term value creation across diversified real estate portfolios.
“HESTA has a long and proud record of investing with purpose. I’m looking forward to contributing to a property portfolio that performs for members over the long term while making a positive contribution to the communities they live and work in,” Ms Dowsett said.
Starting late October, Daniel Tait will lead the $107 billion industry super fund’s investment and financial risk management capability, reporting to James Haviland, who was appointed Head of Risk earlier this year.
HESTA Chief Risk Officer Natalie Alford said she was delighted to welcome Mr Tait, who has more than two decades of experience across financial markets, capital risk, regulatory risk and compliance.
“Daniel’s deep superannuation and investment risk expertise, combined with his strong track record of partnering with the business, will help ensure our investment and financial risk capability keeps pace as the Fund continues to grow for its members,” Ms Alford said.
Mr Tait joins the Fund from Aware Super and has previously held senior risk roles at National Australia Bank and AustralianSuper.
“I’m delighted to join HESTA as the Fund enters this next stage of growth, using my skills and experience in investment risk to help the Fund protect and grow members’ long-term super balances,” he said.
