Ms Heard has over 15 years’ experience in the financial sector most recently at JCP Investment Partners where she was a senior portfolio manager.
UniSuper’s chief investment officer John Pearce welcomed Ms Heard to the fund and said her role would enable the fund to expand its in-house activities.
“Her appointment adds to the considerable talent we have been able to attract from other funds and investment banks over recent years, which has enabled us to expand the scope of our in-house management activities,” he said.
Another new appointment, Lou Capparelli, will serve as manager for the sustainable portfolios and government.
Mr Pearce said Mr Capparelli’s appointment showcased how important ESG was to UniSuper moving forward.
“ESG teams are typically staffed by people who do not have direct portfolio management responsibilities, so Lou’s appointment places us in a relatively unique position in the industry. His appointment is testament to how committed we are to factoring environmental, social, and governance considerations into the investment process.”