Our Team
- All
- Melbourne
- Sydney
Charles Leyland - Managing Director, Portfolio Manager
Charles Leyland is the founder and managing director of Leyland Private Asset Management. With over three decades of experience, he provides tailored wealth management solutions to high-net-worth clients. He advocates for a disciplined, long-term approach, and his firm is recognised for its commitment to strong client relationships and personalised service.
Before founding Leyland Private Asset Management, he held senior advisory and management roles at major financial institutions, including Salomon Smith Barney (Citigroup), ANZ Stockbroking and Prudential-Bache Securities. This extensive background has given him a deep understanding of investment markets and the ability to guide clients through various economic cycles.
His expertise is further highlighted by his position as a Senior Fellow and former lecturer at FINSIA. He is also known for his commitment to the community, with a long-standing sponsorship and involvement with the Melbourne Rugby Union Football Club.
Charles Leyland is the founder and managing director of Leyland Private Asset Management. With over three decades of experience, he provides tailored wealth management solutions to high-net-worth clients. He advocates for a disciplined, long-term approach, and his firm is recognised for its commitment to strong client relationships and personalised service.
Before founding Leyland Private Asset Management, he held senior advisory and management roles at major financial institutions, including Salomon Smith Barney (Citigroup), ANZ Stockbroking and Prudential-Bache Securities. This extensive background has given him a deep understanding of investment markets and the ability to guide clients through various economic cycles.
His expertise is further highlighted by his position as a Senior Fellow and former lecturer at FINSIA. He is also known for his commitment to the community, with a long-standing sponsorship and involvement with the Melbourne Rugby Union Football Club.
Rohan Schmidt – Director, Portfolio Manager With nearly 30 years of experience in wealth management and appropriately qualified. Has held senior roles at large institutions both in Australia and offshore. Whilst being a key portfolio manager, Rohan also heads the corporate offerings division and has an influential role in the firms human resources decisions.
Alex Leyland – Director, Portfolio Manager Over 20 years of experience in wealth management. Previous experience with UBS AG, Deutsche Bank, Merrill Lynch and McIntosh Securities. Bachelor in Banking and Finance, Graduate Cert of Financial Planning, accredited derivatives advisor.
Tony Barry – Senior Financial Adviser Over 30 years of experience in wealth management. Previous senior advisory and management roles at Deutsche Bank, JB Were, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley and Prudential Bache. Qualified accountant and ASIC accredited derivatives advisor.
Kiefer de Silva – B.Com (Hons), LLB (Hons) – Portfolio Manager
Kiefer has over 15 years involvement in equity markets with extensive investment experience across domestic and international markets. Kiefer’s deep research skills are reflected in him graduating with first class honours in Finance and being awarded a Brian Grey Scholarship by the RBA and APRA (2017). Prior to joining Leyland, Kiefer was a Management Consultant at KPMG and clerked at Ashurst.
Chris Siemsen – Senior Financial Adviser Over 25 years of wealth management experience. Previous Senior Advisory roles at Citigroup (Salomon Smith Barney) and Morgan Stanley. Specialist equities and ASIC accredited derivatives advisor.
Jon Stutt – Senior Financial Adviser Over 35 years of experience in stockbroking and investment management. Previous adviser and investment management roles with HSBC, ANZ McCaughan, UBS and running my own independent wealth management business. Bachelor of Arts University of Melbourne. Grad Diploma in Applied Finance FINSIA (Portfolio Management and Financial Planning)
Suwanee Dharmalingam - Senior Financial Adviser
Senior Financial Adviser of Leyland Private Asset Management. Over 27 years’ experience in wealth management for individuals,
superannuants, professionals, family offices, businesses, non-profits and philanthropists. Previously a lawyer at Blake Dawson
Waldron, ANZ Securities, NSW Attorney General’s Department and Australian Securities and Investments Commission. Compliance Manager
at ANZ Mc Caughan. Managing investments and portfolios at ANZ Securities and Macquarie Bank. Non-executive board director Centre for
Eye Research Australia (CERA) and CERA Foundation (https://www.cera.org.au/our-people/board/), Diplomacy Training Program
UNSW (https://dtp.org.au/about/governance/), and University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
Innovation & Enterprise Advisory Board (https://mdhs.unimelb.edu.au/about/innovation-and-enterprise).
James Bennie – Head of Operations & Compliance A crucial member of the Leyland team since 2008, James is an industry specialist in Investment Operations and Client Services. Bachelor of Finance.
Tony Leonard – Operations Specialist Over 35 years of experience in financial operations. Previous experience with AXA Australia, State Trustees and Myer Family Office. Diploma of Computer Programming & Diploma of Financial Markets.
Andrew Le -IT Specialist
Steve Gillard - Corporate
After a distinguished career at GDI Property Group, where he served as managing director and CEO, Steve Gillard has established a legacy of significant achievement in the property sector. He was instrumental in growing GDI from a modest firm with $70 million in assets to a publicly listed company with a portfolio exceeding $1 billion. This success culminated in GDI's listing on the ASX in 2013 as an A-REIT, a testament to his strategic vision and leadership. Gillard's tenure demonstrates his ability to navigate complex financial landscapes and deliver substantial growth.
Prior to his time at GDI, Gillard honed his expertise as a senior analyst for major international stockbroking firms. Here, he focused on the property and tourism sectors, playing a key role in numerous significant capital raisings. He later spent seven years as a corporate adviser, guiding both ASX-listed and private companies on property acquisitions and sales. This broad experience across analysis, corporate finance, and executive leadership has solidified his reputation as a respected and highly skilled professional in the financial and real estate industries.
After a distinguished career at GDI Property Group, where he served as managing director and CEO, Steve Gillard has established a legacy of significant achievement in the property sector. He was instrumental in growing GDI from a modest firm with $70 million in assets to a publicly listed company with a portfolio exceeding $1 billion. This success culminated in GDI's listing on the ASX in 2013 as an A-REIT, a testament to his strategic vision and leadership. Gillard's tenure demonstrates his ability to navigate complex financial landscapes and deliver substantial growth.
Prior to his time at GDI, Gillard honed his expertise as a senior analyst for major international stockbroking firms. Here, he focused on the property and tourism sectors, playing a key role in numerous significant capital raisings. He later spent seven years as a corporate adviser, guiding both ASX-listed and private companies on property acquisitions and sales. This broad experience across analysis, corporate finance, and executive leadership has solidified his reputation as a respected and highly skilled professional in the financial and real estate industries.