Chris Cuffe AO

Patron / Portfolio Manager, APS Foundation General Portfolio

Chris is the Founder of Australian Philanthropic Services (APS) and one of four governing Members. He served as Chairman from 2012-2025. He is also portfolio manager of the General Portfolio of Australian Philanthropic Services Foundation.

Following a five-year period with chartered accountants Peat Marwick Mitchell & Co (now KPMG), Chris Cuffe entered the funds management industry in 1985. In 1988 he joined Colonial First State where he was CEO from 1990 until 2003. During this period the company grew from a start-up operation to become Australia’s largest investment manager. In 2003 he then became CEO of the listed Challenger Financial Services Group. In 2006, Chris joined non-profit organisation Social Ventures Australia (SVA) as an Executive Director.

Since 2009 Chris has been involved in a portfolio of activities in the investment and non-profit sectors. These activities now include:

• – Non-executive Director of listed investment companies Staude Capital Global Value Fund Limited and Hearts and Minds Investments Limited (which he is also Chairman of),
• – Non-executive Director of Keyview Partners (a private markets asset manager),
• – Member of the Investment Committees of various ultra-high net worth families,
• – Member of the Investment Committee of Scarcity Partners (provide capital and deep sector expertise to investment management businesses with significant growth potential),
• – Portfolio manager of the $420m Australian Philanthropic Services Foundation General Portfolio (a public ancillary fund), and
• – Founder, director and portfolio manager of Third Link Growth Fund (thirdlink.com.au), a managed investment scheme (investing in Australian shares) and available to the public whereby all management fees received are donated to charity.

Chris is past director of UniSuper from 2007-2011 (and Chairman from 2011-2017) and also served on their investment committee from 2009-2025.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of NSW and a Diploma from the Securities Institute of Australia. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand

In October 2007 Chris was inducted into the Australian Fund Manager’s RBS Hall of Fame for services to the investment industry. In 2017 he was appointed as an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia.