Yarra Capital Partners  

Bennelong Group has partnered with Alan and Carol Schwartz to create Yarra Capital Partners, a boutique private equity firm. Yarra Capital Partners is composed of a team of experienced business builders, Yarra Capital Partners understands the challenging yet rewarding journey that small to medium business owners and management teams face as they strive to grow their businesses.

We work closely with our investee companies to build great teams and foundations which enable their full potential to be achieved.

Yarra Capital Partners’ core expertise is in investing $7.5m to $15m equity capital, together with strategic and operational support, to companies with an enterprise value up to $50m.

For all enquiries please call +613 9653 5300 or email Huy Truong at Huy@yarracp.com.au

Our Team

• Huy Truong, Partner

Huy has a diverse business background beginning his professional career at the Boston Consulting Group. In 1999, Huy became the founding CEO of Wishlist Holdings, an e-commerce company that he still Chairs today. Huy then became the Chief Executive of a $200m paper business within Carter Holt Harvey that was sold as part of a broader $850m transaction. After that, Huy become CEO of Jurlique International, a health and beauty company with operations in Australia, US and Asia. Prior to co-founding Yarra Capital Partners, Huy was a Venture Partner with CHAMP Ventures, a leading Sydney based mid market PE fund manager. Huy has been involved with a number of community organizations including being on the board of Asialink and the Leadership Council of White Lion. Huy has an Economics Honours Degree from Monash University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Huy is married with 3 children.

• Alan Schwartz, Partner

Alan has created, built, managed and sold a number of successful publishing, software and services businesses over the past 25 years. As co-founder of Yarra Capital Partners, Alan is once again in the "create" part of the entrepreneurial cycle, looking for new opportunities to create value for customers, employees and shareholders. He has held a number of senior Board positions with Not-for-profit organisations. Alan is a graduate of Monash University with degrees in Law (Honours) and Economics. He is the author of an Economics textbook – published whilst he was a University student. Alan is a graduate of the Williamson Community Leadership program. He was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2003, and an Order of Australia (AM) in 2007 for his work at Jewish Care Inc., for establishing SEAL Force, and for business. Alan is married with 4 children.

• Nicole Gardiner, Investment Manager

Nicole has over 10 years business experience in senior strategic and operating roles. She began her career with Bain & Company where she provided strategic advice to clients in airlines, retail, telecommunications, manufacturing and banking. During her four years with Bain she worked in their Sydney, London and Johannesburg offices. From Bain, Nicole joined The Coca Cola Company (South Pacific & Korea) where, over four years, she held senior management roles including Director, Strategy and Business Development. More recently Nicole relocated to Melbourne and worked with the Gemba Group - a boutique Sports and Entertainment consultancy - to establish and commercialize a Media division for their Australian business. Nicole’s formative interest in business was developed by growing up working inside the Gardner family’s [manufacturing] business. Through this experience, Nicole has a strong appreciation of both the business and personal issues that prevail inside small to medium private businesses. Nicole holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance and Accounting) from Monash University.

• Alison Watkins, Investment Committee

Alison is Chief Executive Officer of investment and funds management company Bennelong Group and is a non-executive director of Woolworths Limited. Alison’s experience includes running businesses; providing financial and strategic advice; and public and private company board roles. She was Chief Executive Officer of Berri Limited, the market leader in Australian juice, and Managing Director of Regional Banking at ANZ. She spent 10 years at McKinsey & Company from 1989-1999 and became a partner of the Firm in 1996. Alison started her career with Chartered Accountants, Touche Ross. Alison has been a director of listed retailer Just Group Limited, and Chairman of Mrs Crockett’s Kitchen, a PE sponsored business. She has been involved in a range of community boards, including the World Swimming Championships 2007 and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. She is currently a member of the Australian Advisory Board of The Nature Conservancy. Alison holds a Bachelor of Commerce (University of Tasmania), is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia. Alison and her husband live in Melbourne with their four children.

• Carol Schwartz, Investment Committee

Carol has extensive experience in business, property and community organisations. Carol is currently the Chairman of Industry Superannuation Property Trust (ISPT); Chairman of Our Community; President of Melbourne International Arts Festival; Director of Highpoint Property Group, responsible for Highpoint Shopping Centre (one of Australia’s largest regional shopping centres); Director of Heat Group (health and beauty marketing and distribution) as well as a director on a number of other leading boards. Carol has been a director of leading optical retailer OPSM, legal information services provider Anstat Group and past President of the Property Council of Australia. Her government and community boards have included Vic Health, Docklands Authority, Australian International Health Institute and the Victorian Institute of Technology. Carol was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honors list in 2006 for her achievements in business and commerce and her contribution to community and the arts; Carol also received the Centenary Medal in 2001 in recognition of her outstanding service as a leading business executive and board participant. Carol is married with 4 children.