From rural New Zealand to Paris and back to Australia, Chloe Brayne’s career has been shaped by bold decisions, a hunger for learning and a clear-eyed commitment to long-term value creation. Now Head of Private Equity and Unlisted Assets at Colonial First State (CFS), she’s building a dynamic, resilient private markets portfolio that spans infrastructure, private equity and real estate.
It’s a role she describes as her “best yet”, and it’s easy to see why. It draws on the full breadth of her global experience and gives her the opportunity to shape strategy from the ground up in a business that’s moving fast.
Chloe’s path into investing was anything but conventional – and that’s been one of her greatest assets. Early on, she moved from Christchurch to Melbourne to pursue a mix of disciplines (Law & Science) that honed her analytical thinking and gave her a multidisciplinary lens that continues to shape her approach to complex problems.
After university, she took a leap into international business, moving to Paris to work in intellectual property – despite not speaking French. “It was a massive leap,” she says. “But I figured I’d learn fast.”
That bold move set the tone for a career defined by adaptability and cross border experience. She soon transitioned into commercial licensing supporting European organisations through M&A transactions, which quickly led to a role in infrastructure, when a listed French road construction company hired her for a commercial role across Northern Europe. “I didn’t know much about roads,” she recalls. “But they said, ‘We can teach you roads. You know how to think.’”
Chloe eventually returned to Melbourne to be closer to family. She joined AustralianSuper at a time when it was building its approach to direct unlisted investing – another chance to help shape something from scratch.
After seven years there, she joined Canadian pension giant CDPQ where she led investment opportunities in infrastructure across Australia and New Zealand. During her time at CDPQ, she also held directorships on the boards of Westconnex, Plenary, Port of Brisbane and Sydney Metro.
The roles at CDPQ and AustralianSuper gave her deep exposure to leading direct transactions, business leadership and asset governance as well as further developed her skill set in sourcing and managing long-term investments across different operating environments and market cycles.
These experiences set the stage for her current role at CFS, where she now leads the private equity and unlisted assets portfolio across three asset classes: private equity, infrastructure and real estate.
“It’s a huge opportunity,” she says. “I get to set the strategic direction for a portfolio that’s still forming. That kind of ownership is rare, and incredibly motivating.”
When you meet with a mentor, make sure you come prepared. Be clear on what you want to talk about. Respect people’s time.
CFS is undergoing a transformation as it builds out its exposure to private markets, and Chloe is energised by the pace and ambition of the business. “It’s a high-growth, entrepreneurial environment, and that really appeals to me. It allows me to build something meaningful and enduring.”
”What really drew me to this role was the opportunity to contribute more broadly to the business over time. It felt like the right environment to make an impact and take on more as the opportunity evolves”.
Despite her track record, Chloe is candid about her own development areas. “Balance is hard,” she says. “It’s easy to get caught in the day-to-day and lose the space to think clearly. I’ve learned I need to deliberately carve out time to reflect – on what’s working, where I’m headed, and how I want to lead.”
Mentorship has also played a big role in that growth. She’s sought out mentors who not only challenged her thinking but also backed her potential at key moments in her career.
Her own approach to mentoring is similarly intentional, and she has this advice to people seeking mentorship, “Come prepared. Be clear on what you want to talk about. Respect people’s time.” Chloe sees mentoring as a two-way street – both a source of growth and a responsibility she takes seriously with others coming through the ranks.
Chloe’s career has been shaped by a mindset of curiosity, courage and continuous growth. Her advice for upcoming investors reflects these same values:
Chloe’s story is a powerful reminder that the most interesting careers are rarely linear. By staying open to opportunity and backing her instincts, she’s carved out a career rich in impact and insight.
And she’s just getting started.
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It’s easy to get caught in the day-to-day and lose the space to think clearly. I’ve learned I need to deliberately carve out time to reflect - on what’s working, where I’m headed, and how I want to lead.
Future IM/Pact is a collaborative initiative across the investment management and advice industry aimed at increasing representation of female investors and advisers, and creating workplace cultures where everyone can flourish.
Future IM/Pact is a collaborative initiative across the investment management industry aimed at increasing representation of female investors and creating workplace cultures where everyone can flourish.
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