Student spotlight: Hannabeth Marchant

Tell us a little about yourself

I’m 21 and currently studying a double degree in mechanical engineering and arts at UNSW. My ideal day would be laying in bed reading a good book with my 2 cats sleeping alongside me. I also enjoy Muay Thai and baking cakes for my friends.

How did you first hear about Future IM/Pact?

I first heard about Future IM/Pact when I participated in their prestigious Investment Competition back in 2022. After being knocked out at the national level I delved deeper into what Future IM/Pact had to offer. The female leaders that run Future IM/Pact inspired me to apply to the Top Talent Group which allowed me to access more opportunities within the investment field.

What do you find most valuable about the program?

The most valuable offering of Future IM/Pact is their Mentoring Circles. Having direct access to a variety of seasoned professionals in the investment industry not only allows for upfront questions to be asked but also allows the mentors to display their passion for what they do daily. As a university student, being able to hear peoples’ different, and sometimes untraditional, career paths is comforting.

What interests you about a career in investment management?

As someone who started investing in high school, it never occurred to me until recently that investment management was a viable career path. I enjoy understanding how the world works and hence my interest lies in the intersections of areas that dictate our world such as politics, economics and psychology. Being able to take into account various fields of knowledge and come up with an investment thesis that tells a story is what I enjoy most about this job.

Tell us about your experience participating in Mentoring Circles

I had the opportunity to join the Australian Ethical Mentoring Circle. The most valuable part was hearing the personal stories of each of the mentors, how they’ve dealt with challenges such as imposter syndrome and how they continue to stay curious about the world around them by constantly educating themselves. It was also fantastic to hear my peers present and talk about areas of finance that they are interested in.

Tell us about the presentation you gave as part of the Mentoring Circle

Climate change and what corporations can do to mitigate their emissions is a common concern that has ultimately led to the creation of Carbon credits. I decided to set out to understand this new alternative investment and to determine whether they were doing what they promised. The presentation experience allowed me to question how ethics come into play when climate and profits clash.

After speaking up about my interest in health care and technology, The Australian Ethical mentors asked if I would be interested in joining an upcoming conference to meet the CFO of Harrison AI – a company that is set on streamlining radiology and pathology through the use of AI. I was very excited as I had researched the company at work and am also studying engineering. The event was very interesting and I learnt a lot, not only about the company but also about investment management and how analysts source their information. It was a fantastic experience and I was grateful to Australian Ethical for the opportunity.