Tim Burroughs Managing Editor Global Private Funds, and Managing Editor, AVCJ MERGERMARKET

Tim Burroughs is managing editor of Asian Venture Capital Journal, having joined the publication in May 2011. He is responsible for all editorial content put out under the AVCJ brand, including Asian Venture Capital Journal, AVCJtv, AVCJ Awards and AVCJ.com. Tim previously spent five years at China Economic Review, serving as editor-in-chief and then editorial director. Located in Greater China since 2003, during which time he has lived in Beijing, Qingdao and Hong Kong, Tim has been a China-based contributor for publications including The Sunday Times, Sunday Telegraph, BBC and China Daily. Prior to moving to China, he trained and worked as a journalist in the UK. He was honored at the Society of Publishers in Asia awards in 2007, 2008 and 2010, and at the State Street Institutional Press Awards - Asia in 2012.

Marcus Darville Managing Partner QUADRANT PRIVATE EQUITY

Marcus joined Quadrant Private Equity in March 2006 and is a Managing Partner. Marcus has nearly 30 years of private equity experience starting in the UK with NatWest Ventures (now Bridgepoint). He joined AMP in 1994 as Joint Head of Private Equity where he completed several major buyouts including Tasman Building Products.

Marcus has been a member of the Quadrant Investment Committee for every fund from QPE I to QPE VII and QGF 1 and 11. He jointly heads Quadrant’s Growth Funds and is a Director of Quadrant investees Partnered Health, TDG Environmental, JAG, Cancer Care Associates, Prime 100 and Quadlock.

Timo Schmid Managing Director ALVAREZ & MARSAL

Timo Schmid is a Managing Director with Alvarez & Marsal’s Private Equity Performance Improvement (PEPI) practice in Melbourne. With 20 years of mergers and acquisitions and strategy experience across Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia and Europe, he leads PEPI in Australia and New Zealand.

Mr. Schmid has advised private equity and infrastructure funds, as well as corporate buyers, undertaking target identification, pre-deal diligence, and post-deal value creation efforts. He has experience as both an advisor and in industry, and has worked across a range of sectors, including retail, logistics, industrials, infrastructure, healthcare, and digital assets.

Mr. Schmid’s notable buy-side engagements include leading the acquisition of a major medical centre chain that involved a clinic-by-clinic improvement program focused on operating model changes and better treatment room utilisation and unlocked a 35 percent earnings lift; supporting diligence of a leading government and healthcare software player, including the development of customer pipeline for sustained 25+ percent top-line growth; and developing a turnaround plan for a consumer-facing services business anchored on improved price realisation and optimised matching of customer demand and available service provider supply.

Mr. Schmid has also been involved in complex sell-side efforts, leveraging his experience as a corporate M&A executive. He supported the carve-out and divestment of a $7.5 billion energy business from a conglomerate in a dual-track process, including development of sell-side marketing materials, standing up an independent company, and creation of comprehensive transitional service agreements. He also supported the $30 billion IPO of a med tech company, including the development of a comprehensive equity story and investor fact base.

Prior to joining A&M, Mr. Schmid led BCG’s private equity practice in Australia and New Zealand, serving a range of private capital investors and their portfolio companies. Prior to that, he worked in a corporate M&A leadership role with Wesfarmers and as a consultant with Siemens.

Mr. Schmid earned a bachelor’s degree in business information technology from the University of Cooperative Education in Karlsruhe, Germany, and an MBA from the Helsinki School of Economics, Finland. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst® charterholder.

Shannon Wolfers Managing Director - Buyout and Secure Assets PACIFIC EQUITY PARTNERS

Shannon joined Pacific Equity Partners in 2006. Prior to joining PEP, Shannon was with Bain & Company in Australia and SE Asia. 

Shannon was a University of Sydney Scholarship holder where he received a first class honours degree (BEcon) and the University Medal.

John White Partner NEXT CAPITAL

John White has more than 15 years’ experience in private equity, is a highly regarded director with expertise across multiple sectors and has transaction experience spanning Australia and New York.

Mr. White was a founding partner of Next Capital following the successful spin-out from Macquarie Bank in 2005, where he was a principal of Macquarie Bank’s private equity arm, Macquarie Direct Investment.

Since establishing Next Capital, he has executed multiple new investments and exit transactions, and has had deep involvement in the ongoing management of portfolio companies across a multitude of sectors. These include Vitaco, Onsite Rental Group, Discovery Holiday Parks, GoBus and Infinite Care. Next Capital’s focus is on expansion capital and small to mid-market buyouts in Australia and New Zealand, where the Partners see considerable investment opportunity.

Mr. White is currently a non-executive director of portfolio companies Noisette, New Zealand Buses and Fun-Lab.

Prior to the establishment of Next Capital, Mr. White held a number of senior roles at Deutsche Bank (including Head of the Australasian Telecommunications and Media Advisory Group), as well as Ferrier Hodgson, where he focused on corporate reconstructions and the sale of distressed assets in Australia and New York. Mr. White also served as Chairman of the Australian Venture Capital Association Limited (AVCAL) for a number of years.

Mr. White holds degrees in Commerce and Law from the University of NSW and is a fellow of FINSIA.