ELO is pleased to announce that Simon Pillar, Managing Director, Pacific Equity Partners, a highly successful private equity firm with A$9 billion (US$5.8B) in assets under management, will be an instructor in the ELO Oxford Leadership Program 2024.

Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) is the largest and most active private markets fund manager in Australia. From energy to financial services, consumer products to industrial services, PEP funds target investments across a wide range of industries and sectors. PEP partners with management teams and works together to deliver full business potential and realize new profits. PEP has been frequently recognized as a leader in its industry with many awards including Firm of the Year, Best Leverage Buy Out Deal of the Year, Responsible Investment of the Year, and Private Equity Firm of the Year. PEP has also been included in the list of Top 20 Consistent Performers Globally.  

Simon Pillar divides his time between Australia and Oxford. Prior to founding PEP, Simon was a partner with Bain & Company and worked as a strategy consultant in the US, Singapore, and Sydney. He started his working life as an engineer with The Royal Dutch/Shell Group in the Netherlands. Simon received a first-class degree (BSc (Eng) in Civil Engineering) from the University of Bristol where he received the Institution of Civil Engineers Award and an MBA from the Wharton School where he was a Thouron Scholar. Until relocating to England in 2013, Simon was the chairman of Gospel Patrons Society in Australia. This was established in 2000 to encourage businesspeople to think strategically about supporting gospel ministry with their time and talents as well as financially. Simon was also a collaborator in the book Gospel Patrons – People Whose Generosity Changed The World.

Simon’s session will be in a Q&A format with Dr. Richard (Rick) J. Goossen. The session will address, among other topics, the five components of the success of PEP and their applicability to all business leaders:

1. High-performance culture – PEP’s business has been built on partnership and trust. They have created an integrated, highly disciplined, and analytical team with a shared history, extensive network of contacts, and broad commercial experience across a range of industries. Since 1998, they have been working with external partners–management teams, vendors, and advisors–to create a model where managers can successfully build value in their businesses.
2. Supportive management approach - PEP has a resource-intensive approach to evaluating investment opportunities–analyzing a company’s financial performance in the context of its market position, industry dynamics, and competition. PEP’s knowledge base and experience allows them to provide timely and effective support to management teams as they develop and implement business plans. They provide advice and assistance to their portfolio companies on acquisitions, capital restructuring, growth plans that leverage competitive advantage, and strategies for improving operating earnings.
3. Alignment of interests – PEP’s team members are themselves investors in PEP funds, ensuring an alignment of interests and a commitment to delivering returns.
4. Integrity and consistency – PEP’s approach to investment evaluation is based on its core principles and rigorous, analytically driven decision-making. With a large team of in-house resources and experienced deal principals on the ground, they provide an efficient and reliable interface with vendors and their advisors. A key PEP operating principle is that management participates in a meaningful way in the wealth created by operating companies.
5. Enduring relationships with senior business professionals - Through many years of experience in the private equity industry and senior advisory roles, the team has long-established relationships with boards, chief executives, and senior management of many significant companies in Australia and New Zealand as well as many private entrepreneurs.

The ELO Oxford Leadership Program is a one-week, transformative learning experience for Christian business leaders which integrates guest presenters from the University of Oxford and practitioners around the world. The content of the program is rooted in decades of experience, extensive research, and many years of practical application.

In addition to world-class instruction, the ambiance of Oxford is inspiring for all participants. The 850-year-old university city with its fabled spires and medieval colleges, along with various other attractions, is truly a sight to behold.

This year’s program will be hosted at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. Dinners and site visits will be held at Balliol College, Magdalen College, Christ Church College, and St. John’s College. We are looking forward to another great year of learning, growing, and making connections at the #1 university in the world*.

*World University Rankings 2023, Times Higher Education

Interested in attending the Oxford Program?