Philip Morgan Rees – Head of Private Wealth, Milford Asset Management 

Phil joined Milford in August 2017 as Head of Private Wealth and brings a breadth of experience at the Executive and Senior Management level from a 30-year career. Prior to joining Milford, Phil held senior management positions at several of New Zealand’s leading and long-established wealth and fund managers including roles as General Manager, Head of Product Management, Investments (NZ) and Head of Product Management and Marketing. Phil has been responsible for large Financial Advisory teams and has first-hand experience with High Net Worth and Institutional clients, complemented by experience in investment governance through; membership of three investment and asset allocation committees, Chairmanship of a Staff Superannuation Fund and Trustee of a large charitable trust. Phil is a Financial Adviser. 

Phil’s experience with philanthropy includes being General Manager of one of New Zealand’s oldest Trustee Corporations and Wealth Managers where he had responsibility for the Philanthropy Division.  The division managed the charitable trusts and foundations of some of New Zealand’s well-known wealthy North Island families, managing wealth of in excess of $1/2bn.  The role brought him into contact with benefactors, donors, Philanthropy NZ and a range of recipients across a number of charitable sectors e.g. St John’s, Starship, Auckland Art Gallery/Toi o Tamaki. As part of this role, Phil acted directly as the professional trustee on the Charitable Trust of a high-profile New Zealand family where he helped the family take a legacy in the tens of millions of dollars and support the family members to transition from ‘pet projects’ to a clear and connected strategy while maintaining the preferences of the original benefactor. 

Other direct philanthropic activities include as Chair of a Choir (Friendly Society registered with Charities Services) which itself raised funds for a range of causes e.g. Age Concern, Habitat for Humanity, and founding Trustee of the New Zealand Pops Orchestra Foundation established to develop opportunities for cross-over musicians in New Zealand.  Phil’s governance-related activities include Chair of a Staff Superannuation Fund and an Asset Allocation Committee, membership of two Investment Committees and the management board of Kohimarama Presbyterian Church. Phil’s community and youth activities have included coaching juniors at Eastern Suburbs Football Club and five years of coaching juniors at Parnell Cricket Club.