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Warakirri Asset Management Family Office
Warakirri Asset Management Family Office was founded in 1993 by WJ Lee, who remains chairman. The firm grew from an owner-operated consulting business into a...
Warakirri Asset Management Family Office
Warakirri Asset Management Family Office was founded in 1993 by WJ Lee, who remains chairman. The firm grew from an owner-operated consulting business into a multi-family office that serves several Australian families through its own investment platforms. The office allocates across farmland, global and domestic equities, ethical overlays, and cash. It holds direct positions in assets such as the Sunraysia Nut Plantation, Budwood Citrus Aggregation, and Josef Chromy Wines, acquired in partnership with Endeavour Group in 2022. Geographic reach covers Oceania and North America, with additional exposure noted in Asia, Europe, Africa, and South America. Structures include the Warakirri Diversified Agriculture Fund for orchard and vineyard assets and separate cropping trusts that manage 155,000 hectares for Rest Super. The firm employs specialist teams for distribution and regional coverage. In February 2025 it appointed Trent Faehndrich as Regional Manager for New South Wales and Queensland. Warakirri also maintains memberships in Philanthropy Australia and the UN Principles for Responsible Investment. Service providers include Citigroup as custodian and Northcape Capital as investment manager for certain equity strategies. Ownership of operating businesses such as Flinders Investment Partners and strategic partnerships with Northcape Capital distinguish the architecture from pure advisory family offices. These holdings allow internal management of boutique strategies while preserving the multi-family mandate.
General information
Firm type
Multi Family Office
Year founded
1993
Location
Region
Oceania
Country
Australia
City
Melbourne
Principals
WJ Lee
Chairman
JW McKay
Managing Director
JA Tongs
Non-Executive Director
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Warakirri Asset Management Family Office?
JW McKay serves as Managing Director. WJ Lee acts as Chairman and JA Tongs as Non-Executive Director. Decisions flow through the multi-boutique platform that oversees both direct farmland holdings and equity mandates.
Does Warakirri participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
The firm executes both. It commits to its own open-ended agriculture funds and maintains joint ventures such as the 2022 acquisition of Josef Chromy Wines with Endeavour Group.
What investment stages does Warakirri typically target?
Confirmed stages include buyout, growth, and venture capital. Ticket sizes start at $20M with preferred fund sizes between $250M and $1B.
Which sectors does Warakirri explicitly avoid?
No explicit avoidance list appears in public materials. The firm applies an ethical overlay with both positive and negative screens focused on emissions, water, and biodiversity.
How does Warakirri source proprietary deal flow?
Direct ownership of operating businesses such as Flinders Investment Partners and long-standing relationships with Rest Super and PSP Investments provide access to farmland and cropping mandates.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
Wealth traces to the employee- and director-owned asset consulting practice established in 1993. No single founding family is publicly identified as the sole capital source.
Does Warakirri maintain philanthropic structures, and how are they separated?
Warakirri is a member and sponsor of Philanthropy Australia. Its giving focuses on education, health, climate, and arts within Australia and operates separately from investment vehicles.
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