David Sara is Regional Head of Industry Development, Asia Pacific at Northern Trust, and a senior executive with 20 years’ experience working with asset owners across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, US, the UK, and the broader Asia Pacific region. He brings deep, practical insight into the needs of large and complex superannuation, pension, and sovereign wealth funds.  This insight is shaped by more than 15 years in senior leadership roles at NZ Superannuation Fund, including roles as General Manager Technology, General Manager Operations and Head of Strategic Development.

David has been closely engaged in the industry as Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Global Investment Technology & Operations Symposium, an annual meeting at Stanford University attended by more than 25 pension and sovereign wealth funds from around the world.  He was also a founding member of the senior technology leaders workstream of the Australian Government Funds Forum.

David is recognized for values-led leadership style and his ability to connect long term strategy with operational and technological execution. He has broad experience across asset owner strategy, transformation, technology, data, investments, risk, and operations.  He is deeply committed to building strong trust, high performing cultures that support organizations navigating increasing scale, complexity, and regulatory change.

Based in Melbourne, David plays a key role in advancing Northern Trust’s asset owner proposition through deep senior level engagement with institutional investors, consultants, and industry stakeholders.