Who we are
We build and operate companies where we believe we have a strategic advantage and an opportunity to create significant long-term value.
We favour businesses where incentives can be aligned across customers, partners and shareholders, so that creating better outcomes also creates stronger economics.
We operate across sectors and take a long-term approach to ownership, seeking to build an organisation that is a preferred partner for founders, institutions and other long-term owners.
Management
Charlie Jay Hunter
Founder & CEO
Charlie Jay Hunter is the founder and CEO of Castel. He is responsible for the group’s overall direction, strategy and capital allocation. Charlie has founded, operated and exited businesses across health and life sciences, logistics and industry. Prior to founding Castel, he was a member of Australia’s Olympic water polo squad and worked across construction, finance and government affairs.
Board of Advisors
Athan Giannikos
Advisory Board
Athan Giannikos is the founder and Managing Director of Agia Projects Group. Having grown up on building sites, Athan has dedicated his career to delivering high-end architectural construction, bespoke joinery and custom metalwork projects. With more than 35 years of construction and manufacturing knowledge and experience, Athan has built a strong reputation for delivering ultra-high-end, industry-leading projects. Athan brings to Castel's Advisory Board extensive experience in construction, manufacturing and business operations, alongside a long-standing focus on developing teams, capabilities and enduring client relationships.
Giselle Brand
Advisory Board
Giselle Brand is an experienced Accredited Practising Dietitian and ANZAED Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician with more than 20 years of experience across private practice and hospital settings. She has worked alongside medical specialists, general practitioners and allied health professionals, and has helped establish multidisciplinary clinics and private health-funded clinical programs in Australia. Giselle brings to Castel’s Advisory Board extensive experience in establishing and growing healthcare services, health fund partnerships and multidisciplinary care.
David Hunter
Advisory Board
Professor David Hunter is an internationally recognised rheumatologist and the world’s leading expert on osteoarthritis, ranked #1 globally since 2014 by Expertscape and ScholarGPS. He is the Florance and Cope Chair of Rheumatology and Professor of Medicine at the University of Sydney, and a Staff Specialist at Royal North Shore Hospital. With more than 700 peer-reviewed publications and extensive international academic experience, Professor Hunter brings to the Board deep expertise across healthcare, clinical research, medical innovation and the translation of scientific research into commercial and patient outcomes.
Nathan Gilliland
Advisory Board
Nathan Gilliland is the Chief Financial Officer of ProducePay and an experienced executive, investor and board member. He has held senior leadership roles across technology and industrial businesses, including serving as CEO of Mosaic Materials, Bellwether Coffee and General Fusion. Previously, Nathan spent nine years at Bain Capital, where he led an investment team managing and investing approximately $2 billion annually across equity and debt investments. He has also served as an Executive in Residence at Kleiner Perkins and on the boards of CorEnergy Infrastructure Trust and Evok Innovations. Nathan brings to Castel’s Advisory Board extensive experience across investment, capital markets, company building and the commercialisation of complex technologies.