VIC State Summit: Private Wealth Insights

Melissa Evans (US)

Laird Norton Family

Melissa Evans is a 5th Generation descendant of the Laird Norton family and has served on the Governing Board, the Foundation Board and the Family summit committee. Her unconventional life has followed passions in the arts, psychology and architecture. Melissa grew up with the promises and pitfalls of generational affluence and was free to pursue many interests. While raising two children, she worked in commercial real estate development utilizing her master’s degree in urban design and planning. With her subsequent master’s degree in Jungian and Archetypal Psychology, she follows her keen
interest in depth psychology, by navigating the conventional and esoteric in attending to the alchemy of inner work. As an abstract process painter, she says: “In sharing my works, I share my deepest self; to myself and others.” An avid traveler, Melissa has been to over 120 countries and is always looking for her next adventure.

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Peter Evans (US)

Trusted Adviser to Legacy Families, Laird Norton Family

Peter Evans is someone who has lived the multigenerational journey from the inside out. His years of leadership within Laird Norton Company—an 8th-generation family enterprise—give him a uniquely authentic understanding of continuity, governance, and the human dynamics that shape legacy families. As a personne de confiance to families across six continents, Peter has dedicated his life to strengthening the human, intellectual, social, natural, spiritual, and financial capital that enable families to flourish across generations. His presence sets a tone of humility, wisdom, and lived experience, aligning perfectly with our PWN’s themes of unity, connection, and collective stewardship.

 

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Paul Fildes

Principal, Taussig Cherrie Fildes Lawyers

Paul specialises in complex property litigation, high net worth matters, cross-border disputes, prenuptial Financial Agreements, and restructuring family property in a tax effective manner.

He also has a special interest in international property and relocation cases, involving the adjustment and treatment of assets located internationally, including Asia, Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Paul is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) and has access to a wide network of family law solicitors and professionals across the globe.

Paul was a partner of K&L Gates’ legacy firm, Middletons, between 1993 and 2010. At the time he joined Middletons, it was a commercial and mercantile law firm which did not offer expertise in family law. Over the ensuing period of 15 years, Paul built a substantial practice as the head of the Family Law Practice Group, which he then merged with Taussig Cherrie & Associates in 2010, to become Taussig Cherrie Fildes.

Paul is a presenter of Case Watch on the Television Education Network which produces educational presentations and material for lawyers. He has published numerous papers and comments on current family law issues. Paul also regularly presents at seminars on behalf of various professional bodies on a wide variety of family law topics, with an emphasis on complex financial matters.

He is a qualified Family Law arbitrator and mediator, and is also a trained collaborative lawyer.

Paul was a former Chair and Executive member of the Family Law Section of the Law Institute of Victoria. He was previously the Victorian Solicitor Representative of the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia, and a former Chair of the FLS National Biennial Family Law Conference and on the Board at Relationships Australia (Vic).

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Angela Rutherford

Partner, Family Office Advisory, Mutual Trust

Angela is a Partner in the Family Office Advisory team at Mutual Trust, assisting families with succession planning, asset protection, governance and decision-making, education and philanthropy.

Angela has over 25 years’ experience working with multi-generational families, providing leadership and direction across the design and delivery of financial and non-financial outcomes. This includes implementing strategies for managing family dynamics and guidance for succession planning, transfer of wealth and engagement of the next generation in preparation for transfer of ownership and control.

What matters most to Angela at Mutual Trust is contributing to a culture of inclusion, along with being surrounded by likeminded colleagues who want to make a difference and helping families navigate succession and the transition of family wealth and the challenges which can arise.

Prior to joining Mutual Trust in 2019, Angela was the long-term Managing Director of a prominent philanthropic Melbourne family. Angela’s role in the Single-Family Office was to meet the varied needs and expectations of the multi-generational family members including financial, philanthropic and non-financial and personal interests.

Angela is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Outside of Mutual Trust, Angela’s family matters most to her, spending time with her husband and daughters and their partners as well as her extended family and aging parents, usually over a meal.

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Carly Severino

Director of Community and Philanthropy, Australian Communities Foundation

Carly Severino is a strategic philanthropic leader known for combining visionary thinking with practical execution to drive meaningful, sustainable social impact. With deep expertise in philanthropy, intergenerational wealth, social investment and community building, she has led transformative programs across Australia’s most respected organisations. As Director of Community and Philanthropy at Australian Communities Foundation, Carly oversees three national teams and plays a critical role on the Senior Executive, strengthening relationships with more than 700 Funds and Foundations, elevating best‑practice philanthropy, and modernising the Foundation’s approach to education, engagement and storytelling.

Carly previously served as Executive Officer of the Betty Amsden Foundation. Prior to this, she spent seven years with the Private Wealth Network, working closely with families of significant wealth to deepen impact and support next‑generation engagement. Carly is a respected facilitator, speaker and advisor within the philanthropic and family wealth ecosystems. She holds a Masters in Social Investment and Philanthropy from Swinburne University. 

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Jeff Steiner

Partner, Head of Family Office Advisory, Mutual Trust

Jeff Steiner is Head of Family Office Advisory at Mutual Trust, where he works with UHNW families and family offices to define purpose, build intergenerational alignment, and design structures that sustain wealth over time.

His work draws on established family wealth frameworks and proven, practice-led advisory methodologies, guiding families from purpose and alignment through to strategy, structure, and execution. He partners with principals, family boards, and family office executive teams to strengthen governance, navigate complexity, and support effective decision-making across generations.

Jeff advises on the design and execution of tailored family office models, including Single Family Offices, Multi-Family Offices, Hybrid Family Offices and Family Business in-house structures. His focus is on creating efficient, cohesive functions that reinforce purpose and enable long-term wealth stewardship.

With more than 25 years’ experience, Jeff has advised many of Australia’s most prominent families, leading the delivery of integrated advice across family strategy, governance, succession, education, tax, investment, business interests, estate planning, and philanthropy.

Jeff is an active contributor to the global family office community through the Family Office Exchange (FOX) and the Ultra High Net Worth Institute. He also serves as an independent chair and board member across family and not-for-profit organisations. Jeff holds a Bachelor of Commerce, is a Certified Practicing Accountant, a registered tax agent and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

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Joanna Sun

Co-Founder, Emerald Family Enterprise Group

Drawing from her own background as a member of a family office navigating succession challenges and family conflict amongst the Generation 1 to 3, Joanna understands firsthand the intersection of family dynamics, governance needs, and wealth continuity. This personal experience, combined with her expertise in building family office advisory boards, enables her to create governance frameworks that honor both family relationships and business imperatives.

Joanna specialises in designing tailored governance structures for family offices and navigating the complex emotional dynamics of multigenerational wealth transitions. With extensive experience working with global families of significant wealth, she bringsa trauma-informed approach to succession planning, recognising how rapid wealth creation and family complexity impact decision-making across generations.

Born in China and raised in Australia, Joanna brings deep cultural intelligence to her work with Asian family enterprises and transnational wealth structures. She focuses on family enterprise planning, succession strategy, next-generation development, and establishing governance systems that support healthy family dynamics while protecting wealth across borders and generations.

Joanna holds a double Bachelor's degree in Business Management and Arts and a Master's degree in Financial Planning. Her specialised credentials include Certified Family Advisor and Advanced Certificate Family Advisor (Family Firm Institute), Certified Executive Chair (Advisory Board Centre), and the Company Director course (AICD).

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