CEO & Co-Founder

Ben is CEO & Co-Founder of Prima Asset Management. Ben is an internationally qualified investment professional with 17 years’ experience sourcing, structuring and executing investments in Asia-Pacific, The Americas, Europe and The Middle East.

Ben has represented investors, developers and operators across equity and debt investments with transaction values up to US$500m. Ben was the Head of Investment for a private equity real estate firm, Q Investment Partners and previously held roles with Nord Anglia Education and Deloitte Real Estate.

At Prima, Ben is responsible for the day to day running of the firm, as well as originating and leading our real estate strategies.

Ben is a RICS Chartered Surveyor and holds a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration, a Master’s degree in Applied Finance, and a Bachelor’s degree in Property Economics from Queensland University of Technology.

Advisor & Co-Founder

Birbal is Advisor & Co-Founder of Prima Asset Management and the Managing Director of Baksh Capital.

Birbal manages his family’s global investments through Baksh Capital and is focussed on growing the portfolio without compromising on the values established by the earlier generations. This led to Birbal co-founding Prima Asset Management which enables the family to originate, execute and manage their own investments in partnership with like-minded investors.

At Prima, Birbal advises the team on existing strategies, identifying new strategies and developing relationships with strategic partners.

Birbal is proficient in both English and Punjabi and studied a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the University of New South Wales.

Chairman

Kulvinder is Chairman of Prima Asset Management and Managing Director of Baksh Capital.

Kulvinder has a wealth of experience in goods and commodities trading and real estate investment and development, having managed operations in Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai, Myanmar, India, Australia, Japan, Thailand and Africa.

Most notably, Kulvinder established Prima Fabrics in 2004, which became the preferred linen supplier to Accor Hotels, Rydges and The Hilton in Australia.

At Prima, Kulvinder is focused on guiding and supporting the team with his global network of business partners.

Senior Investment Manager

Michael, a Senior Investment Manager with over 8 years of global experience in real estate investment, finance & analytics, and project development. With a specialisation in hospitality real estate, Michael has represented investors and operators across real estate investments with a combined value of over US$800m.

Prior to joining Prima, Michael worked as a Development Manager at InterContinental Hotels Group, where he honed his expertise in hotel development; and as a Project Manager under the founder at SURF Capital, a sustainable real estate private equity firm founded by the former Managing Director and CEO for Starwood Capital Asia.

At Prima, Michael is responsible for the development, implementation, and oversight of the company’s investments and manages its portfolios.

Michael holds a 1st Class Honours BSc in International Hospitality Management from Oxford Brookes University and has obtained a Certificate in Hotel Real Estate Investment & Asset Management from Cornell University.

Investment Analyst

Alessio is a key contributor to Prima's success in strategic investments, natural energy transitions, and operational efficiency.

In his role at Prima, Alessio is responsible for optimising the company's investment portfolio and collaborating closely with the management team to implement strategic investment initiatives. His keen insights and strong dedication significantly contribute to Prima's achievements in the dynamic field of asset management.

Before joining Prima, Alessio served as the Regional Director at PT. Insan Gas Nusantara, where he worked closely with the management team of PT. Pertamina Gas Negara. In this position, he led strategic initiatives for businesses transitioning to Green Energy, demonstrating his commitment to innovative and sustainable business practices.

Additionally, Alessio held the position of investment supervisor at PT. Purnama Global Trading, where he successfully optimized the real estate company's portfolio and managed hospitality assets that consistently outperformed the market.

Alessio holds a BA in International Relations from EU Business School, highlighting his academic achievements and ongoing commitment to professional development. Fluent in English, Indonesian, and Italian.

Advisor & Fund Management Partner

Tony is a co-founder and CEO of First Degree Global Asset Management. Tony has 20 years’ experience in the management of investment management businesses in Australia and across the Asia Pacific region.

Tony began his career as a corporate and securities lawyer with Baker & McKenzie in Sydney, before holding the roles of Head of Investment Product and Corporate Counsel at Davey Financial Management and Corporate Counsel and Head of the Retail Business of Jardine Fleming Australia.

Tony has served as the Chairman of JPMorgan Asset Management (India), a Director of JF Capital Partners (Australia), JF Asset Management (India), Al Meezan Investment Fund (Pakistan) and Ayudhya JF Asset Management (Thailand), all of which were licensed investment management entities.

Tony holds a Bachelor of Legal Studies from Macquarie University, a Master of Laws and a Master of Taxation from the University of Sydney and a MBA from the University of London and has been admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and of the High Court of Australia.

At Prima, Tony advises the management team on their investments, legal and corporate strategy.

Advisor & Fund Management Partner

Stephen is a co-founder and CIO for First Degree Global Asset Management. Stephen has 25 years’ experience as an investment professional with leading investment management groups in the United States, Asia and Australia.

Immediately prior to co-founding First Degree in 2011, Stephen was the Head of Global Fixed Income Product – Asia Pacific at JPMorgan Asset Management, and had investment responsibility for the firm’s mandates from Central Banks, Sovereign Wealth Funds and some of the largest Institutions in the Asia Pacific Region.

Stephen holds a Master of Science (Finance) an a PhD (Finance) from the WE Simon Graduate School of Business Administration, University of Rochester, New York, and a Bachelor of Economics (First Class Honours) from the University of Sydney.

At Prima, Stephen advises the management team on their investments, governance and corporate strategy.

Advisor

Craig co-founded at Wego in 2005, a leading online travel company headquartered in Singapore. Wego operates in 76 countries and has over 20 million customers per month. Wego has since attracted growth capital from renowned venture capital firms like Square Peg Capital, Tiger Global & Crescent Point.

A serial entrepreneur and active investor, Craig has over 20 years of experience in building start-ups across Asia, Australia and The Middle East. Craig has extensive experience with hotel management from his time running e-commerce for IHG in Asia Pacific.

At Prima, Craig advises the management team on their hospitality investments, marketing efforts and corporate strategy.