Australian Unity has appointed a fund manager for its Healthcare Property Trust, joining from Centuria Healthcare, as it restructures the product.
Vijitha Yogavaran has joined the firm as a fund manager and will assume responsibility, management and external representation for the firm’s Healthcare Property Trust (HPT). This is one of Australia’s largest unlisted healthcare property funds at $3.6 billion in assets under management.
She brings 17 years of real estate experience to the fund, and was previously a fund manager at Centuria Healthcare where she managed a portfolio of healthcare property funds.
Chris Smith, general manager for healthcare property, said: “Vijitha’s significant expertise in the healthcare property sector and proven leadership as a fund manager will be invaluable as we pursue long-term sustainable returns for investors. We’re delighted to welcome Vijitha to our senior leadership team.”
“The Australian Unity Healthcare Property Trust has a crucial role to play as our healthcare ecosystem evolves to meet changing care needs and rapid population growth over coming years. I’m eagerly looking forward to working with the team to provide long-term, stable income for investors, with the opportunity for capital growth,” Yogavaran commented.
Australian Unity said this is part of the healthcare property management restructure that the firm commenced in 2024 which it hopes will strengthen its investment capabilities in social infrastructure.
This has included a number of internal appointments in addition to Yogavaran.
James O’Keefe was promoted to fund manager for the Aged Care Property Trust, having previously been a senior asset manager on the HPT. Assistant fund manager on HPT, Nicole Plant, was promoted to head of direct healthcare property, and Scott O’Donoghue was promoted from senior asset manager on HPT to national portfolio manager for healthcare property.
Plant will have responsibility for managing the business’s portfolio of high-quality assets and related stakeholder engagement, while O’Donoghue will lead the asset management team and support its asset optimisation.
Smith added: “We have entered 2025 with the most experienced management team in Australian Unity healthcare property’s 25-year history, and we’re operating under a structure that allows for greater focus and long-term scalability. These outcomes will be key to our investors’ future success.”
As well as healthcare products, Australian Unity also offers funds covering Australian and international shares, diversified funds and property funds.
