BackJune 10, 2025: Cameron Brownjohn, CEO and co-founder of Federation Asset Management, has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours, recognising his dual service to the business sector and advocacy for Australians with disabilities.
Brownjohn joins a distinguished cohort of Federation associates who have previously received national recognition, including Ann Sherry AO, Michael Byrne AM, and John Walker AM. His latest accolade underscores not only his leadership in finance but also his long-standing commitment to inclusion and social impact.
The King’s Birthday Honours celebrate Australians who have demonstrated exceptional achievement and service to the community. Brownjohn’s honour reflects his deep involvement in initiatives supporting people with disabilities as well as his instrumental role in building Federation Asset Management into a pioneering force in private market investing with a social purpose.
Founded in 2018, Federation Asset Management has quickly established itself as one of Australia’s most socially engaged private equity investment firms. Specialising in sectors such as clean energy, social infrastructure and retirement finance, Federation bridges the gap between attractive returns and societal good.
“Since late 2018, Federation has built Australia’s third largest childcare REIT,” said Jason Walter, partner at Federation. “We’ve built or are building educational facilities for 10,000 children across the nation. It’s been a pretty exciting journey for our investors.”
Federation’s childcare platform, Sentinel, is renowned for its stable and inflation-linked lease profile and an impressive 17-year WALE. It delivers consistent income and capital appreciation through a strategically built portfolio of real estate assets.
In the disability housing space, Federation has spearheaded the growth of Synergis – now the nation’s largest Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) home owner. With backing from institutional investors, Synergis merges the needs of people with disabilities with investors’ appetite for stable returns and measurable social outcomes.
“Synergis has succeeded by aligning the objectives of investors with the real needs of people living with disability,” said Michael Lynch, Managing Director of Synergis.
Federation’s influence also extends to the aged care finance sector. In 2024, the firm acquired Homesafe Solutions, a pioneer in equity release products for seniors. The acquisition comes amid renewed policy focus on retirement funding solutions by the government.
“Since 2005, we’ve built Australia’s leading business in that space,” said Dianne Shepherd, Managing Director of Homesafe. “We offer a debt-free way for older Australians to access equity in their homes with dignity.”
Federation’s clean energy investments include a major stake in Ascera Energy, the utility-scale storage company behind Riverina BESS – one of Australia’s largest battery energy storage systems. The facility, which is fully contracted to Shell and Energy Australia, is large enough to power Canberra.
“Ascera Energy provides utility scale energy storage solutions that reduce power prices and support energy security in the grid,” said Sally Torgoman, Managing Director of Ascera. “Federation identified this opportunity early on and has been a key player in the growth of this sector.”
Federation continues to attract institutional and wholesale investor capital thanks to its focus on transparency, rigorous governance and outcome-driven investments. With a growing reputation for delivering both financial and social returns, the firm is redefining what it means to invest responsibly.
Beyond the Federation realm, Brownjohn serves on the Board of UNICEF Australia and was formerly Chair of Special Olympics Australia, exemplifying his commitment to equity and inclusion in all spheres. His recent OAM recognition serves as both a personal milestone and a testament to Federation’s mission-driven culture.
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About Federation
Federation invests in businesses that meet economic and social needs, with particular strengths in renewable energy, health and education real estate and businesses servicing an aging population and modernising world. The firm manages capital commitments of A$2 billion for institutional and individual investors. Federation is a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investing (UNPRI) and is certified by the Responsible Investment Association of Australasia (RIAA).
For more information please visit: https://www.federationam.com/
Media contact
Simrita Virk, Capital Outcomes
M: 0434 531 172