At the 2025 Pinnacle Insights Series, Dougal Maple-Brown posed the question, “Do you have enough Value in your portfolio?” Heightened market volatility and geopolitical uncertainty has many advisers considering whether they should be more defensive with the Australian equities part of their client portfolios.
BEc, LLB (Hons), FFIN, CFA
Dougal joined Maple-Brown Abbott in 2001 as an equity analyst. He is currently a portfolio manager and equities analyst. Dougal was an Executive Director from July 2009 to October 2018. Dougal’s responsibilities include equity analysis and portfolio management, including managing a large number of institutional and retail accounts. He attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in 2014. Prior to joining Maple-Brown Abbott Dougal worked in a national law firm and at an international investment bank.
Dougal joined Maple-Brown Abbott in 2001 as an equity analyst. He is currently a portfolio manager and equities analyst. Dougal was an Executive Director from July 2009 to October 2018. Dougal’s responsibilities include equity analysis and portfolio management, including managing a large number of institutional and retail accounts. He attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in 2014. Prior to joining Maple-Brown Abbott Dougal worked in a national law firm and at an international investment bank.
Board and committee membership:
Asset Allocation Committee
Dougal
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Investment Insights
10 min
Essential networks: The infrastructure investment case for 2026
We enter 2026 with investment optimism. While growth risks linger and inflation remains sticky, these conditions historically favour infrastructure assets. At the same time, powerful secular trends, decarbonisation and digitalisation, are creating significant opportunities across the sector. Valuations for listed infrastructure look fair on an absolute basis and attractive relative to broader equity markets and private transactions. Our focus remains on actively managing a portfolio of high quality infrastructure assets with high barriers to entry and strong strategic positions, delivering inflation-linked cash flows and attractive risk-adjusted returns through the economic cycle.
9 min
Australian small caps – Momentum meets earnings growth in 2026
The 2025 calendar year marked a decisive breakout for Australian small caps – can this momentum extend into 2026? Market earnings growth forecasts favour small caps over large caps across FY26–FY27. The recovery cycle also appears to have further room to run, with historical trough-to-peak comparisons pointing to additional upside in both duration and magnitude. Adding to this strength is an emerging resources renaissance at the smaller end of the market, where companies offer diversity of commodity and greater exposure to both gold and high-growth emerging thematics, including electrification and the energy transition.
6 min
The growing power of US electric utilities – insights from our trip
US electric utilities are poised for unprecedented expansion driven by soaring demand from data centers, manufacturing and electrification. The Edison Electric Institute projects $1.1 trillion in capital investment over the next five years – nearly matching the past decade’s total spend. Against this backdrop, we visited key industry players across the US – from utility companies and regulators to renewable developers and data center leaders – to understand the momentum firsthand.
10 min
Governance first: Navigating the human capital risks of AI deployment
As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms the business landscape, it’s crucial to look beyond the hype and consider the broader implications. While AI promises gains in productivity, speed, and cost efficiency, this piece highlights the often-overlooked risks –such as worker displacement, reputational damage, and regulatory scrutiny – that can arise from poorly governed implementation. It advocates for a governance-led approach to AI adoption, ensuring that companies not only harness its benefits but also safeguard their people, reputation, and long-term value.
