Maria started at Dio in 1991, where she was a boarder at Innes House from 1994 and our Head Prefect in 1995.
During her time at Dio, Maria was involved in a variety of activities including Young Enterprise, Duke of Ed (where she achieved her gold badge), volleyball, and she received a Bursary in PE in her final year. She then went on to study Law and Commerce at Otago University and was a visiting scholar at the University of California, Berkeley in 2001 studying at Boalt School of Law and Haas School of Business.
After being admitted to the Bar in New Zealand, she joined a US law firm in San Francisco, specialising in fund distribution, hedge and private equity funds, acquisitions and US securities law compliance.
She then worked at Barclays Bank as Legal Counsel and had a key role in the merger of Barclays Global Investors into BlackRock.
Maria spent four years as Director of BlackRock advising on investment strategy and fund structures.
She has had an impressive career in Asset Management and Law and is currently Founder and Chair of Fund HQ Limited in London.
She was shortlisted for Best Outsourced Service Provider at the Hedge Fund Manager Awards last year.
One of Maria’s key achievements in 2024 involved $800 million in new fund launch assets. She has received numerous awards and recognition in the finance industry including Member of 100 Women in Finance UK (a network of female professionals in investment and asset management).
She was awarded “Most Influential Asset Management Leader for 2024” and shortlisted for the “Unsung Hero Award” at the Women in Investment Awards. This is an award for women in the UK investment industry who have gone above and beyond to contribute to their business, drive change and support a team. This reflects Maria’s passion for improving equality and diversity in Board representation and in the workplace as well as across the industry and seeking new models of improved efficient working.
She was Launch CEO and Advisor for Getty Capital Limited and established the hedge fund arm for the Getty Family. Maria is also an Advisor for The Curve which is a platform for women to learn about investing in a way that suits them. She supports financial literacy and education for women through this digital platform.
On a personal level, Maria offers Pro bono advice to Rise and Fall Limited (a female founded business and startup company) demonstrating true Dio Ut Serviamus values and her service to Business.
Maria excels at relationship management and has been described as a calm and rational leader even in extremely high pressure situations. She is passionate about food, wine, travel, well-being, female startups and venture capital. She has a background in culinary arts and runs a food travel blog with a studied interest in nutrition. Maria is also a proud Mum to her 6 year old daughter.
Needless to say, Maria O’Connor is truly a worthy recipient of the Dio Alumnae Association Alumna Merita award.
Congratulations also to Angela Caughey, who we also honoured at assembly today. Angela received the inaugural Dio Alumnae Association Ut Serviamus award.
