Susumu (Steve) Handa

CEO, Daiwa Capital Markets Australia

In 2007, Steve joined Daiwa Securities Group, one of Japan’s largest investment banking groups. He started in the Private Equity Asia Pacific Division, responsible for deal sourcing, DD, investments, monitoring, value-add, and fund monitoring.

He then moved to the Investment Banking Division where he worked as a coverage banker of general industry group sector including natural resources, energy, automotive, machinery, and shipbuilding (M&A, ECM, DCM, and IR).

Steve completed an MBA in 2016, in which he focused on impact investments and social impact in the US as a corporate sponsored full time MBA student, joining exchange programs in China and Italy during the MBA program.

He returned to Japan in 2016, and was appointed Executive Assistant to the group CEO, supported the CEO’s decision making, internal communications, client relationships, global networking, and new SDGs initiatives.

Steve moved to Australia in October 2020 and was appointed CEO of Daiwa Capital Markets Australia. He is currently responsible for the Australian business including Equity Sales, Debt Capital Markets, Principal Investments, M&A, as well as new initiatives in relation to renewable energy, VC, and startups in Australia.

He leads their investment into Main Sequence and many initiatives related to Australia-Japan startup and innovation collaborations for public and private as well as universities.

Other positions held
Member - Australia Japan Business Co-operation Committee (AJBCC), Future Leaders Program
Director - Australia Japan Business Council of Victoria (AJBCV)