Alumni and Supporters

Damon Brown

Bachelor of Business – 2004

Damon Brown’s affiliation with ECU has come full circle since graduating with a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Economics and Finance, in 2004.

From a student 20 years ago to a successful career in the financial services industry, for the past five years Damon has also shared his considerable knowledge and experience with the next generation of financial planners as a casual lecturer with ECU.

“I have been teaching various courses on financial planning, investment strategies and ethics since 2019, and I find it rewarding to inspire and mentor students who are eager to learn and grow in this field,” Damon says.

“I really enjoy it and the students seem to like it - they’re always appreciative to have somebody from industry teaching them.”

Damon is one of two alumni recently selected to ECU’s University Council, the governing body which controls and manages the University’s operations, affairs, concerns and property.

“I guess my main passion or goal for being on the Council is for the University to provide the best, quality education for as many students as possible.”

Damon’s passion for higher education is clear, and has been bringing his teenage daughter – the eldest of three children - to ECU open days for several years to showcase the many opportunities available.

But university wasn’t always a priority for Damon. Initially starting a computer science course at another university, Damon says he didn’t get through the first semester. A few years later he followed a friend into the finance course at ECU as a 24-year-old mature age student, and the change of direction paid off.

“I just loved the course to be honest,” he says. “I really enjoyed the challenging units, which is probably why I moved into economics and finance. I wanted to study a course with a broad base first year from which I could then specialise in second and third year.”

His achievements led to several offers of graduate positions on completion of his course, with Damon deciding on a graduate program with Commonwealth Bank.

“I did a final year unit at ECU called Personal Finance which gave me a good grounding for the grad program. As soon as I finished the grad program, I was offered a job as a financial planner.”

Damon went on to work at two other banks as a financial planner, before a change to the corporate side of financial planning after 10 years.

“I had decided I’d had enough of face-to-face financial planning with clients, and I wanted to direct my career onto the corporate side, and got into management of financial planning businesses.”

“You'll be studying for the rest of your professional life - it doesn’t stop."

Damon is currently a Regional Manager with Infocus Securities, leading a team of advisers across three states to help small businesses achieve their financial goals and grow their wealth.

“Professionally I am in a position which is rewarding, in that I am able to utilise my education and experience to make an impact on the financial future of a large number of Australians.

“I've been in my current role for six years and would be happy to continue much longer.”

Damon says while his work sees him travel interstate at times, he enjoys the flexibility it offers to also allow him to lecture with ECU as well as spend time with his family.

“Personally, I've been married for 18 years and I’m raising three lovely daughters. Providing a good grounding for my daughters through education is important.”

He is also a keen swimmer, enjoying the fitness and challenging aspects of marathon swimming and open water events including solo crossings of the Rottnest Channel Swim and Port to Pub.

Having been both a student and teacher at ECU, Damon is well placed to offer advice to current students, hoping to pass on an understanding that learning doesn’t stop once you graduate.

“You'll be studying for the rest of your professional life - it doesn’t stop. Everybody in a profession has to do a certain number of hours every year of professional development, you’re constantly reading articles - so continued studying just becomes part of life.

“And be adaptable to change – it’s important to know that there's always going to be change in your career, change in whatever profession you are in. Successful people are those that can adapt to change the best.”