Jane Lowe, Finalist in the Women in Finance Awards 2024

IR Department’s managing director Jane Lowe recently spoke with Proactive’s Tylah Tully about her nomination for the upcoming Women in Finance Awards 2024, set for  Friday, 15 November, at the Hyatt Regency in Sydney.

The Women in Finance Awards celebrate exceptional talent in the financial industry, and this year, Jane is recognised for her impactful contributions to the industry.

A Career Built on Expertise and Vision

Jane’s career began in roles where she was exposed to the realities of mergers and acquisitions. Two businesses she worked for early on were acquired and this piqued her interest in capital markets. Around two decades ago, she found herself in the niche world of investor relations. After a variety of in-house and agency roles working with ASX listed companies, in 2014, Jane founded IR Department with a mission to support private, emerging and micro to small cap ASX-listed companies that needed access to specialised consultancy. “Small businesses are the heartbeat of the Australian business sector,” she said. Starting solo, IR Department has flourished into a team of 11, offering services including board advisory, corporate strategy, investor engagement, ESG consulting, and crisis communications.

Reflecting on her journey, Jane emphasised the role of innovation. “Constant innovation in investor relations and finance has made this an incredibly interesting career,” she shared, highlighting how technology and new trends continue to shape the industry. She also referenced the highly innovative work being undertaken by clients, and said, “Given we spend so much time in healthcare, tech and industrials, our clients are typically doing work that is both groundbreaking and purposeful. We love working in these sectors as we see things like new medicines being developed for patients who really need them. It is highly fulfilling work.”

Recognition of Excellence

Being a finalist in the Small Business Adviser of the Year category is a significant milestone for Jane and her team. She called the recognition humbling and gratifying, adding, “It’s a nice acknowledgement of the work we do to help advance these businesses.” Her dedication to micro-cap companies is deeply aligned with her belief in the importance of small businesses to Australia’s economy.

Championing Diversity and Inclusion

Throughout her career, Jane has often found herself “the only girl in the room”. While she has always worked extremely well with men (and cites some of her biggest influences as being male colleagues), she is a firm advocate for balanced representation. “Statistical analysis increasingly shows that diversity yields better outcomes,” she noted. Her approach is rooted in merit-based opportunities while striving for inclusive and balanced leadership teams.

Future Ambitions: Driving ESG and Client Success

Looking ahead, Jane aims to support more clients through IR Department’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practice. With reporting standards evolving, her team is committed to helping boards and management navigate these changes. Additionally, IR Department continues to prioritise delivering balanced advice and achieving meaningful outcomes for clients, whether through successful IPOs or robust capital raises.

You can listen to Jane’s journey in her full interview with Proactive here.