In this episode of the iPartners Grow Your Wealth podcast, host Travis Miller sits down with Simon Petris, co-founder of Revolution Asset Management, to explore a remarkable journey from theoretical physics and advanced mathematics to building one of Australia’s leading private credit managers. From academic research at the University of Melbourne to managing more than $3.4 billion in assets, the conversation highlights the value of adaptability, mentorship and long-term thinking. Through the lens of experience and entrepreneurship, the discussion offers powerful insights for investors and professionals seeking to navigate the evolving world of private markets.
Academic Foundations and Intellectual Curiosity: Growing up in Melbourne in a highly academic household, Simon developed an early passion for mathematics and science while balancing his studies with a love of sport. His academic path led to honours in theoretical physics and a PhD in mathematics, where he specialised in modelling microscopic particles and collaborating with chemists and engineers. Although academia initially seemed like a natural career path, the realities of constant relocation and uncertainty prompted a reassessment, ultimately opening the door to an entirely different profession.
Discovering Financial Markets Through Mathematics: A chance opportunity with ANZ allowed Simon to apply his mathematical expertise in the world of derivatives and quantitative modelling. Working on pricing libraries and complex structures in a bustling dealing room provided an exciting contrast to the quiet environment of academia. Under the guidance of mentors who recognised the practical application of analytical thinking, Simon quickly developed a passion for markets and embraced the challenge of turning technical knowledge into real-world investment solutions.
The Importance of Mentors and Career Influences: Throughout his career, several influential figures helped shape Simon’s development. Early mentorship provided confidence and the ability to break down complex transactions, while later leaders instilled lessons around portfolio management, team leadership and capital raising. Relationships built over decades proved invaluable, reinforcing the belief that careers are rarely linear and that surrounding yourself with experienced people accelerates both personal and professional growth. The ability to learn from those who have gone before became a recurring theme throughout the conversation on the iPartners Grow Your Wealth podcast.
Moving From Technical Roles to Investing: A pivotal decision to move from Melbourne to Sydney and transition from quantitative modelling into structured credit investing fundamentally altered Simon’s career trajectory. Rather than remaining in support functions, he sought a seat where investment decisions could be made directly. Roles at Challenger, Commonwealth Bank and Westpac broadened his experience across asset-backed securities and credit markets, while exposure to emerging boutique managers demonstrated the power of specialist investment businesses. These experiences planted the seeds for future entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurial Setbacks and Persistence: Not every opportunity unfolded as planned. An attempt to launch a boutique investment business in 2015 ended in disappointment after more than a year of preparation. Despite the frustration, Simon viewed the experience as an education rather than a failure. Relationships formed during that period and lessons learned along the way ultimately became instrumental in the successful launch of Revolution Asset Management several years later. As he reflected, persistence and the willingness to keep moving forward after setbacks proved more valuable than avoiding disappointment altogether.
Building Revolution Asset Management: Founded in 2018 alongside industry veteran Bob Sahota, Revolution Asset Management began with a simple objective: identify the best credit opportunities available and deliver strong outcomes for investors. At the time, private credit was not yet the widely recognised asset class it has become today. Instead, the focus remained on finding attractive risk-adjusted returns regardless of whether opportunities were public or private. Through disciplined execution, investor education and a commitment to transparency, Revolution grew into one of Australia’s largest private credit managers, overseeing approximately $3.4 billion in assets across multiple funds.
The Rise of Private Credit and Investor Education: Simon reflected on how dramatically private credit has evolved over the past decade. In the early days, the asset class lacked widespread understanding, requiring managers to spend significant time educating advisers and investors. Today, private credit has become a major component of diversified portfolios, although Simon emphasised that the label itself encompasses a broad range of investments. Revolution’s approach focuses on specialised areas including leveraged buyouts, private asset-backed securities and selective commercial real estate exposure. The growth of the sector has reinforced the importance of education, a mission shared by iPartners and the Grow Your Wealth podcast.
Competition, Accountability and Professional Motivation: At the heart of Simon’s approach is a competitive mindset and a commitment to delivering consistent outcomes. He enjoys the measurable nature of investment management, where performance is assessed over years rather than quarters. Beyond returns, he takes satisfaction in bringing investors along the journey and earning their trust through transparency and accountability. Building a business from scratch and seeing investors achieve their objectives represents success in its most meaningful form. Equally important is maintaining strong family relationships and remaining actively involved in the lives of his children.
Advice for Young Professionals and Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Reflecting on his own journey, Simon encouraged young professionals to avoid becoming overly attached to a single career path. Networking, asking questions and spending time around experienced people create opportunities that cannot be predicted. He emphasised the importance of being willing to pivot and remaining open to unexpected directions. For those considering entrepreneurship, timing matters. There is a balance between gaining sufficient experience and waiting too long to take the leap. Having confidence that previous skills remain valuable provides reassurance, as successful careers rarely depend on a single decision.
Lessons in Wealth Creation and Investing: Years of analysing transactions have shaped Simon’s views on long-term wealth. He acknowledged that investment success often owes more to market conditions than individual brilliance and stressed the importance of accountability. In public markets, he sees the challenge active managers face in consistently outperforming indices and believes passive strategies have an important role. Conversely, private markets offer opportunities where specialist managers can still generate meaningful alpha through expertise and proprietary access. Rather than trying to master every asset class personally, he has become increasingly comfortable allocating capital to specialists with proven capabilities.
Final Thoughts: Ultimately, Simon Petris’ journey demonstrates that success is rarely achieved through a straight line. From modelling nanoparticles in academia to building a multi-billion-dollar private credit business, his career has been defined by curiosity, resilience and an openness to change. The conversation with Travis Miller on the iPartners Grow Your Wealth podcast highlights the importance of relationships, adaptability and long-term thinking in both investing and life. As Simon observed, “Don’t fixate on one particular path.” Sometimes the greatest opportunities emerge when you’re willing to pivot, trust your judgement and continue moving forward despite the inevitable bumps in the road.
