EDFA exclusively partners with sophisticated and wholesale investors in ethical Australian projects.
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Our professional experience is varied and accomplished. EDFA is positioned within the sophisticated market.
Bernie Ripoll
Director/Chairman
Bernie Ripoll has a long history in financial services including in federal government as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer with responsibility for Financial Services, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and other agencies in the Treasury portfolio.
Bernie served his local community as a federal member for six terms from 1998 to 2016 and was chairman of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services leading change to delivery many consumer protection focused financial services reforms.
Michael Shekell
Director
Michael Shekell brings over 20 years of leadership in the property development sector, specialising in the value engineering and delivery of medium to large-scale land estates and multi-residential projects across Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory.
A highly connected and respected figure in the industry, Michael holds significant social capital and has cultivated a broad, trusted network of equity and finance partners. This access to capital, coupled with long-standing strategic relationships, positions him as a key enabler of project certainty and scalability.
Michael leads a high-performing team with deep local knowledge and end-to-end project capabilities. His approach is built on strategic alliances with technical experts and delivery partners, ensuring robust feasibility assessments and risk-managed outcomes. Under his guidance, the team maintains a sharp focus on long-term value creation, ESG-aligned site selection, and disciplined project execution.
Known for his measured, low-risk investment strategy and proven delivery record, Michael plays an integral role in unlocking value across the land development lifecycle, from acquisition and structuring to built-form completion.
Robert Parton
Director Compliance
Commencing his career in 1987, Robert spent almost 20 years providing business analysis and management at companies including BHP, Kraft Foods, Crane Group, Mitre 10 and PDL Electronics (now part of the Schneider Electric Group). Robert is a qualified accountant B.Bus (Acc) with over 20 year’s membership with CPA Australia.
Since 2006, Robert has been providing corporate advisory services utilising his extensive experience in business management, project evaluation and capital-raising across many sectors including real estate, cleantech, IT and manufacturing sectors.
Colby Davidson
Associate Director
Colby is a Queensland-born property developer with a strong grounding in technology and project delivery. He focuses on creating applications and systems that encourage collaboration and shared participation across Australia’s housing sector.
As an active contributor to new housing delivery across South East Queensland, Colby demonstrates his commitment to expanding supply and improving affordability. As a stakeholder and supporter of multiple Australian housing-focused ventures, he works to ensure that every project delivers genuine community benefit while also enabling APAC contributions that support Australia’s housing supply.
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