EIGHTS - Key Persons


Andrew Cohen

Job Titles:
  • Business Executive
  • Director at Perma Funds
  • Specialist Advisor
Andrew is an experienced business executive with over 30 years as a chartered accountant specialising in the provision of corporate advisory and investment banking services to both Australian and international companies. He has advised on a diverse range of transactions including initial public offerings, capital raisings (both public and private), mergers and acquisitions and corporate advisory assignments in Australia, New Zealand, USA, UK, South Africa, Asia-China and Russia. Andrew has also had extensive engagement with both public and private company boards on commercial transactions including regulatory, legal, taxation and corporate governance matters, including performing company secretarial duties. Andrew co-founded Inteq Limited in 1988, is now a partner at Perpetuity Capital Pty Ltd, and is a non-executive director of The Wolper Jewish Hospital. Andrew is currently a director at Perma Funds and is an experienced business executive with over 30 years of experience in providing corporate advisory and investment banking services to international companies

Charlotte Thornton

Job Titles:
  • Executive Assistant
After almost 10 years travelling the world and playing a leading role in the Snowsport industry, Charlotte built an international client base and collected 3 international skiing awards. Charlotte then took a role as Operations Manager in Property Development where she helped lead a team and took care of all operational and management services including community engagement, public relations and marketing. At The Eights, Charlotte has taken on the role of Executive Assistant to the Managing Director.

Dr. David King

Job Titles:
  • Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
  • Specialist Advisor
Dr King was a founder and director of Sapex Ltd, Gas2Grid Ltd and Eastern Star Gas Ltd. He has substantial natural resource related experience, having previously served as managing director of North Flinders Mines Ltd and CEO of Beach Petroleum and Claremont Petroleum. Dr King is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors; a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy; and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Dr King is currently non-executive Chairman of Cellmid Ltd, Litigation Capital Management Ltd, and African Petroleum Corporation Ltd.

Lambros Photios - CTO

Job Titles:
  • Technical Director
  • Founder and CEO of Station Five
Lambros Photios is the founder and CEO of Station Five, a software development company servicing startups and scaleups across Australia, Europe, the UAE, and the UK. In mid-2015, noticing a shortage of talent in the Australian market, Lambros founded Station Five, which within two years became an AFR Fast Starter by servicing institutions such as banks, insurance companies, and airlines. Identifying a shortfall in software developers servicing startups and scaleups at the start of the COVID pandemic, he repurposed the business with a view of providing software development teams to organisations rapidly iterating their technology. Lambros Photios is the founder and CEO of Station Five, a software development company servicing institutions such as banks, insurance companies, and airlines. The company has a dedicated team of over 80 people across Australia, Europe, the UAE

Nithan Thiru - Managing Director

Job Titles:
  • Managing Director
Nithan has over 15 years of experience in investment banking and private equity. He commenced his career at Merrill Lynch in the Financial Institutions Group team of the Investment Banking division before moving into Venture Capital and Private Equity, cementing his skills in financial analysis, modelling and deal structuring. Nithan has successfully completed numerous transactions spanning the resources, technology, property and retail sectors, before establishing The Eights as a founding partner. Nithan leverages his years of experience, distribution network and broad skill set to originate, structure and execute deals for The Eights and its clients. Nithan has over 15 years of experience in investment banking and private equity. He commenced his career at Merrill Lynch in the Financial Institutions Group before moving into Private Equity

Zina Edwards

Job Titles:
  • Partner at Hamilton Locke
  • Specialist Advisor
Zina is a partner at Hamilton Locke focusing on finance and restructuring transactions particularly in the non-bank lender market. She advises numerous funds, asset managers and other non-bank lenders in relation to investments in complex structured finance and hybrid transactions, secondary trades and special situation investments. Zina also has experience advising major trading and investment banks, syndicates, funds and public companies in relation to various high profile financial turnarounds and restructurings. She has worked on a large number of distressed and performing portfolio sale transactions in Australia and across Asia acting for both purchasers and sellers. Zina previously worked as a senior member of the restructuring, turnaround and insolvency team of Herbert Smith Freehills in Sydney. She has also worked in the London and Moscow office of Allen & Overy as part of the global restructuring group. Zina is Partner and Head of Finance at Hamilton Locke focusing on finance and restructuring particularly in the non-bank lender market Zina advises numerous funds, asset managers and other non-bank lenders