Who We Are
"It is the mission of the Nebraska Investment Council to prudently manage the funds entrusted to us by the people of the State of Nebraska. We deliver investment management services to provide direct financial benefit exclusively to the owners of these funds. We are committed to thorough, sound, and informed analysis in order to achieve superior returns while maintaining prudent levels of risk."
The Nebraska Investment Council is an independent state agency consisting of:
- An seven-member governing body including five private citizens appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the State Legislature, and two ex-officio members: the State Treasurer and the Director of the Public Employees' Retirement Systems.
- A nine-member Investment Team.
Most importantly, the Investment Council is the sixteen of us working together for the citizens of Nebraska.
What We Do
The Nebraska Investment Council manages $40.8 billion across 32 investment programs:
- $18.3 billion in 5 defined benefit pension plans
- $4.2 billion in 6 other retirement plans
- $1.7 billion in 11 public endowments
- $9.9 billion in the Operating Investment Pool, the State's checkbook, managed internally
- $72 million in 3 State trusts
- $6.6 billion in 4 college savings plans
- $38 million in the Nebraska Enable plan
The funds are spread among 60 investment firms and over 150 investments.
Council Members
Back Row (left to right): Keith Olson, Richard DeFusco, Gail Werner-Robertson
Front Row (left to right): Tom Briese (State Treasurer), Brian Christensen, Thomas Henning, Ellen Hung
Gail Werner-Robertson, Council Chairwoman
President
GWR Wealth Management, LLC
Omaha, NE
Term: 2024 - 2028
Lincoln, NE
Term: 2023 - 2027
Dr. Richard A. DeFusco, Ph.D., CFA
Professor of Finance
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Lincoln, NE
Term: 2022 - 2026
Brian Christensen
President/CEO
OneNebraska Federal Credit Union
Columbus, NE
Term: 2025 - 2029
Dr. Keith A. Olson, DBA, CFA
Professor of Economics & Finance
Creighton University - Heider
Omaha, NE
Term: 2021 - 2025
Tom Briese
Nebraska State Treasurer
Lincoln, NE
Ex Officio (non-voting)
Investment Team
Ellen Hung, CFA
State Investment Officer
JoLynn Winkler, CFA
Senior Portfolio Manager
Jeremiah Garber, CFA
Senior Portfolio Manager
Joe Spitznagel
Portfolio Manager
Chris Sanders
Portfolio Manager
Anthony Jakimowicz
Investment Analyst
Arthur Liu
Investment Analyst
Aathi Rasiah
Internal Auditor
Maryam Sultani
Investment Accountant
