Dr Martin Gold joined the University of Wollongong in 2003 following a successful career as a fund manager and investment analyst. Martin commenced his professional career in 1989 in accounting and actuarial roles at Colonial Mutual, Melbourne.

In 1993, he moved to Sydney to join ASSIRT Research (now Standard & Poor's), initially as a research analyst and became a shareholder in its parent company, Sealcorp Holdings Limited. As the firm's senior analyst, he led researchers who rated the majority of the Australian funds management industry, and gained extensive knowledge of institutional investment practices.

In 1997, following St George Bank's acquisition of Sealcorp Holdings Limited, Martin co-founded a private investment firm specialising in derivatives and innovative investment strategies. Between 2000 and 2001, he was an investment manager and specialist adviser with Royal SunAlliance (now Suncorp) overseeing in excess of $3bn of assets.