Dr Ashley Paul D’Sylva is the founder of Empire Capital Partners, an internationally oriented corporate finance advisory and merchant banking group headquartered in Perth, Western Australia. With over two decades of experience in corporate finance, capital markets, and advisory services in the natural resources sector, Dr D’Sylva has led and structured transactions with a total value exceeding AUD 1 billion for a wide range of Australian and international companies in the mining and energy industries.
Dr D’Sylva holds a PhD in public finance and econometrics from the University of Arizona, and in 2004 he was recognized as one of the recipients of the Business News 40Under40. He received this recognition during his work managing the commercialization portfolio of research and intellectual property at Murdoch University. In that role, he developed a joint investment venture between Murdoch University and the Westscheme pension fund, establishing at the time the largest private investment fund in Western Australia dedicated to early-stage research with significant commercial potential.
The company he founded, Empire Capital Partners, provides advisory services to public and private companies in the natural resources, energy, and critical minerals sectors in Australia. Its transaction portfolio spans projects across Australia, the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, and Africa. The firm has particular expertise in pre-IPO capital raising, public listings, financial structuring, and international mergers and acquisitions.
In the context of the Montenegro-Australia Chamber of Commerce, Dr D’Sylva brings deep expertise in international capital flows, cross-border transaction structuring, and the development of bilateral business relations between Montenegro and Australia. He is committed to strengthening trade and investment ties between the two countries, as well as supporting the Chamber’s mission to create tangible economic opportunities for its members.