Pathways — Podcast series
A journey through the corridors of success with ‘Pathways’, a series that delves deep into the career trajectories of executives, leaders and high performers within the accounting and financial services industry.
Hosted by Atlas Partners, each episode invites you to explore the stories behind the triumphs and challenges faced by our guests on the journey to where they are now.
From navigating the complexities of business to leading teams through turbulent times, each guest offer invaluable insights gleaned from years of experience at the forefront of their field. Through candid conversations, they share pivotal moments, lessons learned and the strategies that propelled them forward.
Whether you’re an aspiring accounting and financial professional seeking guidance or an executive looking for fresh perspectives, ‘Pathways’ provides insight into the fast-paced business landscape, one conversation at a time.
Subscribe now and join us on the journey of career success.
Episode — Johanna Platt
For Ancila Desai, music was her first calling — mastering the violin and guitar long before she ever stepped into a boardroom. But the discipline, precision, and creativity she honed as a musician proved to be the perfect foundation for a career in finance. From retail and logistics to pharmaceuticals and now digital health, she has built an impressive track record of leading complex transformations across diverse industries.
Today, as CFO and Company Secretary of MedAdvisor, Ancila oversees finance, legal, people and culture, and compliance across Australia and the US. In this conversation with Liam, she reflects on her journey from concert halls to the C-suite, the power of mentorship and sponsorship, and why she believes owning your narrative is the key to unlocking opportunity.
Episode — Johanna Platt
From chemical engineering to the C-suite, Johanna Platt has built a career defined by curiosity, adaptability and purposeful leadership. Now CFO of Equity Trustees, she draws on experience across FMCG, logistics, superannuation and investments to lead through growth, transformation and challenge. Johanna sat down with Atlas Director, Liam Killen, to discuss the value of unconventional career moves, lessons from launching Vanguard’s superannuation business, and why staying grounded — and giving back — are central to her leadership philosophy.
Episode — Brandee Wade
Brandee Wade’s career pathway seems to have been ‘written in the stars’ (or, rather the bright lights of Las Vegas). Growing up in USA, she studied an accounting major at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas — fast forward to now, travel 13,000 miles and you’ll find Brandee as the CFO of Crown Resorts. In this candid conversation with Liam Killen, Brandee reflects on what it means to lead with integrity, the lessons she’s taken from both exceptional and difficult leaders, and the personal leap that brought her family halfway across the world.
Episode — Anastasia Crisafi
For Anastasia Crisafi — once an aspiring filmmaker — a career in finance was simply her ‘plan B’. Well, what a backup plan it’s turned out to be — with formative roles at Ernst & Young, Coles Group, and over a decade with Link Group, Anastasia is now the CFO of UniSuper. She has built a reputation for transforming teams, navigating complex transactions, and leading with authenticity. Now overseeing finance and corporate services at one of Australia’s largest super funds, she’s passionate about purpose-driven work, diversity of thought, and creating cultures where people thrive.
Episode — Zack Gurdon
Starting his career in risk in the 90s for Australia Post, and now Chief Risk Officer for Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Zack Gurdon’s career has spanned the full evolution of modern risk management. Zack joined Atlas Director Craig Gorton for our Pathways Podcast to share how a foundation in security and intelligence shaped his leadership, and why it takes strategy, storytelling — and a bit of self efficacy — to step confidently into a CRO role.
Episode — Sigal Pilli
With a career spanning audit, manufacturing and tech, Sigal Pilli has built and led finance teams through growth, change and complexity. Now CFO at SPEE3D, she’s applying her broad experience to a business at the intersection of hardware, software and advanced manufacturing. Sigal sat down with Atlas Director, Liam Killen, to share her take on the evolving role of the CFO, scaling with purpose, and why stepping up—ready or not—has been a defining theme throughout her journey.
Episode — Libby Secomb
From medical laboratories to the executive suite, Libby Secomb’s career journey is anything but conventional. Now CFO for Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Libby brings a rare blend of clinical insight and financial acumen to one of Australia’s leading cancer research and treatment institutions. She joined Atlas Director, Craig Gorton, for our Pathways Podcast to talk about navigating career pivots, overcoming imposter syndrome, and what it takes to lead with purpose in a financially constrained and deeply human sector like healthcare.
Episode — Paul O’Rourke
With over two decades of experience spanning finance, technology and risk — Paul O’Rourke brings a uniquely pragmatic lens to the evolving enterprise risk landscape. Now Chief Risk Officer at Tabcorp, Paul is redefining what that title means, finding ways to encourage business innovation (safely, of course) and building strong, agile and complementary teams, to tackle what lies ahead. He joined Atlas Director, Craig Gorton, for our Pathways Podcast.
Episode — Kate Webster
After an impressive career at the top for Australian Energy Operations, United Energy, CitiPower and Powercor — it’s no surprise that Kate Webster has been entrusted with the role of Group Chief Financial Officer for utilities powerhouse, Jemena. Kate sat down with Craig Gorton, Atlas Director to talk about moving her career abroad, what professional development looks like for her as an executive and career shaping experiences
Episode — Andrew Mellor
Andy Mellor has had a career that many could only dream of — he’s experienced it all, all around the world. A secondment as a fresh faced graduate would kick-off a 20 year stint abroad in the banking world, with Credit Suisse; returning to Australia to play a crucial role in the IPO, capital raising and sale of PointsBet. His wealth of knowledge and experience has led him to Consulting, currently advising GB Energy. He shared some of this wisdom with Atlas Director, Craig Gorton for our Pathways Podcast.
Episode — Sarah Seddon
Sarah Seddon’s time with German owned chemical producer, BASF has been nothing short of impressive, joining the company in the height of COVID as Business Operations Manager, and kicking goal after goal — four years and five promotions later landing her current role of Head of Supply Chain Management. With over 15 years of experience in mining, metals and FMCG and qualified as a Chartered Accountant (ICAANZ), Company Director (GAICD) and a non-technical accreditation in Robotic Process Automation (UiPath) — we’re excited to see where the future takes her.
Episode — Clint May, David Jones
You won’t find many CV’s like Clint May’s. With a track record of delivering business outcomes for major retail brands including Carpet Court and the Spotlight Group — it comes as no surprise that omni-channel power-house David Jones came knocking. The ‘turnaround specialist’ joined Liam Killen, Director of Atlas Partners for Pathways to chat about his rise to Chief Financial Officer, for one of Australia’s household names.
Episode — Glenn Johnson, Zero Latency
Once you find out CFO of Zero Latency, Glenn Johnson’s career began at GM Holden — you know you’re going to be in for a wild ride. Glenn’s resume boasts a timeline of mega companies including Tabcorp, Service Steam, Sensis — and now, Zero Latency, one of the worlds finest virtual reality experiences, renowned for its multiplayer, free-roam VR experience in a warehouse-scale arena. See, wild ride. Glenn sat down with Liam Killen, Director of Atlas Partners to chat about the journey, new adventures, and finding time for passions.
Episode — Carl Walsh, ANZ Worldline
Carl Walsh hasn’t just built a fascinating career, he has lived a fascinating life. As a young man growing up on rugged West Clare coastline in Ireland, he saw the world as his oyster and his career as his ticket. The journey has taken Carl to some of the biggest financial and technology companies in the world, leading him to Melbourne and the role of CFO for ANZ Worldline, a joint venture between ANZ and Worldline. Carl has learned lessons and gained incredible wisdom along the way, which he shared with Liam Killen, for our Pathway Podcast.
Episode — Trent Bond, Sports Entertainment Network (SEN)
It was a series of fortunate events, paired with a career of dedication and hard work — that led to Trent Bond stepping into the role of Chief Financial Officer for Sports Entertainment Network (SEN). Once a young boy who dreamed of a playing AFL, and now a self confessed Arsenal fanatic — the finance leader has found his place in the sports world, doing what he does best, building high performing teams with purpose.
Episode — Sarah Petty, Olive Business Partners
Sarah Petty is a highly accomplished CFO and has successfully led high performing teams both here in Australia and in Singapore. Having worked for several top tier multi-national and ASX listed companies including GE, Kraft Foods, Mondelez, Kellogg’s, Lion, Bega and Target — she has now decided to pursue a different path and follow her passion. Launching Olive Business Partners, playing in the virtual CFO space, Sarah is now helping businesses organise and manage their financials to set them up for long term success.
Episode — Fionn O’Keeffe, Buildxact
A career move into the property tech industry right before the 2008 economic crisis, would prove to be the best bad decision of Fionn O’Keeffe’s career. Though the GFC would dry up the property market overnight, the experience not only thrust Fionn into the growing tech industry, it taught him some of his greatest leadership lessons that set him off on a tremendous path.
Episode — Melissa Azzopardi, Australian Football League (AFL)
Melissa Azzopardi has been kicking career goals since her early days at Carlton & United Breweries (CUB) to now overseeing finance at the most prominent sporting association in Australia, the Australian Football League AFL.
Episode — Mark Lawrence, Western Health
Mark gives his raw and honest account of his transition into public health, his experience coming from the commercial sector and how he sees the immediate future playing out across public health. A direct account of his reflection and prediction.
Episode — Travis Wild, Bunzl Australia & New Zealand
From PwC to joining the automotive industry, Travis has experienced senior roles within a number of challenging – product led manufacturing environments. Follow the journey of someone who reinvents himself in new industries.
Episode — Lance Willie, Oreana Property Group
The ‘legacy’ of working in a competitive industry – Lance runs through what it means to not only navigate the competitive journey to CFO within Property, but how he develops his role and his team around him.
Episode — Rob Halliday, Netball Australia
Rob Halliday has built a fascinating career portfolio across the sport, finance and technology sector — from consulting at a Big4, to Co-Founding powerhouse medical scale-up, Seer — so it’s no surprise that Netball Australia came knocking post-COVID. The Head of Finance sat down with Atlas Director, Liam Killen to discuss career sliding door moments, personal strengths and how a love sport conquers all.
Episode — Oliver Kysela, Endota
From moving from professional services into his first commercial role as Financial Controller, Oliver has walked a path full of challenges which have shaped his CFO capabilities. Craig Gorton, Director of Atlas Partners, sits down with Oliver Kysela, CFO of Endota, and walks through his professional career to date, challenges, mentors and key learnings.
Episode — Beau Turner, Callaway Golf
Be yourself. Stay connected and network. Remain curious and persistent — this is the ethos Beau Turner, Finance Director of Callaway Golf, has built his impressive career on — and the advice he passes on to any aspiring leader. Beau Turner has been instrumental in leading Callaway Golf through the transformative COVID years, witnessing the rebirth of a beloved sport and industry — he sat down with Atlas Partners Director Liam Killen to talk career, CPA and great-shots.
Episode — Robert Galbraith, Hatched Media
Cutting his teeth at a Big-4, diving into a stint in London, and developing a killer skillset across a variety of roles, is what Robert Galbraith credits his career success to.
It’s this diverse and rugged career terrain that has led him to the creative world of the media industry, taking on the role as Chief Financial Officer at owner-led Hatched Media. Rob joined Atlas Director, Liam Killen for our Pathways podcast series to chat finance challenges in the media industry, life at an AFR’s Best Places to Work company and the importance of networks.
Episode — Helena Polas, UniSuper
With a resume that spans KPMG, NAB and now UniSuper, Helena Polas has learnt a thing or two about career success along the journey. The Group Financial Controller of UniSuper, one Australia’s largest superannuation funds, joined Atlas Director, Liam Killen for our Pathways podcast series to chat about navigating the challenges in big business, life in superannuation, the importance of mentor relationships and what it takes to reach the top in finance.
Episode — Mitchell Wu, Annecto
Starting from a non-traditional point in his finance career, Mitch has shown that taking a broad view of finance leadership can provide the ultimate value to an organisation, telling the story in a way which brings everyone on the journey. Atlas Partners Director, Craig Gorton sat down with Mitchell Wu, CFO of Annecto, an aged care and disability provider within the not-for-profit sector. Mitch will discuss his career to date and the transition as CFO from the commercial sector to the not-for-profit sector, along with his three non-negotiables of leadership.
Episode — Tim Bensley, Carpet Call
When Tim Bensley started his career, he wasn’t really convinced that he loved accounting. However rising through the ranks to Group Chief Financial Officer for Carpet Call, has confirmed that Tim not only knows a thing or two about numbers, but that he also has an incredible business brain — playing a key role in cementing the companies position as Australia’s top flooring retailer. Atlas Partners Director, Liam Killen, sat down with Tim to understand what the journey from early days accounting to CFO has been like, and particularly the transition and core differences from Commercial Manager to now Group Chief Financial Officer.
