Atlas Partners Podcast
by Atlas Partners
Conversations that shape careers and industries.Welcome to The Atlas Partners Podcast — a space where business, leadership, and career growth converge. Each episode, we bring you compelling conversations with the executive leaders shaping some of the biggest companies in Australia and abroad. ‘Pathways’ explores the career journeys and insights of leaders in accounting and financial services; and ‘Game Changers’, goes behind the scenes with the executives driving commercial success in Australian sport, media, and entertainment.Led by the team behind Atlas Partners, Liam Killen and Craig Gorton — this podcast is grounded in our mission to empower the next generation of business leaders through meaningful conversations and practical insights.Whether you're an emerging professional, an executive leader, or simply curious about the people and strategies shaping high-performing industries, this is your front-row seat to candid stories, bold ideas, and the lessons no one teaches you in a
Episodes
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Payroll Perspectives — Sean Ganim
In Season 2 of Payroll Perspectives, Shawny Smith speaks with payroll compliance lead Sean Ganim about why payroll errors often begin outside the payroll team. They explore wage theft, data integrity, system configuration and the growing need for cross-functional accountability, before reflecting...
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S2 E5- Payroll Perspective — Di Hill
Payroll systems specialist Di Hill joins Shawny Smith to explore the complexity behind accurate pay, from enterprise agreement interpretation and healthcare rosters to implementation, documentation and data quality. They also discuss practical uses for AI, growing salary pressures and why…
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Payroll Perspective — Agnes Achetraritei
From global payroll deadlines to fast-growing businesses, Agnes Achetraritei has learned that reliable pay depends on strong controls, local expertise and adaptable systems. She joins Shawny Smith on Payroll Perspectives to discuss career paths beyond people management, technology decisions…
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Payroll Perspective — James Petrella
Payroll manager James Petrella joins Shawny Smith to discuss the transition from processing to leadership, and the responsibility behind every pay run. Drawing on experience in outsourced payroll and the not-for-profit sector, James explores professional curiosity, knowledge sharing, developing...
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Payroll Perspectives — Kate May
In this episode of Payroll Perspectives, Shawny Smith sits down with Kate May, Payroll Manager at Aurora Dairies, to talk about career growth, leadership and the changing demands of payroll. Kate shares what she has learned from moving from hospitality into the dairy and agriculture sector, how…
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Payroll Perspectives — Kelly Pora
In this episode of Payroll Perspectives, Kelly Pora joins us to talk about the realities of leading payroll through change — from navigating a major Dayforce implementation and increasingly complex compliance obligations, to preparing for Payday Super and building trust across the business. Kelly...
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Payroll Perspectives — Kate Murnig
What's are the key things that Kate Murnig (nee May), Payroll Manager of Pan Pacific Hotels Group looks for in a team-mate? Atlas Parters Manager, Shawny Smith asked her this very question on her new series 'Payroll Perspectives' – meaningful conversations with leaders in the industry, discussing...
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Payroll Perspectives — Rebecca Fletcher
It’s Rebecca Fletcher‘s near two-decades of experience across Payroll and Human Resources that has seen her work her way from Payroll Officer, to now managing a new division at Alfred Health. As Manager of Employee Connect, The Alfreds innovative approach to managing the sheer amount of...
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Payroll Perspectives — Tania Fenech
Tania Fenech didn’t choose a career in payroll — it chose her — straight out of school, while she was working part time for Coles. Twenty-five years later, she has built a phenomenal career honing her craft across various industries, leading to become the Payroll Manager at Hall and Wilcox. Tania...
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Payroll Perspectives — Karl McKenna
Combine English teaching, Japan, MYOB, and the business opportunity of a lifetime — and you can get a very unexpected career pivot into Payroll. Karl McKenna, Consulting Manager for NLC Payroll chats to us about the other side of payroll, outsourced teams, and how he’s seen the industry change in...
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Payroll Perspectives — Paris Urquhart
'Falling' into Payroll has been a lucky happenstance for Paris Urquhart — and it's turned into almost two decades of luck, backed by hard work. Now the Payroll Manager for Wilson Security, Paris has built an appreciation and genuine passion for the career-choice that used to fly under the radar....
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Game Changers — Julie Struthers, State Sport Centres
From Edinburgh to Melbourne’s sporting heart. For Julie Struthers, GM of Finance at the State Sports Centres Trust, it’s been a career defined by curiosity, transformation and purpose. In this episode of Game Changers, Julie reflects on her journey from chartered accounting in Scotland to…
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Game Changers — Clemency Mdaya, Australian Grand Prix
In this episode of Game Changers, host Liam Killen sits down with Clemency Mdaya, Division Finance Manager at the Australian Grand Prix. From his roots in Zimbabwe to leading the finance team behind one of the biggest sporting events on Australia’s calendar, Clem shares a career journey that’s...
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Pathways — Sandra Chui, Merricks Capital
In this episode of the Pathways Podcast, Liam sits down with Sandra Chui, Chief Operating Officer at Merricks Capital, to explore the experiences that have shaped her as a leader. From the intensity of CFO roles and the challenges of steering organisations through periods of transformation, to…
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Pathways — Natalie Morwood, Luxury Escapes
For Natalie Morwood, CFO of Luxury Escapes, curiosity and courage have been the constant drivers of her career. From the early days of accounting to leading in the fast-moving world of global travel, she’s built her success by leaning into change, backing herself, and saying yes to opportunities…
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Pathways — Ancila Desai, MedAdvisor
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...
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Pathways — Johanna Platt, Equity Trustees
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....
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Game Changers — Leigh Taylor, Sydney Swans
From Balance Sheets to Buddy’s 1000th. For Leigh Taylor, CFO of the Sydney Swans, it’s been a journey defined by curiosity, courage and culture. In this episode of Game Changers, Leigh reflects on his shift from professional services into elite sport — charting a path from Deloitte in the early...
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Pathways — Brandee Wade, Crown Resorts
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...
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Game Changers — Todd Day, Australian Olympic Committee
From rugby to the rings — Todd Day on leading through sport’s biggest shifts. In this episode of Game Changers, Liam Killen, Director of Atlas Partners sits down with Todd Day, Chief Operating Officer of the Australian Olympic Committee, to unpack a career that’s spanned finance, media, and some…
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Pathways — Anastasia Crisafi, UniSuper
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…
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Pathways — Zack Gurdon, ASIC
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…
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Pathways — Sigal Pilli, SPEE3D
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...
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Pathways — Libby Secomb, Peter Mac
From medical laboratories to the executive suite, Libby Secomb’s career journey is anything but conventional. Now CFO at 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...
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Pathways — Paul O’Rourke, Tabcorp
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,...
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Pathways — Kate Webster, Jemena
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...
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Pathways — Andy Mellor, Consultant
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...
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Pathways — Sarah Seddon, BASF
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...
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Pathways — 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,...
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Pathways — 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...
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Pathways — 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…
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Pathways — Trent Bond, 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...
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Pathways — Oliver Kysela, Endota
***Please note: The introduction to Oliver's interview was unfortunately cut-off due to a technical issue in recording. 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…
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Pathways — 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…
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Pathways — Melissa Azzopardi, 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. She sat down with Liam Killen, Director Atlas Partners to chat through…
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Pathways — 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. Craig Gorton, Director of Atlas Partners sits down...
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Pathways — 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...
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Pathways — 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. Craig Gorton, Director of Atlas Partners sits down with Lance to talk through his rise to...
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Travis Wild — The art of career reinvention
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. Craig Gorton, Director of Atlas Partners, takes time to walk through the...
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Pathways — 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 medial scale-up, Seer — so it’s no surprise that Netball Australia came knocking post-COVID. The Head of Finance sat down with Atlas…
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Pathways — 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…
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Pathways — Rob Galbraith, Hatched Media
“…Don't be afraid to try those things, suggest improvements, and make them. If you're trying to test something or improve it, you don't need permission to do that. Most places will be pretty happy that you've taken the initiative and done something” Cutting his teeth at a Big-4, diving into a…
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Pathways — Helena Polas, UniSuper
“Leadership is really hard. I feel uncomfortable probably about 85% of the time. It really pushes you to your limits. So if you're not someone who likes to play outside your comfort zone, probably not for you” With a resume that spans KPMG, NAB and now UniSuper, Helena Polas has learnt a thing or...
About this show
Conversations that shape careers and industries.Welcome to The Atlas Partners Podcast — a space where business, leadership, and career growth converge. Each episode, we bring you compelling conversations with the executive leaders shaping some of the biggest companies in Australia and abroad. ‘Pathways’ explores the career journeys and insights of leaders in accounting and financial services; and ‘Game Changers’, goes behind the scenes with the executives driving commercial success in Australian sport, media, and entertainment.Led by the team behind Atlas Partners, Liam Killen and Craig Gorton — this podcast is grounded in our mission to empower the next generation of business leaders through meaningful conversations and practical insights.Whether you're an emerging professional, an executive leader, or simply curious about the people and strategies shaping high-performing industries, this is your front-row seat to candid stories, bold ideas, and the lessons no one teaches you in a
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Atlas Partners
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