Experience

Pallas Capital

• Australia
• Financial Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• General Counsel and Group Company Secretary

  • Jan 2021 - Present



Challenger Limited

• Australia
• Financial Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior Legal Counsel, Real Estate, Funds Management

  • Jul 2007 - Dec 2020

  Operating as part of the senior leadership team and proxy General Counsel for Real Estate & Funds Management, I facilitate growth through transaction management and the oversight of all legal and risk matters related to the business. Since joining in 2007 (to 2009) and returning in 2011, I have worked in partnership with a variety of commercial stakeholders up to Board level, participating in strategy and execution to protect business interests while driving the achievement of global expansion objectives. Today, I continue in this capacity, managing the execution of corporate strategy for Challenger’s real estate business across ANZ, Asia, Japan and Europe, mentoring project teams of 10+ in the management of technically complex transactional activities.• General oversight and overall responsibility for transaction management and execution involving the acquisition, disposal and development of real estate assets with a total transactional value of +A$4.8BN, across Asia-Pacific markets spanning the commercial, retail, industrial, hospitality and agri sectors;• Awarded Employee of the Year for a landmark transaction involving a joint investment with a Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund and Vicinity Centres in a portfolio of shopping centres;• Established a presence in Japan to facilitate global business expansion, leading all corporate structuring and securing necessary regulatory licences to operate local asset management capability, navigating complexities of legal structures and operating culture;• Acted as Lead Counsel on a number of corporate investment initiatives, including secured lending transactions and strategic capital raising activities to propel growth.

• Legal Counsel, Real Estate, Funds Management

  • Jul 2007 - Aug 2009



Stockland

• Australia
• Real Estate
• 700 & Above Employee

• Legal Counsel, Residential Legal, Residential Communities (Contract)

  • Sep 2010 - Sep 2011

  A contract role, I was engaged to drive forward momentum across the project pipeline, providing legal advice to the business on acquiring greenfield land and obtaining rezoning and related planning approvals to create new residential communities. Throughout, I provided timely, commercially focussed legal advice to the executive team and worked closely with the business, CFO, and commercial managers in structuring solutions required to implement strategic and new business initiatives. • Created a new financing business model expanding the business into financial services, a new business line that has facilitated sales and subsequently progressed to become a significant revenue contributor. • Provided recommendations on transaction structuring on all facets of property transactions (including stamp duty, GST, tax and accounting treatment) in order to deliver benefits to the business in minimising risks or improving financial outcomes.



Norton Rose Fulbright

• United Kingdom
• Law Practice
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior Associate, Real Estate Group

  • Aug 2005 - Sep 2010

  Joining in 2005 (to 2007) and returning in 2009, I acted on behalf of leading institutional clients (including Australian and offshore property funds) across the commercial, retail, industrial, hospitality, agri and residential sectors, while serving as the primary contact for key clients, including Challenger and Goodman. Advising both buy- and sell-side clients, I supported high profile acquisitions and disposals, providing C-level legal guidance to ensure successful client outcomes. A varied role, I also advised on all facets of real estate and development law to deliver client outcomes.• Represented blue-chip real estate private equity sponsors and managers, investors and developers in their investment, development and ongoing asset management activities;• Led multi-million dollar acquisitions and disposals involving premier real estate assets in capital and other major cities;• Utilised previous in-house experience at Challenger to bring a commercial approach to the role, adding value in line with client priorities.

• Associate, Real Estate Group

  • Aug 2005 - Jul 2007