Always
back the entrepreneurs
Paul Barrett
Founder & Group CEO
B. Com
“Paul established AZ NGA in 2015, after a career as a senior executive at some of Australia’s leading banking and financial services institutions including the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, ANZ Bank and Rothschild.”
Originally from New Zealand, Paul graduated from Victoria University in Wellington. He came to Australia in 1998 and held roles with Connelly Temple, Rothschild before being appointed General Manager of the CBA’s Financial Wisdom dealer group and later General Manager of Distribution for the bank’s wealth arm, Colonial First State.
After seven years at the CBA, he joined ANZ Wealth Management, rising to Managing Director, Global Advice and Distribution.
In 2014, Paul helped 4 Pines Brewing Company establish its first Board, serving as the group’s inaugural Chairman. During a period of significant growth and expansion, he guided the group to become a Certified B Corporation and oversaw its 2017 acquisition by global giant Anheuser-Busch InBev. Paul is also Chair of the 4 Pines Advisory Committee.
It is not the critic who counts, it is the person in the arena
Nathan Jacobsen
“Nathan Jacobsen is a highly respected executive with a 16‑year track record in wealth management, known for his ability to drive growth, lead transformation, and deliver strategic clarity across complex organisations.”
Before joining VBP and AZ NGA, Nathan served as Managing Director at Diverger, where he led strategic growth initiatives and strengthened the group’s competitive positioning. His earlier career includes senior executive roles at HUB24 as Group Executive, Advice & Technology Solutions, and multiple General Manager positions at Perpetual Private, where he delivered major business improvement, client experience and transformation programs.
Nathan also brings experience in strategy and management consulting, advising leading financial institutions on organisational design, competitiveness and growth pathways. Beginning his career as an officer in the Australian Navy, Nathan’s leadership approach is grounded in discipline, clarity and high‑performance teamwork. Â
He brings deep industry expertise and a proven track record in operational excellence, cultural uplift and transformation.
Purpose and authenticity are a winning combination
Chesne Stafford
CHIEF GROWTH OFFICER
“Chesne has over 23 years of financial services experience, spanning investments and superannuation, wealth management, and life insurance.
Prior to joining AZ NGA in July 2024, Chesne was a member of the HUB24 executive team”
Chesne is an experienced and extremely capable leader, who has held senior executive roles at leading financial institutions including MetLife, ANZ Wealth and NAB Wealth.
At HUB24, she led a team of 70 people and had responsibility for driving growth in revenue and market share through strategic sales and marketing initiatives. As a key member of HUB24’s Group Executive team, Chesne played a critical role in the ongoing development and execution of the group’s strategy, culture and performance.
At AZ NGA, Chesne’s main focus will be on executing our Super Firm strategy and working closely with our member firms to help them meet their growth ambitions.
From numbers to information to understanding
Julian Dodman
Chief Financial Officer
BA (Hons) Econ
“Julian is Group Chief Financial Officer at AZ NGA, responsible for leading the Group’s financial strategy, performance and capital management while supporting the continued growth of the business.”
Julian brings more than 25 years of leadership experience across financial services, data and analytics, telecommunications and infrastructure.
Prior to joining AZ NGA, he served as Chief Financial Officer at illion and held senior finance and commercial leadership roles with organisations including Sydney Airport, AAPT and Optus. His experience spans financial management, commercial strategy, business transformation and supporting organisations through periods of growth and change.
Innovate everything
Yasemin Onat
Head of M&A
B.Math, DipFinMarkets, DipFinPlan
“Yasemin is a specialist corporate governance and mergers & acquisitions (M&A) professional, who has helped businesses identify suitable targets, conduct due diligence, structure and execute deals.”
Prior to joining AZ NGA in January 2020, Yasemin honed her skills
and knack for doing deals at an accounting and corporate advisory firm.
Yasemin is passionate about helping AZ NGA maximise the value of the business and achieve the strategic goals through effective expansion and acquisition strategy, and corporate structuring.
Yasemin was previously a Trustee Director of an industry superannuation fund. In addition to her responsibilities for the scheme’s governance, Yasemin was also Chair of the fund’s Investment Committee and a member of the Risk Committee.
Her extensive financial services experience and qualifications; spanning superannuation, financial planning and corporate compliance, make her an invaluable addition to AZ Next Generation Advisory.
True transformation happens when people are empowered to reach their full potential.
Tanya Dawson
Chief People Officer
Prior to joining AZ NGA, she held roles at ClearView Wealth, Cuscal Payments, and previously served as Global Group Chief People Officer at Zurich Cover More Group.
Tanya’s earlier career included executive HR roles at Vodafone Australia, Fairfax Media, Foxtel and PwC UK, where she led major programs in organisational development, leadership capability, cultural uplift and workforce transformation.
Tanya is known for pragmatic, people first execution—uplifting culture and capability, building leadership depth, and aligning HR strategy to commercial outcomes. She brings a strong commitment to cultivating high performing, people driven environments.
Question
everything
Paul Brain
Founder and Partner Growth
B. Math
“Paul is a former aerospace engineer and management consultant who migrated from the UK to Sydney’s sunny northern beaches, where he met Paul Barrett. The pair established AZ NGA in 2015.”
Since 2015 Paul has successfully executed over 90 M&A transactions and subsequently transitioned these businesses into the AZ NGA federated model, whilst ensuring entrepreneurialism is maintained.
As a management consultant, Paul Brain successfully implemented capital programs valued in excess of $100million for both domestic and international clients.
His engineering background, attention to detail and critical thinking along with his experience in finance, life insurance and business management, ensures a high standard of operational excellence at AZ NGA.
We gain insights through data.
Tony Carter
B.App.Sci (Computing)
“Tony is a technology and data professional with extensive experience delivering value to organisations. He is a strategic thinker with commercial acumen, who utilizes data to identify and solve business problems”.
Tony graduated from the University of Technology of Sydney with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Computing. He was brought on in 2017 to implement AZ NGA’s data strategy.
Data driven decision making is now at the core of AZ NGA’s M&A activities and performance support. This data capability has allowed AZ NGA to keep ahead of the significant industry changes currently occurring and expected to continue over coming years.
Armed with group wide performance insights, Tony has undertaken a program of work to optimize firm performance in terms of both revenue growth and cost utilization.
Tony’s extensive management & solution experience, in a variety of industries (consulting, insurance, media, health) and organizational types (start-up, SME, corporate, transformational), equips him to provide the right solutions & commercial outcomes for AZ Next Generation Advisory and its group of firms.
Be positive to inspire change
Shannon Wood
Head of Business Improvement
BA DipFin
“Shannon is a business transformation expert. She leads change to drive productivity, improve workplace engagement and strengthen client experience.”
Shannon joined AZ NGA in September 2022. She has over 15 years of financial services experience, primarily in operations, strategy and business transformation.
Shannon has proven experience leading transformation programs, encompassing a strategic redesign across technology, business processes and organisational culture. Shannon is passionate about helping businesses grow and achieve their goals by harnessing digital technology and data insights.
Prior to joining AZ NGA, Shannon was General Manager of Operations and held Practice Manager roles at a number of boutique accounting, financial planning and business advisory firms.
Never stop
asking questions
Dominic Chiera
Chief Financial Officer
BScEcon, CPA, GradCertMgt
“Dominic is an experienced Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary”.
Over the past 25 years he has worked as CFO for ASX-listed entities, private equity organisations and private companies in a range of sectors including property, retail and facilities management.
Dominic joined AZ NGA in 2020, bringing extensive commercial and finance experience. In addition to his role as the group’s CFO, he also manages the Outsourced CFO team for AZ NGA member firm, People and Partners.
Dominic is married with two children. His interests include sports and current affairs.