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.
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.
Purpose and authenticity are a winning combination.
Chesne Stafford
Executive General Manager
“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 Chief Growth Officer at HUB24.
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.
Inspire through integrity and authenticity
Jodie Blackledge
Jodie has a proven track record of leading strategic change and delivering sustainable growth.
At Fitzpatricks Group, she successfully navigated the post-Royal Commission environment, transforming the business model and driving profitability.
Jodie is also a Non-Executive Director at Women’s Housing Company Ltd and has served on various boards and committees.
Her leadership is characterized by a focus on teamwork, accountability, and delivering results. Jodie is known for her ability to influence and align stakeholders, bringing challenge and robustness to thinking for better decisions and delivery. She is passionate about empowering teams and fostering a culture of innovation and excellence.
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.
Never lose your sense of adventure
Roni Marques
Chief Transformation & Integration officer
BA(Hons), GradDip Applied Finance & Investment, GradCert Innovation and Entrepreneurship
“Roni has led strategy design and implementation, organisational transformation and change programmes at leading institutions including ANZ and MetLife.
She is a proven leader with over 20 years’ financial services experience”.
Roni officially joined AZ NGA in early 2024 but has consulted to the business since 2015.
Her role includes responsibility for designing and driving strategy implementation and managing the execution of large acquisitions.
As an experienced consultant and senior executive, Roni has a deep understanding of innovation and change management, particularly in the financial services industry. Roni’s diverse background and skills enable her to identify, analyse and address business problems, and develop customised strategies to deliver high quality outcomes.
Talent and shared goals create endless possibilities.
Merilyn Speiser
GM Human Resources
BEc(Accounting); FCA, CAHRI
“Merilyn joined AZ NGA in 2023, following AZ NGA’s acquisition of outsourced HR company, Catalina Consultants.
Merilyn established Catalina Consultants in 2012, after an extensive corporate career”.
Merilyn has over 20 years’ HR and business advisory experience, specialising in accounting and financial services.
At Catalina Consultants, she led a team of 10 HR professionals and worked closely with clients to develop and initiate HR strategy in the areas of talent, leadership, engagement and performance.
Prior to establishing Catalina Consultants, Merilyn held a number of senior HR roles including Partner and Head of HR at international accounting firm, Crowe Horwath (now Findex).
Merilyn’s career objective is to advise business owners and senior executives on all aspects of HR and business strategy in a commercial and humanistic way.
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.