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Executive operations leader with direct accountability across operations, governance, and finance, engaged when organisations enter complexity that can no longer be managed informally. I take ownership of stabilising systems, restoring financial and reporting control, and enabling decisions executives and boards can defend. I work with organisations during scale, transition, recovery, and regulatory pressure where weak structure, unclear authority, or poor information flow constrain performance. The focus is on making organisations operable under real conditions without introducing unnecessary bureaucracy. This work includes designing and rebuilding reporting architecture, decision frameworks, and accountability structures that hold under regulatory, financial, and board scrutiny. I am most effective in founder-led and high-growth organisations where ambition is high, structure has lagged capability, and trust matters. I work closely with founders, executives, and boards in roles that require judgement, disciplined execution, and durable operating design. Measured outcomes include organisational stability, improved decision quality, and operating systems that function independently.
Experience: 11 years
Yearly salary: $220,000
Hourly rate: $180
Nationality: 🇦🇺 Australia
Residency: 🇦🇺 Australia
Experience
Head of People, Finance & Operations
Community College Gippsland Ltd 2021 - 2023
Appointed during a period of organisational instability and governance breakdown, with executive responsibility for stabilising operations, restoring financial control, and rebuilding executive and board confidence ahead of a CEO transition. Held executive accountability across people, finance, ICT, and operations within a complex regulated education environment. Reset core operating disciplines, clarified decision authority, and strengthened executive and board reporting to support defensible governance and regulatory assurance. Led the end-to-end implementation of Sage Intacct ERP, restoring financial control, reporting integrity, and compliance confidence. Restored visibility of cash flow, commitments, and performance to support executive and board decision making. Selected and implemented Employment Hero HRIS, establishing compliant and scalable people, payroll, and workforce systems. Reduced operational risk and strengthened management accountability across the organisation. Provided leadership continuity through multi stream change, ensuring systems held under pressure while rebuilding organisational capability and executive confidence.
Founder and Principal Consultant
Callinan Advisory 2013 - 2026
Specialise in embedded executive operations and governance support for organisations undergoing scale, transition, or regulatory pressure. Across this period, I have been both permanently appointed into executive roles and engaged in advisory capacities, often concurrently. In permanent appointments, I have held full executive accountability across operations, governance, and finance. In advisory engagements, I have operated in embedded roles with delegated authority and clear outcome ownership. Mandates have focused on stabilising operating models, restoring reporting and financial control, clarifying decision authority, and supporting executives and boards through periods of organisational constraint. Partnered with founders and boards in scale stage and regulated environments to prepare organisations for institutional engagement. Delivered operating and governance frameworks that held under regulatory and investor scrutiny.
Administration Manager, Asia Pacific
Wood Group PSN 2010 - 2013
Held regional operational accountability for workforce administration, business support, and regional budget management across Asia Pacific within a global, highly regulated energy services environment supporting complex offshore project delivery. Managed large-scale multi award payroll operations, property and lease portfolios, and regional operating budgets. Ensured compliance, accuracy, and control across multiple jurisdictions with differing regulatory and industrial requirements. Contributed as part of the Australian project team to the implementation of a global ERP platform, coordinating regional requirements and supporting improvements in financial control, reporting accuracy, and operational visibility. Acted as management representative and lead negotiator for offshore workforce enterprise bargaining negotiations, engaging with multiple union delegates to reach agreement while maintaining operational continuity and regulatory compliance. Partnered with the Finance Director, HR Director, and CEO to integrate processes across finance, HR, and project delivery, strengthening regional governance and risk management.
Senior Accountant
Wellington Shire Council 2007 - 2010
Held senior financial responsibility within local government, supporting statutory reporting, capital works, and investment management in a regulated public sector environment. Provided financial analysis and decision support to executive management, strengthening compliance, financial governance, and transparency across council operations.
Interim Finance and Operations Leadership
East Gippsland Shire Council 2003 - 2007
Engaged in interim finance and operations leadership during extended post disaster recovery, with responsibility for stabilising financial systems, restoring reporting integrity, and supporting executive and ministerial decision making. Led crisis period coordination across finance, operations, and recovery programs, including direct liaison with state government and development of a centralised recovery intelligence system later adopted more broadly across government.
Senior Consultant – Corporate Advisory
Hindal Corporate 1999 - 2002
Provided corporate advisory support across capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, and financial analysis, gaining early exposure to transaction environments, governance considerations, and executive decision support.
Skills
business-development
compliance
contracting
contractor
executive
finance
remote
strategy
operations