PLAY WITH THE BEST AND YOU’LL BE FORCED TO RAISE YOUR GAME.

Education

I scored a first in accounting and finance at the university of Western Australia, winning the university's highest academic honour, the Hackett Studentship. I also graduated with an MBA with distinction from the prestigious Ivy League Cornell University, where I was awarded the title Marshall of Program for being the student who demonstrated the highest level of academic and leadership ability.

The Bond Corporation

I cut my teeth working alongside one of Australia's leading entrepreneurs – and national icons – Alan Bond, the first Non US citizen to win the America's Cup. It was a cut throat environment where people either sank or swam – your ability to get deals was the only currency. Working for Bond was a roller coaster ride. Despite being just 29 a when the business collapsed, I was seconded to sit alongside some of the most respected business and professional figures in Australia to preside over a $13bn debt for equity swap.

McKinsey and Co

I spent 3 years at the world's most prestigious management consultancy. Working in the area of FMCG and retail, I honed my strategic and analytical skills and advised some of the world's largest and most ambitious blue chip companies at board level. McKinsey drilled into me the core strategy consulting skills that are crucial to managing any business.

Virgin

It does not get any better than working in the engine room of Virgin reporting directly to Sir Richard Branson. As his Corporate Development Director my role was to forge pastures new. Of the hundreds of business plans that landed on my desk, I had to identify, nurture and grow businesses, either selling or refinancing them for profit. I was involved in many varied and breathtaking ventures from Virgin Direct, One, Active, Vie, Clothes and even Brides. Let's not forget the London Broncos.

Unilever

Directly after I left Virgin, Niall FitzGerald, The Unilever Chairman, was desperate for some startup ability in his organization. Drawing heavily from my experience at Virgin I helped to create Unilever Ventures – a highly effective team working outside the bureaucracy of day to day Unilever to fund and grow startups. Subsequently I partnered with some of their startups including Rocket Lifestyles – a unique food offering ultimately sold to Threshers. During this time I sat alongside Niall Fitzgerald on an internal new business panel reviewing worldwide Unilever startup concepts.

Inside Track, Instant Access Properties

Brought in by the Shareholders and Founders my role was to help engineer a sale. Multi million pound offers were received before the credit crunch scuppered the deal at the last minute but not before the companies were built into some of the largest of their kind in the UK. With offices in Spain, Orlando, London and Hong Kong this business attracted over 100,000 people to education events and sourced more than £500 million of property for over 10,000 clients in a calendar year.

Fuel Investments

This company was built on the back of the property ventures and offered stability. It is an excellent example of maximizing synergistic growth opportunities. Fuel is an innovative mortgage advisor for independent property investors. From a standing start in 2004 the company built up to a high of £550 million mortgages per annum. Fuel is a winner of various industry awards including 'Best Buy To Let Broker' from Mortgage Strategy.

CashBack

The founders needed to add growth and diversity to their existing loyalty play, the largest cashback forum in the U.K, and the answer was a sister company. Launched in 2008, it was one of the newest, most highly ranked offers in cashback. Add a white label strategy and the technology was moving to be fully exploited.