Atlas Partners Podcast

'Falling' into Payroll has been a lucky happenstance for Paris Urquhart — and it's turned into almost two decades of luck, backed by hard work. Now the Payroll Manager for Wilson Security, Paris has built an appreciation and genuine passion for the career-choice that used to fly under the radar. She sat down with Shawny Smith, for Payroll Perspectives.

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Atlas Partners Manager of Accounting Support and Payroll, Shawny Smith, has launched her new series Payroll Perspectives – meaningful conversations with leaders in the industry, discussing their journey and the ever-evolving world of payroll.

The series delves into what is takes to succeed as an expert in the field, the biggest challenges our guests have faced, and their tips to growing and progressing in payroll.

From Edinburgh to Melbourne’s sporting heart. For Julie Struthers, GM of Finance at the State Sports Centres Trust, it’s been a career defined by curiosity, transformation and purpose. In this episode of Game Changers, Julie reflects on her journey from chartered accounting in Scotland to executive leadership across banking, finance transformation and now high-performance sport.

She shares how a phone call in London set her on a path to Australia, the lessons learned building teams and saving over 100,000 hours at NAB, and why aligning work with personal values became her ultimate career pivot.

Julie also opens up about leadership, building flexible workplaces, and the power of using finance “superpowers” for good — ensuring more Victorians can access world-class sporting facilities.

In this episode of Game Changers, host Liam Killen sits down with Clemency Mdaya, Division Finance Manager at the Australian Grand Prix. From his roots in Zimbabwe to leading the finance team behind one of the biggest sporting events on Australia’s calendar, Clem shares a career journey that’s anything but predictable. He talks about breaking into the industry during the global financial crisis, navigating the uncertainty of COVID-19, and how Drive to Survive transformed Formula 1 into a global phenomenon.

Beyond the track, Clem is also an entrepreneur, building tools to help small businesses make sense of their numbers through his venture, Marginfy. In this conversation, he opens up about leadership, storytelling through finance, the pressures of race week, and why embracing risk has been central to his success.

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Game Changers: The Business of Sport & Entertainment is a podcast that goes behind the scenes with the CFOs, COOs, and Executives shaping the industry. Each episode dives into the commercial strategies, career journeys, and financial decisions driving success in Australian sport, media, and entertainment. If you're curious about what happens beyond the scoreboard or the stage, this is where the real game is played.

In this episode of the Pathways Podcast, Liam sits down with Sandra Chui, Chief Operating Officer at Merricks Capital, to explore the experiences that have shaped her as a leader. From the intensity of CFO roles and the challenges of steering organisations through periods of transformation, to the importance of balance, authenticity, and confidence in executive spaces, Sandra shares the lessons that have stayed with her.

It’s a conversation about growth, resilience, and leadership — and how the choices we make along the way can open unexpected doors.

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A journey through the corridors of success with ‘Pathways’, a series that delves deep into the career trajectories of executives, leaders and high performers within the accounting and financial services industry. Hosted by Atlas Partners, each episode invites you to explore the stories behind the triumphs and challenges faced by our guests on the journey to where they are now. From navigating the complexities of business to leading teams through turbulent times, each guest offer invaluable insights gleaned from years of experience at the forefront of their field. Through candid conversations, they share pivotal moments, lessons learned and the strategies that propelled them forward.

For Natalie Morwood, CFO of Luxury Escapes, curiosity and courage have been the constant drivers of her career. From the early days of accounting to leading in the fast-moving world of global travel, she’s built her success by leaning into change, backing herself, and saying yes to opportunities — even when they felt daunting.

In this conversation with Liam Killen, Natalie reflects on the lessons that shaped her path to CFO, the value of self-belief, and why embracing uncertainty can open the door to growth.

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A journey through the corridors of success with ‘Pathways’, a series that delves deep into the career trajectories of executives, leaders and high performers within the accounting and financial services industry. Hosted by Atlas Partners, each episode invites you to explore the stories behind the triumphs and challenges faced by our guests on the journey to where they are now. From navigating the complexities of business to leading teams through turbulent times, each guest offer invaluable insights gleaned from years of experience at the forefront of their field. Through candid conversations, they share pivotal moments, lessons learned and the strategies that propelled them forward.

For Ancila Desai, music was her first calling — mastering the violin and guitar long before she ever stepped into a boardroom. But the discipline, precision, and creativity she honed as a musician proved to be the perfect foundation for a career in finance.

From retail and logistics to pharmaceuticals and now digital health, she has built an impressive track record of leading complex transformations across diverse industries.

Today, as CFO and Company Secretary of MedAdvisor, Ancila oversees finance, legal, people and culture, and compliance across Australia and the US.

In this conversation with Liam, she reflects on her journey from concert halls to the C-suite, the power of mentorship and sponsorship, and why she believes owning your narrative is the key to unlocking opportunity.

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A journey through the corridors of success with ‘Pathways’, a series that delves deep into the career trajectories of executives, leaders and high performers within the accounting and financial services industry. Hosted by Atlas Partners, each episode invites you to explore the stories behind the triumphs and challenges faced by our guests on the journey to where they are now. From navigating the complexities of business to leading teams through turbulent times, each guest offer invaluable insights gleaned from years of experience at the forefront of their field. Through candid conversations, they share pivotal moments, lessons learned and the strategies that propelled them forward.

From chemical engineering to the C-suite, Johanna Platt has built a career defined by curiosity, adaptability and purposeful leadership. Now CFO of Equity Trustees, she draws on experience across FMCG, logistics, superannuation and investments to lead through growth, transformation and challenge. Johanna sat down with Atlas Director, Liam Killen, to discuss the value of unconventional career moves, lessons from launching Vanguard’s superannuation business, and why staying grounded — and giving back — are central to her leadership philosophy.

A journey through the corridors of success with ‘Pathways’, a series that delves deep into the career trajectories of executives, leaders and high performers within the accounting and financial services industry. Hosted by Atlas Partners, each episode invites you to explore the stories behind the triumphs and challenges faced by our guests on the journey to where they are now. From navigating the complexities of business to leading teams through turbulent times, each guest offer invaluable insights gleaned from years of experience at the forefront of their field. Through candid conversations, they share pivotal moments, lessons learned and the strategies that propelled them forward.

From Balance Sheets to Buddy’s 1000th. For Leigh Taylor, CFO of the Sydney Swans, it’s been a journey defined by curiosity, courage and culture. In this episode of Game Changers, Leigh reflects on his shift from professional services into elite sport — charting a path from Deloitte in the early days, to key executive roles at the AFL, GWS Giants, and now the Swans. He shares lessons in leadership, financial strategy, and why he sees the CFO as the centre half-back of any organisation. A must-listen for future finance leaders and anyone passionate about the business side of sport.

Game Changers: The Business of Sport & Entertainment is a podcast that goes behind the scenes with the CFOs, COOs, and Executives shaping the industry. Each episode dives into the commercial strategies, career journeys, and financial decisions driving success in Australian sport, media, and entertainment. If you're curious about what happens beyond the scoreboard or the stage, this is where the real game is played.

Brandee Wade’s career pathway seems to have been ‘written in the stars’ (or, rather the bright lights of Las Vegas). Growing up in USA, she studied an accounting major at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas — fast forward to now, travel 13,000 miles and you’ll find Brandee as the CFO of Crown Resorts. In this candid conversation with Liam Killen, Brandee reflects on what it means to lead with integrity, the lessons she’s taken from both exceptional and difficult leaders, and the personal leap that brought her family halfway across the world. 

From rugby to the rings — Todd Day on leading through sport’s biggest shifts. In this episode of Game Changers, Liam Killen, Director of Atlas Partners sits down with Todd Day, Chief Operating Officer of the Australian Olympic Committee, to unpack a career that’s spanned finance, media, and some of the most high-stakes decisions in Australian sport. From rebuilding NSW Rugby and navigating economic turbulence at Rugby Australia, to delivering Tokyo 2020 and shaping the road to Brisbane 2032, Todd shares candid reflections on leadership, legacy, and the complex business of sport.

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Game Changers: The Business of Sport & Entertainment is a podcast that goes behind the scenes with the CFOs, COOs, and Executives shaping the industry. Each episode dives into the commercial strategies, career journeys, and financial decisions driving success in Australian sport, media, and entertainment. If you're curious about what happens beyond the scoreboard or the stage, this is where the real game is played.