Technology + Financial Services Executive
Profile
I’m a technology and financial services executive, with a career spanning fintech, payments, open banking, insurance and high-growth technology companies.
I started my first business at 18 in the entertainment industry. I later became a Big Four Chartered Accountant, studied Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Stanford University, and moved into technology and financial services.
I’ve been a founder, early-stage employee and executive, holding CEO, COO, CFO and Chief Commercial Officer roles.
At Cover Genius, I joined at an early stage and developed and led the market expansion strategy that became the foundation for XCover, helping take the Australian-founded business into global markets. XCover is now licensed or authorised in 60+ countries and all 50 US states, while Cover Genius is valued at US$1.9 billion.
I then joined TrueLayer to bring its global open banking business to Australia as its first international market, building and launching the regulated Australian business.
At Mastercard, I joined to build the open banking business in Australia from the ground up. Over 3.5 years, I developed the strategy, built the team, product and commercial proposition, and grew the business into a market leader in Australia.
Today, I’m Vice President, Head of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships for Mastercard Australia and New Zealand, where I lead business development and strategic partnerships across the division.
Beyond my executive roles, I’ve founded organisations to help build the industries I’ve worked in. I founded Insurtech Australia and Open Finance ANZ, bringing together startups, financial institutions, technology companies and industry leaders around the future of insurance and open banking. I’m also a champion of Women in Open Banking ANZ.
People, leadership and personal development are a long-standing interest. Alongside my executive career, I co-founded Vitae.coach with my wife and business partner, building a neuroscience-based coaching and learning business focused on helping people, teams and leaders perform at their best.
Outside work, I’m a proud father, keen cook, road cyclist, snowboard instructor, wine collector and alright golfer. I also spent a decade as an international DJ.
Career
Leading business development and strategic partnerships across the division, working with financial institutions, technology companies and partners to drive growth and new opportunities.
Built the Australian open banking business from the ground up: strategy, team, product and commercial proposition. Grew it into a market leader over 3.5 years, including Australia's first Consumer Data Right pilot in the rental sector.
Brought a global open banking business into Australia as its first international market, building and launching the regulated Australian business and leading strategy, product and operations.
Joined at an early stage and developed the market expansion strategy that became the foundation for XCover, scaling operations across three continents.
Established the national insurtech association and built it into the industry's primary representative body.
Led strategy and new business while aligning operations and finances behind the company’s growth plans across Australia, Asia and the US. Flamingo, a subsidiary of ASX-listed Cre8tek, built a cognitive virtual assistant platform for selling complex financial products online.
Embedded innovation across the organisation and improved MetLife’s customer experience and new product development.
Advised privately owned businesses and government organisations on innovation strategy, practice and culture, and worked with high-growth technology companies and startups on funding and growth plans. Concurrently ran elevate61, the KPMG and Advance accelerator for late-stage tech enterprises pursuing global growth.
Advised privately owned and fast-growth businesses on corporate structure, capital raising, valuations and financial models, government incentives and compliance, alongside specialist advisory work on innovation capability.
Advised SMEs and large multinationals on tax risk and commercial matters, and worked with entrepreneurs and startups on structure, capital, valuations and incentives while leading business development for the practice.
Corporate tax advisory for Australian and multinational clients out of Adelaide.
Started my career in corporate tax, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant.
Education & credentials
My qualifications span innovation, finance, commercial strategy, and legal and risk. It means financial complexity, governance and commercial decision-making are areas I work in directly, not ones I hand over.
Current focus
Business development and strategic partnerships across Mastercard’s Australia and New Zealand division.
Alongside that, I help run Open Finance ANZ and spend a good deal of time building with AI. I write about most of it in Thinking.