Partner at KPMG
Melbourne, VIC
TMA member since 2015

I’m a partner in the Turnaround and Restructuring team at KPMG and the national lead of our counterparty assessment team. I combine my communication, negotiation and strategic skills with my compassion to work with companies and their stakeholders and help them restructure, survive and thrive.

I’m very fortunate to have worked across multiple jurisdictions including Australia, the UK and the Caribbean. I'm also very proud to be the co-chair of the TMA National Conference committee.

What I enjoy most about working in the turnaround industry is the mix of people, pressure, and purpose. We step into complex and often messy situations with the opportunity to untangle problems and create solutions. While I’m an accounting nerd at heart, it’s the human side of engagements that energises me. I thrive on blending technical expertise with emotional intelligence to deliver meaningful outcomes.

I first got involved with TMA when I moved to Australia in 2015, I knew only one person in the restructuring industry, my husband. Within a few weeks, I attended a TMA NextGen event. Since then, TMA has been a big part of the process of building my professional network. TMA has offered me invaluable opportunities to connect with peers, learn from others, and contribute to the industry that has supported me along the way.

Something that my colleagues or fellow TMA members would be surprised to learn about me: I’m an avid podcast listener. Some of my current favourites include Fear and Greed, The Rest is Politics, The Fin, The Turnaround, and Insol Talks.

The best piece of professional advice I’ve ever been given is: “It’s a marathon, not a sprint.” This simple advice has helped me a lot over the last few years. On a personal level it’s a good reminder to slow down sometimes. At work, it’s a good reminder to prioritise long-term results over short-term wins and to approach challenges with patience and persistence.

The best thing about being a TMA member is the network. TMA brings together the people you want to work with, across firms, across sectors, and at every stage of your career. Being part of such a diverse and engaged community is invaluable. It’s not just about connecting; it’s about exchanging ideas, learning from others, and building meaningful relationships.

One area of reform that I’d like to see for the turnaround and restructuring market: Coming from the UK, it took me a while to adjust to the lack of pre-pack legislation in Australia. Pre-packs can be incredibly effective in preserving value and saving jobs while providing businesses a structured path to recover. I think there’s merit in exploring how a tailored version of pre-pack legislation could be introduced in Australia to benefit stakeholders across the board.

Learn more about Emily and KPMG.