Our friendly, local team.
Advice from experts who live and breathe regional, working with your goals to get you were you want to go.
Alanie
Sleep
Senior Client Support Officer
- Mildura
Alanie has been with the business for 17 years and counting, prior to that 20 years with the NAB. Alanie’s love of helping our clients and assisting them to realise their dreams is what drives her. Outside of work, Alanie enjoys sport, listening to all genres of music, live music, volunteering for the local football netball club, and camping and exploring our great country. With two adult sons, one in Melbourne and one in the UK, her dream of overseas travel will soon come to fruition!
Amandeep
Kaur
Accountant
- Sunbury
Aman joined us in January 2022 with over seven years of previous experience in public practice after obtaining her Masters of Accounting and CPA qualification. Aman assists with the preparation of financial statements, tax returns, business activity statements and other obligations. In her free time Aman loves to travel with her two young kids and husband.
Anthony
Xerri
Accountant
- Sunbury
Tony has over 20 years accounting experience, obtaining his Bachelor in Accounting / Commercial Law and is a member of CPA Australia. His specialty is individual tax returns and small business tax matters. Married to Melanie, with 2 young children Tommy and Emmie, they love travelling and bike riding.
Carolyn
Caspersz
Accountant
- Wallan
Carolyn is Degree qualified in Business and Accounting as well as a member of Certified Practising Accountants (CPA) and has over 17 years of accounting experience. Whilst Carolyn has a strong background in Taxation and Compliance, she strongly believes in building strong relationships with her clients, gaining in depth knowledge and understanding of their personal and business goals and objectives. Outside of work, Carolyn is a mum to two beautiful daughters and wife to Joel, is involved in local community events and enjoys watching the mighty Bombers win a few games with a glass of wine.
Christine
Talty
Bookkeeper
Christine’s comprehensive approach to her profession, coupled with her dedication to the well-being of both businesses and individuals, positions her as a valuable advocate for the small business community.
Beyond her professional endeavours, Christine enjoys an active lifestyle. Whether cycling or hiking in and around her home village of Samford, or unwinding in a café with like-minded health enthusiasts, she finds solace and inspiration in the embrace of nature and community.
Corey
Smith
Accountant
- Sunbury
Corey graduated from La Trobe University with a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) before joining us in 2019. Corey has since continued his studies and received the CPA designation in 2022. He enjoys working with small business owners to assist in meeting their tax and reporting obligations and takes great pride in simplifying complex tax concepts, making them understandable to his clients. Considered our in-house Xero expert, Corey is your man if you need to make it work harder for you. Away from the office, Corey is an avid North Melbourne supporter and keen poker player.
Deb
Wherrett
Client Services Co- Ordinator
- Sunbury
Deb is a Sunbury local with over 20 years of bookkeeping and trust accounting experience. She joined our team in May 2022 and is now Client Services Co-Ordinator in our Superannuation Department. Away from work, Deb thrives on the lovable chaos that naturally accompanies being a mum to one teenage son and two small dogs, and she relishes long hours spent indulging her love of innovative cooking, tinkering with old recipes and trying out new ones. She also loves catching up with friends over a glass or two of wine and spending time in her garden.
Fiona
Cleak
Receptionist/Administration
- Shepparton
Fiona has a great passion for ensuring our new and valued clients get a great first, second and third impression. Give her a call and she’ll direct you in the right direction!
Fiona
Young
Admin Team Leader, Advice
- Ballarat
Fiona has been working with us for over ten years in various roles and loves the team she works with. Before Blackwood Advisory, she worked in the Banking, Real Estate and Aged Care industries. Fiona is a recent arrival to Ballarat, but already loves it. It’s got a regional feel with old buildings, but it is also very close to Melbourne and only a train ride away to go and watch the AFL and other events. Fiona is usually found hanging out with family or eating out at different restaurants in her spare time. Fiona is very proud of her two girls, Sian & Keira.
Harrison
Rogers
Accountant
- Sunbury
Harrison commenced with us in 2021 having graduated with a Bachelor of Business majoring in accounting at Swinburne University. Since joining, Harrison has undertaken extensive training in the use of Xero’s accounting software along with assisting in the preparation tax returns, financial statements and other tax reporting obligations. Harrison is also undertaking study outside of work to obtain his CPA qualification. Harrison is a passionate Richmond fan and loves playing Basketball.
Jason
Wight
Accountant
- Sunbury
Jason has worked with us for 12 years as a senior accountant looking after some of our larger business clients and has over 20 years experience in public practice. When not working you will find him on the golf course (with his wife!)
Jenny
Kemp
Accountant
- Sunbury
Jenny has been with us for 15 years as an accountant specialising in Individual Tax Returns. Prior, Jenny worked with an agency primarily working at Melbourne Airport where the roles varied from Airfreight booking and for South African Airways to payroll and data entry, to populating a data base for the Customs Dog Breeding Centre. Jenny loves spending her free time with her family.
Joshua
Janssen
Financial Adviser
- Mildura
Joshua commenced working with us in 2015, learning on the tools for five years before completing his Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning in 2020. When Josh is not providing great outcomes for clients at work, he can be found amidst the chaos created by four children or at the farm where he is involved in a long term project breeding miniature cows.
Kade
Tronson
Accountant
- Sunbury
Kade joined the team back in 2014 and loves working with our business clients. With a strong background in cloud software and a passion of developing lasting relationships, Kade’s happy to help in any way possible. Outside of work Kade and his wife Ella are kept busy with little Archie. If you walk past Kade down the street and he ignores you don’t think he’s given you the cold shoulder, you’ve probably walked past his identical twin brother!
Karell
Nario
Bookkeeper
Karell is driven by her commitment to delivering accurate, timely, and insightful financial information. She understands the unique challenges faced by small businesses. Her approachable nature and clear communication style make her an invaluable partner to her clients, who appreciate her ability to simplify complex financial data.
Outside of work, Karell loves spending time in nature with her friends and family, enjoying the simple joys of the outdoors.
Kelly
Wolfert
Bookkeeper
Kelly is also adept at using the latest bookkeeping tools to streamline workflows and improve accuracy. She continually seeks ways to make financial processes more efficient, ensuring clients save time and increase accuracy. Her attention to detail and adaptability make her a trusted advisor for long-term success.
Outside of work, she loves spending time with her family and whipping up delicious homemade treats.
Krista
Bayron
Paraplanner
- Ballarat
Krista is our Financial Advice paraplanner and a recent graduate with a degree in Management Accounting. Upon joining Blackwood Advisory in 2023, it has been Krista’s commitment to personal and professional growth made her open to new challenges and willing to adapt to the dynamic financial background. She shows her enthusiasm and commitment by learning and improving her skills and staying up to date with financial industry trends and best practices.
Outside of work, Krista finds joy in exploring the breathtaking beauty of her hometown. From pristine beaches to lush mountains and stunning waterfalls, her passion for these trips serves as a source of inspiration and tranquillity. She is also an avid cook and loves to find culinary inspiration through her family’s secret recipes.
Lauren
Cane
Bookkeeper
An exceptional problem solver, Lauren quickly develops creative solutions that streamline operations and improve accuracy, ensuring the best outcomes for both the team and the clients.
When she’s not crunching the numbers, you’ll find Lauren building creations worthy of Lego Masters.
Lisa
McPherson
Senior Financial Adviser / Director
- Shepparton
Lisa is a highly experienced financial planner with over 30 years in the finance industry. She has worked with major banks, investment firms, and boutique practices, gaining valuable expertise along the way. Lisa’s dedication lies in assisting individuals and businesses in the Goulburn Valley region to navigate the complexities of finance and achieve their goals. Beyond her professional life, Lisa enjoys cooking, gardening, traveling and is an ever hopeful North Melbourne member.
Lisa
Smith
Receptionist/Administration
- Wallan
Prior to joining the team as Wallan’s receptionist/Client Services Co-Ordinator in November 2022, Lisa worked 10 years in Pharmacy and 5 years at Melbourne United Basketball Club. With Lisa’s lovable energetic nature she enjoys getting to know clients and putting a smile on their face. Outside of work Lisa loves going to AFL games especially Essendon, Camping, having a fish whether it be river or ocean, going to rodeos, watching a good crime doco, spending time with her partner Micheal, Daughter Celeste and their fur babies( 2 dogs,3 cats,1 bird, 3 yabbies).
Liz
Tomlinson
Operations Leader, Senior Client Services Co-Ordinator
- Sunbury
Liz joined our team in 2008 to take on the role of Client Services Co-Ordinator and worked closely with Management to establish a workflow system. Prior, Liz worked for 7 years for a large Australian wide retail chain in the Accounts Payable and Payroll Department. In her current role of Operations Leader and Senior Client Services Co-ordinator, Liz is responsible for our Workflow management and manages our Corporate Compliance Department, maintaining ASIC Registers, Company Registers, Trust Deeds and Workcover. Liz works closely with our Administration, Accounting, and Management teams, liaising not only with our clients, but with the ATO, ASIC, Workcover and State Revenue Office.
Lyl
Tortor
Client Admin Officer
- Ballarat
Lyl has joined Blackwood Advisory as a client admin officer for almost 2 years now. From a corporate gal working in the human resources field shifting into financial planning, Blackwood Advisory has never failed to bring out the best in her professionally and personally. Outside of work, Lyl loves to travel to different countries. But she’s also partial to reading books, playing the guitar and binge-watching old romcom movies.
Margaret
Muscat
Bookkeeper
In addition to her technical expertise, Margaret excels in time management and collaborative teamwork. She has honed these skills over the years and critical thinking has become second nature. Whether working independently or as part of a team, Margaret ensures smooth financial operations, handling challenges with ease and a solutions-focused mindset.
When she’s not balancing the books, Margaret’s weekends are often spent discovering new wineries and enjoying the beautiful surroundings of Melbourne’s wine regions.
Matt
Tuohey
Senior Financial Adviser/ Director
- Mildura
Matt has been in Financial Planning for 25 years and has a wealth of knowledge our clients can draw on. He is committed to seeing our strategy come to life so that all regional Victorians have access to quality advice. Outside of the office, Matt contributes to the Mildura community through local cricket, football and in particular, coaching his son’s football team. A passionate wood craftsman and fitness enthusiast, Matt loves travelling and spending time with wife Chelsea and kids Tom and Eva.
May
Montanes
Client Admin Officer
- Ballarat
May is a graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration majoring in Human Resource Management and currently a Client Admin Officer in Blackwood Advisory. Before joining and knowing the awesome team, she worked as an Accountant Support of an accounting software, based in the US. May loves to spend her free time with her family and only dog “Minhoo”, enjoying good Music, Movies, Food, Coffee, and each other’s company. She is an Island Girl, so definitely loves the sea, She does free diving sometimes and heads to the coastline, waiting & watching for a beautiful sunset as her heart flatters every time the sky is in pretty colors.
Michael
Osborne
Senior Accountant / Director
- Sunbury
Michael’s 40 years of experience as an accountant in public practice, the legal profession and the robotics industry has fuelled a passion to assist small business owners in achieving their goals in relation to freedom – time, money and mind freedom. Every conversation he has with clients, family and friends centres around a desire to help them achieve lasting financial security with a balanced lifestyle. Out of the office you will find Michael outdoors with his ever growing family either up on the Murray River skiing or completing another overseas trek to places like Base Camp Mt Everest, Kokoda, Macca Picchu, New Zealand and Europe ( especially Italy).
Naomi
Doak
BAS Agent
With her analytical mindset and unmatched problem-solving abilities, Naomi is an invaluable asset to our team. She effortlessly manages multiple projects with speed and precision, consistently advocating for efficiency and accuracy in everything she does. Naomi is driven to deliver the highest quality of work, always going above and beyond to ensure the best possible outcomes for her clients.
When she’s not solving complex problems for her clients, you’ll find Naomi navigating the hiking trails around Brisbane.
Raelene
Furness
Receptionist
- Sunbury
Raelene joined us as Receptionist in September 2016 and loves interacting with clients both over the phone and in person. We lucky enough to have her for four days per week as Raelene transitions to all things travel, reading and getting away to her weekender near the Grampians.
Sarah
Stein
Head of Bookkeeping
With over 20 years of experience, Sarah combines her love for numbers and analytics to identify trends and opportunities that drive business growth. She works closely with clients to develop data-driven strategies that are tailored to their specific needs, offering valuable insights on how to better harness technology to achieve their goals.
A problem-solver at heart, Sarah is always finding ways to improve processes and increase efficiency. Her strong technical background enables her to quickly pinpoint challenges and develop effective solutions that keep businesses moving forward.
When Sarah isn’t crunching numbers, she’s putting in work at the gym or planning her next big family adventure.
Shay
Taliloa
Client Support Officer
- Mildura
Coming fresh out of school and into financial planning was a huge learning curve for Shay but she believes it’s been an excellent experience. Three (3) years later and the industry is still teaching her new things. Outside of work, Shay is quite the home body and spends most of her time entertaining family and friends. Shay loves Sunday markets, ariel yoga, gym and playing aunty with her niece and nephew. Shay would definitely love to become more of a traveller but there’s just no place like her home – Mildura!
Stephanie
Albanese
Accountant
- Sunbury
Stephanie recently joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from her Bachelors degree in Accounting at RMIT. Prior to commencing and whilst studying, Stephanie worked in private accounting; reporting data at Crown Melbourne and accounts payable for a multi entity business. She is now not long off becoming a Chartered Accountant. Steph loves to cook and bake on her days off, always trying new recipes for her family to enjoy.
Sue
Toskovski
Client Support Officer
- Geelong
Sue is a Client Support Officer Geelong and holds a Dipoloma in Financial Planning and in Financial Services. She’s worked a number of roles over the last 20 years, from Blockbuster (remember them?), NAB, ANZ and Bendigo Bank. Sue believes access to great financial advice is important for everyone. Sue enjoys spending quality time with her family, husband Vasko, son Jesse and daughter Lily as well as their dog George. Sue loves the Torquay lifestyle and going for walks to the beach, trips along the Great Ocean Road before going home to watch Netflix and reading.
Tim
Brown
Financial Adviser
- Geelong
Timothy has over 10 years experience as a Financial Adviser, starting out at the CBA and then moving across to Blackwood Advisory at the beginning of 2020. Timothy decided to go down the financial advice career pathway because he wanted to help people in a similar position to his own parents. He is passionate about his clients ticking off their bucket list items and living their best life, and loves providing clients with peace of mind and certainty over the longevity of their retirement assets. Away from Blackwood Advisory, Timothy is a loving husband and father to Shayna, Harrison and Louis (pet dog). He is a passionate Brisbane Lions fan and enjoys keeping fit through regular visits to F45 and pounding the pavement around Barwon River.
Tim
Easton
Senior Financial Adviser / Director
- Geelong
Tim has over 20 years experence in the financial planning industry, commencing in the NAB before joining Blackwood Advisory in 2006. Inside Blackwood Advisory he is based in Geelong and can also be seen at most of our office locations around Victoria. Outside of Blackwood Advisory, Tim and Tamara live on the glorious Bellarine Peninsula with their two dogs – Jarvis and Finnigan, and love everything the region has to offer from the beaches to the restaurants and everything in between. Tim is a very keen AFL supporter, in particular Geelong, and has been known to schedule his Fridays around what time he needs to be home to watch the game. He is still trying to master the Stand Up Paddle Board at his local beach, with mixed results so far.
Tim
McCarthy
Senior Accountant / Director
- Wallan
Tim commenced with the business in 1996, has grown with the business and is now a senior leader for our accounting team. While the hair may be greyer and waistline expanded since his initial entry to the business, Tim’s passion for working with clients to achieve their objectives is as vibrant as ever. In particular, clients who want to have a proactive relationship with their financial team to create lasting financial security for themselves and their family.
Living and growing up in a small local community, Tim has a heavy involvement with local groups such as the Romsey Cricket Club, serving as both Chair & Treasurer for the Lancefield & Romsey Community Bank and Chair of St Mary’s Parish Finance Panel. Along with his wife Melissa and children Chelsea, Sophie & Josh, the family have a deep passion for local sport and community contribution. Professionally, in addition to the usual accounting and tax services, Tim’s specialist fields include tax minimization and planning, business growth strategies, Capital Gains Tax for farms and small businesses as well as structural advice for wealth creation, succession planning and asset protection.
Trevor
Birks
Chief Operating Officer
- Bendigo
Trevor has over 20 years of experience in business, consumer and wealth banking, where he held various state and national roles. He joined Blackwood in May 2023 to help deliver on our ambitious growth strategy, drive our merger and acquisition activity and build on our great team environment. Outside of work, Trev is all about building a fun and vibrant community. Trev loves coaching his kids’ junior football and basketball teams, playing gigs with his band and riding mountain bikes around Bendigo. A certified Cicerone Beer Server, Trev is well known in the Australian independent beer industry, founding Bendigo Beer in 2011 (an incorporated NFP) and Founder of Bendigo On The Hop festival in 2014, both of which he still passionately serves today.
Vanessa
Thomas
Administration /Receptionist Assistant
- Sunbury
Vanessa has been a member of the team for nearly 10 years having previously worked in Real Estate. Vanessa takes pride in providing an exceptional level of service through adept organisation skills and prompt communication. Away from the office Vanessa enjoys spending quality time with her family, particularly weekend getaways to the beach.
Yeldez
Fabillar
Bookkeeper
An avid learner, Yeldez is always expanding her knowledge in bookkeeping by staying current with industry trends and new technologies. She’s constantly sharpening her skills, ensuring she delivers the most up-to-date and effective solutions for her clients.
When she’s not managing your accounts, Yeldez enjoys exploring her city on evening walks and unwinding with her favourite sitcoms.