Australia’s ocean impact ecosystem and startup accelerator.Helping people to start, grow and invest in businesses that positively impact the ocean.Join us - www.ocean-impact.org

The Conscious Octopus helps to conceptualise, commercialise and scale early stage organisations with huge ambitions to serve planet and people. It does this by providing a broad range of strategic, operational, finance and fund-raising services. The Conscious Octopus seeks to work with organisations that have a defined and measurable environmental and/or social purpose. In modern day culture the octopus is often used to represent the dark side of business whereby its slimy tentacles are used as a metaphor for corporate greed and the emotionless pursuit of profit over all other concerns. On the contrary, in the natural world the octopus is extremely intelligent, has excellent problem-solving skills, is a master of environmental adaption, and even has the capacity to experience complex emotions. Prominent scientists, including Stephen Hawking, claim that “humans are not unique in possessing the neurological substrates that generate consciousness” and include octopuses on this list.

Australia's inaugural Ocean Business Leaders Summit1-2 March 2023Australian National Maritime Museum - Sydney, AustraliaTaking our lead from established frameworks and commitments, the Ocean Business Leaders' Summit will be established as a regular gathering of business, finance, research, science, and government stakeholders to broker dialogue and intellectual discussion about a sustainable ocean economy and generate actions while growing awareness of the ecosystem of stakeholders, drivers and opportunities.

Gather By has developed a new agribusiness model for the Australian honey industry by partnering with regional landholders and beekeepers. Featuring our world’s-first Medicinal Honey Forest™ plantations which combine Medicinal Clonal Selection Leptospermum strains, bee fodder plants and novel agricultural practices to sustainably produce Manuka honey while prioritising bee health and land regeneration.Conventional farming practices typically generate returns within 5%-10%. By comparison Gather By's Medicinal Honey Forest™ plantations can generate returns of 15%-19%.We are currently targeting the Northern Rivers area of NSW. If you're a landowner in the Northern Rivers area with a minimum of 5HA available and are interested in generating significant returns whilst regenerating your land then please reach out for a chat.

On 31 October 2014 Cocoon Data Holdings Limited completed a reverse takeover of Prime Minerals Limited (ASX:PIM). Prime Minerals Limited changed its name to Covata Limited (ASX:CVT) on 4 November 2014 and was re-listed on the ASX on 10 November 2014.Covata enables true ownership and control over your data in the cloud and over mobile services. Delivering data-centric security solutions without comprising simple usability; providing true end-to-end security. Your data is always protected wherever it may travel – inside your network, beyond the domain, to mobile devices and to the cloud – with granular access controls that extend to external ad hoc users, view only restrictions, real time revocation and complete visibility and audibility. Own Your Data, control your data and choose where it is stored – with complete assurance that it is protected and secure.

An Australian online marketplace dedicated to professional services. Established with the aim of making it quick and easy to find and access quality professionals’ right across Australia.Co-founded by my business partner and I after, having both worked in professional services for a number of years, we saw a gap in the market for the supply of professional services through an online marketplace that could effectively redistribute work to locations where professionals had excess capacity and in lower cost regions where clients could pay less than your typical CBD based firm. SuitBids was designed to leverage off rapid advances in technology and connectivity, the rise of the freelancer economy, government efforts to vitalise regional communities and increasing dissatisfaction with the traditional client/advisor relationship.

Crowe Horwath Sydney is a full service audit, taxation and business advisory practice. It is one of the largest city-based accounting firms in Sydney and is part of the Crowe Horwath International network with members in over 48 countries.

The parent company is WHK Group Limited, an ASX listed company and the fifth largest accounting firm in Australia.Managed a team of 6-8 staff with a variety of high wealth individual, SME and small ASX listed clients and delivered a range of tax, accounting, compliance and business advisory services and solutions. Industries included software development, IT managed services, retail, construction and family offices.

3i is the largest private equity organization in Europe. The primary business focus involves gaining controlling interests in mid market companies and realizing investments over a period of 5 to 10 years. Typically, investments are made through a fund partnership structure, with multiple external investors, and a combination of external investor and 3i funds. I was employed at 3i during a period of significant organizational change – namely the movement of all finance functions from the company’s Birmingham office to the London office. The role involved me overseeing the smooth transition of the accounting/fund reporting function for a number of funds from Birmingham to London. During my employment I was involved in the improvement and streamlining of a number of critical processes, particularly in relation to the calculation of carried interest and investment performance, and I also facilitated the dissolution of some older funds.Roles & Responsibilities:Preparation of quarterly financial statements and Investor Capital Accounts for external investors.Preparation of year end partnership statutory accounts in accordance with UK GAAP.Working with auditors to resolve audit queries and ensure that reporting/lodgement deadlines were met.Monitor fund cash levels, ensuring sufficient liquidity to meet day to day requirements.Process and approve fund expense payments.Investment/Fund performance analysis, investigating/reporting significant items where appropriate.Monitor and review carried interest hurdles.Accrue and pay carried interest when appropriate, and in accordance with fund LPA’s (Limited Partnership Agreement).Assist 3i Group Reporting with forecasting and budget processes. Provide 3i Group Reporting with periodic performance data and ad hoc information requests.

Working within BNY’s Accounting Services Group I was responsible for the preparation of statutory financial statements for a number of BNY’s institutional clients. Roles & ResponsibilitiesPreparation of year end and interim financial statements in accordance with the SORP for mutual investment funds.Preparation of supporting schedules and work papers for general ledger items and investigation of material breaks.Calculation of estimated and final payment rates.Ad hoc reporting to fund custodians and BNY internal.Liaising with BNY Valuations to resolve ad hoc queries and ensure valuation deadlines were met. Liaising with auditors to resolve audit queries and ensure that reporting/lodgement deadlines were met.Proofing of accounts, schedules and supporting notes prior to final publishing.Training new team members.

Man Investments is a global leader in alternative investments, providing products and solutions for private and institutional clients. They have a global presence, with over 600 employees in 15 countries. Man Investments is part of Man Group plc, an international financial services business that is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index of major companies.Roles & Responsibilities: Production of monthly accounts and valuations within strict deadlines, for a portfolio of funds.Financial instrument valuation testing.Monthly cash flow forecasting and budgeting.Preparation of yearly/interim statutory financial statements.Preparation of performance records.Assistance in improving processes and procedures through system development.Ad hoc reporting (internal and external), and liaison with valuation service providers, fund managers and auditors.

Career sabbatical spent exploring and working in one of the most beautiful playgrounds in the world - Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Had the pleasure of cruising as far north as Thursday island and as far south as the Hinchinbrook Channel diving the mid and northern ribbon reefs, Lizard Island and many other amazing locations. Was an extremely formative period for me and had a huge part in moulding my values and views about the ocean and the greater natural world around us.

Provided business advisory, compliance and tax services and managed a wide range of SME's and Individuals.