Our Advisory Team
We work collaboratively with our clients to achieve optimal outcomes for their businesses.
About David Letts
David leads the Advisory Services team, providing expert financial advice to WATC clients based on his extensive experience in financial and risk management, risk analysis, financial modelling and analysis, and international commercial experience.
Prior to joining WATC, David was a Chief Risk Officer and acted as CFO for a large Middle East conglomerate controlling companies in the areas of finance and banking, investment and funds management, manufacturing and industry, education, hospitality, property development, facilities management, retail trading, engineering, travel, automotive services and more. Prior to that, David was Senior Vice President of Risk Management for a major Middle East banking group, and has prior experience as Director of KPMG’s Financial Risk Management team in Sydney, Group Treasurer for an Australian Agribusiness group, as well as a financial analyst and computer programmer.
David has built his extensive international and domestic experience in both the government and private sectors, leveraging off his qualifications which include a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, a Postgraduate Diploma in Information Technology, a Master of Business in Economics and Financial Management, and a Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting. David is also a qualified CPA.
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About Richard John
As a Chief Advisor at WATC, Richard has overseen the design and development of numerous infrastructure, cost benefit analysis, regulatory asset base and cost comparator models for clients.
Richard has over 35 years of experience helping enterprises and their stakeholders build, preserve and realise enterprise value. He has extensive experience as a capital projects and infrastructure advisor, having evaluated and provided guidance on 100+ infrastructure and capital projects for the WA government.
Richard’s diverse international background in finance, operations and turnaround management gives him perspective to guide organisations facing capital optimisation, growth or right-sizing transition challenges. Richard has helped boards and management teams improve operating efficiency, maximise cash flow and restructure balance sheets in order to build sustainable performance.
Richard’s previous experience includes institutional finance roles (Lloyds Bank and Whirlpool Financial Corporation) and corporate leadership positions (CFO of a USA-based cabling logistics business, COO of a USA-based turnaround consulting practice).
Richard holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geography from Manchester University, UK and was formerly an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers.
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About Simon Tan
Simon is a highly experienced financial advisor, specialising in the utilities, transport, and infrastructure sectors.
He has been a senior director at leading investment banks globally, completed over $24 billion of successful infrastructure projects including the Australian Financial Reviews’ M&A Deal of the Year (2011) and has advised many leading global and Australian infrastructure funds and investors. Simon has also advised Government Departments in WA and the UK, including the Prime Minister’s Policy Unit at number 10 Downing Street.
As a Chief Advisor at WATC, Simon has advised departments on some of their largest infrastructure projects and contracts across numerous infrastructure asset classes and has assisted agencies progress projects on the Infrastructure Priority List.
Simon has held senior positions at Rothschild, Deutsche Bank, and KPMG in London, Sydney, and Perth. He has been the lead financial advisor in the development of over 50 business plans and coordinated government stakeholders and advice from notable consultants.
Simon holds financial qualifications from UWA (B.Comm) and Murdoch University (M.EC) as well as a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment from FINSIA. Simon was awarded Western Australian of the Year (Youth category) in 1995.
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About Carol Whitworth-Hird
As a Chief Advisor in WATC Advisory Services, Carol provides financial advice to government clients to inform improved outcomes in the fields of corporate finance and financial risk management.
Carol has over 30 years’ experience in the finance industry. Commencing her career in London, Carol worked for some of the World’s leading banks, and for the last fifteen years held various roles within the Australian financial services sector. As an investment banker, Carol worked for the debt capital markets divisions of various prominent UK-based international banks including ABN Amro, BNP Paribas, Daiwa SMBC and Deutsche Bank. In addition to heading up several successful sales teams, in her role as a syndicate manager Carol participated in a number of inaugural benchmark capital markets’ transactions.
Immediately prior to joining WATC, as a director at National Australia Bank, Carol specialised in providing investment solutions to the corporate, education, government, health, not-for-profit and private banking sectors.
Carol is AFMA accredited in debt, equity and foreign exchange markets and holds an Advanced Diploma of Financial Planning.
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About John Vojkovich
As a Chief Advisor (Acting) in the Advisory Services Team, John uses his expertise in financial management to provide in-depth analysis and problem solving to drive innovation and assist clients to make informed decisions.
He has over 20 years of experience in senior and executive roles across corporate and government sectors, including financial services, manufacturing, agribusiness, health, disability services and the arts. In the semi-government space, John managed the financial operations of Keystart Homeloans, which included oversight of a $4.5 billion funding program and the development of alternative funding options. He also led the analytics team which transformed business operations through advanced business analysis, portfolio modelling and dynamic reporting solutions.
John is a Chartered Accountant and Certified Practising Accountant, Chartered Secretary and Chartered Governance Professional. He holds a Master of Applied Finance from the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (FINSIA), a Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance from the Governance Institute of Australia and a Bachelor of Commerce from University of Western Australia (UWA).
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About Zachary Allen
Zachary is a Senior Corporate Financial Advisor providing financial, commercial and strategic advice on infrastructure, policy and project evaluation to organisations across the public sector.
Zachary is experienced in financial modelling, economic analysis, data analytics and risk management. He has been involved in various projects including a review of the economic structure of Western Australia, analysis of the impacts from alternative taxation methods, modelling of statistical measures of risk assessment, and financial modelling of transport and utilities infrastructure.
Zachary holds a Bachelor of Science majoring in Psychology (UWA) and a Master of Applied Finance (UWA).
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About Amuly Vanga
Amuly is a Senior Corporate Financial Advisor in WATC’s Advisory Services team, working with clients to optimise their financial outcomes.
Prior to joining WATC, Amuly gained a wealth of experience with roles in both the private and public sector. During his time in the private sector, Amuly led various corporate finance, trade finance and corporate banking activities, including leading multiple project financing, debt structuring, and trade finance product structuring with domestic as well as international banks. Amuly also performed credit facility evaluations and equity valuations, leading in one case to the divestment of a subsidiary entity.
In the WA local government space, Amuly has led the development of a large metropolitan council’s long term financial plan with a strategic focus on addressing asset capitalisation frameworks and key factors impacting financial sustainability. Amuly was instrumental in developing the Covid19-budget, including a one of a kind rating concession strategy, and a Covid19 exit strategy which the Council adopted.
Amuly is a CFA Level 3 candidate and holds an MBA (Finance Major) degree with Bachelor’s in Electrical and Electronics Engineering (First Class with Distinction).
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About Mark Gazia
Mark is a Corporate Financial Advisor in the Advisory Services team and provides clients with detailed analysis and financial modelling to assist them in making sound financial decisions.
Prior to joining WATC, Mark spent 7 years as a Corporate Actions analyst at Australia’s leading stockbroker. Whilst there, Mark provided clients with detailed advice on complex corporate actions and their tax implications for large wholesale clients.
Mark also gained international finance experience working for one of the world’s largest fund managers in the UK and was an integral part of the Asia Pacific team during his time in Sydney.
Mark holds a Bachelor of International Business from Murdoch University.
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About Baz Ghaleigh
Baz is a Corporate Financial Advisor in the Advisory Services team. Prior to joining WATC Baz developed a wealth of organisational experience in various roles both in Australia and the UK.
In the UK, Baz held a role as a Finance Systems Analyst at Friends Provident Life, supporting the wider finance team with the ongoing refinement and development of finance systems and applications.
More recently Baz worked at AUSIEX in the Portfolio Operations team. He provided equities administration to the Wholesale Wrap Platform and was responsible for providing analytical oversight, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of client data, and applying the complexities of various corporate actions to clients’ portfolios.
Baz holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics from Brunel University, UK.
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About Peter Keung
Peter works as a Corporate Financial Advisor in the Advisory Services Team and assists clients with analysis, modelling and evaluation of capital investment decisions.
Prior to joining WATC, Peter worked for over 8 years in the insurance industry in Hong Kong, in both financial and product management roles with some of the world’s leading insurers including Manulife, AIA, Prudential and Chubb. His roles within the Actuarial functions involved evaluating and advising the level of reserve and capital insurers should hold to meet their obligations to both policyholders and regulators, the pricing of insurance products and financial modelling. Peter also has experience in banking operations, including Mortgage operations with HSBC in Hong Kong and was one of the early team members of UBank, an Australian direct bank established in 2008, operating as a division of National Australia Bank (NAB) based in Sydney.
Peter holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree, majoring in Actuarial Studies and Finance, from the University of New South Wales (UNSW).
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