Leah Russell
Co-founderI have over 25 years of experience in accounting and audit. Commenced professional work in 1996 with BKR Walker Wayland, before training as an auditor at BKR Haines Watts in the UK for 2.5 years. On returning to Australia in 2002, I joined Crowe Horwath. I was appointed as an Audit Partner in April 2007 at the age of 32. During 2009 was appointed to the Sydney Executive Team, as Head of Sydney audit. I was also invited to join the National Audit Executive team responsible for nine audit partners across NSW. The role involved training mentoring, development of strategy, and reporting for Audit NSW. With the Findex acquisition of Crowe Horwath, I retained my audit positions, including a position on the national audit executive team. I then joined BDO in June 2019 where I focus on education and for-purpose entities.
Since July 2015, I have been a member of the Board for the Presbyterian Ladies College Croydon and the PLC Armidale College. In 2019 I was nominated as Chair for both Colleges and continue in this role developing an appreciation for the difference in role between Chair and Director. Since July 2015, I have been one of twelve elected Trustees for The Presbyterian (New South Wales) Property Trust. We are active trustees. The Trust holds assets in excess of $1billion, overseeing seven schools, a small hospital, aged care facilities, church congregational assets, a child protection unit and other services. I chaired their audit committee for over five years. For twelve months I was a director of BDO Group Holdings. BDO elects 7 people to represent all Partners of BDO.