I decided I wanted to become an accountant when I was nine years old, and I never really changed my mind after that.

Accounting was very much part of family life growing up—my dad is a Chartered Accountant and two of my siblings also followed him into the profession—so it always felt both familiar and achievable.

Nearly 30 years after starting my career with Deloitte, I still feel fortunate to work in a profession that has offered me such varied opportunities, challenges and experiences.

Over the course of my career, I have worked across different sectors and leadership roles and I have seen enormous change within both business and the accounting profession itself.

Commitment, resilience and determination

Recently, my career has taken a very different and incredibly meaningful direction through my move into the role of Chief Executive of GOAL Global.

I first began working with GOAL as a consultant in 2024, and from the outset I was deeply impressed by the commitment, resilience and determination of the people across the organisation.

What stood out immediately was the genuine sense of purpose shared by teams working in extremely challenging environments to improve the lives of the communities in which GOAL operates.

It has been a particularly difficult period for organisations like GOAL due to global funding cuts and increasing pressure across the humanitarian sector. At the same time, the need for the work has arguably never been greater.

Moving from a finance-focused leadership career into a CEO role has given me a renewed appreciation for the impact organisations can have when driven by strong values, committed people and a clear mission.

Taking opportunities as they arise

One area in which progress has been slower than I would like is gender equity.

When I joined Deloitte 29 years ago, our graduate intake was evenly split between men and women. At that stage, however, there was only one female audit partner—Mary Fulton.

Seeing someone like Mary in a senior leadership role gave many of us the belief that it was possible to progress to the highest levels within the profession.

Nearly three decades later, I would have expected to see a more even distribution of men and women at executive levels across organisations.

While progress has certainly been made, I still think reward, recognition and hiring models need to continue evolving to better support and promote the advancement of women.

My own career progression has often been about taking opportunities as they have arisen, even when the timing is not necessarily ideal.

I applied for a promotion when I was seven months pregnant and interviewed for two promotions while I was on maternity leave with both my children. I was not successful on those occasions, but the promotions did follow afterwards.

For me, there is real value in simply putting yourself forward. It challenges you, helps widen your network and gives you the opportunity to seek valuable feedback. Sometimes the immediate outcome is not the most important part—the experience itself can build confidence and open doors later on.

“Careers are rarely built in isolation”

One of the most valuable lessons I have learned over the course of my career is that success is rarely a solo endeavour. While experience, hard work and technical expertise all matter, the people around us often play an equally important role in shaping our careers.

Whether it is through formal mentoring relationships or the informal networks we build over time, having trusted people to turn to for advice, encouragement and honest feedback can make a significant difference, particularly when navigating challenges.

I have been very fortunate to have had some fantastic mentors and an incredibly supportive network of colleagues, former colleagues and friends over the years.

Those relationships are invaluable. They offer guidance, help you talk through challenges, provide perspective and, occasionally, simply allow you to have a whinge when you need one.

Careers are rarely built in isolation. Having people around you who are willing to share advice, challenge your thinking and support your growth makes an enormous difference, particularly during periods of change or uncertainty.

Managing the work-life balance challenge

As my career has progressed, I have also become increasingly aware of the importance of balance. For me, the key to work-life balance is recognising the importance of not always being in work mode.

This may sound simple, but in reality, it can be difficult, particularly during busy periods.

One of the biggest challenges I continue to face is maintaining healthy routines when work becomes particularly demanding. When things are busy, I often struggle to make it to the gym regularly, even though this is probably the exact time when I most need the mental break exercise brings.

Like many people in leadership roles, I continue to work on balance rather than feel I have completely mastered it. Leadership, communication and strong teams While keeping up with technical developments is obviously essential in the accounting profession, I have found myself increasingly drawn to personal and team development.

I really enjoy investing in leadership capabilities, communication skills and creating strong, supportive teams.

The profession has changed significantly since I first started my career, and the expectations of leaders have evolved as well. Technical expertise remains critical, but leadership today is also about people, culture, resilience and adaptability.

Importance of putting yourself forward

Looking back, I still think it is slightly amusing that a decision I made at nine years of age has shaped the course of my career so clearly, but I have never regretted it.

Becoming a Chartered Accountant has given me opportunities to grow professionally and personally, to work with exceptional people and to continue learning throughout every stage of my career.

Most importantly, it has taught me the value of continuing to put yourself forward—even when the timing feels difficult, even when success is not immediate and even when progress feels slower than you would like.

And today, leading GOAL Global has reminded me that leadership is ultimately about people, purpose and the ability to make a meaningful difference where it matters most.

*Interview by Liz Riley