TEAM PROFILES

• Sue Cato AM

  PARTNER

  Sue has worked on business-critical issues and corporate activity for Australian and international corporations and entities for almost three decades. With an early career as a political staffer and having co-founded and then sold a corporate affairs company to multi-national interests, Sue established Cato Counsel in 2003 as a corporate communications company providing high-level strategic transaction support and public and corporate affairs advice. Cato Counsel has since evolved into Cato & Clive. Sue is recognised as one of Australia’s leading issues management experts, having managed some of the largest issues confronting corporate Australia and beyond. Sue is on the board of the National Gallery Australia Foundation and is a member of the Gallery’s Ethics Committee. She also sits on the board of the Garvan Research Institute Foundation, is an advisory board member of Sydney Contemporary and is an Ambassador of Women for Election Australia. She is also a member of Chief Executive Women and is Deputy Chairman of the creative think tank, A New Approach. Sue is a regular commentator on business issues for the national media.

• Clive Mathieson

  PARTNER

  Clive has worked at the most senior levels of the media industry, state politics and federal politics, giving him unique experience as a strategy and communications adviser to chief executives and boards. During a two-decade career in business journalism in Australia and Britain, Clive reported extensively on Australian and international companies. He spent five years as Business Editor of The Australian and then another five years as Editor. After leaving journalism, he served as Senior Adviser and Cabinet Director to NSW Premiers Mike Baird and Gladys Berejiklian, providing policy, strategic and communications advice on issues such as infrastructure, the Budget and the privatisation of state assets. Moving to federal politics, Clive was Deputy Chief of Staff, and then Chief of Staff, to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. In this role, he provided high-level advice to the Prime Minister and his Cabinet colleagues on policy and political issues.

• Brett Ward

  SENIOR ADVISER

  Brett brings deep expertise and experience in investor relations and corporate communications, having spent more than six years with ASX top 50 listed company The GPT Group, initially as Head of Investor Relations, later adding responsibility for GPT’s Corporate Affairs activities. During this time, he was responsible for all aspects of GPT’s stakeholder management and communications, including significant responsibilities for governance and continuous disclosure matters. During a career spanning 25 years, Brett has worked across the professional services, funds management, stockbroking and property sectors in Australia, London and Chicago. He has a strong understanding and knowledge of domestic and international equity capital markets with extensive experience in the analysis and valuation of company fundamentals and strategy. Brett holds a Bachelor of Economics (Finance, Accounting) from Macquarie University and a Diploma of Applied Finance from the Securities Institute of Australia.

• Liz Deegan

  SENIOR ADVISER

  Liz is recognised as a highly skilled and accomplished media, corporate affairs, communications and stakeholder relations executive. In her capacity as general manager of corporate affairs for News Corp Australia and as chief corporate affairs officer for the National Rugby League, she has provided leadership in strategic communications, brand, reputation and crisis management, stakeholder engagement and internal communications for complex and issues-rich organisations. Liz worked for News Corp for almost three decades in various senior roles, including as group editorial commercial director and business manager, editor of The Sunday Mail, deputy editor of The Sunday Telegraph, and European correspondent in the UK. She has a BA (Communications) from Charles Sturt University, NSW.
  
  

• Peter Abakumoff

  SENIOR ADVISER

  Peter has more than a decade of investment banking experience spanning M&A advisory, equity capital and debt capital markets. He has advised on numerous M&A transactions, public and private, and including several high-profile, cross-border situations. He has worked with a broad range of clients, including ASX-listed entities, multinational corporations, private equity firms and infrastructure funds. Peter commenced his career at Goldman Sachs with a focus on Real Estate, Retirement Living and Aged Care. He subsequently worked at Morgan Stanley with a focus on Natural Resources and Energy. Most recently he was a Vice President at JP Morgan focusing on Energy, Renewables and Infrastructure. Peter holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance Major) and a Bachelor of Law from the University of New South Wales.

• Jenny Wills

  SENIOR ADVISER

  Jenny’s experience in equity markets spans more than 20 years. She started her career in institutional equity sales on the pan-European desk at Goldman Sachs in London. After returning to Australia, Jenny spent 15 years working as a small-and mid-cap Australian specialist on various institutional sales desks. Her most recent roles included Deutsche Bank, where she was hired to establish the emerging companies team, and CIMB (formerly Royal Bank of Scotland and ABN Amro), where she was head of sales for emerging companies. During this time, she formed strong relationships within the Australian small and mid-cap investment community. This coupled with her extensive transaction experience brings a unique “front line” perspective to investor communications work. Jenny has a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical) from The University of Sydney.

• Chloe Rees

  SENIOR ADVISER

  Chloe provides clients with strategic communications advice in relation to financial, corporate, regulatory and policy issues. She has worked on significant cross-border transactions, IPOs, mergers and acquisitions, and has provided issues management counsel and litigation support for a broad range of clients, including ASX Top 100 companies, multinationals and high-growth companies. Chloe was previously legal counsel for Thomson Reuters based in London with a focus on regulatory, technology and commercial projects. Prior to that she worked for Ashurst as a commercial disputes lawyer, advising major corporates, leading global financial institutions and government agencies. Chloe holds a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours), a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute for Company Directors. She is admitted as a solicitor in New South Wales.

• Amy Solomon

  SENIOR ADVISER

  Amy combines extensive experience in strategic communications and issues management with a background in law and media. She has advised ASX-listed and international clients on communications strategy, stakeholder management, corporate transactions and litigation support for commercial and regulatory disputes. Amy previously practised as a lawyer at multinational law firm MinterEllison and later at a boutique firm specialising in entertainment and media law. Amy is also a skilled broadcaster and presenter. She has worked as a producer at ABC News and has been actively involved with leading community radio station FBi Radio for more than a decade, currently serving as secretary on its management committee. Amy holds a Bachelor of Laws (with Honours) and a Bachelor of Business (with Distinction). She is admitted as a solicitor in New South Wales.

• Aisha Jabeen

  ADVISER

  Aisha is an investor relations specialist who has worked with a number of ASX 200 clients on financial reporting, investor targeting and stakeholder engagement. Aisha commenced her career at Stockland Property Group as part of the Graduate Program, which enabled her to work across the Asset Management, Project Management and Group Legal divisions. She subsequently joined the Investor Relations function, working closely with the executive management team on strategic communications, stakeholder management and investor reporting. Aisha holds a Bachelor of Law and Arts from Macquarie University and is an engaged member of the Australasian Investor Relations Association.