Kate is a Partner at KordaMentha, a Registered Liquidator, and a mum to a lively nine-year-old boy. Kate is also a member of the ARITA NSW/ACT Committee.
Kate’s experience spans formal insolvency, restructuring, and litigation strategy. Kate enjoys working in partnership with her clients to understand their needs and utilise their expertise throughout the process. Kate loves the variety of work, which covers a wide range of industries, including most recently manufacturing, real estate, and sports administration.
Kate has been with KordaMentha for over 15 years now and attributes her longevity to the excitement that comes from having exposure to so much variety – from the Arrium administration, the restructure of start-ups in finance and fashion, the sale of properties, through to the Equestrian Australia restructure and everything in between – no two days, matters or experiences are the same.
Get to know Kate
Q: How did you choose a career in insolvency and restructuring?
I am the daughter of a country GP and a nurse; my early childhood was spent in country NSW with my brother and sister. I think my upbringing gave me an ability to be able to get along with people from all different backgrounds – an important skill when jumping between industries and businesses of varying shapes and sizes. This, as well as a strong work ethic, motivates me to be very much hands-on with all of my appointments and when engaging with my team.
I was studying Business and Law at UTS back in the early 2000s and I had very little idea about what I wanted to do for an actual job. I was enjoying the obscure law electives I had chosen, but my accounting degree was making me question why I’d even enrolled… and then, I came across a newly offered subject – Insolvency Law. It was not long after the collapse of Ansett, so insolvency and KordaMentha were in the press every day. Not too far into the course I realised it was the perfect mix of accounting, business and law. I can’t say that I decided there and then that I wanted to become a Registered Liquidator, but it is certainly what sparked my interest in the profession.
I discovered very early in my career that insolvency (both formal and informal) was a great fit for me. Not only am I able to utilise my degrees in accounting, business and law, but my natural attention to detail and keen organisational skills are of huge benefit to leading complex projects and delivering with the much-needed due diligence of the sector. I know not everyone has a passion for dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s – but this suited me well and enables me to bring something different to the team.
Q: What is an interesting fact about you?
Many years ago, I took up running with a friend with a view to running the Blackmores Sydney Marathon – prior to this, I’d never run further than to catch the bus! We started training in the April and, by September, I managed to complete the marathon. I can’t say I’ve rushed back to do another one, but I am being coaxed out of retirement for a half marathon in 2023.
Q: What has been your most memorable moment during your career?
One of the most memorable and rewarding moments of my career so far was the successful restructure and sale of Auspine Timber mill in South Australia. Working with a passionate management team in the small 450-person town of Tarpeena, we collaborated to address key financial and operational challenges, undertook a considered restructure and, ultimately, achieved a successful sale. This meant that the 300+ timber mill workers retained their jobs and the small town of Tarpeena continued to thrive in otherwise very trying circumstances.
Q: What is one thing you know now that you wish you had known earlier in your career?
I need to give more than one response here. One, your career is a long game, and your network is one of the most important things you have – be selfish about your network, work hard on building great relationships from an early age (uni, sport, work) and then keep working hard to foster and cherish those relationships.
Two, you need to own your career. Don’t be shy in asking for what you want, being clear in how you want to develop and where you want to go next.
Q: What is your advice for females in the restructuring and insolvency industry?
First and foremost, people ultimately want to work with people they like. So, be authentic and true to yourself and the rest will fall into place.
Don’t let the fact insolvency is still a male dominated industry deter you. Insolvency and restructuring are no better suited to one gender than another. Women bring something different to the party – and that diversity of thinking and approach is ultimately what makes a stronger team overall. The sector continues to evolve, and more and more clients are demanding that our firms also mirror the growing diversity in the wider business sector – female business leaders want other women at the table.
Secondly, get involved in the industry’s evolution. I am incredibly passionate about encouraging and supporting more women to thrive in this sector. Along with my brilliant colleague, Sally Davitt, I am driving KordaMentha’s diversity and inclusion initiative known as KM Connect, with its objectives to attract, retain and develop exceptional female talent in our organisation. I have also previously served on the NSW WINA committee.
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November 2022
Kate Conneely
Kate is a Partner at KordaMentha, a Registered Liquidator, and a mum to a lively nine-year-old boy. Kate is also a member of the ARITA NSW/ACT Committee.
Kate’s experience spans formal insolvency, restructuring, and litigation strategy. Kate enjoys working in partnership with her clients to understand their needs and utilise their expertise throughout the process. Kate loves the variety of work, which covers a wide range of industries, including most recently manufacturing, real estate, and sports administration.
Kate has been with KordaMentha for over 15 years now and attributes her longevity to the excitement that comes from having exposure to so much variety – from the Arrium administration, the restructure of start-ups in finance and fashion, the sale of properties, through to the Equestrian Australia restructure and everything in between – no two days, matters or experiences are the same.
Get to know Kate
Q: How did you choose a career in insolvency and restructuring?
I am the daughter of a country GP and a nurse; my early childhood was spent in country NSW with my brother and sister. I think my upbringing gave me an ability to be able to get along with people from all different backgrounds – an important skill when jumping between industries and businesses of varying shapes and sizes. This, as well as a strong work ethic, motivates me to be very much hands-on with all of my appointments and when engaging with my team.
I was studying Business and Law at UTS back in the early 2000s and I had very little idea about what I wanted to do for an actual job. I was enjoying the obscure law electives I had chosen, but my accounting degree was making me question why I’d even enrolled… and then, I came across a newly offered subject – Insolvency Law. It was not long after the collapse of Ansett, so insolvency and KordaMentha were in the press every day. Not too far into the course I realised it was the perfect mix of accounting, business and law. I can’t say that I decided there and then that I wanted to become a Registered Liquidator, but it is certainly what sparked my interest in the profession.
I discovered very early in my career that insolvency (both formal and informal) was a great fit for me. Not only am I able to utilise my degrees in accounting, business and law, but my natural attention to detail and keen organisational skills are of huge benefit to leading complex projects and delivering with the much-needed due diligence of the sector. I know not everyone has a passion for dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s – but this suited me well and enables me to bring something different to the team.
Q: What is an interesting fact about you?
Many years ago, I took up running with a friend with a view to running the Blackmores Sydney Marathon – prior to this, I’d never run further than to catch the bus! We started training in the April and, by September, I managed to complete the marathon. I can’t say I’ve rushed back to do another one, but I am being coaxed out of retirement for a half marathon in 2023.
Q: What has been your most memorable moment during your career?
One of the most memorable and rewarding moments of my career so far was the successful restructure and sale of Auspine Timber mill in South Australia. Working with a passionate management team in the small 450-person town of Tarpeena, we collaborated to address key financial and operational challenges, undertook a considered restructure and, ultimately, achieved a successful sale. This meant that the 300+ timber mill workers retained their jobs and the small town of Tarpeena continued to thrive in otherwise very trying circumstances.
Q: What is one thing you know now that you wish you had known earlier in your career?
I need to give more than one response here. One, your career is a long game, and your network is one of the most important things you have – be selfish about your network, work hard on building great relationships from an early age (uni, sport, work) and then keep working hard to foster and cherish those relationships.
Two, you need to own your career. Don’t be shy in asking for what you want, being clear in how you want to develop and where you want to go next.
Q: What is your advice for females in the restructuring and insolvency industry?
First and foremost, people ultimately want to work with people they like. So, be authentic and true to yourself and the rest will fall into place.
Don’t let the fact insolvency is still a male dominated industry deter you. Insolvency and restructuring are no better suited to one gender than another. Women bring something different to the party – and that diversity of thinking and approach is ultimately what makes a stronger team overall. The sector continues to evolve, and more and more clients are demanding that our firms also mirror the growing diversity in the wider business sector – female business leaders want other women at the table.
Secondly, get involved in the industry’s evolution. I am incredibly passionate about encouraging and supporting more women to thrive in this sector. Along with my brilliant colleague, Sally Davitt, I am driving KordaMentha’s diversity and inclusion initiative known as KM Connect, with its objectives to attract, retain and develop exceptional female talent in our organisation. I have also previously served on the NSW WINA committee.