Team Bios

Andrea Petersen

Founder & Director

Andrea is the founder of Not for Profit Accounting Specialists and has been the driving force behind its success and longevity since commencement in 1999. She is a chartered accountant with many years of experience in advising and providing a range of services to not for profit organisations from around Australia. Her areas of specialty include leadership matters, consulting and project work, organisational management, accounting, auditing and organisational governance. She is passionate about the not for profit sector and its effective functioning, and is an active contributor to the broader conversation regarding the future of the sector and its place within the Australian community.

David Woodcock

Chief Executive Officer

David holds an MBA from Deakin University and undergraduate degrees in Business (Management Information Systems) from the University of South Australia, and Psychology from Flinders University. He has also completed the Company Directors Course with the AICD. Prior to joining Not for Profit Accounting Specialists in 2016, he held a number of senior leadership roles with Elders Financial Planning, National Australia Bank, and Westpac. He is passionate about the not for profit sector and the important role that it plays within the community, previously serving on the boards of Girl Guides South Australia and as Vice President, Muscular Dystrophy South Australia.

Ellie Paterson

Consulting CFO

Ellie holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Adelaide and is a highly experienced CPA who brings the professional skills gained in both public practice accounting and the charity sector to her role as Consulting CFO at NFPAS.  Ellie previously worked for nine years as Finance Manager for Variety the Children’s Charity.  As a Consulting CFO, Ellie provides strategic advice to management and boards on financial reporting, budgeting, FBT, salary packaging, governance and management matters, as well as mentoring the client’s internal financial personnel.  Ellie also provides expert advice and assistance to clients starting a new not for profit or charity.  Ellie represents NFPAS on the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Adviser Forum, which comprises 35 professional advisers to the charity sector.

Felicia Goodes

Consulting CFO

Felicia is an experienced professional who completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree at Flinders University before attaining her full chartered accountant qualification in 1997. She worked in the roles of Finance Manager and Project Accountant for Calvary Healthcare Adelaide during an extended period of employment, and has been engaged with The Jodi Lee Foundation in a Management Accountant position. Felicia has completed the AICD Governance Foundations for Not-for-Profit Directors course and is an active Board Member for Community GP. She has extensive experience in the areas of accounting, reporting, forecasting and budgeting, payroll, internal controls, policy and process development, organisation performance management and Not-for-Profits.

Robynne Bolton

Human Resources Consultant

Robynne has extensive HR and IR experience gained over 20 years working at senior levels in the commercial, professional services, health, and not for profit sectors. Robynne has developed and implemented contemporary policy frameworks as well as advising on policies, procedures and structures that support continuous improvement processes. She has successfully managed staff remuneration reviews on behalf of clients, including sourcing of market remuneration data, and many complex industrial relations matters including representing employers in the Fair Work Commission and Industrial Relations and Workers’ Compensation Tribunals, mediation and conciliation meetings.

Lisa Howe

Human Resources & Quality Assurance Consultant

Lisa is a seasoned HR professional with experience in a wide variety of industries including the not-for-profit sector. 

Lisa’s focus passion includes learning and development, culture initiatives and process review and improvements.

Clare Munn

Finance Manager

Clare completed a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) at the University of Adelaide, and attained her Chartered Accounting qualification in 2012.  From 2009 until 2017 she worked in business advisory practices, progressing through to Assistant Manager level.  Her areas of expertise include all aspects of accounting, reporting, detailed modelling, budgeting and cash flow work, insolvency, and employment obligations and entitlements.

Niki Watson

Accounting & Advisory Manager

Niki oversees the accounting and bookkeeping division of the practice and is a chartered accountant with many years of experience. She worked in public practice for BDO for more than nine years and progressed up to Manager level, overseeing staff and providing services and advice to a varied portfolio of clients. Her areas of specialty include all aspects of accounting and bookkeeping, reporting, not for profit sector technical knowledge, taxation, budgeting, accounting software packages and general organisational advice. She is a valuable and skilled contributor to the services on offer to our not for profit clients.

Erin Kingisepp

Accounting & Advisory Manager

Erin is an experienced Chartered Accountant who, after 15 years in public practice, pursued her natural affinity with the not-for-profit sector. Erin has experience managing broader organisational drivers, including governance, risk management, and IT, which gives her advice a more holistic overview. She now provides organisations with effective financial management to drive meaningful change and empower them to fulfil their mission-driven objectives. 

Through her leadership of the Accounting and Advisory team, her knowledge and expertise positively impact both our clients and NFPAS. Erin contributes to CAANZ’s SA Not For Profit Discussion Group, ensuring she remains at the forefront of knowledge sharing in the not for profit sector.

Autumn Slavin

Consulting Finance Manager

Autumn holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Flinders University and attained her Chartered Accounting qualification in 2007.  Prior to joining NFPAS, Autumn built a 15-year career in public practice in Adelaide where she developed high level accounting and relationship management skills, progressing to Business Services Manager.  Autumn has brought project and consultancy skills that enable her to undertake similar assignments with NFPAS clients.  Concurrent with her professional career, Autumn also has demonstrated a strong not for profit background and has served on the board of No Strings Attached, a performing arts organisation providing opportunities for performers living with a disability, for the past few years.

Leah Hill

Consulting Finance Manager

Leah is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years’ experience in both public practice and the not for profit sector, providing her with a valuable mix of skills and experience that she brings to client engagements at NFPAS. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (Accounting) degree from the University of South Australia, Leah played a key role for over a decade with a public practice firm, working predominantly with small to medium businesses. Prior to joining the NFPAS team in 2020, she held finance roles with Youth Opportunities SA and at Heart Kids SA, where she was responsible for the financial administration of the organisation.

Michelle Dunstone

Consulting Finance Manager

Michelle is a CPA with over 20 years’ experience in a range of accounting and finance team roles in Australia, the UK and Canada in the corporate and SME sectors, and in the not for profit sector where her true passion lies. Prior to joining NFPAS, Michelle spent five years at Jodi Lee Foundation in a Management Accounting capacity, during which time she added a governance focus to her analytical and reporting skills. As a Consulting Finance Manager at NFPAS, Michelle offers expertise in management accounting, budgeting and forecasting in the not for profit sector context to a number of client engagements.

Heidi Ottewell

Senior Accountant

Heidi gained her Bachelor of Accounting degree through the University of South Australia in 2016 and she also holds an Advanced Diploma in Accounting qualification. She is an experienced bookkeeper and prior to joining the NFPAS team in 2017 she was employed for eight years with Re-Engage Youth Services Inc / Career Partners Plus Inc as a finance officer, where she was responsible for accounts payable & receivable, payroll, bookkeeping and reconciliations, BAS/GST and monthly reporting. She has used MYOB extensively and has a wealth of general accounting, bookkeeping and administrative experience to draw upon in her work with clients.

Salina Choi

Consulting Project Lead

Salina is a highly valued staff member and has worked for Not for Profit Accounting Specialists since July 2014. She is fluent in both the English and Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin) languages and holds a Master of Accounting qualification from Flinders University. Prior to joining the practice she worked in a professional accounting environment in Hong Kong and she also worked for Moore Stephens, after permanently relocating to Australia. She is experienced in the areas of bookkeeping and payroll and has developed strong skills in not for profit organisation audit work.

Anne Zhang

Accountant

Anne graduated from University of Adelaide with a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting)  and has completed the CPA professional program. Anne is action and outcome focussed and provides advice in management of business expenses, accounts payable and receivable, journal entries, financial analysis and also works closely with business owners in a combination of tax and accounting functions, including tax position management, monthly financial reporting and tax planning. She also has great experience in transitioning clients to cloud-based accounting programs.

Celeste Cornford

Accountant

Celeste has a Diploma of Accounting qualification and has worked in bookkeeping roles for many years. Whilst in the Northern Territory she had opportunity to work with a number of smaller not for profit organisations and she has built up a strong level of sector knowledge. She is experienced in all aspects of the bookkeeping and payroll functions including transaction processing, payroll processing, accounting package expertise (Xero and MYOB), reconciliation work, the preparation of reports, and the completion of compliance tasks. She is extremely efficient and thorough in her approach and provides ongoing bookkeeping services to a group of our not for profit clients.

Jessica Chow

Payroll Specialist

Jessica has a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) from the University of South Australia and is a registered BAS agent. Jessica can speak fluently in both English and Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin) languages. Before joining Not for Profit Accounting Specialists, she worked in different aspects of bookkeeping and payroll processing using a variety of different accounting packages. 

Kirsty May

Accountant

Kirsty is an experienced bookkeeper with extensive payroll and month-end accounting background gained in a number of large and SME commercial organisations.  Over the course of her career, she has held roles including Senior Finance Administrator in which she was responsible for payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable and monthly reporting; and Payroll Manager during which she was responsible for end-to-end payroll for 600 employees as well as travelling nationally to train site administrators on the use of enterprise-wide payroll software.  Kirsty is also skilled in the interpretation of enterprise agreements and their implications on the payroll process.

Nikita Panchal

Accountant

Nikita completed her CA professional program in India and earned a Master of Science in Finance and Accounting from the University of Westminster London in the United Kingdom. She has worked in tax teams and various

accounting roles in the UK and India for over 10 years. She has had a variety of positions throughout her career, including Head of Accounts Department, where she oversaw payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, monthly reporting, and taxes.
Before joining NFPAS, she held a business advising position in a public practice accounting firm in the United Kingdom.

Linda Gardiner

Accountant

Linda has more than 30 years Public Practice experience in both New Zealand and Australia (mostly in Business Advisory Services, rising to Assistant Manager level) and two years working for a large charity in NZ. 

Throughout her senior public practice career, Linda has been very involved in Graduate Training. An area she is passionate about is teaching graduates how to become accountants.

Ian Mostert

Associate Director Assurance Services

Ian is a CPA and Registered Company Auditor whose professional journey began in South Africa and has since flourished at NFPAS. As a critical contributor to the growth of our audit division, he manages our audit and financial statements portfolios with unwavering dedication. Ian is also a valuable member of NFPAS’ Technical Committee and Risk & Compliance Committee, reflecting his commitment to upholding the highest standards of practice. Known for his methodical approach and commitment to quality, Ian continually works to enhance the audit experience for our clients.

Sachinthani Fernando

Audit Senior

Sach holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Accountancy and Business Finance and a Diploma in Management Accounting (CIMA, UK). Following an impressive academic career which included published work in Accounting & Finance Research, Sach joined BDO and advanced quickly to the position of Audit Senior. Joining NFPAS in 2022, Sach brings skills in critical analysis, multitasking, financial statements preparation and auditing.

Raj Pandey

Accountant & Auditor

Raj holds a Bachelor of Applied Management (majoring in Accounting) and a Master of Accounting. Prior to joining Not for Profit Accounting Specialists in 2021 as an Auditor, she was an Office Administrator for BP Connect and Treasurer for Nepal New Zealand Friendship Society Canterbury. She is passionate about bookkeeping, payroll and audit and enjoys working in both Accounting & Advisory Services and Assurance Service.   

Matt Wegner

Client Services Manager

Matt brings an interesting and varied mix of skills to the Not for Profit Accounting Specialists team and has been with the practice since December 2014. He is an Information Technology specialist, a topic he has lectured in at University level. He is also an experienced school educator, a qualified flight instructor and he was employed in a banking role with ANZ Bank for three years. In addition to overseeing the IT, property management and administration functions of the practice, he works with not for profit organisations in the areas of website development, banking matters, board support and secretariat services.

Sue Salisbury

Administration Manager

Sue is a longstanding and integral part of the Not for Profit Accounting Specialist team and works on the frontline of the practice, in an administration role and also as an assistant to the Founding Director and CEO. She is very experienced in all aspects of office management and her work history includes 14 years spent with Edwards Marshall in a variety of roles, progressing through to Manager, Secretarial Services. She has also been hands-on and instrumental in growing and developing the Virtual Office and Secretariat services that the practice offers to not for profit organisations from around Australia.

Nadia Altamura

Administration Coordinator

Nadia joins us with over 20 years working in television. During this time she has held many roles ranging in Administration, Programming, News, Autocue Operator, Operations, Executive Assistant, Events and Publicity. Nadia has also worked as a sales consultant in photography and with her diverse experience, communication, and coordination skills, she has become a valued addition to our team.