Leah Russell

Executive summary

Leah is a Partner in BDO’s Audit & Assurance team in Sydney. She has over 25 years’ accounting and audit experience, and provides audit and assurance services to a broad range of clients, ranging from ASX-listed entities to large private groups, and not-for-profit/for-purpose entities.

Leah has an appreciation for working with auditors, having held directorships, and managed the accounting for a family business that has been audited.

She is passionate about training and developing her team, ensuring they deliver on the agreed audit approach. Her clients and fellow board members will attest she is approachable, collaborative, calm in all circumstances, and timely in communication.

Leah joined BDO as Partner in 2019 after 17 years with a Sydney accounting firm (including 12 as Partner), where she managed the New South Wales partners, and was a member of the national leadership team.

Expertise

• Financial reporting and accounting
• Corporate governance
• Financial statement audits
• Special purpose audits and reviews
• ASX listings and initial public offerings (IPOs)

Experience

Audit and assurance services for:

• Federal and state government authorities and agencies
• Healthcare providers
• Not-for-profits
• Professional services providers
• Educational institutions.

Qualifications and affiliations

• Bachelor of Commerce and Legal Studies
• Registered Company Auditor (299077)
• Member, CA ANZ

Professional engagements and activities

• Chairwoman, Presbyterian Ladies College (PLC) Sydney; Director July 2015 to current
• Chairwoman, PLC Armidale; Director July 2015 to current
• Trustee, Presbyterian Property Trust, July 2015 to current
• Director, Association of Independent Schools New South Wales, November 2024 to current.