Senior Partner Manager at Hootsuite | Enterprise Alliances with MarTech SaaS | Head of Sales & Marketing at MyRisk | Board Director | Author of "Connect & Act - Systematic Social Selling"

The world is working in a hybrid mode - many continue to commute to their workplace while others work from home. How to find technology to enable and manage this new way of working?

The Australian ICT industry is unique: it is an ideal test market for new technologies and services. I moved to Sydney in 2016 to apply my 20 years of European ICT industry experience to the Aussie cloud and software business combining sales and marketing activities, mostly with partner companies.

Since I came to Sydney, I developed myself as a strategic networker bringing people together face to face and online using Social Selling techniques. I became an educator sharing this passion especially while serving the channel in Australia and Asia Pacific in the Software-as-a-Service industry.

I am passionate about the transformation of modern workplaces to embrace new ways of collaboration. Cloud based tools, mobility and Artificial Intelligence enable these trends. I consult and guide my audience as a trusted advisor along the change journey, to prepare for a connected tomorrow.

In addition to modern IT trends I care about heritage architecture, enjoy cultural activities and write about travel. As a published author of 22 books including two hotel guides, I combine these streams together.

Adapting my subject matter expertise and leadership experience to the next level, I serve as Board Director of my favourite hotel in Sydney.

Gunnar Habitz

Fun to be in the sales profession if you see these photos from yesterday‘s LiveHaus  event!
🥂
But not all have reasons to be happy as 42% of salesreps don‘t make quota and 91% in APAC report burnout (highest in the world).

Where to find out what to do with it?

Yesterday‘s SalesHaus event at The Commons in Sydney was the place where Australia‘s top #B2Bsales people came together.

Joe Hindmarsh MBA from Highspot set the scene with shocking facts line those reported above - but shows how #salesenablement platforms can improve the revenue impact (especially through partners).

Here are my key takeaways from some of the panelists, well moderated by 🚀 Saurabh Kaura: 

- Ricky Pearl: The best performing salesreps didn‘t change their approach radically from AI

- Steve Tolen: People still buy from people, we can‘t automate the relationship building process

- Adem Manderovic: Quota-hitting teams don‘t try harder, they engineer certainty in an GTM architecture approach (launching his book in 2026!)

My two cents: Authencity as sellers - also through #partnership - is key to win client trust. Using AI-powered tech tools is a short cut to be more efficient and creative - but not a replacement for the power of human connection.

What‘s your tip to remain connected in the sales profession?

Helping boutique marketing agencies scale through human connection, automation & AI-powered workflows | Agency Ecosystem Lead @ ActiveCampaign (APAC)

No alternative text description for this image

Breath Space with Thomas

Workshops for the workplace and individuals. Certified Wim Hof Method Instructor teaching breathing techniques in Sydney, to improve physical and mental wellbeing.

Influence your immune system, mindset, performance & relationships. Reduce stress & anxiety, & boost energy & power for peak performance

Breathwork workshops help you care for your people, help their mental & physical wellbeing, & encourage a return to the workplace & avoid the #greatresignation

Chief Breathwork Officer

Re.Group Pty Ltd

Focussing on Automation, Transformation, and Process Improvement projects across the group, as well as leading the AP, AR, and Payroll teams as the organisation experiences rapid large-scale organic growth.

- Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Project for Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable to transition the company from a manual-based process to an automated process with manual intervention for exceptions only.
- Automation of key internal reports such as P&L’s, Balance sheets, TB’s, Intercompany transactions. After extensive gap analysis, opportunities for improvement identified and implemented which led to significant time saving across the team of 21.5 staff hours per month, as well as a 50% reduction in time taken for bank recs and Interco transactions
- Cash management across Australia (over $AUD 1million per week), 3rd party supplier management and working closely with main banking partner (Westpac) to devise a streamlined, efficient, and fit for purpose solution that ultimately reduced costs by 83%
- Time system overhaul, configuration, and automation of timesheets which significantly reduces manual processing time of paper-based timesheets.
- Monday.com – self-taught power user and recognised by external supplier as valuable face of the company. 
- Accounting system improvement & negotiated significant cost savings with supplier (over 35%)
- Invoice management, Purchase Requests and Purchase Orders – overhaul and redesign entire process across the organisation by simplifying, standardising, streamlining the process (including sufficient and appropriate Internal controls that are fit for purpose)
- Staff training – onboarding new staff into the finance team, training videos for Monday.com, and training videos for cash management process handover.

Finance Project Manager

Re.Group is an Australian development and management company focused on providing high quality services for the recovery and recycling of resources from waste.

Group Financial Controller

TAK Advisers Ltd

Provided commercial insights, analysis and support across financial, management and strategic functions working remotely to support teams in multiple jurisdictions of the Netherlands, Switzerland, Cyprus, the Isle of Man, Malta and Poland. 

Key deliverables through 2 long-term project engagements

- Linchpin Role, holding a crucial space during a period of cultural, staffing and operational transition
- Assessed and reviewed Business Plans and finance applications.
- Assisted with complex business and legal negotiations, contracts and agreements in order to support business growth across the organisation.
- Devised financial and strategic solutions by working closely with customers to ensure needs were met for all parties involved.
- Analysed P&L forecasts, Balance Sheet forecasts, Cash Flow Forecasts, sales metric projections, market forces and KPI’s, in order to assess variances and movements against forecast, assess suitability via testing key assumptions and line drivers and provide insights, commentary and recommendations as appropriate.
- Provided SWOT analysis and subsequent strategic plans to ensure business growth towards stated goals.
- Managed Cash-Flow Forecast and Loan Portfolio.
- Assessed and reviewed investment performance including ROI, performance against forecasts and implications for future strategy (investments in Dutch company as well as loans advanced to borrowers.
- Lead and managed of the change between Managing Directors and finance teams by effectively working with key stakeholders (financial and non-financial) including Ultimate Beneficial Owners and C-Level.
- Managed high-quality stakeholder relationships during difficult transition period.
- Business as usual tasks and support such as: Accounting, IFRS Statements, monthly, quarterly and annual Management Information Review.

Commercial Project Consultant

Banasino Investments Limited (part of the Kronospan world)

Internal promotion and relocation to work closely with the Group Finance Director in Cyprus and continue my oversight and support of all the Central Finance Companies (4 large companies) in various jurisdictions.

- Worked as a linchpin where I proactively supported, assisted and collaborated with senior and junior stakeholders (as well as internal and external) on a broad spectrum of business and finance projects and tasks in different geographical regions.
- Provided daily analysis, recommendations and insights on financial performance of divisions across the organization – primarily P&L, Cash Flow Forecasts, Budgets and Business Plans (KPI’s, markets, sales projections and key assumptions).
- Devised, created, set up and then lead the Internal Credit Committee across Germany, Cyprus, Malta, Switzerland the Netherlands and the UK.
- Supervised, supported and reviewed a Multi-Jurisdiction Finance Team supervision, support and review across Cyprus, Malta, the Isle of Man, Switzerland and the Netherlands, often travelling to meet with teams and managers.
- Identified the need for, and then created and lead the Cash Flow forecasting improvement project.
- Identified the need for, and then created projects to improve internal processes and reporting frameworks such as inter-company loan reporting, management accounts, budgeting, and internal controls.
- Project leader to transfer finance functionality and processes from Switzerland, develop and grow the presence of finance function in Rotterdam, then handed over to team I helped build there.
- Oversight, consolidation, reporting and management of vast internal loan and financing portfolio.
- Designed, produced or reviewed business plans for new large-scale investment projects in Romania, Spain, Serbia, Russia and Belarus.
- Mentored, supported and lead existing and new staff across finance team jurisdictions. 
- Production of single entity and consolidated accounts under both IFRS and UK GAAP frameworks.

Senior Commercial Financial Manager

Jacatin BV (part of the Kronospan world)

Initially seconded to the Netherlands for a project and then subsequently promoted to Finance Manager of major Central Finance Company in order to carry out a multi-jurisdiction business partnering / commercial partnering role (becoming a linchpin)

Initial secondment – 12 months
This had 4 Core functions:

1.	Project Leader to transfer all finance processes and reporting from Switzerland to the Netherlands.
-	All management reports and management information production including Management Accounts, Cash Flow Forecasts, Budgets, Borrower Recoverability Reviews, Loan Agreements, Loan statements 

2.	Management Accounting and Management Reporting.
-	Preparation of Key Management Reports; 12-month Cash Flow Forecast, Annual Budget, monthly Management Accounts
-	Performance analysis against targets, budgets, KPI’s and reporting findings & recommendations to MD and C-Level Management.
-	Management and execution of all year-end processes and tasks

3.	Loan Portfolio Management.
-	Business Partnering with key management at borrowers
-	Management of Loan Agreement and loan Statement processes

4.	Develop and grow the presence of Central Finance Company function in Rotterdam
-	Assist in identifying & defining staffing needs, write job descriptions, perform interviews, recommendations for hiring of Management Accountant for the office and then support and nurture the development of the new Manager.


Finance Manager (Business Partnering role) – Internal Promotion

Building on the core work I performed on my secondment, I was to take more responsibility and a higher-level central reviewing & advisory capacity of the ‘business as usual’ activities.

-	Multi-Jurisdiction Finance Team support in Cyprus, Malta, the Isle of Man, Switzerland and the Netherlands
-	Review and analysis of Business Plans for new large-scale investment projects in Romania, Spain, Serbia, and Belarus
-	Business partnering with key managers to ensure optimised cash flow back to central finance companies

Commercial Finance Manager

Finch Holdings Limited - Part of the Kronospan Worldwide Organisation

Management accountant and leader of a small finance team in a family office with oversight of 6 companies to support and reduce the workload of the Managing Director.

Key Responsibilities:
-	Management accounting: Reviewing General Ledger and journal entries, review of monthly management accounts before issuing to MD
-	Year-end Processes: Production of year-end UK GAAP and IFRS statements, liaising with local auditors (such as fielding queries, resolving issues and managing the working relationship)
-	Loan Portfolio review oversight: daily review of loan portfolios to identify issues of non-repayment or cash flow difficulties of borrowers
-	Cash flow forecast (CFF) review and oversight: monthly review of CFF to identify issues, surpluses and deficits and then make recommendations to MD, liaising with borrowers to find solutions to identified issues
-	Loan Agreements: Review of all loan agreements with borrowers
-	Loan statements: production and maintenance of monthly loan statements issued to borrowers
-	Process and reporting improvement: Improved the usefulness, readability and timeliness of management accounts, loan portfolio summaries, loan statements, CFF to raise the profile of the office and support management.
-	Leading, supporting and nurturing: Essentially leading a small team consisting of one bookkeeper and one trainee ACCA and being the buffer between them and the MD and C-Level Manager

Finance Executive

KPMG Isle of Man

Audit Senior

Edexcel & Pearson UK

Writing National A2 examinations in Physical Education and leading the examining team. As well as providing inset training around the UK for both Advanced Physical Education, and teaching in general.

Principal Examiner for Advanced Level Physical Education (A2)

Ballakermeen High School

Teacher of Physical Education, Head of Year, Head of Advanced level Physical Education

Hi, I’m Thomas — a commercially minded leader, Chartered Accountant, and EQ strategist who thrives in the space between vision and execution, data and people, analysis and emotion.

Over the past 17+ years, I’ve worked across finance, strategy, and leadership — partnering with senior executives to solve high-stakes challenges, optimise performance, and lead with emotional intelligence. I’m not your typical Chartered Accountant (still no grey suit!); I bring curiosity, compassion, and clarity to complex environments where growth, transformation, and culture intersect.

After my daughter was born in 2021, I made the deliberate choice to pause my corporate trajectory to be present during her formative years. While on this journey, my position was made redundant — but rather than see this as a setback, I leaned into my lifelong fascination with resilience, leadership, and well-being. I launched my passion project, Breath Space with Thomas, to help others manage stress and avoid burnout through science-backed tools like breathwork, nervous system regulation, and energy optimisation.

Now, I’ve returned to the corporate world as a Director and Commercial Manager, helping a global leader grow their presence in the Australian market. I bring the same energy, empathy, and excellence to this work — driving strategic outcomes while championing a more human, sustainable way to lead.

Untangling complicated strategic or financial challenges, guiding teams through change, or supporting high-performing professionals to do their best work — my goal is to be a trusted partner. 


taplio

The Battle

Gunnar Habitz

Thomas Beresford - Burnout and Stress Specialist and Keynote Speaker

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreGunnar Habitz's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Gunnar Habitz

Thomas Beresford - Burnout and Stress Specialist and Keynote Speaker

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Gunnar Habitz's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreGunnar Habitz's LinkedIn Performance