Thinktank: Into people. Not just transactions
Thinktank’s ethos is to be relationship-focussed at all levels. The company is committed to supporting business, brokers, borrowers, and investors alike with superior customer service, sound financial solutions, and attractive investment opportunities. The company’s operations are spearheaded by an established leadership team.
Jonathan Street
– CEO
Jonathan has over 30 years’ experience in the finance industry in Australia and the UK, including National Australia Bank, Rothchilds Asset Management, Cargill Financial Markets, and Accenture. Jonathan is one of the founders of Thinktank and continues to be instrumental in the development and evolution of the business.
Per Amundsen – Director
Before Thinktank Per built a book of $1.5bn in SME commercial property loans in his role as General Manager of AMP Property Finance. Per brings an amalgamation of property finance experience from institutions including Toronto Dominion, Westpac, and Mirvac. He is also an executive member of the Australian Risk Management Association.
Michelle Anderson – Head of People and Culture
Michelle has over 20 years’ experience in HR leadership roles in the financial services sector. Michelle is experienced in developing high-performance cultures as well as leadership coaching and development. Michelle has developed employee engagement and talent acquisition strategies and has led health & safety and employee relation functions. Michelle has experience in succession planning, diversity and compliance and has led multiple M&As and workplace restructures.
James Henshaw – CIO
James has over 30 years’ experience in financial services including HSBC and Pepper Money. He brings a unique combination of business and technology skills to Thinktank with his extensive experience in sales, credit, banking operations, business process improvement, and leading technological transformations
Cullen Hughes
– CFO
Cullen has over 20 years’ experience in financial services, with a focus in securitisation and capital markets across multiple major institutions, including CBA, Citibank, Societe Generale, and Zurich Capital Markets. With further experience gained at ASIC in the Investment Bank Division, Cullen has worked extensively in facilitating debt capital markets financing for many businesses in Australia for residential mortgages, equipment lease receivables, commercial mortgages, consumer loans, and auto loans.
Peter Kearns
– General Manager
Peter is a highly credentialed executive with over 35 years’ experience in the banking and finance industry, including AMP Property Finance and Citibank. Peter has a deep knowledge of commercial property finance including, credit, operational administration, and compliance, and is regarded as one of the most respected professionals in the industry.
Peter Vala – General Manager, Strategy and Growth
Peter has extensive experience in residential, commercial, and development finance. Peter specialises in strategic implementation, leads the Thinktank Relationship Manager team, and works closely with brokers and aggregators.
Belinda Wright – Head of Partnerships & Distribution
Belinda has over 20 years’ experience across various divisions in banking and financial services. Belinda specialises in residential sales, credit and end to end home loan processing with a focus on third party broker channel experience. Prior to working with Thinktank Belinda has spent time working with Westpac Group, ANZ and RAMS.
Ernest Biasi – Treasurer
Ernest has over 25 years’ experience in financial services specialising in securitisation financing and debt capital markets. During his 16 years at Commonwealth Bank he was responsible for origination, structuring and execution of securitisation transactions backed by diverse portfolios of assets including residential and commercial mortgages. Prior to that Ernest spent time working at Fitch Ratings, Perpetual Trustees and ANZ Banking Group.
Andrew Brown – Chief Operations Officer
Andrew has over 15 years’ operational related leadership experience, with a particular focus on operational excellence, credit risk, technology and process improvement. Andrew has a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Graduate Diploma in Management, an Advanced Diploma of Banking Services Management, Diploma in Financial Services, Diploma in Financial Planning – (RG146), Diploma of Credit Management and is a certified Agile SCRUM master.
Simon Coulter – Head of Credit – Collections
Simon has over 25 years’ experience in the finance industry, including Commonwealth Bank and Colonial First State. He has extensive experience in all facets of commercial and residential lending as well as enforcements and recoveries. Simon is currently Head of Credit – Collections and also manages our Financial Hardship Team.
Ben Cook – Head of Risk and Compliance
Ben has over 20 years’ experience in the banking and financial services industry, focusing on risk management and compliance across multiple major institutions including CBA, Westpac, and Macquarie. Ben has a deep understanding of the regulatory landscape and has a proven track record of developing effective risk management strategies to ensure compliance with industry standards. He has built and lead high-performing teams that drive results and deliver on business objectives. With his extensive experience, he has developed a keen eye for identifying risks and implementing strategic mitigation plans that minimize impacts while aligning to commercial expectations.
Heena Geronimo – Senior Manager, People & Culture
Heena commenced her career as a recruiter in Sydney in 1996. As a result, she has an incredibly strong network of relationships throughout the Banking and Financial services Industry in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. Her focus, which has not changed over the last 20+ yrs is all about honesty, transparency and integrity when working with candidates and providing a first class professional recruitment service to all parties. Heena is passionate about providing an unforgettable candidate experience as well as embedding the Thinktank culture throughout the recruitment and on boarding process.
Lurinda Heymans – Executive Assistant and Corporate Facilities Manager
Lurinda is an accomplished C-Level Executive Assistant with over 25 years’ experience in financial services, telecommunications and government, providing high-level administrative support to the Leadership team and Executive Committee members. Her expertise includes optimising efficiency, productivity and service across multiple environments.
Adam Hutcheson – Regional Sales Executive – QLD, WA, NT
Adam has been in the finance industry for over 25-years, including roles with major banks, niche banks and time as a mortgage broker. With a background in corporate banking, Adam’s exposure to self-employed and SME clients is extensive and has been focused to the broker industry for the last 10+ years. Adam relocated from Sydney to Brisbane in 2017 to establish the QLD operations of Thinktank.
Lita Maguero – Senior Settlements Manager, Commercial
Lita has been in the banking and finance industry for 35 years which includes working for GIO Finance and Suncorp Bank. Lita has a wealth of experience in commercial and construction credit as well as credit administration. Lita has been with Thinktank since 2013 and currently manages Commercial Settlements.
Angus Millen – Credit Policy & Systems Manager
Angus has over 20 years’ experience in the mortgage securitisation industry first working for GMAC. He has a wealth of experience in all aspects of the process from credit underwriting, loan servicing and trust management and has been with Thinktank since it commenced.
David Nolan – National Head of Credit
David has over 30 years’ experience in the finance industry including Westpac and Colonial First State. His major focus has been commercial property finance with a wide range of experience in industrial, office and retail as well as residential lending. David currently manages the Commercial Credit team.
Heather Noonan – Regional Sales Executive – VIC, TAS, SA
Heather is a relationship focussed leader with over 35 years’ experience across numerous businesses and brands within the finance industry. Heather has had a diverse spread of roles and experiences in finance – including bank, non-bank and broking with a consistent focus on assisting clients to grow their businesses whilst developing strong long term relationships with clients, colleagues, and peers.
John Rubinchtein – Head of Operational Services
John has over 17 years’ experience in the banking and finance industry, having worked in various leadership roles in mutual banks, the non-bank space and most recently at RAMS. With a strong focus on process improvement and delivering a positive customer experience, John is a strategic leader with extensive experience managing customer facing contact centres and branches and leading large teams across all facets of residential and consumer lending, credit risk and credit operations.
Cath Ryan – Regional Sales Executive NSW, ACT
Cath has had a diverse career in lending across a wide variety of areas including small business, cash flow, corporate and institutional. Working with major banks, niche investment banks and now in the non-bank sector. The thing she values the most is the relationships formed with brokers, team members, customers and business partners. In more recent years one of her focuses has been on education and helping brokers get more comfortable with commercial lending.
Charmaine Van Der Merwe – Head of Digital
Charmaine has over 25 years’ experience in Information Technology, with a diverse background in financial services, government and consulting. She has extensive knowledge and experience in key IT areas including business analysis, software development, data analytics, business process improvement, cloud-based technology and digital transformation.
Toni Wilson – Senior Loan Support Manager
Toni has been in the banking & finance industry for over 30 years which includes roles in the Big Banks and in Mortgage Management Companies. Toni is experienced in all aspects of loan servicing and strives to provide excellent customer service and best customer experience post settlement.
