Michael Wakeling - Partner

BBus, CA

Michael retains an active interest in Rugby Union having served as the Director of Finance on the Southern Inland Rugby Union Board and its predecessor Riverina Rugby Union for six years during the amalgamation of Riverina and South West Slopes zones and the introduction of GST.

He is in the twilight of his rugby playing career, having just finished his 29th season with the ‘Reddies’, and he continues to contribute to Southern Inland Rugby as a referee.

Michael has a rural background working on his parents farm at Collingullie and as a shearer in the Lockhart area for ten years before commencing a career in accounting.

Graeme Obst - Partner

BBus, Grad Dip Bus(Agribusiness), Dip FS, FCA

With a background in Rural Finance and Agribusiness, Graeme is a Chartered Accountant, holding a Diploma of Financial Services, Bachelor of Business and a Grad Dip Bus (Agribusiness) from Monash University.

As an authorised representative of Meritum Financial Group, Graeme is able to provide financial advice on investment products. Additionally he is an Accredited SMSF Specialist Advisor™(SSA™)., a fellow of the Taxation Institute of Australia, Registered Tax Agent and a fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

He also holds a commercial pilots licence and in his spare time Graeme helps his wife run the family farm with the occasional help of his four children.

Julie Debono - Partner

BBus (Accounting/Bus Mgt), CA

Julie is an experienced Chartered Accountant who enjoys working with her tax and business services team in offering the highest quality service to clients. She is a Fellow of the Taxation Institute of Australia, and has completed a UNSW Masters of Applied Taxation.

Having grown up on her family's farm at Tumut, she is very committed to the Riverina and the opportunities that it has to offer. She enjoys problem solving and working with a diverse range of clients from the agriculture sector, to health care, professional services, retail, and manufacturing, in achieving their goals.

Julie is passionate about the unique nature of every business she deals with, and enjoys the challenge of simplifying the accounting and taxation process to give clients more time doing what they love.

Andrew Manton - Partner

BBus (Accounting), CPA

As a Chartered Accountant, Certified Practising Accountant and Registered Tax Agent, Andrew has 30 years of experience with accounting and taxation issues for all sizes of business.

Andrew’s spare time is spent with family and keeping busy with the Lake Albert Soccer Club as the President of the club, as well as assisting with senior and junior teams.

Carolyn Rosetta-Walsh - Partner

BBus, CA

Carolyn has a Bachelor of Commerce, and is a Chartered Accountant, Registered Company Auditor and Certified Internal Auditor, with 20 years’ assurance, risk and advisory experience working across a number of industries, including: not-for-profit; local, state and federal government; as well as the private sector.

Carolyn has extensive experience in undertaking financial statement audits across a wide range of industries and organisations varying in size from very small, medium, to large, complex not-for-profit, private and public sector entities.

She also has wide-spread experience in the provision of internal audit, risk advisory and business-process and internal controls advisory services.

Carolyn utilises her experience to provide clients with useful insights, and practical recommendations that are specific and practical to each individual client and situation.

Carolyn is a former Tumut local, and after spending a number of years in Queensland is enjoying providing services to our clients within the Riverina region.

Robert Fry - Associate

CA

Rob has been a valued AKW team member since 2011 and has experience within audit and superannuation, whilst specialising in taxation.

Rob has been working with Graeme Obst for several years now, and enjoys his role as a manager on Graeme’s tax team.

Rob is a CSU graduate and was admitted into the Institute of Chartered Accountants in 2016. In particular he enjoys focusing on complex areas within the tax environment, and tax planning for our clients.

Outside of work, Rob is also actively involved in the local community being a member of South Wagga APEX and the treasurer for the Riverina Ag Network.

Ben Wood - Associate

Bach Bus, Bach IT, CA

Ben has a Bachelor of Business in Accounting, a Bachelor of Information Technology and is a Chartered Accountant with 15 years experience at Adams Kenneally White in audit, accounting, tax and business services across a wide range of clients.

Ben grew up in Wagga Wagga attending Kooringal High School before completing his undergraduate degrees at Charles Sturt University. Ben started at AKW in 2004 while completing his studies and still resides in Wagga Wagga with his partner Erica.

Ben worked in our audit department for 13 years before making the transition to work with Julie Debono in tax and business services and is enjoying the challenges and opportunities of his new role.

Sarah Mandaglio - Branch Manager

BBus, CA

Sarah has a Bachelor of Business (Accounting/Legal Studies) and is a Chartered Accountant and Justice of the Peace with many years’ tax, accounting and business experience working across a diverse range of industries, particularly agricultural, retail and construction.

Sarah grew up on a dry-area farm near Kamarah, she attended Ardlethan Central School before studying a Bachelor of Business (Accounting/Legal Studies) at Charles Sturt University in Wagga. While studying Sarah also worked full-time in our Wagga office. She then moved to Leeton as she married a local citrus farmer.

Sarah has been in our Griffith office for five years and enjoys working closely with clients to achieve their business goals, resolving complex tax matters and tax planning. She looks forward to working with her team to provide high-quality service to clients. Having been born and bred in the area, Sarah is very committed to the MIA/Riverina and the opportunities it has to offer.

Debbie Simmonds - Manager

Debbie has recently joined our AKW team working with Michael Wakeling, and bringing with her a wealth of experience in the Agribusiness banking industry and small business growth.
Debbie has a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics and a Diploma in Financial Planning.
Debbie grew up on the family dairy farm in Nowra where she was inspired to join the agriculture industry and support farmers to achieve their aspirations. Debbie’s career brought her to the Riverina and she has been settled in Wagga for more than 15 years. Debbie has over 20 years’ experience in the Agribusiness Banking industry, working with a major bank throughout this time.
Debbie’s strength is assisting clients to work through their farming growth plan and business transition. She is available to assist clients with working through applications for finance, including assisting with cash flow budgets, developing, and reviewing loan structures and providing advice on the financing process.
Outside of work, Debbie and husband Bernie run a small transport business and have 2 children, Chloe and Jimmy. Debbie enjoys playing netball as well as supporting Chloe and Jimmy in their sporting endeavours of netball, soccer, touch football and cricket.