Meet the Team

Gareth Jakeman

Managing Director + Chairman

Praescius was founded on 4 May 2004, when I left the mid-tier chartered accounting firm, Bentleys MRI and decided to develop my own proposition for clients. At that time, I had three clients, who are still with me today and to whom I am eternally grateful for their trust in my ability. Today, Praescius services clients spanning across the Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales and beyond, which I believe speaks to our continued and strong focus on people.

I grew up in what was a little town called Camden in NSW, which could now be considered essentially a suburb of Sydney. At a small pre-school, I met my best mate at the age of three – Matthew Harrington – who is now my business partner and co-Director of Praescius. Upon leaving school and then tertiary education at the University of Wollongong, I joined the Accounting profession and received the benefit of the experience of some of the best practitioners in the Accounting and Financial Planning sectors.

Currently, I am undergoing the ’50-year apprenticeship’ that allows one to call themselves a ‘Territorian’. As well as being a proud resident of the NT I have two hilarious children who I am extremely proud of, and am a passionate Rugby Union supporter player with the Casuarina Cougars and Stray Cats Rugby Union Clubs.

One of the best things about what I do is the rapport I have been fortunate to build with those we work in partnership with-our clients. They are fantastic people, who love what we do, because of the value we place on relationships. This makes it really easy to go to the office each day and I continue to genuinely enjoy the work I do and the service the entire Praescius team works so diligently to provide.

Matthew Harrington

Director + Praescius Board

I was born at Camden Hospital in 1978, eight weeks early which doesn’t surprise me at all as I’ve always been a little too impatient when it comes to myself. I met Gareth Jakeman (Managing Director of Praescius) when I was four years old at the local ‘Chug-a-long’ preschool and we’ve been best mates for the 35 odd years since.

I attended the local primary school which was a 10 minute walk from home, but it was during my high school years I started to develop an interest in the subject of business and economics. Upon leaving school I went straight into working for a compliance, audit and training business where I progressed through the management ranks and gained invaluable experience in managing large teams of people and everything that comes with this type of position.

After much discussion and some years of considering the idea, I joined Praescius in late 2005 and so far it’s been the journey of a lifetime and something I will always wish I’d done sooner. I love the challenges of the financial services and accounting sectors as they’re always evolving and I have the great pleasure of working to help clients from all walks of life, from all backgrounds, all across this great country of ours.

I am a father of three beautiful children whom I completely adore, who always make me laugh and remind me about the best things in life. I enjoy any kind of fitness, playing golf (or watching it more so these days) and playing the guitar, every day if possible.

I can honestly say I love my job, and being a part of Praescius, and the opportunities it has provided over the years to work with a diverse range of people.

Nerida Sparkes

Group Operations Manager

Upon reflection you could say that my journey to Praescius was nine years in the making. After completing a management traineeship with retailer David Jones, I worked with Matthew (who joined Gareth at Praescius in late 2005) for nine years at Standards Australia / SAI Global in a variety of different roles; we often laugh at the fact that during this time I was always his superior. We of course kept in contact over the years and in early 2014 he called me to say Praescius was looking for a Group Operations Manager and here we are.

While moving to Financial Services represented somewhat of a change in terms of industry, I haven’t looked back. It’s an amazing feeling being part of a team that works so actively towards helping its clients to achieve their goals. At times my work can be invisible to staff and it’s almost always invisible to clients – and really that’s how it should be. My role is focused on ensuring our business practices continue to support and empower our advisers to deliver the best experience possible and I love being the person that people come to for help – for almost every aspect of the business.

Beyond a Diploma in Human Resources I also hold a Certificate IV in Business. Having worked in client services for more than 20 years, I continue to be guided by the simple motto of ‘be better’ and enjoy coaching and working alongside the Praescius team to produce outstanding results.

Tanya Zahra

Hervey Bay Business Manager

I moved to beautiful Hervey Bay in 2013 and commenced work with Praescius in December the same year. Having worked in banking, finance and administration for more than 20 years, I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with a diverse group of people – spanning across a range of industry settings – and this experience continues to inform my work today.

I find my role as Business Manager very rewarding. No two days are the same and I enjoy both the diversity of the role and equally how it continues to inspire and challenge me to constantly improve our practices.

The best part of the job is working with great people. I am lucky to be part of a supportive team who foster a wonderful family spirit and who have instilled a culture within our business that resonates with those we assist. Providing our clients and team members with the highest level of customer service, a friendly face and a positive attitude is really what it’s about for me.

On a personal note, family is the most important thing in my life and nothing makes me happier than to be surrounded by them – eating, laughing and making fun of each other. I enjoy staying fit and while I often frequent the gym my favourite exercise is simply walking along the esplanade or our beautiful beaches.

I have completed a Diploma in Banking and Finance, Fundamentals of Financial Planning along with various other accounting and administration courses. My motto for life is ‘Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success’. I believe this mindset enables me to be the best person I can be both personally and professionally.

Michael Toohey

Financial Planner

I was born and raised on a sheep and wheat property near Forbes in the central west of New South Wales. After completing my Commerce Degree in 1992 I worked in rural banking and agribusiness until 2000. An opportunity presented itself to change direction with an Accounting Firm as a Financial Planner in my home town in 2000 and I’ve continued to stay in this space since.

No one day is the same in our industry thanks to constant change combined with the opportunity to meet new people from all walks of life, and in my eyes it’s these factors that make for a very rewarding career.

The favourite part of my role is establishing strong relationships with my clients and working with them to maximise their financial position. My strength lies in making the complicated simple so they can feel comfortable knowing they understand the advice they receive. Most importantly, I believe every client regardless of their means deserves advice that is straight forward and relevant to their circumstance.

My formal qualifications include a Degree in Business, Advanced Diploma of Financial Services (Financial Planning), Certificate IV in Finance and Mortgage Broking and a SMSF Specialist Advisor. I am also a member of the Financial Planning of Australia Association.

My wife Donna and I and our three children Annika, Max and Meg made the huge decision to relocate to Hervey Bay in 2009 – much to our parent’s disgust! We have enjoyed our nine years in this beautiful part of the world and look forward to enjoying many more.

Sharyn Parker

Client Services

After working in client services for 25 years, I joined the Praescius Hervey Bay team in 2016 and have felt right at home ever since, with my role continuing to provide new and exciting challenges.

I pride myself on being patient, polite and a strong communicator; to me great service comes down to listening and being able to carefully understand a client’s individual needs.

The most rewarding part of my role is ensuring the experience is a positive one for each of our clients as they journey towards achieving their personal goals. I continue to live by the mantra of ‘treat people as you would like to be treated’.

Peter Bennet

Lending Specialist

Leaving school in 1979, I began a career with one of the ‘big four’ banks where I quickly moved up the ranks into the challenging and rewarding arena of lending.

I took on my next challenge in 1985 following in my brother’s footsteps and joined the Queensland Police Service, which saw me move about the state from city to country before settling in Hervey Bay in 1999. I can honestly say over those 29 years, I had the privilege of experiencing some of the most rewarding experiences of my life, whilst working to serve and protect the people and communities of Queensland.

In February 2014, I retired from the Police to take on my next challenge as a lending specialist with Praescius. Helping and serving was the continued theme and I am rewarded on a daily basis by assisting my clients to achieve their financial goals and dreams. The favourite part of my role is helping young families realise that dream of home ownership and being part of their successful financial journey through providing quality lending solutions.

I am fortunate to have six beautiful children and five beautiful grandchildren and love living in Hervey Bay where I enjoy the lifestyle, and my favourite pastimes the area provides from fishing through to sport and camping. I have a Certificate IV in Mortgage Broking and had an early career highlight as the winner of the Yellow Brick Road Regional Award for Queensland and NT in 2015.

Sarah MacRae

NSW Business Manager

Born and raised in Camden, I always had this vision of what I would do post HSC, yet as the time neared I found myself second guessing everything and ended up taking an administration position at a local Real Estate Agent. Whilst it was a huge shift from my original life plan, I put my all into the role and quickly moved my way up through the company while obtaining my real estate certificate and settling in Property Management.

Whilst I was enjoying the industry, an opportunity arose mid-2004 for a career change into Financial Services and I can say with absolute certainty that I have never looked back.

Being new, I found myself returning to an entry level client services position. Yet assisting the client through the settlement process was never enough, I wanted to understand how all the pieces fitted together to get the desired result. I was fortunate enough that management quickly identified this potential and I worked my way up through various roles, securing a sound knowledge of that ‘end to end’ process.

In 2008 I was approached by a Private Wealth Manager to take on a position managing their North Shore office. In need of a new challenge, I made the move and spent the next six years building the administrative team, fine-tuning their processes, obtaining my Certificate IV in Finance and Broking and eventually assisting in the re-location and set-up of a Yellow Brick Road office in the ACT.

It was this experience that led me to meet Matthew and whilst it wasn’t the quickest of moves, I was fortunate enough to be offered the position of NSW Business Manager for Praescius, which I commenced in March 2015.

Today, I continue to find joy and challenge in my role and love how passionate everyone is about the work they do as we collectively strive to provide the best outcomes for those who matter most – our clients.

Julian Coleman

Financial Planner

What started as a keen interest in investing, understanding markets and actively managing my own personal finances, led me to where I find myself today – helping others to achieve both their financial and lifestyle goals.

I see my role as one of simply ‘being there’ for my clients. For me, this means listening to each of them, taking the time to understand their individual circumstances and producing an outcome that adds significant value to their life. In doing this I’ve been able to build strong relationships with my clients over the years and find this to be an incredibly rewarding part of the work I do.

Most importantly, I seek to provide my clients with peace of mind, by equipping them with the strategies they’ll need to achieve their goals and ensuring they stay on track, so that long-term they are provided with the freedom of choice.

I hold an Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning, Self-Managed Superannuation Fund Certificate, Diploma in Real Estate (Dip RE, Licenced), Certificate IV Mortgage Broking, Certificate IV Business Management and am a member of the Financial Planning Association of Australia.

Sigmone Bennion

Client Services

For me, financial planning is about helping clients to identify those factors that may have influenced their financial decisions in the past – particularly emotional drivers – so they can move forward with awareness and confidence. Assisting them through this journey continues to motivate me each and every day and is why I love working in this industry.

I continue to live by the belief that financial planning should be based on the client first and foremost and that comes down to understanding their individual circumstances and what’s driving their goals. Taking the time to ascertain what their big picture looks like and clearly explaining the intricacies of their individual situation, is paramount to placing them on the right pathway.

My journey as a Financial Planner commenced in 1995, with a boutique style practice. I then moved into the larger corporate world of Permanent Trustees and spent some time with NAB in their Financial Planning division, before joining the Praescius team. I hold a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics and Finance), Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning and am a member of the Financial Planning Association of Australia.

Nikki Champness

Client Services

My journey within the Financial Services sector commenced when I took on a role with St George Bank in their customer contact centre. From there, I moved into a branch position as a Lending Assistant. A move to Camden, saw me join the Praescius Team as an Implementations Administrator, charged with the task of assisting our Lending Specialists.

I enjoy supporting both the Praescius team and our clients in achieving their end goal of securing the best home loan and making that journey as smooth as possible. I hold a Certificate IV in Finance and Mortgage Broking, as well as a Diploma in Event Management (which often comes in handy both professionally and personally).

I enjoy working with the Praescius team in Narellan – they are hardworking, customer focused and a fun-loving bunch.

Darren Boman

General Manager

I have worked across many industries within Accounting, Finance & Banking, along with having run my own businesses, so Praescius is a natural fit and a great way to leverage all my skills and experience.

I enjoy passing on my finance and accounting knowledge with both clients and the wider Praescius Teams – so no two days are the same. Working with the Accounting Team to solve complex tax matters for clients, to enhancing our marketing strategy and brand awareness is all in a days work.

On the weekends I can be found in the mountains around Brisbane cycling or mountain biking. Cooking and coffee are also passions, so working in Bulimba on Oxford Street is certainly advantageous.

Jason Rosewarne

Financial Planner

Raised in regional South Australia, I initially commenced in the finance industry as a Bank Teller after completing high school. I transitioned into Financial Planning after moving to Perth in 2001, before, following my initial role as an Administration assistant specialising in Self-Managed Superannuation Funds, I further developed my knowledge through ongoing education including the Advanced Diploma in Financial Services, as well completing a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Finance.

Along with a variety of advisory and technical roles throughout my career, my experience includes owning and operating my own financial planning practice in Perth before joining the Praescius Darwin team. This experience has enabled me to become a proficient Financial Planner with a broad knowledge base in all areas of financial planning, and a keen interest in Wealth Accumulation, Wealth Protection and Retirement Planning.

De-constructing the complex nature of financial planning, and transforming it into a simple, easy to understand approach that enable clients to reach their full financial potential is something that I value, and is at the centre of each and every interaction I have with my clients.

Outside of work, you’ll find me spending time with my wife and kids, searching for new camping locations, and exploring an ever developing interest in photography.

Josh Edwards

Associate Financial Planner

Coming from a background of 6 years within Financial Planning as well as a few years in banking I have had the pleasure of working with a broad range of clients and all their different needs which has developed me in to the person I am today, continuing with Praescius.

I take pride in my capacity to build genuine relationships and talking to clients in terms they understand. I did a Diploma in Financial Planning before moving on to a Post Graduate degree in Financial Planning through University of New England and I am a Justice of the Peace.

Outside of work my greatest loves include scuba diving, motorbikes, astronomy and funnily enough bees, considering their importance to all in the grand scheme of things. When not at work, you’ll find me at the beach.

Sharon Keating

Client Services

I have been in the financial industry since 1998, the last 19 years I have been mainly in the Superannuation and Advice industry.

I have had a range of roles that have varied from contact centre, administration, support and business development manager in both the industry superannuation and financial planning sector.

I pride myself in my work and believe to have a strong customer service focus, therefore have always enjoyed the interaction with clients and my colleges.
I find it very satisfying being a part of a team who help client achieve their retirement goals.

I have successfully completed my advance diploma in Financial Planning (superannuation)

Max Toohey

Client Services

I joined Praescius after leaving school in 2018. Since then, I’ve really enjoyed being part of such a dynamic, supportive team. No two days are the same and I enjoy working with clients every day, meeting people from all walks of life and learning about their goals. With a fascination for finance, I’m currently studying a Bachelor of Property, Majoring in Financial Planning, through Central Queensland University. Looking ahead, I want to develop my knowledge and skills, and I’m excited by the challenges the industry offers. I look forward to a long and successful future working in the industry, where I can make a positive difference to people’s long-term futures.

Annika Toohey

Client Services

Having grown up in Hervey Bay and after studying Business at the University of the Sunshine Coast, being part of the Praescius team is a perfect fit for me. My role in Client Services allows me to be immersed across all areas of the business. This includes lending, financial planning and particularly tax and accounting. At Praescius, each day brings new and exciting challenges. The team have a unique way of working with people that’s so personable and helpful. This approach has become an important part of the way I interact with and assist our clients. Plus, it’s great to work alongside a team who always go above and beyond to put our clients’ needs first. Having now completed my Bachelor of Business Management, I plan to keep expanding my skills in the finance industry and continue to help our clients achieve their own unique goals.

Helen Joyce

Financial Planner

I grew up in South Australia where I completed my school studies before travelling for three months and upon returning home began pursuing a career in banking.

I spent several years working for Westpac in various branch positions yet in search of a greater challenge took on a secondment with subsidiary company, Westpac Financial Consultants. As Branch Liaison and Client Conservation Manager I was afforded the opportunity to work with a variety of Financial Planners and their clients. It was extremely diversified and a demanding role, and brought with it both challenge and great reward. Most importantly however, it provided me with an insight into the role of an Adviser and how they assisted people to achieve their lifestyle goals.

I continued to work with Westpac’s Financial Planning team for several years with a focus on fostering strong relationships between its advisers, staff and clients. I also became an insurance trainer before deciding to do something completely left field – I moved to Darwin.

Having holidayed in the Northern Territory several times, I always thought it was a fabulous place so I took the plunge and relocated. That was some 23 years ago – so I like to think I can now call myself a local. Not long after arriving I secured a position with a small Financial Planning firm where I worked in administration and assisted with insurance client reviews. I then went on to work for another firm and became a licensed Financial Adviser, specialising in wealth protection.

I joined Praescius in January 2011 initially as their Specialist Risk Adviser, but have since put the rest of my knowledge and training to work and now provide holistic financial advice. Whilst I enjoy delivering advice around how clients can best protect themselves in times of challenge – be it individuals, family or business owners – being able to assist my clients with all of their needs at each stage of life, is both fulfilling and rewarding.

I am a member of the Association of Financial Advisers, have a Diploma in Financial Planning and am currently completing my Advanced Diploma.

I love to spend my ‘down time’ with family and friends and have a passion for cooking and love to travel – with many places still on my bucket list!

Tanya Dun

Client Services

Prior to moving to the Northern Territory, I lived and worked in sunny Queensland where I spent 10 years as a Real Estate Office Manager. After visiting Darwin on holidays in 2006, I fell in love with the weather, relaxed lifestyle and most of all the fishing – after landing a 96cm barramundi on a local charter.

In 2008 I made the move and now call Darwin home. When first arriving I commenced employment with a leading bank, first as a Customer Service Manager and later Assistant Manager/ Lending Officer.

After more than eight years, I decided it was time for a change and in 2016 joined the Praescius Client Services team. The most enjoyable part of my role is interacting with the clients; assisting and supporting them as they take the Praescius journey is very rewarding.

My love for the outdoors and adventure means I spend most weekends exploring this unique part of the world with my partner and forever on the look out to catch that one metre barramundi!

Katrina Turner

Client Services

While I started my career in the rural finance sector, the last 15 years has seen me work in a range of roles from mortgage lending and commercial finance through to customer service and management.

Regardless of the position, it’s assisting clients and working with a team of advisers that I enjoy most. I’ve always been a people person and feel a great sense of achievement when a client, advisor or colleague is happy with an outcome I’ve helped to facilitate or implement.

Ensuring our clients are provided with peace of mind and professional service also sits at the core of my philosophy and informs my approach each and every day.

Brisbane

Josh Edwards

Sharyn Parker

Sigmone Bennion

Sharon Keating

Jason Rosewarne

Gareth Jakeman

Hervey Bay

Michael Toohey

Julian Coleman

Katrina Turner

Tanya Dun

Darren Boman

Peter Bennet

Camden

Matthew Harrington

Parap

Nerida Sparkes

Tanya Zahra

Sarah MacRae

Nikki Champness

Helen Joyce

Brisbane

Gareth Jakeman

Peter Bennet

Sigmone Bennion

Sharon Keating

Jason Rosewarne

Darren Boman

Hervey Bay

Michael Toohey

Nikki Champness

Katrina Turner

Tanya Dun

Nerida Sparkes

Tanya Zahra

Camden

Sarah MacRae

Parap

Josh Edwards

Sharyn Parker

Matthew Harrington

Julian Coleman

Helen Joyce

Brisbane

Gareth Jakeman

Darren Boman

Nerida Sparkes

Josh Edwards

Hervey Bay

Michael Toohey

Tanya Zahra

Sharyn Parker

Peter Bennet

Camden

Matthew Harrington

Sarah MacRae

Julian Coleman

Sigmone Bennion

Nikki Champness

Katrina Turner

Sharon Keating

Parap

Tanya Dun

Jason Rosewarne

Helen Joyce

Future, meet insight.

Future, meet insight.