Meet the team

SIMON BEDARD

FOUNDER & CEO

Simon has over 20 years’ experience in the finance, investment, energy and technology sectors. His experience includes working for one of Australia’s largest banks, as an investment advisor to high net worth clients and private companies, in their Institutional Banking and Global Markets division. As an entrepreneur, Simon has started, bought and exited companies.

Simon has earned an MBA (with distinction) through RMIT and a Diploma of Financial Markets through the Securities Institute of Australia. He is a licensed Business Broker, and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He also currently sits on the Board of Wheelchair Rugby League Australia, and is involved in a number of technology start-ups.

Simon’s passion is helping business owners build value in their companies. He understands that every entrepreneur dreams of reaping big rewards when they exit their business, but too often they fail to achieve their potential because they are not aware of the key drivers of value, or haven’t implemented them before it’s time to exit.

SHANTI BEDARD

CO-FOUNDER & MARKETING DIRECTOR

Shanti has over 20 years’ experience in marketing and operations within the financial services sector, and management consulting in the private and government sphere. Over her career Shanti has enjoyed working with clients and businesses in over 19 countries, from multinationals with large global footprints, to government organisations and SME's.

Shanti’s experience, coupled with her understanding of being a business owner, has shaped the way she approaches business. Her passion lies with helping businesses improve and grow in a way that maximises company value. Knowing the challenges that business owners face, her mission is to help them create freedom and options, so they can take their business to new levels and enjoy a lifestyle they deserve. And, when they are ready, achieve the business exit they want, on their terms.

In Australia, almost 80% of business owners plan to transition over the next 10 years and 66% do not have a formal exit strategy or succession plan. Shanti's goal is to reach as many business owners as possible and provide the right tools, systems and actionable insights to ensure that they can extract the wealth they have created in their companies and achieve the freedom they deserve.

MARK LEVITT

PRINCIPAL ADVISOR

Mark is a Chartered Accountant with over thirty years of financial and commercial experience. He has worked across a diverse range of industries and organisations, from the Big Four accounting firms to the Big Four banks. Mark has also had experience across funds management, financial services, manufacturing, distribution and hospitality.

Having worked initially with large corporates, in the last fifteen years Mark has spent significant time providing consulting and business improvement services to SME categorised businesses. These services have incorporated business turnarounds, restructuring, capital and debt raisings, business planning and forecasting.

As a previous business owner and having worked alongside many over the years, Mark has a deep understanding of the motivations and drivers for owners wanting an effective exit from one of their primary assets.

MARK NAPPER

PRINCIPAL ADVISOR

Mark Napper brings a wealth of experience when it comes to helping businesses. He has over 30+ years in senior executive roles, as well as many years running his own business advisory practice.

Mark established early in his career that he was skilled at business turnarounds. He was head hunted by Ernst & Young which saw him lead numerous business transformations. Mark’s strategic thinking and ability to leverage technology, process improvement, and improve company culture has earned him a reputation of being a ‘builder and fixer’ of organisations.

Mark holds an MBA, and accounting degree, and sits on several Boards. His experience spans food, agriculture, bio tech, health, energy and many other industries.

DAVID CHIN

PRINCIPAL ADVISOR

David has over 30 years experience in Australia and internationally helping to grow small, medium, and large businesses, including fortune 500 organisations. He has worked in a wide range of industry segments including accountancy, financial services, global payments, insurance, FMCG, education and not for profit associations.

David has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Technology in Business, majoring in Finance and Economics, among a range of other tertiary qualifications. He has been a pioneer in the growth of retail and digitization of the global payments industry leading a multi-national financial services company in their Asia Pacific and Australian businesses. He also has significant experience working with accountancy practices, public sector, educational and corporate institutions with his work at CPA Australia and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

David has helped businesses and organisations develop green field opportunities, and lead business turn arounds. He is an innovative advisor that is passionate about creating value and is people centric. David is a big believer in data driven decision making, systems, processes, creating a culture of execution and celebrating successes.

TASKO ALCEVSKI

PRINCIPAL ADVISOR

Tasko is a highly experienced Director with over 30 years' experience in financial services and payments across the Asia Pacific Region. Additionally, Tasko has over 20 years of board member experience in Australia for a multinational company, demonstrating strong executive and leadership skills in corporate governance.

Throughout his career, Tasko has held senior positions in Asia Pacific, specialising in the payments and remittance industry. He has a proven track record of delivering measurable results for customers, employees, and shareholders, while leading multicultural teams across the region. Tasko is known for his strong leadership, excellent interpersonal skills, and personal integrity. He is a highly motivated and passionate leader who sets high expectations for himself and his team, with a leadership style that fosters a collaborative and positive work environment. He empowers people to reach their full potential through ongoing coaching to help them succeed.

With a reputation for leading change management and business transformation projects, Tasko has cultivated strong strategic management and planning skills with a P&L focus to grow market share while improving profitability. Overall, he is a respected leader and expert with a proven track record of success across Asia Pacific. 

BRENT MCDONALD

BUSINESS BROKER & ADVISOR

Brent has over 30 years’ experience both as an entrepreneur that has built and exited his own company, and in senior management roles across a number of Australia’s largest business sectors, including Petroleum, Financial Services and Business Services.

Leadership roles in organisations with a national and global footprint, including Mortgage Choice and Caltex have led to Brent’s specialised franchise expertise. Brent played a key role in taking Mortgage Choice from a small franchise operation to a leading Australian financial institution listed on the stock exchange. He has held positions as NSW Chapter President of the Franchise Council of Australia (FCA) and was also a valued member of the FCA National Board and awarded a Certificate of Appreciation Award for his contribution to the FCA.

As a business broker Brent has facilitated many business sales. He has experience in all areas of SME business, including business sales and acquisitions, operations, marketing, sales, systems and compliance, field operations, business owner recruitment and selection, and financial management.

CHESKA MIKAELA KABILING

SENIOR OPERATIONS MANAGER

Cheska is a marketing and operations professional, and has over 10 years of experience working across a number of industries, including real estate, broadcast media, and outsourcing prior to joining Exit Advisory Group. She has a comprehensive understanding of marketing strategies, channels and tools, as well as business systems and processes.

Cheska’s career started with large corporates where she grew her leadership, marketing, operations and project management skills. She has then held senior management roles across a number of Australian companies where she managed and coached a big team, and helped them achieve results and optimal efficiency in their tasks.

Cheska has earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication (with great distinction – Magna Cum Laude Latin Honour) through Angeles University Foundation in the Philippines. She has also been a member of the Ayala Young Leaders, a national youth leadership organisation, since 2012. Her passion is making a difference in people’s lives by adding value to business owners and her team members.

CARLY LUDBROOK

PROJECT LEAD - MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

NEIL BAKER

SENIOR ADVISOR

Neil Baker has more than 50 years of experience in all aspects of business development, professional sales and marketing.

From team player to senior management and owner of his own successful business, Neil has represented a broad range of products and services and worked with an even wider range of clients.

Working B2B or B2C including years of experience negotiating multi-million $ contracts at board level, his wealth of knowledge has seen him training, mentoring and advising many people and businesses from start up to exit strategies.
His strength is recognising the potential in a product or service and then successfully implementing strategic policy and methods to maximise the opportunities that a quality service or product can offer. 

TRACEY ALLERTZ

ASSOCIATE - MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

Tracey Allertz has had a successful career spanning more than 20 years across a number of sectors including regulatory finance, supply logistics and procurement, business administration and overall business management.

Senior positions in businesses from start-ups to multi-generational retail chains has given Tracey a wealth of know-how and hands-on experience in all aspects of a business from the IT needs to sales and marketing.

Her management and leadership style has been highly regarded and respected resulting in efficient and profitable operations.

Tracey is a dedicated and driven individual who will give 100% of herself to ensure that the task at hand is completed in the most beneficial way for all involved.

If you are lucky enough to have Tracey on your team, you can be very confident of achieving the best possible outcome.

CHRISTIAN ABARQUEZ

OPERATIONS ASSISTANT

Christian is our proactive and detail-oriented operations assistant. He has extensive experience in bookkeeping and documentation, and has brought those skills to Exit Advisory Group. Christian assists the company with the execution of our marketing strategy focusing on lead generation activities, data mining, and CRM management.

Christian also works closely with the executive team and ensures administration activities are handled with skill and efficiency.

ANITA AXE

COMMUNITY ENGAGAMENT MANAGER

With 10+ years’ experience in management, marketing communications and administration, Anita is well suited to her role as Community Engagement Manager. Anita shares the passion and values of Exit Advisory Group as we work with clients to achieve successful outcomes in business sales, maximising company value and exit planning.

A key priority for Anita is managing our communications across various platforms ensuring our key messages are shared directly to our community with care and commitment. Having previously worked for a company that went through a business exit, Anita is in a unique position to understand the demands and challenges business owners face.

RESELINE BANUA

DIGITAL EVENTS COORDINATOR

Reseline Banua's seven-year career journey began as a Customer Service Representative, excelling in delivering exceptional customer service with a focus on issue resolution and customer satisfaction.

As she advanced, Reseline transitioned from the role of an Event Configuration Specialist to being a Virtual Event Producer, where she specialized in planning and producing virtual events for a diverse range of industries with companies included in the Fortune 500. She served as the primary technical contact for clients, orchestrating the entire event production process, from concept development to execution, to create memorable and successful experiences.

Her career culminated in her current role as a Digital Events Coordinator. Reseline is recognized for her unwavering commitment to excellence in digital event coordination and project management. With a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Communication from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and a diverse skill set, Reseline is well-equipped to deliver on the mission of creating events that will help business owners unlock the full potential of their enterprises, optimizing their value, and guiding them toward their journey to exit at the top of their game.

CHADVEE APPANAH

CONTENT MARKETING MANAGER

MELISSA NEL

SUPPORT SPECIALIST - MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

In her role as Support Specialist in Mergers & Acquisitions, Melissa Nel seamlessly combines her extensive customer service skills with a deep-seated passion for supporting people to achieve their goals, particularly during pivotal business transactions. Drawing from her rich background in varied sectors such as insurance, automotive, and agriculture, she brings a nuanced understanding of diverse business landscapes.

Her empathetic approach and keen ability to understand client needs shine through in her interactions. Melissa's commitment to client-focused service is transforming the M&A process into an experience marked by ease, understanding, and support, reflecting Exit Advisory Group’s dedication to building lasting, trust-based relationships with its clients.