Partners

Chris Sammut

Chris joined Bennett Partners in 1991. Chris has extensive and diverse experience in Taxation, Accounting and Audit matters for small, medium and large sized businesses and has a particular interest in the area of self managed superannuation.

Clear business objectives, including the provision of genuinely personalised service and empathy for the individual needs of clients, have seen Chris produce beneficial outcomes for clients in a timely, cost effective manner.  Chris’ knowledge and experience allows him to communicate effectively with a diverse range of clients and business associates, and has used his expertise to ensure financial growth for his clients.  Chris’ goal is to continue to provide high quality and individualised services to meet the current and future needs of clients.

He has specialist knowledge in self managed superannuation funds.  Chris is responsible for the audit of over 600 self managed superannuation funds and has over twenty years experience in SMSF administration.

Paul Hinton

Paul leads the firm's Audit division and also has his own Business Services team.  Audit clients include both profit and non-profit organisations in a variety of industries such as Sugar, Research and Development, Manufacturing, Education, Training, Disability, Aged Care, Local Government, and Motor Vehicle Distributors.  Paul also controls a large Business Services Portfolio of small to medium size business clients operating in a number of different industries, including building and construction, tourism and hospitality, and labour hire.

Paul's knowledge and experience in both the audit and business services fields allows him to provide clients with an overall accounting and business service.  His goal is to help clients not only achieve financial security, but also their personal and lifestyle goals.

Therese Scotton

Therese joined Bennett Partners in 1998, working full time while completing her Bachelor of Business (Accounting).  She also furthered her studies and became a qualified Chartered Accountant in 2008. 

Born and bred in the Mackay area and a canefarmers daughter means Therese has a great depth of experience in the primary production industries.  Therese also maintains large to small business clients in different industries, providing a range of services to a diverse client base.  These services include compliance work along with assistance with MYOB, Quicken and QuickBooks training and troubleshooting.

Over the years Therese has been actively involved in many community and sporting groups.  However she has been kept even busier since the births of her two children, while continuing to work full-time.

Geoff O'Connor

During his time at Bennett Partners, Geoff has gained experience in the business services area, including the provision of taxation, business and accounting advice.  Commencing work with the firm in 2000, Geoff holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) and is a qualified CPA, registered tax agent and holds a public practice certificate. 

Geoff became a Partner in July 2012 and maintains large to small business clients across varying industries providing a range of business services. Geoff places a strong focus on his client needs and provides a personal service at every level, his accessibility, pursuit of excellence and strict adherence to client confidentiality is certainly greatly valued. Together with his energetic approach and uncompromisingly high standards for clients, he strives to exceed their expectations.

Geoff’s ability to dissect the technical language and relay to his clients in easy to understand terms provides a great level of client satisfaction.  Geoff prides himself on knowing each and every client which creates more personalised service, identifies clients objectives and ensures the supporting & understanding is there through each phase of their accounting cycle. He also prides himself with staff development and is a great mentor for younger staff.

Geoff also actively participates in a large array of sports and is the current President of the Mackay Tennis Association.  He was also a finalist in the AIM Young Manager of the Year 2010.

Ryan Leach

Ryan started working in the accounting profession in 2004 at Bennett Partners whilst completing his degree. He graduated with a Bachelor of Business majoring in Accounting and has since completed his Graduate Diploma of Chartered Accounting, becoming a qualified CA. 

Ryan began his career at Bennett Partners under direction and tutelage of now retired Partner David Watts.  When David retired in 2012, Ryan continued to manage David’s client base with Senior Partner Darryl Camilleri.

With over thirteen years’ experience at Bennett Partners, Ryan manages a team of accountants and provides taxation, business advisory & self-managed superannuation services to a variety of clients ranging across such areas as construction, mining services, retail and primary production.  Ryan is also a certified Xero consultant and is actively involved in assisting clients update and maintain their accounting software and systems.

In the past several years Ryan has been actively involved in many community and sporting groups with a particular interest in basketball.  He is currently a member of the Mackay Regional Committee for Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.

Brenton Lazzarini

Brenton came to Bennett Partners in 2011, having previously spent time with Price Waterhouse Coopers.  He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Acc) and became a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in 2012.

Working from our Brisbane office, Brenton provides tax compliance and consulting services to privately owned companies, family groups and individuals.  He can assist with business and investment structures, income tax aspects of acquiring and disposing of businesses, private companies and discretionary trusts.

Darryl Camilleri

John Lavis

John became a partner in the Brisbane office in November 2013 following the merger of his practice with Bennett Partners.  John came to Bennett's with 27 years experience in Chartered Accounting, 18 of these as a Partner in a city based medium sized Business Services practice.

John left his position of managing a Private Business Services Group at KPMG Chartered Accountants in 1995 to join Peden, Lavis and Co a firm established in 1958.  John's personalised service, organisational skills, effective communication and extensive experience in providing business and taxation advice in conjunction with consulting services has ensured continued good relationships and respect from his clients over many years. The core of John’s client base are family owned and operated businesses, self managed superannuation funds and higher net worth individuals. 

John's objective has always been to provide personalised high quality service to his clients that assists them to prosper and grow financially.