Bean counters Ball

About

The Bean Counters Ball is a joint initiative between local members of Charted Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) and Certified Practising Accountants Australia (CPA) who form a committee to organise and run the event.

The event was first held in 2011 where 162 people attended and $3,800 was raised and donated.

Now, the event is attended by over 350 people with an average of $30,000 donated annually, split between our charity partners, Samaritans and Hunter TAFE Foundation.

The money provides safe accommodation for adolescents living in the Samaritans Youth Accommodation in Newcastle and Maitland. It also goes towards providing scholarships for students studying Accounting or Finance at Hunter and Central Coast TAFE.

Since 2011, we’ve been proud to support Hunter-based organisations that are making a difference in the lives of youth.

Our committee

A new committee is formed every year with a range of Hunter business professionals across various industries. We meet regularly outside of business hours to discuss and organise the event over a 12-month period. The committee is also made up of sub-committees for the event including sponsorship, communications, prizes, event, and design.

It is estimated that on average, the committee provides over 300 hours of volunteered time each year.

We’re always looking for new committee members, so if you’re interested, please get in touch!

The 2023 Committee

We’re delighted to introduce the Bean Counters Ball 2023 committee:

Daniel Drayton

Chair

Daniel Drayton is a Senior Manager at SV Partners, specialising in Personal and Corporate Insolvency. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant and completed additional studies in Business Restructuring, Turnaround Management, Insolvency and Bankruptcy law.

Born and raised in the Hunter, Daniel is an avid supporter of charitable organisations in and around Newcastle, having worked with not-for-profit organisations to assist raising funds for Harry’s House, Dog Rescue Newcastle, Dress for Success, Hunter TAFE Foundation and Samaritans.

Additionally, Daniel is Chairperson of the Hunter Local Committee of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ).

View Daniel's LinkedIn

Raj Sirrimane

Co-Chair

Raj Sirimanne is the Head of Strategic Projects, Research and Analytics at Compassion Australia and is leading the expansion of Compassion’s fundraising into Asia. He has over 25 years of experience across a diverse range of industries and a broad range of finance and business management roles. Raj is the current Deputy Chair of CPA Australia - Newcastle & Hunter Branch.

Raj is excited to be working with the Bean Counters ball committee, aiming to apply the skills and expertise he has accumulated over the years to continue achieving the remarkable outcomes that the organisation has consistently produced.

Emily Lane

Emily Lane is an Accountant at Pitcher Partners and joined the Bean Counters Ball committee in 2023.

She jumped at the chance to join the committee as it was an opportunity to volunteer her time, meet new people and contribute to a great event and cause. When she isn’t studying for her university degree or at work, she is kept busy with her dogs, cat and bird. Her house is well known to family and friends as ‘the zoo’.

View Emily's LinkedIn

Cameron Burns

Cameron Burns is a Manager at PwC within the Assurance division. As a qualified Chartered Accountant, Cameron has experience working with local not-for-profits and registered charities, but now predominantly works with clients in Construction and Manufacturing industries.

Cameron has joined the Committee ahead of the 2024 Ball. He is passionate about how professional service firms can use their knowledge and expertise to assist community organisations to achieve better social outcomes.

In his spare time, Cameron is a soccer referee and enjoys spending lazy weekends with his partner and their dog.

View Cameron's LinkedIn

Jackie Marriott

Jackie Marriott is a Principal within the PKF Business Advisory Services team and is based in the Newcastle office. She has over eight years’ experience in the accounting and business advisory industry locally, and within this time has had great exposure to many types of industries.

Her dedication to her clients is shown through the exceptional support and services she provides, as well as her drive to exceed client expectations. This is Jackie’s second year on the Bean Counters Ball committee.

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Lana Black

Lana Black is a Senior Associate at Osborn Law and heads their Wills and Estates Team. Lana's practice is primarily focused on estate planning and commercial structuring arrangements, along with deceased estates. Lana is passionate about providing practical advice to her clients and looks to ensure her clients' affairs are appropriately structured both in their lifetimes and after their death.

Giving back to the community is one of Lana's core values and she is regularly involved in fundraising and charitable initiatives and is excited to be on the Bean Counters Ball committee.

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Rebecca Brown

An outcome focused professional, Rebecca Brown is experienced in Finance and Management predominantly across the Mining, Health, and Education Sectors. She is currently Manager, Financial Planning & Analysis at Hunter Water.

Rebecca enjoys leading and mentoring teams, partnering with business operations, and building meaningful relationships in both her professional and personal life.

Rebecca joined the Bean Counters Ball committee as an opportunity to give back to the Newcastle and Hunter community.

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Kate Taylor

TAFE Representative

Kate Taylor is a TAFE Services Coordinator and works with campus operations and community engagement. She has also works in project, campus and community engagement roles that influence student experience, educational growth and enrolment opportunities.

With a background as a TAFE NSW Teacher and great connection with industry, Kate has a passion for educational pathways, working closely with teachers, students and connecting with the community to create opportunities for personal or career growth is her motivation.

Since joining the Bean Counters Ball Committee in 2020, Kate continues to connect the Bean Counters Ball Committee and Hunter TAFE Foundation to remove barriers and create support outcomes for accounting students studying at TAFE NSW.

Renee Urbanowicz

Samaritans Representative

Renee serves as the Marketing Business Partner at Newcastle Anglican, overseeing the Samaritans Foundation—an agency that operates more than 120 support services across the Central Coast, Newcastle, Hunter Valley, and Mid-North Coast regions. These services cater to diverse populations, including young individuals, families, those with disabilities or mental health challenges, individuals facing homelessness or crises, and the broader community. Juggling the dynamic role of a mother to two young children, she thrives on the balance between her professional responsibilities and family life. Renee is deeply committed to achieving excellence in both her career and parenting journey, and is driven by a mission to leave a lasting impact in the field of marketing while cherishing the joys of family life.