Nick Gameras

Lending Advisory Director

Nick is a passionate professional with over 20 years experience in the commercial and finance sectors. More recently, he has successfully run a small business for 7+ years. This experience has provided Nick with expertise and an intricate knowledge of the opportunities and challenges that individuals and businesses constantly face.

Nick is focused on helping others achieve their goals, and with his excellent communication skills, exceptional customer service and professionalism, Nick’s approach is to become a partner to those he deals with and help them put in place plans and strategies that will help them achieve their ultimate goals.

Nick is married with 2 teenage children, enjoys travelling, socializing and all sports. Nick coaches a National Premier League junior football(soccer) team and follows the mighty Tigers in the AFL.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting)
• Bachelor of Business (Management)
• Diploma of Finance and Mortgage Broking Management

Tom Gameras

Lending Advisory Director

With more than 25 years in the Banking and Finance Industry, spanning two major financial institutes and senior roles in Credit and Business Banking, Tom is a highly respected and successful professional.

With unparalleled experience, covering all sectors from residential, private and commercial his wealth of experience will always put the customer first and offer the appropriate advice and structure to help them achieve the right outcome. His integrity and passion for success will go above and beyond to exceed expectations and drive personal and business growth.

On a personal level he is married with 3 children, passionate about his footy team – the mighty tigers, loves to carve up the golf course – literally, and is still actively involved both playing and coaching football (the world game). He also holds a professional coaching qualification, the FFA/AFC – A Licence.

Qualifications

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Bachelor of Business (Accounting)
• Executive Certificate in Strategic Business Acumen
• Diploma of Finance and Mortgage Broking Management

Jana Raptodimos

Administrator

Jana is a third-year university student completing a double degree in Law and Criminology. She brings an insatiable appetite for learning, passion for all things related to taxation, strong attention to detail and positive energy to our culture. A self-confessed foodie, Jana enjoys splitting her leisure time between the beach, socialising with friends and exercising. With the longer term in mind, Jana actively accumulates human capital as she knows she wants to be involved in professional services upon graduating and we have marvelled at her growth thus far.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Law & Bachelor of Criminology (Victoria University) – In Progress

Penny Pakis

Chief Operating Officer & Chief Digital Officer

Penny is MPT Group’s Chief Operating & Chief Digital Officer, working closely with the Executive Team across all aspects of the business to drive new levels of growth and success. Penny’s key responsibilities include overseeing the firm’s operations, streamlining management and creating efficiencies.

With a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and extensive background in business that includes operations, project management, human resources, B2B marketing, financial and strategic management expertise, Penny is a significant asset to the firm.

Penny specialises in digital systems and processes, brand management and business development strategies. She is proactively involved with developing the firm’s culture, brand and identity, marketing strategies, and acts as a conduit between clients and staff.

Penny’s commitment to continual improvement sees her constantly exploring new ways to service our clients, improve efficiency and adopt technology in to our day to day operation. She has also advised clients in a similar capacity and been a significant contributor to their growth, implementing systems to allow owners to focus on strategic rather than operational issues.

Penny is well known for her strong business acumen and ability to deliver solution-based outcomes. Positive by nature, she encourages new ideas from all levels of staff, and is more than willing to get involved at ground level.

Areas of Expertise

• Strategic Business Management
• Operations and Process Solutions
• Change Management and Transformation
• Leadership and Development
• Strategic HR Management
• Performance and Compensation Management
• Project Management
• B2B Marketing and Brand Management
• Financial Management and Reporting
• Cloud Software Solutions

Qualifications

• Masters in Business Administration (MBA)
• Diploma of Accounting
• Diploma of Business (Enterprise)

George Pakis

CEO/Founder & Managing Director

George has been the CEO/Founder and Managing Director of a successful private practice for over 25 years, George’s clients benefit from his experience not only as an accountant and business advisor, but as a business owner. George has a genuine passion in helping his clients grow and prosper.

It is his role as a business owner that has afforded him a deep understanding of the commercial issues confronting his clients on a daily basis. Clients see these insights as vital to their own growth, and a perfect complement to the sound technical advice George also provides.

George helps his client make big decisions about taking the next strategic step forward.

George is the key driver of MPT’s holistic full-service offering, where his expert skills and capabilities are always accessible to his clients. He enjoys connecting with clients on a personal level, growing together with them as a trusted and loyal business partner.

George has developed a diverse client base in his time at MPT, with key clients in industries such as:

• Construction and Property Development
• Real Estate Services
• Medical clinics and practitioners
• Legal practices and practitioners
• Transport & Logistics
• Technology SME’s & Start ups
• Importers & Exporters
• Foreign investors & High Net Wealth Families

A committed family man, George counts among his most challenging yet rewarding experiences the successful juggle of business and family, while also studying and completing his Masters of Taxation.

Areas of Expertise

• Taxation Advisory
• Business Advisory
• International Tax
• Estate Planning
• Debt Advisory
• Structuring Advice
• Asset Protection
• Succession Planning

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Commerce
• Masters of Taxation
• Certified Practicing Accountant
• Chartered Tax Advisor
• Fellow of Institute of Public Accountants
• Fellow of Institute of Financial Accountants
• Governance Institute of Australia Member
• Registered Tax Agent

Tommy Pakis

Design Specialist

Tommy is the youngest of our Managing Director/Founder, George, and Chief Operating Officer, Penny. He has had a real aptitude for all things design since an early age, showing enthusiasm in anything where his creative mind could thrive.

Allowing his passion to be his career driver, Tommy has undergone his Bachelor and Master of Architecture degrees at Monash University and now practices as a full-time Graduate Architect at Kneeler Design Architects.

During his studies and professional architectural life, Tommy has worked directly with Director, George, Chief Operating Officer, Penny and staff members, in order to help rebrand MPT, with a fresh and design flared presence.

He has been responsible for:

• Creating MPT’s new company logo
• Developing and expanding the MPT website
• Manufacturing MPT client book designs
• Designing and creating both Industry and Client Profiles
• Redesigning of company office layout

Tommy continually assists in all design related tasks here at MPT, wherever and whenever they come about.

Outside of work Tommy enjoys keeping fit, going to the beach (a lot), cooking and spending every spare moment he can being in the sun and with his family and friends.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Architectural Design (BArch) – Monash University
• Master of Architecture (MArch) – Monash University

Achille Sinni

Senior Accountant & Client Manager

Achille brings a wealth of experience and skills to MPT having worked in Boutique Accounting Firms for the past 20 years. His client portfolio encompasses professionals, executives, business owners and self-funded retirees.

He has a passionate and caring nature, establishing lasting relationships based on trust, mutual respect, patience and technical excellence. His very caring and loyal approach creates a formula for great success in forging strong relationships with his clients.

Achille is a very solid technical senior accountant who goes above and beyond for his clients. He has a never say no approach and will always strive to provide pro-active advice to solve day-to-day issues for his clients.

Achille specialises in business advisory, taxation and superannuation.

Outside of the office, Achille enjoys spending time with his family including his two daughters, he is a very passionate Kangaroos supporter in the AFL and a very competent golfer playing every Saturday.

Peter Prvulj

Financial Advisor & MPT Wealth Director

Peter Prvulj CFP® is the Managing Director and Senior Financial Planner at PROSPA Financial Pty Ltd. He commenced his financial planning career at National Mutual (now a part of AMP) and moved on to start his own financial planning practice, Peter Prvulj & Associates Pty Ltd in 1985. Whilst a strategic decision saw a change to the business name in November 2007 to Prospa Financial Pty Ltd, the focus has always been on the needs of his clients, which has assisted to build a successful financial planning business. Peter specialises in investment planning including gearing, personal risk protection, transition to retirement strategies, self-managed superannuation funds and retirement planning. Peter is as an Authorised Representative of Advice Evolution Pty Ltd.

Peter has completed the Diploma of Financial Planning through Deakin University and holds the CFP® designation which represents the highest professional certification that can be awarded to a financial planner internationally. Peter was nominated for the prestigious AFA Adviser of the Year award for 2009. He was admitted to the PIS Platinum Club in 2008 and has qualified as a member of the Million Dollar Round Table numerous times.

Peter is an avid Hawks supporter and loves his soccer. He enjoys travelling and his favourite places are France, Spain, Greece and Italy.

Qualifications

• Diploma of Financial Planning
• Certified Financial Planner

Mariella Punsalan

Accountant – Offshore

Mariella (Ella) earned her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting in 2011. She jumpstarted her career as an accountant for the largest multi-brand company in the Philippines.

In 2014, she secured a position as a support staff for an accounting firm based in Queensland. This paved the way for greater opportunities and her current employment with MPT Group has given her the skills and tools to be a valuable team member.

Ella enjoys singing at karaoke, feeding stray animals, and supporting fundraising for children. Her passion and compassion have enabled her to understand the needs of our onshore team and deliver efficient support.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Accounting

Dario Cimbora

Senior Accountant & Client Manager

Dario brings a wealth of knowledge and skills to his clients at MPT, having held diverse roles in his 20+ years in the profession. It is this breadth of experience that has equipped him with the ability to identify and analyse problems from different perspectives.

Dario’s career began in Canberra, where he worked primarily in the field of audit & assurance. His clients ranged from sporting clubs and credit unions, to foreign-owned companies. Moving to Melbourne he continued his work as an auditor before stepping into business advisory roles with mid-tier firms in St Kilda Road and Melbourne CBD, gaining invaluable experience working closely with larger client groups.

As a Senior Client Manager in our Business Advisory team, Dario enjoys being the first point of call for many of his clients. With a keen eye for detail, he provides straight-forward and easy-to-understand ideas and solutions to all client issues, large or small.

He specialises in understanding the needs of clients such as:

• Builders and property developers
• Transport & logistics operators
• High net wealth individuals & family groups

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting
• Certified Practicing Accountant

Miles Pakis

Senior Accountant & Client Manager

Miles is the eldest son of our Managing Partner/Founder, George, and Chief Operations Officer, Penny. He has always taken great pride in being of assistance to other people, and understands that through being there for people in times of need, as well as providing effective outcomes, builds relationships that will stand the test of time.

Miles has a Bachelor of Business (Accountancy) with Distinction at RMIT and is currently completing the CPA program. He endeavours to be a well-rounded person, capable of dealing with any situation that he finds himself in with poise and integrity.

Miles spent five years working part-time at Portfolio Law as a Paralegal during his tertiary studies, developing tools and layers of commercial acumen not many accountants are exposed to. His time at Portfolio Law gave him a wider understanding of the commercial world, the benefits of which he will be able to pass onto clients.

From his first job coaching under 9’s football at Hawthorn Citz Junior Football Club, to his current employment at MPT Group, Miles endeavours to get the best out of people, ensuring they leave his presence knowing and trusting that he will do his utmost to satisfy, if not exceed, their expectations.

Miles enjoys playing golf, supporting his beloved Western Bulldogs, good food (loves eating!) and spending quality time with family and friends. His professional focus is on being an effective and efficient business advisor, and extensive knowledge of taxation and the laws surrounding the domestic framework, aimed at finding practicable strategies and solutions that can be implemented to meet the business and personal goals of his clients.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Business (Accounting) at RMIT with Distinction
• Graduate Diploma in Applied Tax (In progress)

Emily Pakis-Velianis

Practice Manager & Head of Performance/Culture & Marketing

Emily is the only daughter of our Managing Director/Founder, George, and Chief Operating Officer, Penny. She began her journey in the field of Nursing/Midwifery, with a profound passion for working with, and empowering people. Emily completed her Bachelor of Nursing and Bachelor of Midwifery at Deakin University with Distinction and was awarded a Golden Key Honours Society Membership, as well as an Award for Excellence in the Midwifery Program.

Emily is currently embarking on a Masters of Human Resource Management at Deakin University. Her journey in Midwifery was diverted for health reasons, so she has decided to pursue a career in HR, a career path that meets her people-focused needs.

Emily’s innate communication, organisation and people skills, that have seen her exceed in her early career, transfer into the field of HR and into our organisation. Emily embraces innovation and is instinctively creative. Her primary goal at MPT is to expand our Marketing and HR departments and build a framework for sustained internal growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Nursing with Distinction
• Bachelor of Midwifery with Distinction
• Masters of Human Resource Management (In Progress)

Tom Scalzo

Senior Accountant & Client Manager

Tom has honed his craft assisting and advising mid-sized businesses for 7 years at mid-tier firm Grant Thornton. Tom brings a client first mentality to his work and believes that getting to know your clients and their businesses involves more than simply reviewing numbers on a page.

Tom has had experience working with business in a variety of industries including professional services, logistics, manufacturing and food and beverage. As well as advising clients on their business endeavours, Tom thrives in sharing in the challenges and successes on their personal journeys bringing a strong background in family office services and management of high net wealth family groups.

Tom has a passion for all things tax and has extensive experience ensuring his clients are compliant with Division 7A and in more recent times assisted them in navigating the tricky Significant Global Entity landscape.

Outside of his work, Tom loves to cook, play any and every sport and is a Richmond Tiger tragic.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Commerce – Accounting and Finance (Monash)
• Certified Chartered Accountant (CAANZ)