DAMIEN M O'REILLY

• HSF is a world leading, fully integrated transatlantic global law firm. HSF's footprint is extensive and committed across the world’s largest markets, key financial centres and major growth hubs.
• Partnered with global leadership to deliver the firm’s strategic Digital & Legal Transformation agenda, reshaping how legal services were designed, delivered, and scaled across multiple jurisdictions.
• Directed multi-disciplinary teams (lawyers, operations, finance, and business services) to deliver innovative, client-centric solutions that improved efficiency, profitability, and governance alignment.
• Managed a multi-year pipeline of transformation initiatives, including service redesign, digital adoption, and client engagement programs, ensuring measurable ROI and alignment to firm-wide strategy.
• Acted as a “transformation champion”, embedding a culture of innovation and agility across practice groups, while influencing senior partners and stakeholders to adopt best practice models.
• Provided executive-level oversight on governance, risk, and compliance associated with transformation, ensuring successful adoption of new operating models while mitigating business risks.
• Global Lead of the Start Up and Scale Up Modernised Offering, encompassing the Corporate, Venture Capital and Private Equity divisions. Recognised as a change leader and trusted adviser to partners and clients, contributing to the firm’s market reputation for innovation and strategic transformation.

• CFWA is a charitable incorporated association servicing the needs of people with cystic fibrosis in WA. CFWA funds support services for its members through diversified home health services, education, social work and mental health services. CFWA is also a funder of research and a proactive advocate for Western Australians with cystic fibrosis.
• Provide strategic direction to the organisation and deciding upon the organisation’s strategies and objectives.
• Drive organisational and financial performance, approving the organisation’s budgets and business plans and monitor major capital expenditures, acquisitions and divestitures, and capital management generally.
• Ensure that the organisation’s financial results are appropriately and accurately reported on in a timely manner in accordance with constitutional and regulatory requirements.
• Assure a prudential and ethical base to the organisation’s conduct and activities having regard to the relevant interests of its stakeholders.
• Assure that principal risks (financial and otherwise) are identified and ensure that appropriate control and monitoring systems are in place to manage the impact of those risks.
• Oversee the design, implementation and periodic review of appropriate and effective policies, processes and codes for the organisation, which include ethics, values, conduct, securities trading, disclosure of sensitive information, employment, remuneration, strategy and diversity.

Key Achievements

• Introduced amended fundraising methodologies in response to COVID19, winning the Fundraising Initiative Australia ‘Best Pivot Campaign’ (National Award).
• Drafted and implemented a comprehensive board governance charter.
• Introduced amendments to the Constitution, diversifying risk and strengthening strategy which was ultimately accepted by the members.
• Conducted a review of the operational strategy, identified weaknesses and instigated formulation of a new strategic plan for organisational success.

• CICA is Australia’s Peak Body for the Career Industry. Its establishment in 2000 was a world first and it continues to be a leader in the field. It is a focal point for government and other stakeholders concerned for and interested in promoting quality career development services in Australia.
• Provide strategic leadership and governance oversight as CRO, advising the board on restructuring, financial sustainability, and long-term organisational strategy.
• Lead restructuring programs across governance, operations, and finance to stabilise the organisation and position it for sustainable growth.
• Drive board renewal, restructuring governance frameworks, and aligning decision-making with the organisation’s constitution and strategic objectives.
• Oversee risk management, compliance, and stakeholder engagement to ensure regulatory obligations are met while safeguarding the organisation’s reputation.
• Collaborate with industry partners, regulators, and stakeholders to strengthen the organisation’s influence as the national peak body.

Key Achievements:

• Successfully restructured the Board of Governance, introducing new skills and diversity to enhance strategic oversight and compliance.
• Facilitated the redrafting of the constitution, strengthening governance foundations and ensuring alignment with contemporary regulatory and industry standards.
• Introduced new financial and operational strategies to stabilise the organisation and build resilience during a period of structural change.
• Enhanced stakeholder trust and credibility through transparent governance and proactive engagement with members, regulators, and partner organisations.

• Served as principal legal adviser to the Board, Chair, and executive leadership on corporate governance, directors’ duties, regulatory compliance, and risk management.
• Oversaw all corporate legal matters, including contracts, disputes, litigation management, intellectual property, and employment law.
• Acted as Company Secretary, ensuring compliance with statutory and ASX/ASIC obligations, maintaining registers, preparing board papers, and facilitating AGM/EGM processes.
• Provided governance and compliance oversight for board and committee operations (Audit & Risk, Remuneration, and Nomination Committees).
• Directed external legal counsel, auditors, and regulators, ensuring efficient resolution of high-risk matters and alignment to organisational strategy.
• Managed corporate policies (privacy, whistleblowing, ethics, ESG, anti-bribery), embedding a culture of integrity and transparency.

Key Achievements:

• Implemented a board governance framework that strengthened compliance, clarified decision-making protocols, and improved accountability.
• Streamlined contracting and risk processes, reducing legal spend by 27% while improving turnaround times for business units.
• Successfully navigated regulatory investigations and litigation, protecting the organisation from reputational and financial exposure.
• Introduced enhanced Board and Committee reporting structures, ensuring timely, accurate, and strategic information flow to directors.
• Played a pivotal role in major strategic transactions/restructuring initiatives, guiding the Board through complex regulatory and legal challenges

• Company Overview: Tottle Partners is a leading Western Australian law firm specializing in litigation, alternative dispute resolution, corporate and commercial matters across Australia and the Asia Pacific region.
• Regularly acting for institutional and non-institutional financiers, high net-worth individuals, large and mid-sized organization and insolvency practitioners in the areas of:
• Bankruptcy, restructuring & insolvency;
• All areas of advisory, including governance, regulation and compliance;
• Complex dispute resolution, including contract disputes, shareholder and partnership disputes, and all manner of disputes arising under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth);
• Claims involving breaches of duties by directors, trustees and executors.

• Company Overview: DMO Advisory is a boutique corporate advisory firm providing expertise in transformation and restructuring.
• Founded a boutique consultancy specialising in restructuring, transformation and profit improvement/optimisation;
• Provides contracted expertise to various insolvency firms throughout Sydney and Perth, managing and developing internal teams to build in-house capabilities in corporate insolvency and litigation support;
• Lead in-depth business reviews and due diligence activities, assessing working capital, process workflows and financial inefficiencies of businesses to formulate restructuring strategies;
• Outsourced CEO, CRO and COO services;
• Lead, develop and direct delivery, managing workflows and performance to ensure outcomes are achieved.

• Company overview: BRI Ferrier is an independent mid-tier restructuring firm, that seeks to find effective commercial outcomes for businesses in distress.
• Led a national portfolio of complex corporate insolvency, restructuring, and turnaround engagements, advising boards, financiers, and stakeholders on value preservation and risk mitigation.
• Directed multi-disciplinary teams in voluntary administrations, receiverships, liquidations, and safe harbour engagements, achieving stabilisation of distressed enterprises and maximising recoveries for stakeholders.
• Oversaw fraud and forensic investigations, identifying misappropriations and leading litigation strategies to recover millions in misapplied funds.
• Advised boards and directors on governance, directors’ duties, and regulatory compliance, ensuring sound decision-making under the Corporations Act.
• Delivered strategic restructuring outcomes, including divestments, debt restructures, and capital restructuring for companies with turnovers exceeding $500M.
• Partnered with financiers and legal advisors to execute cross-border appointments and litigation, achieving recoveries across multiple jurisdictions.
• Mentored and developed teams of insolvency professionals, fostering technical capability, commercial acumen, and adherence to professional and ethical standards.
• Recognised for ability to balance compliance obligations with pragmatic commercial solutions, preserving enterprise value and safeguarding jobs while ensuring creditor confidence.

• Company Overview: BCR Advisory is a boutique insolvency, recovery and corporate advisory firm providing specialist advice to the SME market.
• Greenfield leadership role, appointed to provide thought leadership and operational oversight of the restructure and re-brand of the Corporate Insolvency and Business Turnaround Practice;
• Developed business strategies to differentiate the Insolvency practice from the wider firm, re-establishing leadership presence during a period of partner transition;
• Managed a portfolio of +100 files spanning a breadth of administration, corporate insolvency and business turnaround matters, presenting recommendations to creditors and stakeholders.
• Selected Appointments
• Led Court appointed Receivership of Australia’s first international law firm, navigating cross-border (USA) legislation and successful litigation in the Bankruptcy Court of Manhattan;
• Managed a unique and intensive investigation of $3M in assets containing issues relating to parallel international importing;
• Completed various large Trade-Ons including construction company Urban Contractors Pty Ltd, generating in excess of $1.5M in the VA period;
• Advised a prominent liquidator in relation to a partnership dispute regarding profit share, leading the forensic investigation and subsequent management of attendant litigation.

• Company Overview: 180 Group operated as a subsidiary of FSA Group Limited (ASX: FSA), the largest provider of debt solutions to individuals and businesses in Australia, generating ~$49M in revenue p.a. (2008).
• Initially appointed QLD State Manager to grow the Corporate Recovery Practice, progressing to Head of Operations following Board approval of a business case for a program of internal restructuring;
• Spearheaded a full review of the business’ financial health, shaping and implementing team restructures, new accounting and risk management systems to protect future viability;
• Led the compilation, verification, analysis, interpretation and dissemination of critical financial data in multiple currencies and managed statutory reporting and corporate governance tasks;
• Managed a team of 13 staff nationally, designing and documenting strategies to improve client outcomes while adopting a proactive leadership approach to maintain high performance;
• Forged strategic partnerships with internal stakeholders, providing financial and operational advice to all levels of management, including sensitive and confidential business matters;
• Built influential working relationships with external stakeholders, developing and maintaining a referral base of accountants, lawyers and financiers to supporting ongoing business growth.

• Company Overview: Boutique, national, multidisciplinary firm providing commercially minded legal solutions with offices in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.
• National leadership role, responsible for the case management and execution of a portfolio of insolvency matters, including bankruptcy, winding up and commercial litigation;
• Provided insolvency advice to institutional clients on behalf of creditors, managing 50-100 files and personally;
• Defined and executed business development strategies to diversify the Practice’s client base, working under the partners mandate to deliver revenue growth targets.
• Achievements
• Established the Melbourne Practice from the ground up, expanding the firm’s Debt Recovery and Insolvency divisions to include 3 partners and 13 solicitors and law clerks;
• Delivered a 400% increase in revenue, building the Melbourne office to deliver 3 times the revenue generated by the original Brisbane office.
• Secured an exclusive servicing contract with a major client, taking 90% of the business’ work from a market competitor through expertise in relationship and practice management.