HKA’s Asia Pacific expansion continues with five new Forensic Accounting and Commercial Damages hires
4th February 2025
HKA, a leading global consultancy in risk mitigation, dispute resolution, expert witness, and litigation support services, is delighted to announce Partners Andrew Ross, Anh Nguyen, John Temple-Cole, Sally Davitt, and Director Elizabeth Buchanan have joined HKA’s rapidly expanding Forensic Accounting and Commercial Damages (FACD) team based in Sydney, Australia.
The new hires bring a wealth of knowledge and experience as Forensic Accounting Experts. Their addition significantly bolsters HKA’s strength and expertise in Asia Pacific and internationally. They have extensive international experience, including work in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the US, and Singapore. This will significantly enhance the firm’s ability to handle cross-border dispute cases. Their diverse backgrounds across various disputes and investigations, such as shareholder class actions, loss and damage assessments, valuations, major project disputes and tax and high-net-worth individual disputes, will enable HKA to offer specialised services tailored to the unique needs of its clients.
Each of the Partners has significant experience giving evidence in various courts and arbitration proceedings and managing complex legal matters across different jurisdictions. Working together, HKA’s FACD professionals will leverage each other’s strengths and insights, continuing to provide first-class services to our clients.
The expansion of the FACD team will significantly increase HKA’s expert services footprint in Australia and play a key role in further developing the firm’s presence in the Asia Pacific region. The complementary skills of Andrew, Anh, John, Sally and Elizabeth will enable HKA to provide a holistic and integrated approach to forensic accounting and commercial damages services, enhancing the firm’s capabilities and expertise both in the APAC region and internationally.
Together with industry-leading experts Jonathan Humphrey, Jonathan Ellis and HKA’s broader FACD team, their combined expertise and dedication to excellence will continue to make a significant impact in the FACD arena, further solidifying HKA as a leader in the industry.

“We are delighted to welcome Andrew, Anh, John, Sally, and Elizabeth to our Forensic Accounting and Commercial Damages team in Australia. The strategic growth of the International practice is in line with the demand for services, and we’re very happy to have such high-calibre experts on board to help us meet that demand.
Amanda Clack, Partner, Regional CEO, International
“Andrew, Anh, John, Sally, and Elizabeth are joining the FACD practice at a pivotal moment for our firm and clients. With the launch of our International region, we will offer enhanced services through our unified team of top industry Experts, who will continue to deliver market-leading solutions. I am confident our new FACD colleagues will bring their extensive experience, collaboration, and excellence to the team and our clients.”
Stuart Ells, Partner, Forensic Accounting and Commercial Damages (FACD) Lead and Chief Growth and Operations Officer, International
Jonathan Humphrey, Forensic Accounting and Commercial Damages Lead, Asia Pacific at HKA, also shared his excitement, stating, “The addition of Andrew, Anh, John, Sally, and Elizabeth to our team is a significant milestone for HKA. Their diverse backgrounds and extensive experience will complement our existing capabilities and help us continue to deliver high-quality services to our clients.”
Andrew Ross is joining as a Partner. He has over 35 years of experience in chartered accounting firms, assisting Australian and international clients in complex commercial disputes. Andrew works behind the scenes with legal teams to prepare claims or determine case strategy. Alternatively, he acts as an independent expert, preparing expert reports and giving evidence in courts and tribunals. Andrew is recognised as a leading Forensic Accountant and has been selected by Lexology Index in Consulting – Forensic Accountants and in Australia & New Zealand – Investigations – Forensic Accountants.
Anh Nguyen is joining as a Partner. He has 15 years of experience in forensic accounting and valuation services. Anh is a seasoned professional who excels in quantifying damages, class actions, valuation and taxation engagements. He has appeared as an expert in numerous legal matters, including cases in the Supreme Court of NSW and the Federal Court of Australia and has also been appointed as a Court Referee by the Supreme Court of NSW. Anh is also a co-author of the Forensic Accounting chapter in the leading Australian textbook on Expert Evidence.
John Temple-Cole is joining as a Partner. He is a Forensic Accounting Specialist who has close to 30 years of experience in the forensic field. His expertise includes leading large-scale and complex financial and accounting investigations and disputes, and loss and damages assessments. John has given evidence in various Australian Courts and tribunals, the High Court of Singapore, and domestic and international arbitration proceedings. John has a working proficiency in both spoken and written Chinese (Mandarin) and is also a Director of the Justice and Equity Centre (formerly the Public Interest Advocacy Centre). John is recognised as a leading Forensic Accountant and has been selected by Lexology Index as a thought leader in GIR – Investigations Forensic Accountants, and is also selected in Consulting – Forensic Accountants, Australia & New Zealand – Arbitration and Investigations – Forensic Accountants.
Sally Davitt is joining as a Partner. Sally is a Forensic Accounting and Business Valuation Specialist with over 20 years of experience in forensic accounting. Sally specialises in financial investigations and quantifying economic loss, as well as dispute analysis, business valuation and damages calculations. She works with a wide range of clients – from lawyers and corporates to government regulators and not-for-profits – across various industries. Sally has worked on a number of high-profile investigations and court cases within Australia and in the UK, preparing expert reports and giving evidence. Sally is recognised as a leading Forensic Accountant and has been selected by Lexology Index in Investigations, Consulting – Forensic Accountants and in Australia & New Zealand – Investigations – Forensic Accountants.
Elizabeth Buchanan is joining as a Director. She has extensive experience in forensic accounting and high-net-worth individual tax in Australia and the United States. She has assisted with the preparation of expert reports submitted in courts in both countries. Elizabeth is a Business Valuation Specialist, and she specialises in the preparation of business valuations, quantification of loss and damages, and conducting financial investigations.
HKA’s FACD experts have a proven track record of advising clients on the accounting, economic, and financial impacts of complex matters. Their ability to provide analysis on disputes related to breach of contract, IP, shareholder issues, mergers and acquisitions, class actions, fraud, forensic, and regulatory investigations sets them apart as leaders in the industry.
Media contact
Name | Peita Calvert |
Title | Marketing and Communications Director APAC, International |
Number | +61 9255 9100 |
PeitaCalvert@hka.com |