Recently, she joined Kroll’s newly promoted Managing Directors in New York for a global leadership program, a chance to connect with Global CEO Jake Silverman and the senior leadership team, and to explore the firm’s latest strategic initiatives.
Restructuring as a People-Led Profession
Starting out in Melbourne, Janet’s early days were shaped by an interest in transactional matters, company law and the kind of work where no two days (or stakeholders) are the same. “Insolvency wasn’t on the typical career list,” she admits. “But I knew I wanted something other than the usual graduate route of audit or tax. I loved the blend of legal strategy, financial nuance, negotiation and commerciality and people management that restructuring demanded.”
After two decades in the UK, Janet is still very much an Aussie at heart, having originally travelled to the UK for a short six-month stint, but staying after landing a permanent role at Kroll (then Buchler Phillips) in 2002. Since then, she’s built an international career in both mid-market and large-scale mandates, working across Big Four and boutique restructuring environments. In 2023, she returned to Kroll, describing it as a full-circle moment.
Driving Impact, Leading with Empathy
Throughout her career in the UK, Janet has worked on some of restructuring’s most high-profile assignments from Federal Mogul, Nortel Networks, Toys R Us and Homebase to complex cross-border cases spanning the Channel Islands, Cyprus and the Middle East. Whilst heading up the Restructuring practice’s Consumer Market Team in the UK, Janet has extensive experience across all sectors, including a focus on construction, infrastructure and manufacturing.
As her first formal insolvency mandate since joining Kroll, she and Sarah Rayment, led the administrations of a portfolio of trading pubs across London, (East London Pub Company Group). Being one of the two female-only appointees was a proud moment. In addition, more recently, Janet was Joint Appointee on Typhoo Tea Limited, the British tea institution, and worked to a pressurized timescale to complete a sale which resulted in the continuation of the globally known brand.
She describes her style as flexible, versatile and people led. “Sometimes you need to be tough. Other times, it’s about soft skills, showing empathy, listening and helping people through uncertainty. Either way, I focus on being calm and commercial to provide the best advice possible to my clients, when everything around them may feel otherwise.”
Passion for Progress and for People
Janet is a vocal advocate for women in the restructuring profession. Originally being a member of IWIRC Melbourne, once settled in the UK, Janet joined IWIRC London as Treasurer 2022 and later served on the IWIRC Europe Treasury steering committee. Janet is passionate about encouraging the next generation of women to pursue growth and have a large impact in the restructuring field.
She leads by example, looking for collaborative solutions across Kroll service lines for clients and championing inclusive leadership within her team. “Diversity of perspective helps us solve problems better. It’s that simple. Our work is complex, and having a range of voices at the table makes us stronger. Going to market with the wider Kroll solution is powerful.”
Janet is equally committed to learning and development. She actively ensures her teams have the skills they need to thrive, making both technical expertise and soft skills training a priority. Her focus is on helping individuals grow with confidence, capability and a sense of purpose.
Life Beyond the Ledger
When she’s not managing multijurisdictional mandates or mentoring up-and-coming talent, Janet can be found enjoying food-fueled travel (Sardinia is next on her list), competing in local tennis matches and trying to stay fit. She even ran the London Marathon in 2014 but never again on that one.
With Kroll’s restructuring practice continuing to expand, Janet is excited about what lies ahead. She’s focused on growing the team, delivering commercial outcomes in volatile environments and making a meaningful difference for clients, whether it’s a creditor in crisis, a business on the brink or a colleague just starting out.
