About us

Sam Nixon

Senior Partner, Mornington

Sam, CPA and Senior Partner at our Mornington Office, is characterised by his ambition, strong work ethic, and drive.

Sam has been working with Highview for the past 15 years and is a Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA). Prior to becoming a CPA he completed a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Accounting, Banking Finance at Monash University.

Whilst working at the Cranbourne office from 2014, Sam always dreamed of opening an accounting practice on the Mornington Peninsula. He was thrilled to bring that vision to life with the launch of Highview Accounting Mornington in early 2014.

Ten years on, Sam’s dedication and professionalism were recognised when he was named Senior Partner in 2024.

Sam’s strengths are a strong work ethic, enthusiastic drive and a desire to go above and beyond to deliver results for his team members and clients. He possesses advanced technical expertise in tax accounting and is highly skilled in a variety of cloud-based accounting and management software.

Sam is deeply committed to delivering results for his clients, with a focus on helping them achieve their business goals.

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James Wrigley

Associate Partner, Mornington

James is a CPA with over 10 years’ experience. He is passionate about supporting businesses with their taxation, strategy & compliance needs.

James joined the Highview team in 2013, accumulating over a decade of experience in the accounting industry. Before diving into the world of numbers, he earned his Bachelor of Commerce at  Monash, which laid the foundation for his career.

What James loves most about his job is the personal connection with clients. Despite the nature of accounting being cantered around numbers, he finds the human aspect to be the most fulfilling. “I enjoy getting to know business owners on a personal level and figuring out how I can best help them develop and achieve their goals.”

A firm believer in long-term thinking, James often shares a favourite quote with clients: “Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.” This mindset helps clients stay focused on their bigger vision, no matter where they are in their business journey.

Outside of work, James is an avid motorcycle racer—something you wouldn’t necessarily expect from an accountant! His bike, of course, proudly sports Highview stickers.

With his blend of professional expertise and personal enthusiasm, James is committed to helping clients navigate the path to success, one thoughtful decision at a time.

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Sophie Bastion

Senior Accountant, Mornington

Sophie is a focused & detail orientated Accountant. Her dedication to excellent client service is unsurpassed.

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Michael Cleary

Senior Accountant, Mornington

Michael prides himself on his ability to take a friendly and proactive approach to clients’ accounting needs.

Michael has over 10 years of experience supporting businesses with their taxation, strategy, and compliance requirements. Michael’s enthusiasm for building great relationships with clients is evident upon meeting him. “I enjoy providing detailed advice to our clients and keeping them up to date with the latest structuring advice and tax guidance in an easy-to-understand manner. Ultimately, I care. I’m passionate about informing and guiding our clients to ensure they get the best possible result based on their circumstances,” says Michael.

Michael’s areas of expertise include:

• Small and medium business strategic advice
• Tax planning and minimisation
• Business structures

Michael has built and nurtured excellent client relationships at Highview and is known for his meticulous nature when working on detailed client projects. He doesn’t miss a beat and prides himself on being there for his clients when it comes to all things tax and business advisory.

Michael lives in Mornington with his wife, Hannah, and their two children, Parker and Nate. Their home life is lively and full of energy! A passionate Essendon fan, Michael enjoys watching the footy and, when not doing that, loves family holidays and exploring the local area on day trips. He also makes time for a round of golf with mates when he can.

Amy Lea

Head of Bookkeeping, Mornington

Amy is a Xero Certified expert dedicated to helping clients excel with their bookkeeping needs. Committed to achieving the best outcomes, she goes above and beyond, placing great value on fostering long-lasting partnerships.

Being one of the Head Bookeepers at Highview Mornington is a role that Amy has achieved through hard work and a commitment to her team.

Amy has been with Highview for nearly 7 years, growing with the company and developing her expertise in bookkeeping. Before starting at Highview, she worked as a barista at the neighbouring café, where she first got to know Sam and the team – and yes, she still remembers their coffee orders by heart!

Amy loves helping clients achieve their goals and enjoys knowing that she’s making a meaningful difference in their lives through her work with bookkeeping and Xero. Her mantra is simple but powerful: “I can do anything, but not everything.”

In her spare time, she loves waking up with no set agenda, taking morning walks to explore new places—coffee always in hand! An avid traveler with a passion for discovering new things, she’s constantly on the lookout for fresh adventures and experiences around the world.

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Richard Vaughan

Senior Financial Adviser, Mornington

With 20+ years experience advising, accounting & management experience, Richard can develop, implement & manage transformational strategies, providing clients the security & peace of mind that comes from being prepared for the future.

Richard is passionate about the positive difference that trusted and credible advice can make to clients’ lives, by working with them on an ongoing basis. He has significant experience assisting a broad range of clients including those with Self Managed Superannuation Funds and complex structures, and has extensive experience specialising in providing retiree and pre-retiree planning. Richard holds an Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning, is an accredited SMSF Specialist with the SMSF Association of Australia, and is a member of the Financial Advisers Association of Australia.

Richard works with his clients to understand their priorities, as well as their financial concerns. Helping clients reduce their anxiety about money is Richard’s number one priority, and he does so by simplifying and decluttering their financial circumstances, then working closely with them to help achieve their goals.

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Bruce Chisholm

Senior Financial Adviser, Mornington

Previously ranked in the Top 50 Master Class Honour Roll by the Australian Financial Review Smart Investor, Bruce has his clients’ best interests at heart.

Bruce Chisholm is a qualified Accountant and Financial Planner with a Bachelor of Business and a Diploma in Financial Planning.

Bruce is a member of the Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA), Australia’s leading professional community of financial planners. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, Bruce has gone one step further to achieve the highest qualification in financial planning worldwide.

Bruce’s knowledge was recognised in 2013 when he was ranked in the Top 50 Master Class Honour Roll by the Australian Financial Review Smart Investor.

With over 20 years of experience advising clients together with prior accounting and management experience, Bruce has the competence and expertise to develop, implement and manage transformational strategies to give you the security and peace of mind that comes from being prepared for the future.

Bruce is passionate about the positive difference trusted and credible advice can make to clients’ lives, by working with them on an ongoing basis. He always has his clients’ best interests at heart.

Bruce has significant experience assisting a broad range of clients including those with self-managed superannuation funds and complex structures and has specialised in retiree and pre retiree clients.

Outside of work Bruce enjoys spending time with his family and enjoying the lifestyle offered by living in the inner bayside area.

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Calvin McLeod

Senior Financial Adviser, Mornington

With a Bachelor of Business & Commerce, plus over 15 years in the financial services sector, Calvin’s experience and deep technical knowledge is of immense value to his clients.

As a qualified Accountant and Financial Planner, Calvin is highly committed towards building long term relationships, knowing the positive difference trusted and credible advice can make to their lives. He has significant experience assisting a broad range of clients, including those with Self Managed Superannuation Funds. Breaking down complex structures and detailed industry information into its simplest form, to ensure his clients feel well informed and 100% comfortable, is Calvin’s key strength.

In his personal life, Calvin enjoys watching live music performances, attending comedy shows for a good laugh, and cheering for his favourite sports teams at live games. Most importantly, he relishes the quality time spent with his wife and four children. These personal interests reflect his dedication to balancing work and life, just as he encourages his clients to achieve their own financial balance.

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D’Avery Pillay

Financial Adviser, Mornington

D’Avery is a multi-award winning professional who always has his clients’ best interests at heart.

D’Avery is a multi-award winning professional who always has his clients’ best interests at heart.

D’Avery Pillay is a qualified Financial Planner and Mortgage Broker with 10+ years’ experience in the financial services sector, including a 5-year stint successfully running his own financial services business. More recently, he saw an opportunity for change, selling up his portion of the business to his partners in 2018. He joined the Highview Accounting & Financial team in 2019 – a relationship which has proved to be a meeting of the minds.

D’Avery’s a driven individual and his knowledge is industry recognised having achieved four high-profile award wins during his career;
• 2016 Association of Financial Advisers Rising Star Award for Financial Planning
• 2017 Australian Broking Awards Diversification Program of the Year Award Finalist
• 2017 Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia State Finalist Excellence Award
• 2018 The Adviser Better Business Award for Best Community Engagement Program

Over the past decade, D’Avery has proven himself to be a passionate advocate for his clients, going above and beyond to ensure they get the best outcomes possible. He believes in providing advice and solutions clearly to his clients – in a way that breaks down any complexities. He’s committed to his clients and always ensures they feel at ease with their financial plans and decisions.

When he isn’t busy with work or home renovating duties, you’ll find D’Avery researching his next overseas travel experience, or booking a weekend scuba diving adventure with friends.

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Joe Crosara

Personal Risk Insurance Manager, Mornington

With 35+ years industry experience, Joe has the passion, competence & expertise to coordinate & work closely with our Financial Planners to deliver our clients a tailored insurance plan that meets their needs.

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Renato Mastromanno

Finance Broker, Mornington

Renato is highly regarded in the local business community, having worked in the Banking & Finance Industry for 37 years, and as Finance Broker since 2021.

His banking history has provided experience in Personal and Business Financing via engagement with clients across various segments and industries, such as accountancy, agriculture, childcare, construction, design, engineering, extraction and excavation, hospitality, import/export, legal practices, manufacturing, property development and investment, retail, transport and wholesale.

Highview has had a professional relationship working with Renato for 23+ years, having assisted many of our clients successfully with all forms of loan solutions. His expertise has enabled Highview clients to get well-rounded informed advice, that is tailored to their specific financial needs. Renato assists clients to choose the right loan product from Highview’s range of reputable lenders and strives to get the most competitive choices possible. Renato’s industry experience and  knowledge makes what can be an arduous process one that is simple and easy.

Renato’s service excellence and skills will give you confidence that the research has been thorough and you’re getting the most suitable loan option for your circumstances.

Of utmost importance to Renato is his key focus on building long-term client relationships. He takes the time to truly and thoroughly understand clients’ personal and business needs to ensure success in achieving milestones and establishing best possible solutions to compliment those varying needs.

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Ismar Muratovic

Finance Broker, Mornington

With 20 years business experience – as a Broker Ismar prides himself on establishing trusted relationships, which includes reliable connections with lenders. He’s passionate about delivering a professional positive experience tailored to his clients’ needs.

His years of experience extend beyond brokerage. He ran his own successful restaurant for 5 years, which led him towards a career managing the buying & selling of small & medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This has given him a unique perspective that’s incredibly valuable to our clients – he understands firsthand the complexities, needs & finances of both Self Employed & SME business owners. Ismar has exceptional analytical skills & a wealth of knowledge in personal & business finance structures.

Ismar sums up how he feels about his role at Highview – “I feel that one of my strongest attributes as a broker is my intention to always provide my clients with a quality experience by carefully listening to their needs & guiding them with great information to ensure they understand all aspects of the lending process. Specifically, I’m committed to going above & beyond to find a lender that will not suit my client’s loan requirements, but a lender that I trust will look after them appropriately during & after the loan is completed”.

His clients describe him as “passionate, personable, approachable & has great open communication.”

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Cameron Stewart

Insurance Account Manager, Mornington

Cameron is a dedicated professional in a pivotal role of managing Highview’s Insurance Services. He prides himself on approaching client’s needs in a proactive manner, with their best interests always at the forefront.

Cameron has delivered exceptional service to his clients for 6+ years, with his expertise and knowledge in the insurance industry being incredibly valued. A key strength of his lies in simplifying the insurance industry ‘jargon’. Insurance policies are often considered daunting, highly detailed and difficult to understand. Cameron has the ability to break down the complex details for his clients to always ensure they feel comfortable and confidently informed regarding all their insurance options.

Of utmost importance to Cameron, is his care and willingness to take the time to thoroughly understand clients’ personal and business needs to ensure he can provide the most suitable insurance options.

Cameron lives with his wife, Hannah and two children, Molly and Henry in Bayside. On weekends they like to keep active by going on bike rides, watching the kids play sport and gardening. He also loves to watch the footy (go Kangas!) On long weekends and over school holidays, Cameron and his family enjoy taking short trips to Metung and the Gippsland Lakes.

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James Saunders

Digital Intelligence | Principal Consultant, Mornington

James leads Highview’s Digital Intelligence service, offering tailored digital solutions that save businesses time and money. With a focus on problem-solving, he designs seamless, data-driven strategies for business success.

Initially a client of Highview, James showcased his expertise in providing digital and artificial intelligence solutions to businesses across various industries. Through his appointments with Accountant, Avi, lightbulb moments began to create excitement. It was evident that Highview could benefit from James’ services… and fast forward to today, it certainly has, with James heading up the newly created service, Digital Intelligence.

James considers himself to be a problem solver, using his expertise to design customised business solutions which can save businesses time and money. Through the process of assessment and analytics, James is able to design, develop and implement a solution that can fit seamlessly in to a business’ existing framework.

James, when not smashing out work on his PC, is all about making memories with his partner and their kids, Aubrey, Thomas and Noah. As the weekend rolls around, he  loves to watch sport…cricket during the Summer and AFL during the Winter – go the Mighty Blues!

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Chris Bishop

Digital Intelligence | Automation Developer, Mornington

Chris excels at pinpointing pain points and bottlenecks in business processes, using his expertise to implement practical, effective solutions.

Chris works at Highview in our newest speciality area – Digital Intelligence.

Before joining Highview, he spent 18 years in the operations and supply chain industry, with the last 8 years as a Business Analyst and Continuous Improvement Manager. This experience honed his ability to identify and address challenges where processes and systems don’t align.

He enjoys the problem-solving aspect of his work, likening it to solving a puzzle with multiple ways to piece things together. The process of finding efficient solutions keeps things exciting, with constant opportunities to explore new tools, programs, and approaches.

Chris believes that data is only as good as its quality. If the input isn’t clean, the output will be flawed. He specialises in transforming and integrating data across systems, ensuring clean data from the start or cleansing existing data for better solutions.

When he’s not working, Chris enjoys cycling, gaming, and watching movies with his partner, Rhiannon, and their two cats, Luna and Lewis.

Terri Holt

Practice Manager | Head Office, Mornington

Terri brings with her a vast amount of experience in Business, Human Resources and Accounting. The skills she has developed ensures she is professional all-rounder, working across all four Highview offices. 

Before joining Highview in early 2023, Terri had completed 11 years in the Accounting Industry and graduated with a Masters of Professional Accounting. She also has a Bachelor of Business, majoring in HR.

All these varied skills make her the perfect Practice Manager for Highview, as she has come to know all aspects of the inner workings of an Accounting firm. She is organised and meticulous, which is highly needed for this busy role. Terri works closely with the Partners to deliver effective Accounting and Administration procedures to improve our business efficiency and client service across all areas of the Highview business.

Terri also loves to keep busy in her spare time by being active, catching up with friends, wining and dining, and chasing after her two young girls, Millie and Reegan.

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Ashleigh Walker

Marketing & Design Manager, Mornington

For the past 10 years, Ash has fueled creativity and innovation in marketing and graphic design at Highview.

Ashleigh joined Highview in 2015. Initially, she applied for a 12-month maternity cover contract, thinking it would be a short-term job. Fast forward 10 years, and Ashleigh can’t imagine working anywhere else.

With over 20 years of experience in graphic design, Ashleigh brings a wealth of creative expertise to her role as Marketing & Design Manager. She thrives on the variety and creative challenges her role offers, enjoying the opportunity to collaborate with her team to drive innovative marketing strategies that help the business grow. The opportunity to collaborate with the team and contribute to a culture that values innovation is something Ashleigh truly enjoys.

Outside of work, Ashleigh is a busy mum to two kids, Elwood and Scarlett. She’s a self-proclaimed reality TV enthusiast, and when she’s not catching up on her favourite shows, you can find her socialising with her beautiful friends and family. Balancing work and family life keeps her on her toes, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.

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