In this episode of From Go to CFO, we sit down with James Mitchell - an experienced CEO and CFO whose career spans professional services, financial services, hospitality, and property.

James shares his journey from his early days at Deloitte, where he built the technical and professional foundations of his career, through international experience in London and senior finance leadership roles including at Westpac. He reflects on his progression into CFO roles, and ultimately his transition to CEO at Baycorp in 2018, a pivotal shift that required him to let go of functional finance responsibilities and step into broader organisational leadership. Today, as CFO at Redcape Hospitality Group, he brings a uniquely well-rounded perspective shaped by his experience leading organisations as both CFO and CEO.

He speaks candidly about the mindset shift from leading the numbers to leading the entire organisation, and what it takes to set the tone as CEO, particularly when driving change and transformation. James also reflects on whether becoming a CFO was always part of his plan, and how his ambitions and definition of success evolved over time.

A passionate mentor and experienced executive, James shares thoughtful insights into leadership growth, the importance of perspective, and the responsibility leaders have to invest in the next generation.

This episode offers valuable perspective for aspiring CFOs, CEOs, and finance leaders navigating career progression and the transition from CFO to CEO.

In this episode of From Go to CFO, we sit down with Chris Allenby, CFO of Lewis Land, one of Australia’s largest privately owned property groups, to unpack a career defined by ambition, adaptability and leadership under pressure.

Chris’s journey began early - joining KPMG as a cadet at just 18 and rising to partner by 32. Over a 12-year tenure as partner, he advised private and mid-cap companies, family businesses and high-net-worth individuals across a diverse range of industries, developing particular strength in property. But in March 2020, at the onset of COVID-19, Chris made a pivotal shift - from trusted advisor to in-house decision maker - stepping into the CFO role at Lewis Land.

What followed was more than a career move; it was a mindset transformation. Chris shares the realities of transitioning from chartered accounting into a high-net-worth family group, where influence gives way to accountability and strategy must be paired with execution. He reflects on reshaping the finance function, strengthening culture through decisive hiring, and balancing creativity with discipline within what he describes as a true collective.

This episode explores the nuances of leading in a private family business environment, the resilience required during periods of rapid change, and how Chris continually evaluates both his own capabilities and those of his team to stay ahead. It’s a candid conversation about leadership evolution, navigating uncertainty, and what it really takes to go from advisor to CFO.

In this episode of From Go to CFO, we sit down with Gareth Sprainger, CFO of V2Food, to unpack a career defined by curiosity, resilience, and transformative leadership. Gareth began his journey straight out of high school, diving into chartered accounting while working full-time - a foundation that shaped his disciplined, hands-on approach to finance.

His path took him through a 12-year tenure at Coca-Cola Amatil (now Coca-Cola Europacific Partners), where he worked across multiple divisions and played a key role in a joint venture with SAB Miller, culminating in the build of a $120 million brewery. Seeking global experience, Gareth took a leave of absence to work in London, where he led a major financial transformation across Europe at Monster Worldwide.

Returning to Australia, Gareth continued to broaden his commercial lens through senior roles at Coca-Cola before stepping into finance leadership as Finance Director at William Grant & Sons. Today, he sits in a venture-capital-backed CFO role at V2Food, spanning finance, legal, property, and operations as the business scales.

This conversation blends hard-earned lessons in adaptability and resilience with insights into leading through change - showing why staying curious and open to transformation is one of the most powerful competitive edges a modern CFO can have.