Meet our
Executive Leadership team
Meet our Executive Leadership Team – a seasoned group of recruiters specialising in C-Suite Executive Search, Marketing Recruitment, Corporate Affairs and PR Recruitment, Technology Recruitment, Project Services & Change Management, Government Recruitment and more.
Cameron Kenna
Cameron Kenna
Cameron is renowned for his business acumen, an exceptionally diverse contact network, and an ability to withstand and overcome challenges. With two decades of experience in founding and leading professional services companies, he has become a trusted advisor to some of the country’s most respected business leaders.
Prior to founding Ampersand, Cameron established one of Australia’s leading IT recruitment companies. The company started in September 2001, suggesting a potentially dire market entry – yet the opposite was true. Together with a strong team they rode the wave and five years later the Company was listed at #40 in the BRW Fast 100 List of Companies.
In a similar fashion, Cameron went on to co-found Ampersand in August 2008, just as global banking behemoths collapsed and the GFC hit. Despite an unexpected myriad of market challenges, coupled with fear driven decision-making, never was it more important to provide clients with senior counsel and practical HR support. The model succeeded and today Ampersand continues to serve some of the country’s biggest Corporations and Government departments.
At Ampersand, Cameron not only leads the business, but specialises in C-Suite Executive Search – helping great companies find great leaders.
Beyond the world of executive recruitment Cameron has also been integral to the operational direction and success of communications firms, consumer goods, commercial property agencies, franchise networks, private investments and start-ups.
He sits on the Executive of the Young Presidents Organisation (YPO), Queensland Chapter; is a board member for Voice of Change, a not-for-profit that uses Arts as a platform to advocate against family violence; and is regularly called upon for mentoring and speaking opportunities.
Cameron is foremost a proud father of three exceptional children; a free-spirited adventurer at heart and when he’s not working you will find him with them, exploring wild places.
Will Dunn
Will Dunn
Will is a consummate professional and seasoned recruiter who raises the bar in the industry. He has spent his career specialising in recruitment of marketing and business development practitioners within the professional services sector – making him one of the most experienced, well-connected and well-versed recruiters in his field.
With over ten years at Ampersand, Will now wears two hats. He leads the team as Managing Director of the business, while also consistently servicing the recruitment needs of some of Australia’s biggest brands in the Legal, Accounting, Engineering, Consulting and Property industries.
Prior to his time at Ampersand, Will spent seven years at Barclays in the UK, where he managed relationships between the Bank and it’s Professional Service partners such as Deloitte. In this role, Will was also a key advisor to several English Premier League clubs and their marquee players – providing counsel on wealth management and connecting them with the most appropriate divisions of the Bank. As a life long supporter of Fulham FC, this was a welcome opportunity to marry personal and professional passions.
Will is known for his integrity, honesty and professionalism. He is grateful for 20+ years of exposure to some of the best and brightest minds in the industry, building him into the professional he is today. He is a proud father to two young girls, perhaps one of the most life changing roles of all.
Contact Will at wdunn@ampersand.com.au
Holly Ash
Holly Ash
Holly is highly sought after by clients and candidates alike, thanks to nearly 20 years of specialised recruitment experience and a reputation for exceeding expectation. She is known for exceptional industry knowledge, diverse contacts, impeccable service, and for delivering on commercial outcomes with commitment and integrity.
With a foundational start in HR, Holly made a strategic turn into recruitment where she worked with one of the leading global recruitment agencies for eight years. Here she managed a high-volume contract desk in the financial services and investment-banking sector, fast becoming one of the most well connected recruiters in the field. She quickly ascended up the ladder and was regularly recognised as a high-achiever by their global network.
Following this Holly worked in-house for one of Australia’s largest publicly listed brands (Woolworths Supermarkets), sourcing and acquiring talent across all facets of an extremely complex business network. She brought that experience with her back to the world of Agency in 2014, where she has thrived ever since delivering talent outcomes for some of Australia’s biggest corporations like Telstra, NAB and Macquarie Group.
Recognising the value of specialist skills, Holly is now most renowned for recruiting Corporate Affairs and Communications professionals in industry sectors such as Financial Services, Insurance, Infrastructure, Technology and Not-For-Profits. She has led this practice division at Ampersand since 2019.
Holly is built for a fast paced, high service industry. She brings energy, warmth, insight and grit to her clients and her teams. She balances this with a life-long dedication to animal welfare, horse riding, a love of the ocean, and time spent in the great outdoors.
Contact Holly at holly.ash@ampersand.com.au
Nathan Byng
Nathan Byng
As the Practice Director for Technology, Project Services and Government – Nathan is best known for matching talented professionals with the right roles, for building high-performing teams, and for delivering tailored staffing solutions…quickly.
A Microsoft Certified Engineer by trade, Nathan has worked in the Technology teams for leading brands and services in Healthcare, Government, FMCG, Education and Finance. Equipped with an understanding of the industry’s language, intricacies and technical needs – he then jumped ship to the more people oriented world of recruitment (something he says is one of his best decisions).
At Ampersand – Nathan services Commercial and Government clients specifically in the areas of Technology and Project Services. Recognising the specific needs of Government and Technical recruitment, he represents an exceptional talent pool of stand out professionals with unique experience and skillsets.
As a leader, he fosters a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. He believes success is achieved through a combination of hard work, strategic thinking, and a commitment to excellence.
For a private conversation about your career goals, or to find the right person for your needs – please contact Nathan at nbyng@ampersand.com.au.
Carlie Bowden
Carlie Bowden
A lot hinges on major organisational change and transformation – you need the right people to guide it through and ensure success: that’s where Carlie comes in. She brings a unique combination of experience to the table across Government and Commercial sectors, and a wealth of contacts with direct experience.
In her work with Government, Carlie has supported both State and Federal departments during major change overhaul – sourcing the right teams to implement changes, re-engineering and wide scale change adoption. She is au fait with the inner workings of Government sectors, understanding their processes and the importance of sourcing teams with direct Government experience.
Mid way through her career (and perhaps for a completely different perspective), Carlie spent a few years working specifically with Start-Ups and Scale-Ups. This sector commanded a nimble and innovative approach. It also saw her in a consultative role, often dealing with the Founders and CEOs directly to best understand the business need and provide counsel on talent requirements and solutions.
Not only does Carlie bring with her an impressive network of candidate relationships, she also offers a stand-out approach to client service. She prides herself on understanding client and candidate needs, so that she can deliver tailored solutions and maintain long-term relationships.
Carlie has formal training in HR, and more recently completed a Data Analytics program with Harvard Business School. This honed her understanding of reporting, testing and analysis – ensuring she’s able to have informed discussions with clients in this space and better service their needs.
For a private conversation with Carlie surrounding your next transformation project or your personal career goals, please contact her at cbowden@ampersand.com.au