Leadership Team – Challenger Services Group Australia

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Darlene Winston

Chief Financial Officer

Darlene proudly leads Challenger’s growth strategy, focusing on building strong client partnerships and expanding the organisation’s service capability.

As a senior executive with more than 25 years of international leadership experience, Darlene has worked across 13 industry sectors and three continents. Her background spans commercial leadership, risk and assurance, cultural transformation and organisational growth.

At Challenger, Darlene is responsible for driving long-term growth through strategic client partnerships and innovative service models. Her work is to ensure that Challenger’s capabilities are aligned with the evolving needs of our clients while ensuring operational delivery protects both client and company brands.

Darlene is also valued for her thought leadership in organisational culture and transformation. Outside of her executive role, she has lectured in international business and currently serves on two not-for-profit boards.

Allan Mitnovetsky

Chief Legal and Compliance Officer

Allan is Challenger’s Chief Legal and Compliance Officer and the principal legal advisor to the Board and Executive Leadership Team.

With more than 30 years of legal and management experience, Allan leads Challenger’s national legal and compliance functions and oversees the organisation’s regulatory frameworks and integrated management system.

Allan’s specialist areas include corporate governance, employment law, commercial law and mergers and acquisitions. Before joining Challenger’s leadership team, he spent eight years as a partner at a leading law firm, advising clients on complex commercial and regulatory matters.

Allan has been with Challenger for more than a decade, during which he has played a key role in strengthening the governance and compliance frameworks that support the company’s growth as a national service provider. His leadership approach ensures our clients can rely on strong regulatory oversight and disciplined operational governance.

Param Lally

Chief Financial Officer

Param is Challenger’s Chief Financial Officer, and is responsible for financial governance, planning and performance across our organisation.

As a career finance professional with more than 30 years of experience, Param brings meaningful expertise in financial strategy, operational efficiency and business transformation to our company. His background includes senior roles with major service organisations.

Param oversees financial planning and analysis, payroll, procurement, taxation, treasury management and financial systems within Challenger. His role focuses on strengthening financial performance while supporting sustainable business growth.

Param is skilled in analytical and commercial outcomes, helping leadership teams make informed strategic decisions. He also plays an important role in building high-performing finance teams and strengthening the financial systems that support every aspect of Challenger’s national operations.

Sharne Brennan

Chief People Officer

Sharne leads Challenger’s people, culture and workforce strategy across Australia.

A commercially focused HR executive, Sharne has extensive experience working within complex multi-site service organisations in sectors that include facilities services, hospitality, aged care, disability services and industrial operations. Her career has focused on building organisational strength in environments where workforce performance is critical to service delivery.

At Challenger, Sharne oversees workforce planning, leadership development, employee relations and organisational capability across the business. She works closely with the executive team to ensure people strategy supports on-the-ground operational performance and long-term growth.

Through Sharne’s pragmatic and practical leadership style, she creates environments where employees can confidently develop their skills, contribute effectively and deliver consistent outcomes for clients.

Thomas Beissert

Group General Manager

Thomas oversees operational performance across Challenger, ensuring service delivery remains consistent, efficient and aligned with client expectations.

With more than 25 years of experience across hospitality, food services and facilities operations, Thomas is highly experienced in managing complex service environments across Australia and globally. Before joining Challenger, he held senior operational roles within major hospitality organisations.

Thomas works closely with operations teams and client stakeholders to manage large service contracts and ensure smooth mobilisation and long-term account management. His leadership approach focuses on maintaining high standards of service delivery while continuously improving operational performance.

One of Thomas’ key strengths is his collaborative leadership style. He builds strong working relationships with clients, suppliers and operational teams. His experience across large-scale operations ensures Challenger can deliver reliable service outcomes in complex and high-demand environments.

Danny Cohen

Chief Executive Officer

Danny leads the organisation’s strategy, performance and culture to deliver consistent outcomes for our clients nationwide.

Danny brings more than 15 years of leadership experience across both large Tier 1 contractors and growing service organisations. His career includes senior roles with organisations such as Downer Group, Ventia and Spotless, along with experience scaling businesses across multiple sectors, including emerging technology environments.

At Challenger, Danny is dedicated to strengthening the company’s position as a trusted integrated services partner delivering security, cleaning and hospitality services to major organisations across Australia.

He works closely with clients, employees and partners to ensure Challenger continues to evolve as industry needs change.

Danny is known for his people-first leadership approach, building accountable teams that translate strategy into consistent operational performance.

Our Leadership Team

Meet the people leading Challenger’s operations, strategy and growth across Australia

Connect with the Challenger leadership team

Please fill out your details to download our capability statement

Please fill out your details to download our capability statement

Please fill out your details to download our capability statement

Please fill out your details to download our capability statement