From Outback Beginnings to Allura Partners: Dan Porter Strengthens Our Finance and Interim Practice in Melbourne

When you ask most people how they got into the recruitment industry, the stories can be fairly similar. But for Dan Porter, Principal Consultant at Allura Partners, his journey began in one of the most unconventional ways imaginable; on a remote cattle station in Queensland.

"I was working on an Outback cattle station… and then helped run an outback work organisation, matching overseas participants with opportunities on farms across Australia. That was my first taster of recruitment, loosely related, but it ultimately led me into the industry."

From there, Dan built his career in the UK with Boyden (later Savannah Group), specialising in executive search and interim management. He placed C-Suite leaders into listed companies, privately held businesses, and private equity portfolio companies. This blend of executive leadership and interim expertise eventually brought him back to Australia, where he joined Allura Partners' Melbourne office.

Returning to Australia, Dan was looking for a firm that mirrored the work he was doing in the UK.

"Most of my work in the UK was with private equity-backed portfolio companies, particularly in interim management. There aren't many firms in Australia that focus on both, but Allura Partners stood out, with a great reputation in the private equity world."

The office was newly established, with clear ambitions to be a first mover in the Australian interim management market, making it the perfect fit.

Market Trends: A Shift in Finance & Private Equity

Dan now leads senior finance appointments in Melbourne, spanning CFOs, Heads of Finance, and Commercial Finance leaders. Alongside this, he works closely with Anthony McKay, Head of Interim Management, to build Allura Partners' fractional and interim practice, with a strong emphasis on the natural synergy between finance and interim leadership.

Reflecting on the market, Dan shared, "Last year was a tough year… businesses focused on cost reduction, efficiency, and consolidation rather than pushing forward with new projects. But we're now seeing an upturn, particularly in private equity. Funds are preparing portfolio companies for exit and are also sitting on capital for new acquisitions. That's creating opportunities for CFOs and finance leaders, and for the broader market"

The Opportunity for Interim Executives in Australia

One of the most significant opportunities Dan sees is the growth of interim management in Australia. Compared to the UK and the US, it remains underdeveloped, but that means significant potential.

"Interim executives thrive in environments of change and transformation. Right now, there's hardly a business without some element of transformation. The appeal of hiring someone quickly, without a lengthy notice period, is obvious, especially in private equity, where speed is crucial."

Yet, many still perceive interim roles to be purely “gap fill”, covering vacancies until a permanent hire is made. Dan is quick to challenge that notion, "In reality, interim executives deliver transformation, solve complex challenges, and often build careers around doing just that. They're problem-solvers who can influence, adapt, and deliver results in a short space of time."

Educating the Market on Interim Executives

A big part of developing the interim market is education, both for candidates considering interim careers and for clients seeking flexible solutions.

For candidates: "An interim CV looks very different to a permanent candidate's. It's outcome-focused and skills-focused. We coach new interims on how to market themselves effectively, tailor their CVs, and interview in the right way," said Dan.

And for clients, "Reputation is everything. Particularly in private equity, you get found out quickly if you don't deliver. That's why the vetting process, building long-term relationships, and tracking achievements across assignments are so important."

Building Melbourne to Stand Shoulder-to-Shoulder with Sydney

While Allura Partners' Melbourne office is still in its early stages, having launched in early 2024, the vision is ambitious.

"The priority is covering our team build-out functions. Interim management will become a national practice, and finance leaders will be central to that. While my primary focus remains on finance, there is a natural synergy with interim management, and I'm excited to be part of that growth."

Looking at global trends, Dan is confident, "The Australian interim market might be a few years behind the UK, but there's no reason it won't develop the same way here. Businesses are more agile now, transforming faster than ever. Interim executives are perfectly positioned to add value in this environment."