Supporting Australia’s Emerging Leaders: Stephanie Kennewell on Operational Talent

Stephanie Kennewell spent eight years abroad, combining world travel with adventurous career experiences before settling in the UK. Her time in the UK allowed her to build a deep expertise in executive search and interim management, working with private equity-backed businesses.

Earlier this year, Stephanie returned to Sydney to join Allura Partners, where she works within our operational leadership practice under the direction of James Curtis, who leads our Operations and Commercial practice.  

Building an Operational Leadership Practice 

Stephanie’s remit centres on senior operational appointments across Australia, including General Manager of Operations, State Directors, Regional Directors, and Heads of Supply Chain and Manufacturing. These leaders are critical in driving transformation, scaling operations and delivering commercial outcomes. 

“They’re the people who sit directly beneath the Chief Operating Officers (COO) and make sure strategy is delivered on the ground,” she explained. 

Allura Partners already has a strong track record of placing COOs across Australia, led by James, and Stephanie’s remit builds on that foundation. “We’ve done a lot of work in the COO space, and this is the natural next step. High-growth businesses don’t just need one strong COO; they need a full operational leadership structure underneath them as they scale. That's where I come in.” 

Industries experiencing rapid multi-site expansion, such as healthcare and childcare, are already generating demand for this calibre of operational leadership. This represents an exciting opportunity to differentiate.  

Market Trends Shaping Operational Leadership 

Stephanie sees operational leadership evolving beyond execution into a far more strategic function. “It’s no longer just about keeping the day-to-day running. Operational leadership is now about creating scalability and resilience for growth, leveraging digital transformation, process improvement, and data-driven decision making to build sustainable businesses.” 

She highlighted the draw of private equity: “As soon as I tell candidates a role is private equity-backed, interest sparks immediately. People want to understand what that environment looks like, how equity plans work, and how to get involved.” 

Clients are also increasingly open to transferable skills, “Someone with experience in retail or fitness and wellness can bring a completely fresh perspective to healthcare or childcare,” she explained, “Often, that’s exactly what drives transformation.” 

She emphasised the growing importance of mentoring and nurturing emerging leaders. “Many of the candidates I work with are the future CEOs, the next generation of leaders,” Stephanie said. “Helping them navigate their career progression and to position themselves for growth feels incredibly rewarding. It’s not just about filling a role; it’s about shaping leadership pipelines for the future.” 

Looking Ahead 

What excites Stephanie most is the opportunity to partner with emerging leaders, the next generation of CEOs. “I get to speak to the CEOs of tomorrow, and that's really exciting,” she said. “Following their journeys, making introductions, helping them grow, it’s about building networks for the future.” 

Her approach has always been relationship-driven rather than transactional. “I’ve never been interested in throwing CVs at a wall. For me, it has always been about building rapport and relationships. It might not be the role now, but it could be the perfect role in a year or two. By staying in touch, you create a warm and tailored connection.” 

Looking ahead, Stephanie is focused on establishing Allura Partners as the go-to recruitment partner in operational leadership, working alongside James as he continues to lead our Operations and Commercial practice. “With operational leadership evolving so quickly, the opportunity for us is huge,” she said. “I’m looking forward to continuing to build my brand in the market and creating a practice that’s known for its depth, rigour, and relationships across private equity and the listed market.” 

If you’re scaling your operational leadership team or are interested in discussing the market, please reach out to Stephanie here.