Grant Thornton appoints retail, energy, mining leaders

Grant Thornton has appointed Kirsten Ridgway (pictured, left) as its new national head of retail and consumer products, and has created new roles for Will Kendall (pictured, centre) and Kate Bonner (pictured, right), who have become the firm’s first national head of mining and mining services, and national head of energy and renewables, respectively.

The three new leaders commenced on 1 July 2026.

Ridgway stepped into her new role as Wi Liem Chua departed the firm as head of the retail group.

“The pace of change across retail and consumer products continues to accelerate. Businesses are balancing evolving customer expectations, margin pressure and the need to build more resilient operations. I'm looking forward to working with our teams and clients to help them respond to these challenges and create sustainable growth,” Ridgway said.

These appointments also follow Tom Williams’ leadership of the firm’s energy and resources industry team.

The firm’s appointment of Will Kendall as its national head of mining and mining services will focus him on helping clients navigate market dynamics, capital discipline, operating models, and investment trends.

“The Mining and Mining Services sector continues to play a critical role in Australia’s economy, with businesses balancing growth opportunities against increasing expectations around productivity, sustainability and capital discipline. I’m looking forward to working with our clients and teams nationally to bring practical, sector-specific insight to the challenges and opportunities shaping mining and mining services,” Kendall said.

Kate Bonner entered the newly created role of national head of energy and renewables, where she will support clients responding to transition, investment, and growth economies across the sector.

“The Energy and Renewables sector is central to Australia’s economic transition and long-term growth defined by a current period of high investment, innovation and change. I’m excited to help connect our clients with the expertise and insight they need as they respond to new opportunities across energy and renewables,” Bonner said.

Grant Thornton chief marketing officer and head of industry Fraser McNaughton said: “Kirsten, Will and Kate each bring strong sector insight, client understanding, and collaborative energy to their roles. These appointments will help us connect the depth of Grant Thornton’s capability around the issues that matter most to our clients, while continuing to build momentum across priority markets.”

“Both [Wi Liem] and Tom have played a critical role in building the strength, credibility and market presence of these two core industry groups, and their contributions have laid a strong foundation for the next phase of growth.”