AFSA registers Kristen Triglone (PKF) as trustee in bankruptcy

The Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA) has registered Kristen Triglone – a restructuring consultant at PKF – as a trustee in bankruptcy.

Based in PKF’s Sydney office, Triglone becomes the country’s 209th advisor to join so-called Registered Trustee National Panel. Notably, only 10% of trustees are female.

“Obtaining this registration is undoubtedly a key milestone in my career and I am very excited that I now have the opportunity to step into this Trustee role,” said Triglone.

Trustees are financial experts that are appointed to manage financials and assets in the case of bankruptcy of businesses and/or individuals. Trustees are provided the mandate to carry on business activities, sell assets, and generally take over their financial affairs in order to pay creditors.

When an entity or person is declared bankrupt, creditors can only deal with the trustee in relation to debts incurred before the commencement of the bankruptcy process.

“I find myself personally responsible for helping people through what is the most difficult time in their lives. It is important that I can show them it is not all doom and gloom,” said Triglone, who has more than 15 years of experience in the insolvency and business recovery sector.

“I have extensive experience in both corporate and personal insolvency appointments, covering a broad range of industries.”

According to data from the Australian Financial Security Authority, the number of business insolvencies in Australia dropped to its lowest level in years in 2021 – for a large part driven by government-provided Covid-19 support measures. But with traditional insolvency drivers such as inflation, interest rate rises, and the ATO ramping up collection activity, the number of insolvencies is expected to rise in the coming period.

“Kristen is well placed to help businesses and people struggling with unmanageable debt,” said Brad Tonks, a partner at PKF. “This is a massive career milestone that comes from decades of hard work and commitment. On behalf of the Business Recovery and Insolvency team, I extend our congratulations to Kristen.”

Triglone becomes PKF’s 7th registered trustee in bankruptcy, alongside Mark Roufeil, Simon Thorn, Bradley Tonks, Petr Vrsecky, Stirling Horne, and Paul Allen.

With over 90 partners and over 750 staff located across offices in 12 cities, PKF is one of Australia’s 15 largest accounting and advisory firms.