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      Seshani Bala is KPMG New Zealand's General Counsel, and a Partner in the firm. She works at the intersection of law, business and technology and leads KPMG’s in-house legal team, guiding the firm on all legal, governance, technology/AI and regulatory matters.

      Seshani is a lawyer and corporate assurance executive with over 18 years’ experience in Sydney and Auckland.  She has managed global legal, governance and risk functions in the technology, FMCG, education and professional services sector and guided cross-border mergers, acquisitions and private equity deals across Europe and ASPAC. 

      Prior to KPMG, Seshani was Group Executive and General Counsel at Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, held Global General Counsel roles for various FMCG and technology companies and worked in private legal practice as an M&A/private equity lawyer at Clayton Utz and Bell Gully.

      Seshani is passionate about transforming the way legal teams deliver value, by reducing friction, navigating complexity and powering growth. She has been externally recognised for her innovation, impact and leadership, including winning the 2025 ILANZ Innovation Award and being successively listed in the Legal500's General Counsel Powerlist as one of Australia's most innovative and influential in-house lawyers.

      1. Education & qualification

        Bachelor of Laws (Honours) – The University of Auckland

        Bachelor of Arts – The University of Auckland

      2. Accreditations

        Admitted as barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand

        Admitted as solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales

        Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia

        Graduate of the Asialink Leaders Program