Martin Blake

Chairman of KPMG New South Wales and National Sector Leader, Insurance

KPMG Australia

As NSW State Chair of KPMG and Insurance Sector Lead, Martin is passionate about the role he can play in people’s development. “The most rewarding thing I’ve done is to create an environment where people can flourish.” He is also a prolific producer of thought leadership. “The single most effective way to build mindshare with senior clients is by uncovering unrecognised opportunities and unforseen problems or risks.” In the UK, Martin worked as a swaps trader. Upon moving to Australia, however, he became a strategy consultant. He now has more than 20 years’ experience managing large transformation programs and developing business strategies for financial services companies in Australia and Asia. In his spare time, Martin is kept busy as the father of twins. For the past 15 years he has also made a point of raising $10,000 annually for various charities. Yet you cannot truly know Martin without understanding his love of sailing. He is a crew member of the renowned Brindabella. “I moved to Australia 27 years ago with only two things in mind – to sail yachts and to travel to work on the ferries.” Both dreams are now a reality.

  • Banking
  • Financial Services
  • Insurance
  • Investment Management
  • Retail banking

  • Graduate Advanced Management Program, Oxford University, UK

  • Graduate Diploma in Banking and Finance, City University, London, UK

  • BSc Economics (Honours), 1984, Swansea University, South Wales, UK

  • Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD)

  • Fellow, Financial Services Institute of Australia (FINSIA)

  • Director & Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee, Committee for Sydney

  • Director, Advance (represents the 1 million Australians & the 2 million alumni of Australian universities living overseas)

  • Member, Advisory Committee NSW, Committee for the Economic Development of Australia (CEDA)

  • Member, Presidents Council, Art Gallery of NSW