Can you tell us about yourself and your background?
I started my career in Brisbane at ANZ as a graduate in the business banking division, where I was fortunate to have some early exposure to commercial property lending. I quickly developed a strong interest in the sector and then moved into an analyst role in the Institutional Property Group (IPG). This was where my grounding in property finance came from—ANZ was very strong in property at that time, and excellent at instilling the fundamentals of property finance.
I later joined St George Bank in the property finance team, managing my own portfolio of clients across development and investment funding. This was during the tail end of the GFC, which presented challenging market conditions and valuable experience in navigating complex transactions.
In 2017 my partner and I relocated to her home in Adelaide. I joined CBA and had carriage of the major client group property portfolio for South Australia. I then moved to a local credit union to launch its residential development funding arm, which was a really satisfying role and a skill that I’ve been able to bring to my current role at Pallas Capital.
How did you come to be part of the Pallas Capital team?
When I was at CBA, I had set a deal with Jason Arnold, now Pallas Capital’s Group Executive—Origination. At the time, he was running his own commercial brokerage. As it was during Covid, and he was based in Melbourne, we didn’t meet face-to-face. It was a tricky deal, and there were many online conferences, but we got the deal set. I was impressed with how Jason operated through that deal. When Pallas Capital later reached out looking for someone to lead its Adelaide office, I had full confidence in how the firm would interact with the local market and approach deals with a problem-solving mindset.
What does a typical workday look like for you at Pallas Capital?
In the early months, much of my focus was on establishing our permanent office space, coordinating with contractors to ensure everything was operational. With that now complete, my role has returned to a traditional origination focus.
My typical day involved speaking with my network of clients, brokers and consultants to discuss transactions, as well as liaising with our credit team to structure up and move deals through the decisioning process. I also dedicate time to marketing and brand-building activities, including attending industry events and functions to strengthen Pallas Capital’s presence in South Australia.
What has been your highlight at Pallas Capital so far?
It’s always nice to get the first deal settled and we were fortunate enough to hit that milestone quickly. Another highlight was our formal office opening launch, which we held at 2KW rooftop bar. Thanks to the efforts of our marketing and events team, the evening was a great success, with a strong turnout from property investors, developers, brokers, consultants, agents, and industry representatives. The event showcased Pallas Capital’s commitment to South Australia and provided an opportunity for our guests to meet our founders and senior executives across the business.
What are some of your proudest achievements or milestones during your time at Pallas Capital?
Being only six months in, my proudest achievement is setting our first deal. The opportunity was broker and developer generated—both of whom are local, and who I had worked with previously. It was great to showcase the Pallas Capital products and capability, and we were able to structure up a deal that didn’t require presales, allowing the developer to get started immediately.
Looking ahead, what are your professional goals and aspirations within Pallas Capital? How do you see yourself contributing to the company’s future success?
I’m fortunate to have a unique opportunity to launch and grow the Pallas Capital’s presence in South Australia, and it’s a responsibility that I take seriously. My goal is to establish Pallas Capital as South Australia’s lender of choice for commercial property lending needs, and not just in the context of a “non-bank” lender, but as genuine alternative to the majors and second-tier lenders.
As a property financier, there is nothing more satisfying than driving around the city and pointing to assets that you were fortunate to fund and help bring to life. When my kids get sick of me pointing them all out on a drive, that’s when I’ll be satisfied that we’ve made our mark.
If you would like to speak with Micheal, email him at micheal.fenton@pallascapital.com.au