People

Amelya grew up in Johor Bahru, a vibrant city in southern Malaysia just an hour from Singapore. At nine years old, she and her family made the move to Melbourne – drawn by Australia’s work-life balance and a close family friend who had settled here a little earlier. Although Amelya was raised in her early years in Malaysia, she spoke English confidently, having attended a school where English was the primary language, though she quickly discovered that down under, Australians speak it rather quickly.

Amelya settled into primary school in Rowville with a calm she hadn’t quite expected. The multicultural environment made the transition easier than with teachers and students alike going out of their way to make her feel at home. That ease of belonging, she reflects, came from the pace of Melbourne itself: unhurried, open, and welcoming in a way that gave her room to be herself from the very beginning.

Accounting wasn’t always the plan. As a child, Amelya had her sights set on becoming a teacher (play often revolving around makeshift classrooms and whiteboards) and later a vet, after noticing how many of her new Australian friends had pets at home. It was in high school, when she chose economics and accounting as electives, that something clicked. These numbers based subjects made sense to her in a way that felt instinctive and from there, the path became clearer.

Amelya completed a Bachelor of Commerce at Monash University’s Clayton campus, navigating the disruptions of 2020 with characteristic steadiness. Alongside her studies, she tutored primary and high school students in maths and English. A role she loved for its creativity, its chaos, and the sheer entertainment of a primary schooler’s imagination at full stretch.

After finishing Uni, Amelya’s graduate role was at PwC within an auditing team. She valued the people enormously and the detail in the work, but over time found herself wanting to understand the bigger picture of business. The ‘why’ behind the numbers, and a broader view across finance and accounting. After some time travelling, she was ready for her next chapter.

What stood out from Amelya’s very first conversation with the Martin & Martin team was the directness.  No marketing speak, no front, a flatter organisational structure with a strong culture of learning. Just an honest picture of how things work and what’s expected. That transparency, combined with a genuine emphasis on mentorship and training, made Martin & Martin the right fit. She joined with an open mind and a clear intention to grow, and has settled in quickly, asking questions freely, taking feedback on board, and applying it straightaway.

Those who know Amelya describe her as persistent. Someone who sticks with a problem even when it’s difficult, and keeps going until it makes sense. At work, she’s known for taking feedback in stride and acting on it immediately, with a genuine growth mindset that makes her a pleasure to work alongside. She’s also, by her own admission, quietly sarcastic, which her colleagues and friends seem to appreciate equally and enables her to slot into the Martin & Martin as if she’s always been here.

Qualifications

Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Economics)

Area of expertise

Accounting

Likes

Desserts, shopping, travelling

Dislikes

Slow walkers and long queues

Favourite Quote

“Live in the present and make it so beautiful that it’s worth remembering”
— Ida Scott Taylor

Favourite holiday destination

It is between Seoul and Paris

Studied accounting because…

I enjoyed it and it clicked for me, after all numbers can’t lie unlike words!

My comfort food

Any home-cooked meal by my Mum

I love it when our clients…

are responsive and well-organised

You wouldn’t know…

how many tabs I have open at once

The best thing about Excel is…?

How it can turn messy data into something clear and organised

Best advice I have been given

Be patient with yourself and do what makes you happy