Careers & Conversations

Get to know Sunith de Foneska, whose professional journey can be characterised by unwavering dedication, remarkable achievements, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

From an engineer in the Air Force to a Director in our Risk Advisory division, Sunith's story showcases the incredible power of ambition, resilience, and a steadfast commitment to making a meaningful impact that extends well beyond engineering runways and corporate boardrooms.

Personal Life

FACING STEREOTYPES AND OVERCOMING CHALLENGES

You asked about the hurdles I've encountered and how I've tackled them to reach where I am today. Well, one significant challenge I've grappled with is breaking through the stereotypes tied to ex-military individuals. Back in England, former military officers are highly regarded and sought after for their leadership and management skills. These skills are highly transferrable to the corporate sector, both in the UK or Australia. 

However, it turns out that the perception of ex-military talent is very different here in Australia. Being a part of the veteran community, is actually a disadvantage here. To overcome this hurdle, I take every opportunity to demonstrate the diverse set of skills I bring to the table. My hope is to help reshape how people see veterans across all sectors. 

I also consistently uphold the highest of standards when it comes to all aspects of my life. This isn't just to earn respect from peers, but also to be seen as someone with integrity, and accountability.

SOMETHING YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT ME IS…

Something a lot of people don’t know about me is that I have been fortunate enough to find a balance between my hobbies and my passion for academics. I have five academic degrees from prestigious institutions around the world -- an MBA, an MPhil, an MSc, a BEng and a BSc. In defiance of the stereotypes people often associate with academia, I have also had the opportunity to play basketball at an international level. Granted this was over twenty years ago, but I was given the chance to play at the FIBA Asian Championships. I am a strong believer in the philosophy of “you get what you put in,” and I try to live by that work ethos to this day.

SOMETHING I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT

I am passionate about seeing the world and cultivating new experiences. I have travelled to more than 50 countries across six continents, and this has greatly expanded my appreciation for other cultural heritages. Some of my best memories are going on safari in Africa and seeing the Big 5, visiting the pyramids in Egypt, going up to Machu Picchu in Peru with a three-year-old, and enjoying the beaches and samba in Rio de Janeiro. 

There have been some recent curveballs - the birth of our second son happened to coincide with COVID-19 travel restrictions, all while my family and I were relocating to Australia. Now that things have stabilised, we are definitely keen to get back to travelling!

The first item on my travelling bucket list would be to complete a trek to the Everest Base Camp before my ageing body decides against it! 

Professional Life

ABOUT MY CAREER PATH

Before joining RSM, I spent a solid 15 years within the Defence and Aerospace industries. I spent a big chunk of my adult life in the British Armed Forces, where I served as a Commissioned Officer in the Engineering Branch of the Royal Air Force. That role involved operating from various corners of the globe, leading diverse teams, tackling complex, high-value projects, and even steering some major organisational transformations. RSM really values this rich experience of mine, and it's played a big role in shaping who I am today.

That might seem like an unusual background, but I had always been interested in the Professional Services. That probably stems from my days at Cambridge, where a number of my colleagues chose this career path and really excelled. 

I did spend an exciting year in the London offices of J.P. Morgan’s Corporate and Investment Bank, which gave me some excellent insights into the Financial Services domain.

Moving to Australia was a great opportunity to pivot my career and put my experience to good use. I haven’t looked back since!

WORKING IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

Before moving to Australia I lived and worked in various parts of the UK. However, most of these spots were pretty remote, thanks to the military airfields being tucked away in those areas. 

I did get to spend three years living in Cambridge, which was an absolutely amazing experience. Rubbing shoulders with Nobel laureates and academic giants (within their respective fields of research) definitely left me feeling like a humble mortal in comparison. I still remember how uncomfortable I felt addressing my supervisor by her first name without adding her proper title of Dame before it. (For any who don’t know, Dame is the female equivalent for knighthood, a special honour bestowed by the monarch). 

Cambridge is also brimming with talent thanks to several spin-off science and tech companies based around the research parks. Plus, the architecture makes you feel as though you’re living inside a Harry Potter movie set. Absolutely enchanting.

This feels like a good place to mention that RSM Australia takes part in a global exchange program, and a secondment to our office in Cambridge is certainly on the cards to the right candidates.

THE BEST CAREER ADVICE I’VE RECEIVED IS…

“Build your network.” Being an engineer and highly intellectual, I have always been really good at what I do (and still am!). However, something I have come to realise is that the power of your network far outweighs being the smartest person in the room. 

Part of that is human nature; people want to work with people we have a good relationship with. That is why soft skills such as emotional intelligence will always be an important part of your professional career (and personal life). 
For me, embarking on an Executive MBA program provided an excellent opportunity to build my network outside the military whilst also enhancing my business acumen and soft skills. 

In recent times, MBAs within professional services who lack the life and work experience to have developed those soft skills and built a network may find it hard to demonstrate their value to clients. They might even appear worthless in the eyes of clients. 

By contrast, an MBA who has technical skills backed by industry experience is invaluable to our clients. 

Life at RSM

JOINING THE RISK ADVISORY TEAM

My family and I moved from London in late 2021, and a few months later I joined RSM’s Risk Advisory Services - in February 2022.

Now, while I do work within the Internal Audit team, I would like to take this opportunity to clear up a misconception I sometimes encounter. I am not an Internal Auditor. 

Much like my colleagues I am qualified as a Certified Practising Accountant with CPA Australia. However, my career journey is a bit unconventional. I studied Aerospace Engineering at university and then went on to become a Chartered Engineer. I also have a background in managing programs and projects -- I am qualified as a Project Management Professional®, which is the gold standard for project managers, globally.

With this background, my strengths lie in being a subject matter expert for our Internal Audit clients. I also offer value to our clients within the sphere of management consulting. 

Honestly, I consider my niche role as a testament to the variety of career opportunities RSM has to offer.

WORKING MY WAY AT RSM

Obviously, an accountant’s working style is different from the mindset of an engineer or the leadership style of a military officer. Having worked in all three of those roles, I bring that experience with me in a unique working style that I think of as wearing different ‘hats’. RSM really values this ‘diversity of thought’ and gives me the freedom to express myself through my unique working style - to great effect thus far. 

For example, by wearing my engineer-hat, I have been able to problem-solve and develop pragmatic solutions to complex challenges. By putting on my military-officer-hat, I have led and motivated my team through adversity to achieve organisational goals.

Of course, I am rather acutely aware that there are pros and cons with any given approach. So, I do make a conscious effort to employ the best set of tools or skills for a given situation. I think it’s all about being mindful and strategic.