Can you tell us about yourself and your background?
I grew up in Christchurch and studied at the University of Otago. After graduating, I moved to London, where I spent eight years working in various client-facing roles at Bank of America, HSBC, and Allied Irish Bank. It was a period of significant change in global markets, including the GFC, and it provided valuable experience early in my career. I later moved to Melbourne with my young family and spent four years as a Relationship Manager in Westpac’s Institutional Banking team. Since returning to Christchurch in 2017, my work has focused primarily on property finance. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time outdoors — cycling, running, tramping, skiing, and being with family.
How did you come to be part of the Pallas Capital team?
I had come to know many of the Pallas Capital team over the years, both personally and professionally. When the decision was made to open a Pallas Capital office in Christchurch, I was fortunate to be invited to join the team. It was a meaningful opportunity to return to a market I know well, and to help establish and grow our presence in the South Island alongside Tim Gallen. The timing aligned with the direction I wanted to take in my career, so stepping into the role felt like a natural progression.
What does a typical workday look like for you at Pallas Capital?
A typical includes meeting with clients and brokers to understand their requirements, liaising with our internal analyst and credit teams, and structuring lending solutions. My goal is to fully understand each requirement so we can structure the most appropriate funding solution. This entails a lot of time on the phone, meeting in person with clients and their professional team, and travelling around the South Island visiting stakeholders and properties. Its very busy, which is how I like it. The underlying driver is connecting with people to achieve mutually beneficial partnerships, which I really enjoy.
What has been your highlight at Pallas Capital so far?
There are too many to count! One however, would have to be establishing the Christchurch office alongside Tim Gallen and joining a team of likeminded people who are determined to succeed and enjoy the process along the way.
What are some of your proudest achievements or milestones during your time at Pallas Capital?
We have completed a number of transactions with clients who are leaders in their fields. Many of these have required tailored financing structures to meet specific project needs and support delivery. Some of my proudest moments have been building strong relationships and providing solutions that make a practical difference to our clients’ businesses. We’ve helped accelerate projects, improve capital efficiency, and offer flexibility around facility structuring, all of which contribute to stronger long‑term outcomes. It has been a really rewarding process.
Looking ahead, what are your professional goals and aspirations within Pallas Capital? How do you see yourself contributing to the company’s future success?
We’ve made a great start, so the goal is continuing to build growth — we want to be the market leader in the South Island, and nationally. My focus is on strengthening existing relationships and building new ones, ensuring we remain a trusted partner in the market. As the business grows, I also see value in supporting our internal teams and helping guide the development of our Christchurch office and wider operations.
If you would like to speak to Andrew, email him at andrew.dorgan@pallascapital.co.nz