Can you tell us about yourself and your background?
Over the past eight years, I’ve built my career in property finance, working across a range of roles in Wellington, Auckland and, for a short period, Sydney. Nearly four of those years have been with Pallas Capital, where I began in the credit team before transitioning into the origination team, now as an Associate Director.
My experience across both credit and origination has given me a strong understanding of the full lending lifecycle. I’ve always been drawn to roles that combine analytical thinking with relationship management, and I enjoy working closely with borrowers, brokers, legal advisers and internal stakeholders to structure and deliver tailored funding solutions.
Today, I’m focused on originating high-quality opportunities across the New Zealand market, bringing a commercially driven approach that is underpinned by disciplined credit assessment.
How did you come to be part of the Pallas Capital team?
I first connected with the Pallas Capital team while I was in Sydney. Around that time, the business had established its New Zealand office, and the opportunity to return home was one I couldn’t pass up. It was an exciting chance to join a growing business with a strong track record and entrepreneurial culture, while contributing to the growth of Pallas Capital’s presence in the New Zealand market.
What does a typical workday look like for you at Pallas Capital?
Most of us say this, but it’s true that no two days are ever quite the same. This is one of the things I enjoy most about my role. A typical day might involve engaging with brokers and borrowers, reviewing and assessing new opportunities, and exploring potential transactions. I also work closely with our credit, legal and operations teams to progress deals through approval, documentation and settlement. The role requires balancing relationship management with transaction execution, ensuring we continue to deliver responsive, tailored funding solutions to our clients.
What has been your highlight at Pallas Capital so far?
One of the biggest highlights has been being part of the business from its early stages in New Zealand and seeing the growth achieved over that time. It’s also incredibly rewarding to see the New Zealand team surpass the $1.29 billion milestone. Having contributed to that growth and witnessed the expansion of both the team and our market presence has been a particularly rewarding experience. I also value the relationships across the wider business, and the annual Christmas party is always a great opportunity to connect with colleagues from both sides of the Tasman.
What are some of your proudest achievements or milestones during your time at Pallas Capital?
A significant milestone for me was the opportunity to transition from credit into origination. It was a natural progression that allowed me to build on my technical foundation while developing stronger client and market relationships.
I’m also particularly proud to have settled $55 million in transactions during my first eight months in the origination team before going on maternity leave. Reaching that milestone early in my origination career was very rewarding and reflected the support of the wider team as well as the strength of the opportunities we were able to deliver.
Looking ahead, what are your professional goals and aspirations within Pallas Capital? How do you see yourself contributing to the company’s future success?
Looking ahead, my goal is to continue growing as an originator while deepening my expertise in complex real estate and structured credit transactions. I’m particularly focused on expanding my network and strengthening key relationships in the market.
I see myself contributing to Pallas Capital’s success by helping drive high-quality origination, maintaining strong credit discipline, and supporting the firm’s strategic growth as it continues to scale in the private credit market.
If you would like to speak to Sophie, email her at sophie.surridge@pallascapital.co.nz