Meet The Team

John Garis joined The Garis Group in 2004 as a trainee accountant under the guidance of then principal and founder Jim Garis and has progressively increased his experience and knowledge at the firm over the past 20+ years and today holds the role of sole owner following Jim’s retirement in 2024 & Managing Director at The Garis Group.



John holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree, majoring in Accounting from the University of Newcastle. John is a registered tax agent with the Tax Practitioner’s Board and also holds membership with the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) & with the Tax Institute of Australia.

John is a born and bred Novocastrian having lived in the great city of Newcastle all his life and has a great passion for helping individuals and small businesses thrive in our community so they can achieve all their financial goals!

“Our purpose here at The Garis Group is to help our clients create a beautiful financial future for themselves, their families & the people around them so that together we create a huge & lasting impact in our world”

John & his lovely wife Aylin were married at the Burwood Rotunda in Whitebridge overlooking Dudley beach in Oct 2011 and are also very proud parents to their son Charlie and two cavoodle fur babies Quinnie and Benji.

John is inspired by author & motivational speaker Simon Sinek, “his visionary thinking and rare intellect inspires business owners worldwide to think differently and challenge the status quo”

“We seem to, in business & life sometimes follow the same pattern over and over again expecting things to be different or magically change to something better than the day before. Simon is able to clearly analyse these patterns and succinctly diagnosis them with very simple solutions & strategies to make you think differently about business and life in general which inspires you to make the changes you need to make to feel fulfilled and ultimately a better version of yourself which inspires others around you.”

Heather comes to the world of accounting after a long career in hospitality. Starting in 2017 as a mutually beneficial short-term solution (John needed a receptionist, Heather needed a family-friendly job), the role swiftly changed to Client Relations, and then a move to Practice Manager in 2022.

As Owner/Operator of ‘County Dining’, Owner/Operator of Hospitality Consultancy Firm ‘H for Hospitality’, Restaurant Manager of SMH Hatted Newcastle restaurants such as ‘Subo Contemporary Bistro’ and ‘Bacchus Restaurant’, along with experience in event management, Heather implements her honed customer service and change management skills to assist the team at The Garis Group in achieving their goals. 

“The accounting industry continues to throw up new challenges every day, keeping us all on our toes. I am fortunate to be working with a team who trusts and encourages me to look for new and innovative ways to assist them, and our clients, reach our goals.”



Heather and her partner Nigel, along with their three kids Sam, Oscar and Dorothy, are a busy family unit, juggling all the things life can throw. When not chasing one of the kids (or being chased) Heather enjoys travelling, swimming, camping, reading, and keeping on top of her interests in food and wine. 

Daniel Hart joined The Garis Group in April 2018 as a Senior Accountant.



Daniel started his career as a trainee accountant in 2008 after obtaining a Certificate IV in Financial Services at TAFE. While working as an accountant Daniel has completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree majoring in Accounting at the University of Newcastle, continued studying to receive a Graduate Diploma of Chartered Accounting and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand.

Daniel focuses on taxation and advisory services for small and medium sized businesses and has experience with many different industries. Daniel loves to find solutions to your accounting problems.

Daniel proposed to his wife Nerina while ice skating in a park in Boston and were married at Noah’s on the Beach in 2014. Dan and Nerina are now proud parents to Patrick.

Daniel’s other interests include American football and Medieval Re- Creation. Re-creating a medieval experience in modern times.

Téa joined the team at The Garis Group as an Intermediate Accountant in May 2023. She brings a solid background in taxation and business advisory, with a focus on supporting individuals and small to medium-sized businesses.

Téa began her accounting career in 2019 as a junior accountant while she was completing her Bachelor of Business, with an Accounting major, at the University of Tasmania. Since then, she has developed a strong foundation in providing practical, tailored advice and continues to grow her expertise across a variety of industries.



Téa is a provisional member of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand and is currently working towards completing her CA qualification. She is passionate about helping clients understand their financial position and supporting them in achieving their long-term goals.

Originally from Tasmania, Téa relocated to Newcastle in 2023 to join The Garis Group and to move in with her partner, Sam. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, travelling, and playing video games.

Jhovel began her career in Australian taxation in 2021, bringing a global perspective to her work and recently joined The Garis Group in 2025. She holds dual Bachelor's degrees in Accountancy and Financial Management in the Philippines. At The Garis Group, Jhovel plays a key role in preparing financial statements and tax returns, ensuring accuracy and compliance for clients.



Outside of her professional life, Jhovel enjoys watching Netflix movies and exploring nature through trips, balancing her analytical work with creative and outdoor activities.

Christy is a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Accountancy and Management Accounting, with over 5 years of experience in bookkeeping and tax preparation. She’s passionate about helping business owners stay on top of their transactions and keeping their financial records clean, clear, and compliant.



She joined The Garis Group in 2025, where she brings her enthusiasm for accounting and tax to a new level. In her current role, she handles BAS preparation and bookkeeping, continuing to support businesses through her practical skills and strong work ethic.

Outside the world of ledgers and spreadsheets, she finds joy in karaoke and believes that laughter truly is the best medicine. Whether she’s belting out her favourite tune or cracking herself up, she brings a positive energy to everything she does.

Jordi joined The Garis Group team back in December 2014 as receptionist.

After a three-year stint in Townsville, where she joined another accounting firm and took a keenness to bookkeeping, Jordi moved back to Newcastle and came home to The Garis Group team as Bookkeeping / Client Services Co-Ordinator.

Jordi has completed a Certificate 4 in Accounting/Bookkeeping.

“I love that The Garis Group has a relationship with each client. It inspires me to continue to provide excellent customer service and ongoing support. Our constant communication and encouragement to each client is something I am proud to be a part of.”



Jordi and her partner Ben are proud parents of Harry and Ivy. They are also owners of a miniature dachshund, Scout. 

Lisa comes from a solid career in hospitality and event management, working with some of Sydney's biggest Venues across a 15 year period.



Lisa fell accidently into bookkeeping when Covid put a pause on the events industry in 2020, and hasn't looked back!

Lisa brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to The Garis Group, working with many small businesses right up to large companies as well as helping run her husband’s two businesses and her own entrepreneurship, Lisa understands the struggles business owners face daily and aims to reduce some of that stress! 

She loves helping clients sort out the issues and always working to get the best result possible for our clients. 

Lisa moved with her husband and children in late 2022 to Newcastle, escaping the chaos of Sydney in the hope to provide a better life for her family. Weekends are spent at the beach in summer, and bike rides and park visits with her kids in Winter. 

Katie joined The Garis Group in 2018 as Receptionist and has recently stepped into a more client-focused role within our team, Client Services – Business and Individuals.



With over 25 years of experience in customer service, Katie brings a deep understanding of client needs and a passion for helping people. She holds a Certificate IV in Administration and has a strong background in both customer relations and business operations.

Prior to joining The Garis Group, Katie lived and worked in London for two years, where she managed a health and fitness centre alongside her now-husband, Luke. The couple returned to Australia in 2007 to start their family and now have two children, Ivy and Levi, as well as their fur-child, Nacho.

“I’m passionate about people and have enjoyed building strong relationships with our clients over the last seven years. Working with our clients and being part of their success is incredibly rewarding.”

Outside of work, Katie enjoys travelling, the beach, and spending time with family and friends.

Amanda joined the Garis Group in October 2024 as a Client Services Administrator, focusing on providing administrative support for Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSFs).

Holding a Bachelor of Business with a major in Banking and Finance, Amanda began her career at the State Bank of NSW Business Banking Centre, supporting business clients. After two years of international travel, during which she met her future husband Darien in Vancouver, Canada, Amanda spent 12 years working in property development finance before relocating overseas with her family, living in both Canada and the USA.

In 2021, Amanda returned to Australia and settled in Newcastle. She transitioned into SMSF administration while working with a financial planner, drawing on her extensive background in financial services. Amanda enjoys working with clients and takes pride in delivering high-quality customer service.



Amanda is a proud mother of two teenagers, Nicholas and Hayley, and their dog, Chloe. With a child involved in competitive football, their family’s schedule is always busy, keeping them on the go most days of the week.

Lisa Lambert joined The Garis Group in January 2025 as a receptionist, bringing nearly a decade of administrative experience to the team.

 She began her career in 2016, completing a Certificate III and Certificate IV in Business Administration from Hunter TAFE.

 Before her role at The Garis Group, Lisa served as a Service Support Officer for the Australian Electoral Commission's East Maitland Divisional Office.



 When not in the office, Lisa is a devoted mother to her three children Ashton, Giavannah and Savannah and can often be found walking and training her border collie, Luna. Lisa also really enjoys reading, photography and travelling.