Purchas, an accountant for 30 years, graduated from the Australian National University to take his first job in the Sydney office of Arthur Andersen. But, having grown up in Young, in country New South Wales, he says he had always dreamt of returning to his home town … “I always thought of myself as going back to a rural setting.”
His love of the outback didn’t dissipate, and he decided to take two years off and travel in country areas “to discover myself and think about what I wanted to do with my life”. Deciding his future did indeed lie in accountancy, he then joined Coopers & Lybrand (now PwC) in Sydney and spent 10 years there, building his expertise and reputation as a specialist in the insolvency area. He joined RMG Partners in 2008.
Away from the daily pressures and rigours of the office, sport plays an important role for Purchas and his family. He’s married to former Olympian, sports broadcaster and businesswoman Jane Flemming and the couple has twin four-year-old sons, James (Jimmy) and Samuel (Sammy).
“The boys are keen on anything to do with sport,” says Purchas. “I haven’t yet noticed outstanding skills in any particular sport – but I’m watching, I’m watching.”
As well as being an avid rugby union fan, Purchas often attends athletics events with Flemming. And they have discovered another sport that enables them to be active participants rather than spectators – downhill skiing. “When your wife runs faster, jumps higher and throws further than you, you’d better find something else,” laughs Purchas.
They ski frequently – in Australia and overseas – and together organise the annual Australian Accountants, Lawyers and Directors Conference, which is usually held in Aspen, Colorado. Aside from the conference’s valuable insights into business operations, there’s time for delegates to ski.
“It’s wonderful to see them getting their heads around the intricacies of business and accounting,” notes Purchas, “and then hitting the slopes as if they don’t have a care in the world.”
