Katie Bourne

Executive summary

Katie Bourne is a Partner in BDO’s Forensic Services team in Sydney. She is a highly accomplished investigations professional with more than 25 years’ experience spanning criminal asset confiscation, forensic accounting and complex financial investigations.

Katie brings extensive expertise as a senior executive and forensic accountant across investigations, civil asset forfeiture, litigation support and tracing the proceeds of crime, both domestically and internationally. Her global experience includes investigative roles with the United Nations, based in The Hague, Beirut and Geneva.

Throughout her career, she has worked on matters involving serious and organised crime, fraud, corruption and international offences, including war crimes and terrorism. This breadth of experience enables Katie to deliver considered, robust insights in highly complex and sensitive environments.

Katie is recognised as a positive and professional leader with deep operational experience and a strong ability to translate strategic objectives into effective, practical outcomes, particularly in fast-paced and dynamic settings. She leads a diverse portfolio of complex forensic engagements across the financial services and public sectors, including disputes and litigation support, large-scale investigations and anti-money laundering (AML) advisory.

She is valued for delivering clear, defensible outcomes in high-stakes matters, and for supporting boards, executives and legal advisers to manage risk, navigate regulatory scrutiny and resolve disputes with confidence.

Expertise

• Forensic accounting and complex financial investigations in the areas of criminal asset confiscation, proceeds of crime, unexplained wealth and money laundering on behalf of the Crown
• Workplace investigations for small to medium sized businesses
• Whistleblower investigations
• Fraud and corruption investigations for government entities
• Financial analysis and evidence collation for government and international organisations including United Nations
• Case management and litigation support for government and international organisations
• Interviewing complainants and witnesses for government and international organisations
• Negotiation, mediation and stakeholder management for all client types

Experience

Public sector forensic advisory and investigations

• Provided forensic advisory to government agencies on large-scale program reviews, procurement, and use of public funds
• Delivered evidence-based reporting to senior executives and oversight bodies
• Led proceeds of crime matters, including asset tracing, confiscation recommendations, and support for civil recovery proceedings

Disputes and litigation

• Provided forensic accounting support in complex disputes, including financial analysis, transaction reconstruction, and loss quantification
• Led matters involving misappropriation, shareholder disputes, and contractual issues
• Worked closely with legal teams across evidence strategy, expert reporting, and resolution

Investigations

• Led sensitive investigations into misconduct, fraud, and governance breaches across sectors
• Supported organisations to manage allegations through structured, defensible processes

Financial services and anti-money laundering advisory

• Delivered AML and financial crime advisory, including risk assessments, control reviews, and framework uplift
• Led investigations arising from whistleblower disclosures
• Supported governance, due diligence, and transaction monitoring improvements, with regulatory-aligned remediation

International organisations

• Developed and implemented financial investigation strategies, including evidence collection, analysis, and reporting
• Led cross-border investigations, coordinating with authorities and expert teams
• Conducted international missions, supporting complex and high-profile investigations
• Promoted financial investigation capability and asset recovery frameworks, supporting corruption investigations

Qualifications and affiliations

• FCPA
• Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting)
• 2014 Churchill Trust of Australia Fellow