Katie McNamara

Executive summary

Katie is a Project & Infrastructure Advisory Partner with BDO in Melbourne, leading our sports and entertainment team.

The team offers a comprehensive suite of services to governments, sporting bodies, venues, event organisers, and cultural institutions, helping them make informed decisions, secure investment, and deliver projects that generate lasting economic and social benefit.

Katie has a strong passion, knowledge, and enthusiasm for the sports, events, arts, and tourism sectors. She has combined this with over 20 years’ experience as an economist and longstanding relationships with clients from across the sector.

Katie takes a pragmatic and thorough approach to her engagements. She quickly understands client challenges and opportunities, can manage complex stakeholders, and can create a practical path forward.

Expertise

• Business case development and feasibility studies: Helping clients secure funding and make investment decisions for major investments and infrastructure
• Economic and financial analysis: Including cost-benefit analyses, economic impact assessments, and financial modelling to quantify the value and sustainability of projects and events
• Program and operational reviews: Conducting evaluations to improve performance, governance, and organisational effectiveness
• Strategy and policy advisory: Setting clear objectives, developing strategies and navigating complex policy environments
• Stakeholder engagement and facilitation: Leading structured consultations and workshops (including accredited Investment Logic Mapping (ILM) facilitator) to align diverse interests and build consensus
• Commercial and governance reviews: Optimising financial returns and ensuring robust governance for venues, events, and organisations

Experience

• Economic and social impact assessments (multiple years) for two major Australian motorsport events
• Economic and social impact assessment of other major sporting and cultural events (such as theatre productions, cultural events, Australian cricket and T20 events, cycling events, major women's sporting events, rugby venues) 
• Business cases for redevelopment of an AFL team's home ground, including administration and training facilities
• Financial review of major state sporting trusts, including capital and operations to improve their financial position, followed by the development of business cases to request additional funding
• Business case for the redevelopment of a large theatre in Parramatta
• Investigation of changes to tax incentives to drive additional investment in Australian theatre productions
• Policy investigation of government incentives to attract tier 1 contemporary music artists to an Australian location
• State government women's sport agency - program evaluation and ILM facilitation
• Organisational and financial review of a state school sports governing body
• Development and assessment of grant programs during COVID-19 to support the sustainability of the sports sector.

Qualifications and affiliations

• Bachelor of Commerce and Economics (Honours)
• Accredited facilitator, Investment Logic Mapping
• Affiliate member, CA ANZ 

Professional engagements and activities

• Moderator of the State of Capital Panel discussion, SportNXT, 2025