Dedicated Commercial Accounting That Puts You First
At Freewater Accountants we believe in making finance as easy as possible. With over 40 years serving the Canberra region, we have worked with a diverse range of clientele. Our staff hold professional registrations with TIA, CPA, ASIC and more and constantly chase further training to ensure we best serve our clients.
Meet our Team!
Learn more about the hands taking the financial stress off your shoulders
Vanessa Buffet
Company Director
Vanessa Buffet
Company Director
Vanessa is a long-standing leader in the Canberra community with a proven record of driving corporate success. Since 2011, she has served as Director of Freewater Accountants, playing a foundational role in our establishment, growth and sustained presence in the Canberra market. Her leadership style is defined by a rare balance of sharp business acumen and a people-first approach making clients feel valued. Vaness has shaped not just the direction but culture of the business.
Specialises In
"Building a firm people trust takes more than technical expertise - it takes consistency, care and a team that genuinely wants the best for every client who walks through the door"
David Muir
Senior Tax Advisor & Practice Manager
David Muir
Senior Tax Advisor & Practice Manager
David has been an accountant for 30 years and runs several successful businesses. He has studied Science at ANU majoring in Mathematics, Commerce at UC majoring in Accounting and Law and Environmental Science at UNE majoring in genetics and biochemistry. With multidisciplinary studies he has taken that knowledge into the commercial business world helping over 50+ business start and flourish. He has provided seed capital to businesses that have grown to be public companies. He enjoys construction and design and has completed a number of projects. He enjoys helping clients grow their businesses, minimising their tax so that they can maximise their wealth and hold onto it. Seeing clients succeed though his business and tax advice is thrilling.
Specialises In
Andrea Partridge
Supervising Tax Agent
Andrea Partridge
Supervising Tax Agent
Andrea brings 20 years of working with numbers to everything she does, including 7 years in formal accounting and finance roles. Her fcus is small business, and she has built deep expertise across construction, retail and transport – industries where the numbers move fast and the stakes are real. Clients come to Andrea not just for accurate books, but for someone who can translate what those figures actually mean for their business.
Specialises In
Industries
"I love analysing the numbers and interpreting what they mean for our clients - turning figures into decisions is what I'm here for"
Marlene Adams
Supervising Tax Agent
Marlene Adams
Supervising Tax Agent
With 19 years at Freewater Accountants and a career spanning more than 26 years in the Canberra tax and accounting landscape, Marlene is the backbone of our firm’s client services. She brings a rare breadth of knowledge across individuals, sole traders, companies and trusts – across every industry – backed by formal qualifications in tax law, quality systems, auditing and anti-money laundering compliance.
Specialises In
Industries
"I love the interaction with our clients and the everyday challenge of finding the best possible outcome for them - no two situations are ever the same"
Olivia Ooi
Supervising Tax Agent
Olivia Ooi
Supervising Tax Agent
With 20 years of accounting experience, including 10 at Freewater, Olivia is one of our most versatile senior practitioners. She works with a range of clients and industries from construction and hospitality to the specialist world of SMSF and horse breeding enterprises. Olivia stands apart in cutting through complex scenarios across income tax, GST and CGT to deliver practical solutions that actually work and not just technically correct.
Specialises In
Industries
"I enjoy the problem-solving side of accounting - working through complex tax implications to find practical solutions and helping clients understand their financial position so they can make better decisions"
Patricia Medrano
Supervising Tax Agent
Patricia Medrano
Supervising Tax Agent
With more than 8 years at Freewater Accountants, Patricia is a trusted and reliable presence in the team. She works primarily with small businesses and companies, bringing a steady hand to payroll, accounts and the kind of day-to-day financial work that keeps a business on solid ground. Patricia has a particular strength in construction, retail and professional services – sectors where accuracy and consistency aren’t just helpful, they’re everything.
Specialises In
Industries
"For me, it's the puzzles - balancing the numbers, tracing how everything connects and seeing the full picture of how a business actually works"
Fazlan Faiz
Accountant
Fazlan Faiz
Accountant
Pairing a Bachelor of Accounting with a professional qualification in digital marketing, Fazlan understands the numbers and the businesses behind them, a rare combo that gives his clients sharper, grounded advice. In over 3 years of hands-on work, he has built genuine confidence across a range of tax and accounting work, bringing calm and clarity from a first-time sole trader or small business to administering Self Managed Super Funds.
Specialises In
Industries
"Every client's situation is different and that's exactly what I love about this work. After seeing what really goes on inside businesses, I know the answer is rarely obvious. You have to dig for it, understand it and make it make sense for the client"
Shirley Medrano Vicente
Junior Accountant
Shirley Medrano Vicente
Junior Accountant
Shirley joined Freewater Accountants in April 2026, bringing strong academia built across four accounting qualifications and a final sem Bachelor of Accounting. She supports us across bookkeeping, payroll and record management. The kind of meticulous work that keeps everything running smoothly. Shirley is gaining hands-on experience across diverse clientele and her eagerness to learn makes her a genuine asset to her team and clients.
Specialises In
"I love learning from the people around me and building my skills at my own pace - having the support to grow and ask questions makes all the difference"
Jodie King
Administration & Reception
Jodie King
Administration & Reception
Jodie is the warm voice and steady hand behind the day-to-day life of Freewater Accountants. With 20 years of office experience – including 4 years at the heart of our firm – she keeps everything and everyone running smoothly. From managing client queries and tax packages to keeping the office humming, Jodie is often the first person out clients speak to, and the reason so many of them feel at home from the very first call.
Specialises In
"I love working in a great environment and getting to know our clients - when people feel comfortable walking through the door, I know we're doing something right"