Our People
Meet our Team
Jonathan Koziaris
Co-Managing Director
Co-Founder Jonathan Koziaris brings over 17 years of banking and commercial lending experience to the organization.
Having previously worked at 3 of the major banks in predominantly Senior Relationship Management roles, Jonathan brings a depth of experience in the Emerging Corporate, Property, and SME Diversified Industry segments.
Jonathan’s predominant areas of expertise include:
- Working with diversified Emerging Corporate Business’ and SME’s seeking growth funding solutions
- Property development and construction funding across the full spectrum of asset classes
- Commercial property investment facility structuring and acquisition funding
- Capital structuring cost analysis and advice
- Transactional banking
- Foreign exchange solutions and management strategies
Tom Renda
Co-Managing Director
Co-Founder Tom Renda brings 35 years of experience in front line and Senior Executive roles in Business, Corporate and Institutional Banking across 3 major banks.
Tom’s area of expertise is working with large private businesses and small and mid cap listed companies providing advice and solutions on:
- Debt structuring encompassing:
- Debt sizing analysis,
- Covenant calibration,
- Optimal capital stack analysis across alternate debt products,
- Working capital analysis
- Mergers and Acquisition Funding
- Growth and Re-Gearing Finding
- Arranging Club Transactions
- Credit positioning and work out negotiation with financiers
- Structured Finance
Thomas (Tom) Renda is a credit representative (510599) of BLSSA Pty Ltd ACN 117 651 760 (Australian Credit Licence 391237)
Chris Papadopoulos
Director - Property Finance
Chris is responsible for property related deal origination and structuring, across all forms of property asset classes. He has over 20 years’ experience in property finance and transacted over $2 billion in property investment and development deals throughout his career.
A majority of Chris’ career was in senior relationship management roles within ANZ’s Commercial Property Finance division. Prior to joining EMK Thomas Capital, Chris spent six years in senior executive roles within the property funds management industry and responsible for new client acquisition and portfolio management.
Chris’ predominant area of expertise is working with small to large private family businesses providing advice and structuring solutions on:
- Commercial Property Development Finance
- Predevelopment Finance
- Commercial Property Investment Finance
- Facility review and restructuring
Mohammed Taher
Director – Commercial & Corporate Finance
Mohammed (Mo) is a senior finance and banking executive with over 25 years’ experience across commercial, corporate, property and private banking, complemented by executive leadership experience as Chief Finance Officer overseeing multi-region financial strategy, capital management and organisational performance. Mo has a strong track record advising privately held businesses, mid-market corporates and family offices on funding strategy and capital structuring.
Mo’s focus is on designing practical, commercially grounded funding solutions that balance growth, risk and cash flow. He works closely with owners, boards and founder-led businesses through acquisition, expansion and ownership transition phases.
Mo’s predominant areas of expertise include:
- Growth, acquisition and succession funding
- Commercial and corporate debt structuring and refinancing
- Working capital optimisation and cash flow strategy
- Property development and investment finance
- Capital structure design and margin improvement
- Financial modelling and analysis
- Financial governance, risk frameworks and executive advisory
Josh Manzo
Associate Director, Commercial and Corporate Finance
Josh brings more than eight years’ experience across business, private, corporate and institutional banking, having built his career at NAB across relationship management, credit and transaction execution roles.
He has worked closely with medium to large private companies, as well as small and mid-cap listed businesses, providing finance structures and solutions across:
- Working capital
- Trade finance
- Acquisition funding
- Management buy-outs
- Dividend recapitalisations
- Term debt structures
With strong credit, analytical and relationship management capability, Josh brings a considered and commercially focused approach to debt advisory, client analysis and transaction execution.
At EMK Thomas, Josh is focused on supporting clients with tailored funding strategies, clear lender positioning and disciplined execution across commercial and corporate finance mandates.
Michael Birch
Associate Director
Starting out in family business Michael has over 35 years front line banking & finance experience across 3 major banks in corporate and commercial banking.
Since 1997 Michael has specialised in financing property investment and property development transactions ranging from $15m to $100m for private family businesses, family offices and unlisted funds. Throughout this period Michael has also led teams of bankers in both the property and generalist areas, with a 2-year stint working within a boutique advisory firm before returning to a senior property role in Corporate and Institutional Banking.
Michael’s area of expertise is working with small to large private family businesses providing advice and structuring solutions on:
- Property Development finance
- Property Investment Finance
- Working Capital Finance
- Facility security restructuring
- Interest rate cost reviews
Adil Basoeki
Associate
Adil Basoeki is an experienced finance professional with strong credit and analytical capabilities.
His experiences working in numerous Senior Business Banking Relationship roles over the l10 years at NAB has provided him the rounded skills essential to tailoring finance solutions for customers in various industries.
Adil has extensive experience in the following areas:
- Lending solutions for Professional Services type organisations
- Working with Small to Medium Enterprises and Emerging Corporate Businesses
- Commercial Property Investment and Developing Funding solutions
- General cash flow lending transactions
Myrel Narido
Lending Associate
Myrel Narido is a Home Lending Associate with over 8 years of experience supporting consumer lending clients across their full lending journey, from initial enquiry through to settlement.
He has a strong working knowledge of a broad range of loan products, lender policies, compliance requirements, and credit assessment guidelines, allowing him to provide reliable support throughout the application and approval process.
Myrel plays a key role in researching and assessing client requirements, preparing and reviewing supporting documentation, liaising with lenders and key stakeholders, and assisting in identifying suitable lending products tailored to each client’s circumstances.
James Tomaras
Analyst
James is currently completing a double degree in Business and Banking and Finance at Monash University, majoring in Accounting. He joined EMK Thomas as an intern in August 2025 and has since progressed into the role of Analyst.
James supports the team across commercial property finance, SME transactions and consumer lending, contributing to financial analysis, transaction preparation and client research.
James brings a considered and analytical approach to his work, with a particular interest in financial modelling and developing practical solutions to complex financial scenarios. He values the diversity of EMK Thomas’s transaction portfolio and the opportunities it provides to broaden his experience and strengthen his technical capabilities.
Jenifer Baranda
Financial Controller
Jenifer Baranda (CPA) has extensive experience in accounting and financial reporting having previously worked as a qualified CPA for multiple Accounting firms over the past 10 years.
Jenifer has held various positions and titles as well as having worked for several Asia Pacific rim organisations in the capacity of CFO, Accountant and Financial controller.
Jenifer oversees and manages the day to day administrative and financial controlling function for EMK Thomas Capital and Advisory.