Damien Hodgkinson is a respected restructuring and turnaround specialist with over 30 years of leadership at the frontlines of operational transformation, distressed asset strategy, and complex boardroom advisory. Damien brings deep experience navigating companies through high-stakes restructuring and insolvency events—delivering clarity, control, and results when it matters most.
Known for his pragmatic, solutions-focused mindset and his calm, confident leadership in moments of corporate crisis, Damien is a trusted advisor to family office entrepreneurs , and investors. His expertise spans Safe Harbour advisory, special situations management, asset protection strategies, cross-border workouts, and operational turnarounds—particularly for mid-market and complex private enterprises across Australia and Asia.
Damien is widely regarded in the use Deed Advocacy, Strategic Insolvency and Safe Harbour to achieve the best restructuring outcomes. Through his work at Olvera, he has helped dozens of companies develop viable restructuring plans.
His expertise lies not just in designing turnaround plans, but in building strategic defensibility: ensuring boards are acting in good faith, keeping proper records, engaging appropriately qualified advisors, and demonstrating a better outcome than immediate administration or liquidation.
At the core of Damien’s advisory model is asset protection—ensuring that businesses under pressure preserve what matters most: their people, intellectual property, brand value, and operating capacity. He works closely with legal advisors, lenders, and tax professionals to safeguard corporate assets while executing operational resets
Significant Engagements
Babcock & Brown: Appointed as Treasurer advisor to the Board of Babcock and Brown and prepared the fallout analysis of over 4,000 companies under the listed vehicle.
BBY Brokerage: Advisor to AIMS Financial Services on the acquisition of BBY as Deed Advocate through various Deeds of Company Arrangement, and the subsequent creation of APP Securities as an ASX brokerage.
Lehman Australia: Advisor to Lehman Asia as Deed Advocate on the restructure of Lehman Australia through a Deed of Company Arrangement. It was the first restructuring of a Lehman subsidiary globally.
Retail Adventures: Advisor to the secured creditor and management as Deed Advocate in the restructuring of the Sam’s Warehouse and Crazy Clark retail network of 1,000 stores. Damien oversaw the consolidation of the two brands and reduced store footprint to 600 stores and two distribution centres over 6 months.
Ezibuy Limited: Appointed as Liquidator Ezibuy Limited operator of the on-line fashion platform and six department store operations in New Zealand.
Keystone Hospitality: Advisor to Alceon Capital on the restructuring of Keystone Hospitality a group of 40 restaurants and bars across Australia, including the Jamies Italian chain.
Public Hospitality: Advisor to the owner and management of the financial and operational restructure of the Public Hospitality Group through as Deed Advocate for Public Lifestyle Management.
WIN Corp: Advisor to Board and management on affiliation agreements with Nine Entertainment, the winddown of non-core infrastructure assets and the acquisition of 50% investment in St George Illawara Rubgy League franchise.
GFG Alliance: Appointed in 2021 to manage the fallout from the collapse of inventory finance provider Greensill Capital on its Australian operations. Damien re-established GFG Alliance’s relationship with Credit Suisse and successfully renegotiated $440 million in loans.
Experience
Olvera Advisors
Principal
Jul 2020 - Present
Damien co-founded Olvera Advisors with Kate Barnet as a Principal, bringing his expertise in business transformation, deed advocacy debt restructuring, and crisis management
Best Restaurants of Australia
Director
Dec 2022 - Present
Damien is a director for the Best Restaurants of Australia under the Best Gift Group, one of Australia’s largest specialty restaurant gift cards and directory platform.
Linchpin Hospitality
Founder
Jun 2024 - Present
Founder of Linchpin Hospitality a business created as part of an executive buyout of the management operations of the former Public Hospitality Group working with lenders and operators to maintain and reestablish control after the administration of Public Lifestyle Management.
Mon Purse
Director
Dec 2022 - Present
As a director for Mon Purse, Damien worked with Partners For Growth on the turnaround and relaunch of the Mon Purse leather goods brand.
Alphabet Fund Limited
Director
Mar 2024 - Present
Damien founded the Alphabet Fund to promote participation at the local government level by the LGBTIQ+ community.
Climate 200 Pty Limited
Director
Apr 2019 - Aug 2022
Damien was one of the original participants in the foundation of Climate 200 a leading player in the independence movement in Australia fighting for political accountability and climate change.
Sydney WorldPride Limited
Director
Damien was chair of Sydney Worldpride the largest LGBTIQ+ event in World held in 2023 which injected $228.7m in tourism spending in the NSW economy.
