I'm Lana Weldon, NOT JUST an accountant

More than just an accountant? Try a people-builder, global citizen and unapologetic celebrator of life.

For Dr Lana Weldon, COO of PKF Australia, life has never been about staying within neat professional boundaries. It’s about energy, connection, courage; and choosing to live fully, guided by two core values: love and curiosity.

When Lana steps away from work, it’s family that brings her most alive. Love, for her, is expressed through presence: sharing everyday moments, milestones and experiences with the people she cares about most. That same love for people extends into how she leads, mentors and builds teams.

Travel satisfies the other side of who she is: curiosity. Having visited more than 25 countries, Lana credits travel with shaping her perspective on life, deepening her understanding of people and strengthening the relationships that bring her so much joy.

“Travel feeds my curiosity. I love people, and learning about how different people live, think and dream opens your mind, stretches your thinking and reminds you about our shared humanity.”

Those experiences, driven by curiosity and connection, have taken her further than she ever imagined. It was a big risk to move to Australia with a long established career in South Africa, and a leap of faith for her family. It was a decision grounded in ambition for their future and curiosity about what was possible.

“It was a tough decision to leave everything and everyone we knew and love, but it was worth it. That leap of faith shaped everything that came next.”

Australia has become home; a place where Lana has embraced the culture, the lifestyle and the opportunity, while never forgetting where she came from. That balance of loyalty and openness continues to define how she approaches both life and leadership.

If Lana were to write a book about her journey, the title would reflect that mindset: Invest in people, get yourself to new places and fight for productivity: The secret to life as a COO.

A value instilled early and still central today is simple: what you give is what you get back. It’s why Lana devoted 20 years to education, mentoring and lecturing at universities across South Africa and Australia.

“Developing people isn’t just something I do, it’s who I am.”

That commitment is paired with a quiet fearlessness. Lana believes courage is a skill that can be learned, fueled by curiosity and strengthened by backing yourself.

And when it comes to life outside work, Lana believes in celebrating it fully. Her guilty pleasure is celebration; honoring milestones, achievements and special days with genuine joy.

“If we don’t celebrate life, what are we working so hard for?”

Success, for Lana, goes far beyond titles. It’s about contributing meaningfully to other people’s lives: her husband, her children, her team, her friends, the network and the accounting profession.

Lana is deeply conscious of the role her support network plays in her life and leadership. What she values most is that the people around her don’t try to contain her energy or quiet her ambition, they create space for it. Her husband, family, friends and colleagues back her curiosity, encourage her momentum and celebrate her big ideas rather than questioning them.

“The people who support me don’t reign me in. They love me for my big, bold zest for life.”

Often described as a dynamic powerhouse, honest and ambitious, Lana says those traits come from knowing herself deeply and staying true to her values.

“Lead with love. Stay curious. Everything else follows.”

“Sure, I’ve crunched the numbers, that’ll always be second nature for me. But becoming an accountant was simply the starting point, the platform. It gave me the confidence, the credibility and the opportunity to become everything else I am, in my own life and in the lives of others. Opening that door removed the limitations on everything else. I am so much more than just an accountant. And to my fellow accountants, I truly believe you are too.”

NOT JUST an accountant NOT JUST an accountant is PKF’s declaration that our firm and our profession are built on people, values and impact, shining a spotlight on the human leadership, purpose and responsibility behind the numbers.