Built on Numbers, Driven by Reality

We started nexadora-nest because most valuation training felt disconnected from what actually happens in finance departments.

Back in 2019, a group of us who'd spent years working across Australian finance sectors noticed something. Training programs taught formulas perfectly. But they rarely taught the judgment calls, the messy data situations, or the stakeholder conversations that make up real valuation work. So we built something different.

Where We Actually Came From

nexadora-nest grew out of conversations in break rooms and after meetings. Those moments where analysts would admit they'd learned more in three months on the job than in entire courses. That always seemed backwards to us.

Our founding team came from different corners of Australian finance—corporate valuation, investment analysis, financial advisory. What connected us was seeing the same gap everywhere: brilliant people with solid technical skills who struggled when valuations got complicated or when the textbook answer didn't quite fit.

We launched our first program in early 2020 with twelve participants. The format was simple: teach valuation the way it's actually practiced, with all the ambiguity and decision-making intact. By mid-2025, we've worked with finance professionals across mining, healthcare, tech startups, and traditional banking.

Financial analysis workspace showing real valuation materials and data

How We Think About Valuation Training

Our approach comes from actually doing this work, not just teaching it.

Start With Messy Data

Real valuation projects rarely have clean inputs. We work with actual financial statements—incomplete disclosures, accounting changes, one-off adjustments. You learn to assess what you can trust and what needs digging into.

Build Judgment Alongside Models

Spreadsheet skills matter, but knowing when your DCF doesn't capture reality matters more. We focus on developing the analytical judgment that separates competent valuations from questionable ones.

Context Changes Everything

A mining company valuation uses different assumptions than a SaaS business. Industry context, market conditions, and company stage all shift your approach. We teach techniques that adapt rather than rigid frameworks.

Communication Isn't Secondary

Your valuation needs to make sense to CFOs, investors, or board members who might not remember every financial concept. We spend real time on explaining assumptions and presenting conclusions clearly.

Learn From Real Cases

Our program materials come from actual valuation situations—sanitized for confidentiality but retaining all the complexity. You see how experienced analysts approached problems and where different methods gave conflicting signals.

Practical Before Perfect

We'd rather you finish a solid, defensible valuation than pursue theoretical perfection. The goal is building confidence in your work and knowing when good enough actually is good enough.

Who Builds the Programs

Our team combines people who've done valuation work across different settings with those who know how to structure effective learning. Everyone teaching has spent years in finance roles where valuation decisions actually mattered.

Callum Westridge

Program Director

Callum spent twelve years in corporate finance roles before co-founding nexadora-nest. He's valued businesses from mining operations to software companies, and has strong opinions about discount rates. Outside work, he's trying to learn Spanish with mixed success.

Saoirse Kinley

Lead Instructor

Saoirse's background is in investment analysis and M&A advisory. She's particularly good at explaining why comparable company analysis often produces weird results. She also coordinates our quarterly program cohorts starting October 2025.

What Matters to Us

Honest About Limitations

Valuation involves judgment calls and assumptions. We don't pretend there's always one right answer. Better to acknowledge uncertainty than oversell precision that doesn't exist.

Rooted in Practice

Everything we teach comes from actual work experience. Theory matters, but only when it connects to decisions analysts really face. Our programs focus on skills you'll use regularly.

Supportive Learning Environment

Finance can feel intimidating when you're still building confidence. We create space where questions are expected and admitting confusion is perfectly normal. Everyone started somewhere.

Continuous Improvement

Markets change, industries evolve, and valuation approaches adapt. We update program content regularly based on participant feedback and our own ongoing finance work. Nothing stays static.