From luxury holidays and designer homes to prison walls at Silverwater Correctional Complex, the story of Helen Mary Rosamond is one of greed, deception, and downfall. Between 2013 and 2018, the Sydney businesswoman and event manager defrauded the National Australia Bank (NAB) of millions through falsified invoices — a scheme Judge Robert Sutherland later described as “breathtaking in its audacity.” Her conviction exposed systemic corporate blind spots, shattered reputations, and reshaped NAB’s internal controls forever.
Early Career & the Rise of Human Group
Helen Rosamond began her career as the founder and director of Human Group, a North Sydney-based event management company. The firm built a reputation for organising executive retreats, leadership workshops & large-scale corporate functions.
By 2006, Human Group had become one of NAB’s trusted service providers, handling exclusive corporate events & senior management programs. It was during a conference in Hong Kong that Rosamond met Rosemary Rogers, a powerful NAB insider who served as Chief of Staff to bank CEOs Cameron Clyne & Andrew Thorburn.
Their professional connection soon turned personal & eventually, criminal. The two referred to each other as “bestie” & “sister from another mother.” That friendship would become the foundation of one of Australia’s most audacious corporate frauds.
The Beginning of the NAB Fraud Scheme (2013–2017)
Between 2013 and 2017, Helen Rosamond and Rosemary Rogers orchestrated a series of false and inflated invoices through Human Group. Rogers, who held an extraordinary delegation of authority allowing her to approve NAB expenses up to $20 million, ensured that every fraudulent invoice sailed through internal checks.
Rosamond’s company billed the bank for legitimate corporate expenses-but secretly added huge sums for personal indulgences. The deception was intricate, repetitive & carefully planned.
According to Judge Sutherland, this was “no temporary dipping-into-the-till crime but a persistent course of conduct based on greed rather than need.”
Lavish Lifestyle Built on Deception
The millions embezzled through the NAB fraud funded a lifestyle of extreme luxury. Rosamond and Rogers spent freely on overseas holidays, private transfers & extravagant gifts. Court documents revealed that Rosamond:
- Paid $228,747 to an interior designer to decorate her Potts Point terrace.
- Spent $372,611 to landscape her Mosman property.
- Claimed $100,000 in rent and $86,413 for renovations.
- Paid $17,888 for artwork and $14,358 for a lavish 40th birthday event featuring ice sculptures & singing waiters.
Rogers benefited even more directly. Her kickbacks totalled over $5.5 million, including:
- A $1.5 million house & an additional $380,000 deposit.
- A BMW, a $115,000 boat, and a $172,000 European holiday.
A $620,000 U.S. trip for eight people with a private jet. - A luxury holiday at the Saffire Freycinet resort in Tasmania worth nearly $30,000.
The pair’s scheme was concealed within legitimate corporate budgets under codenames such as “Project Eagle” a fraudulent invoice tied to the recruitment of former NSW Premier Mike Baird in 2017.
How the NAB Fraud Escaped Detection
Rogers’ internal power made oversight nearly impossible. Her ability to authorise spending up to $20 million without secondary approval effectively removed all scrutiny. NAB executives, including CEO Andrew Thorburn, later testified they were unaware of her exceptional authority.
Judge Sutherland remarked:
“Such an extraordinary delegation enabled Rogers to escape the scrutiny & internal auditing which might otherwise have been expected to take place within such an institution.”
The fraud continued undetected for nearly five years. During that time, Rosamond & Rogers became inseparable-speaking almost daily, sharing family holidays & maintaining the illusion of professional collaboration.
The Whistleblower That Unravelled It All
In late 2017, an anonymous whistleblower letter reached NAB’s internal ethics team. The tip prompted an internal investigation, which exposed a string of suspicious invoices linked to Human Group.
Within weeks, NAB terminated its contract with the company. Rosemary Rogers resigned & the bank referred the matter to NSW Police and the Department of Public Prosecutions.
By the time the investigation concluded, the loss to NAB was estimated between $7 million and $9.8 million, with Rosamond personally gaining $4.4 million & Rogers about $5.5 million.
Arrest & Bail Proceedings (2019–2020)
Helen Rosamond was arrested in March 2019 and charged with 74 counts of fraud & corruption. She pleaded not guilty.
During her early hearings, she attempted to have her strict bail conditions softened, calling them “unnecessary.” She argued that she was tied to Sydney through her children & work.
However, Judge Michael Adams refused her application, warning he could instead authorise police to call her twice daily to confirm her whereabouts. Her barrister quickly withdrew the request.
Rosamond was also granted permission to use an encrypted messaging service to communicate with her children-but was ordered to surrender her phone password if police requested it.
During this time, NAB also launched civil proceedings in the Supreme Court seeking restitution for the millions defrauded.
The 2022 Trial-Helen Rosamond Found Guilty
After years of legal delays, the trial began in August 2022 at the NSW District Court before Judge Robert Sutherland.
Rosamond faced 60 counts of corruptly giving benefits & 32 counts of dishonestly obtaining or attempting to obtain a financial advantage by deception.
The jury deliberated over 92 charges, returning verdicts across two sessions in November. Rosamond was found guilty of 59 counts of giving corrupt benefits & 31 counts of obtaining or attempting to obtain a financial advantage. She was acquitted on two minor charges.
Judge Sutherland described the case as one requiring “extraordinary attention & diligence” from the jury due to its complexity.
Following her conviction, prosecutors immediately sought to revoke her bail, arguing the seriousness of the crimes warranted custody.
On 6 December 2022, the judge agreed, saying:
“It is beyond reasonable argument that she will receive a full-time prison sentence.”
Rosamond bowed silently before being escorted by correctional officers to custody.
Inside the Sentencing Hearings (2023)
Rosamond’s sentence hearings began in April 2023. The defence presented psychological evidence attempting to contextualise her conduct.
Clinical psychologist Dr Marianne Plahn testified that Rosamond showed symptoms of adjustment disorder, narcissistic personality disorder & attachment disorder, possibly linked to “pressure, abuse, unhappiness & financial stress.”
Dr Plahn said:
“She really felt that she wanted to have that opportunity to say sorry to His Honour. That came from a very truthful place.”
However, Crown prosecutor Katrina Mackenzie rejected the argument that mental illness influenced her crimes, saying Rosamond’s remorse appeared calculated:
“You don’t have to have a disorder to falsely express remorse.”
The judge noted that Rosamond described Rogers as “dangerous, highly toxic & manipulative,” claiming she was drawn into a coercive relationship. Yet Sutherland dismissed this narrative, finding both women “equally culpable” & their partnership “symbiotic.”
Judge Robert Sutherland’s Final Verdict (July 2023)
On 20 July 2023, the Downing Centre District Court was packed as Judge Sutherland delivered a two-and-a-half-hour sentencing decision.
He labelled the NAB fraud “stunning in its extravagance” & “breathtaking in its audacity.”
Rosamond was sentenced to a maximum of 15 years in prison, with a non-parole period of eight years-making her eligible for release in December 2030.
He emphasised that the fraud was deliberate, premeditated & persisted for years:
“This was no act of desperation. It was a pursuit of greed, grandiosity & self-gratification.”
The court also heard that Rosamond attempted to defraud NAB again in 2018, after Rogers had already left the bank, by submitting a further $3.3 million fraudulent invoice.
NAB’s Reaction & Institutional Reforms
Following the sentencing, NAB issued a statement acknowledging its failures & thanking the anonymous whistleblower for coming forward.
Group Executive Sharon Cook said:
“NAB acknowledges its prior failures in not having sufficient controls and processes. After we became aware of the fraud, we overhauled our internal systems, reducing expense delegations & introducing additional checks.”
The case became a turning point for corporate governance within the bank, prompting significant procedural changes & enhanced whistle-blower protection mechanisms.
Restitution & Financial Fallout (2024)
In February 2024, Helen Rosamond appeared via audiovisual link from Silverwater Correctional Complex for a restitution hearing.
Representing herself, she told the court she had no assets, no savings & no future earning capacity, stating her life prospects post-release were “dismal.”
She revealed she had filed for bankruptcy from her prison cell. The District Court nonetheless ordered that $1.25 million be repaid to NAB from the proceeds of her remaining property.
The order marked the formal end of the financial proceedings against her.
Life Inside Silverwater Correctional Complex
Since her imprisonment, Helen Rosamond has been held at Silverwater Correctional Complex, where sources say she maintains a quiet routine.
Reports from her psychologist indicate she is “admired by other inmates and staff,” & continues to show interest in rehabilitation programs. She is expected to apply for parole in December 2030 but faces significant financial & social barriers upon release.
The Case Against Rosemary Rogers
Rosemary Rogers-the other half of the partnership-pleaded guilty in 2020 to 64 charges, including corruptly receiving benefits & obtaining financial advantage by deception.
She was sentenced in 2021 to eight years in prison with a non-parole period of four years and nine months.
Rogers admitted in court that she knowingly received kickbacks, stating, “Helen was funding a lifestyle that I had.”
Her cooperation as the prosecution’s key witness earned her a sentencing discount, though the judge maintained she was equally responsible for enabling the fraud.
Broader Implications & Lessons for Corporate Australia
The Helen Rosamond NAB fraud case became one of Australia’s most studied examples of internal governance failure. It demonstrated how personal relationships & unchecked authority can bypass even major institutional safeguards.
The case triggered national discussion around ethics in corporate culture, executive accountability & the power imbalance between vendors & senior staff.
Legal analysts have described it as a “landmark moment in Australian corporate history,” not just for the scale of deception but for the complacency that allowed it to continue for years.
Where Things Stand Now
As of late 2024, Helen Rosamond remains in custody, serving her sentence. She will be eligible for parole in 2030, aged in her mid-fifties. Her company, Human Group, is defunct & her professional reputation permanently destroyed.
Meanwhile, NAB has strengthened compliance controls & improved internal auditing practices to prevent similar breaches.
The whistleblower who exposed the scheme remains anonymous but is widely credited with saving the bank millions & restoring integrity to its governance systems.
Conclusion-The Rise & Fall of Helen Rosamond
The downfall of Helen Rosamond is more than a story of corporate crime-it’s a cautionary tale about trust, ambition & unchecked influence.
What began as a business partnership between two high-achieving women devolved into a multimillion dollar deception that shook the foundation of one of Australia’s biggest banks.
From lavish European holidays to courtroom confessions, her journey embodies how quickly success can unravel when ethics are compromised for greed.
Today, her name-Helen Rosamond-remains synonymous with one of Australia’s most audacious corporate scandals, a case that reshaped not only NAB’s systems but the nation’s broader conversation about integrity, power & accountability in business.
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