Annalouise Spence, the former private secretary of billionaire philanthropist Judith Neilson, has been charged with 68 counts of dishonestly obtaining property by deception after allegedly using unauthorized credit cards to make purchases totaling $1.6 million. The alleged spree included luxury items from Hermes, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci, a box at a Coldplay concert, and a transfer of nearly $38,000 for wooden bowls.
Alleged Fraud Details
According to court documents, Spence, 51, obtained a credit card in her own name through Neilson's American Express account without authorization between February and March 2023. She also allegedly used five other cards in Neilson's name for purchases dating back to December 2019, more than two and a half years after she began working as Neilson's private secretary in March 2017. Her employment ended in September 2025.
The purchases allegedly include tens of thousands of dollars in artwork, luxury items from high-end brands, and nearly $6,000 spent on plush mattress toppers in July 2021. In June 2023, Spence allegedly paid for concert tickets for the Cure in Seattle, first-class Qantas return flights to Seattle via Los Angeles, and baseball tickets totaling $29,118. She also allegedly used a Neilson American Express card to pay $2,520 for access to a box at a Coldplay concert in Australia in November 2023.
Frequent Flyer Points and Travel
Police allege Spence transferred 500,000 Qantas frequent flyer points valued at $7,600 from Neilson's account to her own in June 2023. She also allegedly used the American Express card in her name to pay $38,757 for a hotel stay in New York in October 2023 and a three-day holiday rental in Mudgee, New South Wales, in May 2023.
In November 2024, police allege Spence arranged for a $37,651.50 transfer without authorization to pay for three wooden bowls from Jim Meekhof, a master wood artist based in Maui, Hawaii, known for his wood turnings inspired by Hawaiian volcanoes and fire.
Personal Items and Events
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Neilson attended Spence's 50th birthday party unaware that she had allegedly paid for it. Spence is charged with making the booking at the 5-star Capella Sydney hotel in mid-2024 and purchasing 320 napkins monogrammed with "AS." She also allegedly used the credit card to make a $3,900 booking in Tasmania for her husband's 50th birthday later that year.
Other alleged dishonest purchases include Imax tickets, personalized diamond and gold jewelry, a custom racing bike and servicing costing $15,837, thigh-high boots and pants from Khaite, clothing from Mytheresa, Zara, and Lululemon, and various handbags and totes.
Background and Bail Hearing
Neilson, who founded the Judith Neilson Institute in 2018 with $100 million, has a net worth of about $1.2 billion, according to the Australian Financial Review's 2025 rich list. The institute champions quality journalism and storytelling in Australia.
At a bail hearing on April 23, Spence's lawyer, Bryan Wrench, argued that his client had repaid nearly $850,000 to her employer and had been engaged with her since October 2025. He said Spence suffers from bipolar disorder and complex PTSD and is on multiple medications. However, Judge Lucas Swan refused bail, stating the case against Spence was "overwhelming" and a custodial sentence was likely if found guilty. Each charge carries a maximum ten-year sentence. Spence has not entered a plea, and the matter returns to court on May 7.
