A growing number of Australians are embracing semi-retirement, demographers and advisers say. Among them is Sheena Wilson, 67, who called it quits on her role as global head of talent strategy at BNY Mellon in 2014. It was the end of her time on the “single-company career ladder” but the start of what she calls her “portfolio career”.

Today, Wilson balances responsibilities as a leadership and career consultant, non-executive director, and founding director of Parents on Leave, which helps mums and dads returning to work after having a baby. When her granddaughters were younger, she also made sure she had at least a day carved out a week to spend with them.