Mitch Anthony

The Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) is gearing up for the year’s largest gathering of financial planning professionals at the 2019 FPA Congress from 27-29 November, taking place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. 

Financial planners from across Australia will come together to discuss the important issues facing the fast-evolving profession as it goes through unprecedented change – an important opportunity for delegates to deepen networks, sharpen their leadership skills, and recalibrate their businesses.

This year’s Congress boasts an impressive lineup of international speakers who are sure to stimulate thought and conversation. The first keynote session will feature globally recognised financial planning experts Mitch Anthony (USA), Phil Billingham CFP^® (UK), Janet Hugo CFP^® (South Africa) and Andrew Talbot CFP^® (Singapore), who will join a panel discussion facilitated by Core Data’s Simon Hoyle centred around meeting challenges head on and repositioning for the future of advice.

Renowned around the globe for his pioneering work in life-centred planning, Mitch Anthony is the author of many groundbreaking books for financial planners and consumers, including bestseller Your Clients for Life.

A financial planner, author, trainer and consultant since 1982, Phil Billingham is passionate about bringing his considerable international experience to support financial planners around the world to cope with regulatory change mainly in the UK and South Africa.

Director of Sterling Private Clients and winner of the 2018/19 Financial Planning Institute (FPI)’s prestigious Financial Planner of the Year Award, Janet Hugo is recognised for excellence in all areas of financial planning including client engagement and practice management.

 Andrew Talbot created and runs Expat Financial Planning, a financial planning firm for expats that offers fee-based financial planning, advice and wealth management for international and cross-border clients. Andrew is himself an expat and is uniquely positioned to understand cross-border financial challenges for clients.

Joining the keynote session will be Future Crunch, founded by political economist Dr Angus Hervey and cancer researcher Tane Hunter, who help foster intelligent, optimistic thinking about the future. Also taking part will be Jess Gallagher, the first and only Australian athlete to win both Summer and Winter Paralympic medals despite being diagnosed with a degenerative and incurable eye disease as a teenager. Learn how Jess was able to adapt to change and reframe her mindset to focus on future opportunities and challenges. 

The second keynote session will be facilitated by business marketing expert Tim Reid and will feature a panel that includes some of Australia’s most innovative and diverse business leaders. Artificial Intelligence entrepreneur Dr Catriona Wallace, former Director of the UN World Food

Programme Simon Costa AO, and Executive Chairman of Light Warrior Group Radek Sali, will share how they have developed new business models and ways of thinking.

The third and final keynote session will feature Cedric Dumont, an International Red Bull Air Team action star and coach to elite athletes, who will speak on confronting and overcoming fears.

Workshop sessions this year include Strive: by embracing change with Andrew May, who is recognised as one of the world’s leading performance strategists. He says that to strive is to make great effort to achieve a goal; to embrace change and step out of your comfort zone. At the Regulatory Update workshop, delegates will hear from ASIC about current projects, and from the FPA about its current policy agenda and how it is supporting members to manage change including navigating the FASEA Code of Ethics. Delegates will also learn about the Tax Practitioners Board Code and Tax (financial) Advisers’ key responsibilities.   

Open to men and women, this year’s FPA Women in Wealth Breakfast on Thursday 28 November will feature ultra-marathon runner and water activist Mina Guli, who is one of Fortune 50’s great leaders. Mina founded the global movement #RunningDry to raise awareness about water consumption. A panel from Financial Executive Women’s FEW Good Men will also be in conversation about how diversity in our workplaces contributes to sound business strategy and why Good Men Matter. The panel will share their experiences as mentors supporting women to achieve senior leadership positions in financial services. 

Ahead of Congress, the 2019 Future2 Wheel Classic charity bike ride will set off from Melbourne’s Disc Velodrome on Friday 22 November, and the 2019 Future Hiking Challenge will set off to the Grampians Mountains, with riders and hikers aiming to surpass previous years’ fundraising efforts for the Future2 Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the FPA. Riders and hikers return to Melbourne by Wednesday 27 November for the opening of Congress. 

Congress delegates will experience a truly Melbourne experience at the Future2 Celebration & 2019 FPA Awards Presentation taking place at the famous St Kilda Sea Baths. The evening will be full of fun in a relaxed environment with fantastic food and wine, live entertainment and much more!

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