Tanya Dawson has been permanently appointed Chief People Officer, reporting to AZ NGA’s Group CEO, Paul Barrett.

Dawson joined AZ NGA in November 2025 as Acting Chief People Officer and has over 25 years of financial services and human resources experience. Her previous roles include Chief People Officer at ClearView, Cuscal Payments and Zurich Cover-More.

Former Head of Finance and Treasury at Cuscal Payments, Cormac Galvin has joined AZ NGA as General Manager, Finance and Transformation, reporting to AZ NGA Chief Financial Officer, Jodie Blackledge.

In the group’s operations team, former Chief Information and Digital Officer at Vital Business Partners, Shaun Nesbitt has been appointed Chief Technology Officer.

In his role, Nesbitt is responsible for driving AZ NGA’s ongoing digital transformation, spanning advice systems, data analytics and AI, and cyber security.

Former General Manager, Technology and Operations at Diverger, Sonya Choi La Rosa has been appointed Head of Business Improvement.

In her role, Choi La Rosa is responsible for building the group’s Advice Model Office, incorporating best practice processes, common technology and integrated change capability, with a focus on continuous improvement in experience and delivery.

Former Head of Managed Accounts and Alternatives at MLC, Neil Gellett, has been appointed Head of Product.

In his role, Gellett will develop AZ NGA’s product strategy, establish a robust product governance and oversight framework, and strengthen relationships with key investment, life insurance and platform partners.

Nesbitt, Choi La Rosa and Gellett report to Nathan Jacobsen, AZ NGA’s recently appointed Chief Operating Officer.

All three roles are newly-created positions, reflecting AZ NGA’s rapid growth and ambitious plans to build integrated Super firms, supported by centralised services and operations.

“AZ NGA is an ambitious, fast-growing business and we are investing heavily in our people and teams to ensure that we have the right skills and expertise to deliver significant benefits, achieve our objectives and targets, and continue growing and scaling,” Barrett said.

“Backed by a supportive Board, we have the plan, the funding and the people to execute our strategy and this is an exciting time for the business.”

Jacobsen said the group was focused on establishing the right foundations to support AZ NGA’s rapidly expanding network of accounting and advisory businesses to deliver quality advice at scale.

That involved consolidating systems, processes and service providers to maximise operational and cost efficiencies.

“We are looking to leverage our scale to deliver improved outcomes, not only in terms of the bottom line, but risk controls and client experience,” he said.

“Many of the areas that my team is focused on are not central to an adviser’s value proposition, they are back-office activities and functions, but they are critical in driving performance and underpinning long-term growth.”

Responsibility for driving front office growth initiatives, including the integration of Super firms and enhancing the group’s client value proposition, falls under AZ NGA’s Chief Growth Officer Chesne Stafford.

Stafford and her team work closely with member firms on areas including M&A, brand, marketing, pricing and offer design for client segments.

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Chesne Stafford

Advice platform, AZ NGA has acquired national advisory firm, Intend Financial, adding ten financial advisers and four locations to the AZ NGA community and delivering capital, expertise and scale to fuel Intend Financial’s continued expansion.

Established in 2021 by the amalgamation of three mature financial planning firms, Intend Financial has offices in Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania and is led by five principal advisers: John Moran, Zach McArthur, Jesse Nihill, Yihsing Koo and Ben Buchanan.

Over the past five years, the business has grown rapidly through M&A and organic activity.

Chesne Stafford, Chief Growth Officer at AZ NGA, said the formation and growth of Intend Financial demonstrated the power of a clear vision, unity and collaboration to build something extremely unique and valuable in a relatively short period of time.

“Advice businesses that want to grow need to scale in order to serve more clients and provide opportunities for employees, and the team at Intend Financial have done a brilliant job of expanding geographically and integrating businesses while continuing to deliver excellent service and advice to clients,” she said.

“This is a high-quality business with a loyal, growing clientbase that is supported by a group of experienced advisers and a knowledgeable team of support staff, making it an ideal business to join AZ NGA and support our rapid expansion strategy.”

Director and Principal, John Moran said: “Intend Financial’s strategic partnership with AZ NGA was the perfect next step for the business”.

“AZ NGA brings resources, expertise and fresh ideas to keep us growing and scaling.”

“Culturally, we are committed to looking after our clients and delivering excellent personal advice and service. AZ NGA shares our advice philosophy and commitment, which is why this is a strong fit.”

“This transaction will also deliver opportunities for our valued team members. We are all looking forward to the future.”

Intend Financial has 20 employees of which the majority are based in Victoria. The group provides advice on superannuation, retirement, investments, insurance and estate planning. In addition to individuals, families and business owners, the firm also works with philanthropic organisations and family offices.

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Chesne Stafford

Advice platform, AZ NGA, has accelerated its expansion into Tasmania, completing the full acquisition of Hobart-based financial advisory firm Foundation Wealth Advisers (FWA).

Founded in 1992, FWA specialises in strategic advice for retirees and pre-retirees across Hobart and surrounding regions. The firm has seven staff, including two advisers, and a deeply loyal client base.

The deal builds on AZ NGA’s existing minority stake, secured through its 2024 acquisition of AMP’s Equity Portfolio.

Chesne Stafford, AZ NGA Chief Growth Officer, said the acquisition marks a significant step in strengthening the group’s presence in Tasmania.

“Stuart and Mark have built a high-quality, client-focused business with strong, enduring relationships. We’re excited to deepen our partnership and accelerate our growth in Tasmania,” she said.

“Our shared values and cultural alignment position us well to build a market-leading advice business and broaden access to high-quality financial advice.”

FWA Principal and Private Client Adviser Mark Hudson said the transaction supported a smooth leadership transition while positioning the firm for future growth.

“We’re approaching the next stage of our careers and wanted a partner who would look after our team and clients while helping the business evolve,” he said.

“After considering our options, AZ NGA was the clear choice—particularly given the strength of our existing relationship.”

“They’ve been collaborative, flexible and highly professional throughout the process.”

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Chesne Stafford

Advice platform, AZ NGA, has continued expanding in regional New South Wales by partnering with integrated financial planning, accounting and mortgage broking firm, Back to Back Financial Planners (Back to Back) in Young.

Established in 1990, Back to Back is led by Justine Back and has 24 employees including four advisers.

The business has a loyal, geographically diverse clientbase and strong referral networks in Sydney and across the greater NSW region. It looks after retirees and pre-retirees, professionals, small business owners and farmers.

Chesne Stafford, AZ NGA Chief Growth Officer, said the partnership with Back to Back supported longer term plans to develop a financial advice hub in regional NSW to service key areas like Young, Wagga Wagga and Orange, where many individuals and families had complex advice and succession planning needs but were generally underserved.

“Back to Back is an exceptional business with a robust operating model, solid financial performance and consistently strong growth, and we are excited to partner with Justine and the team to continue delivering quality advice,” Stafford said.

“Over the past 35 years, the business has earned a reputation in their community, and beyond, for trusted advice. We see an opportunity to build on Back to Back’s reputation and infrastructure to establish a regional hub that connects with other key areas.”

Justine Back said the group’s motivation for partnering with AZ NGA was for growth and to support the development of the next generation of advisers in the practice.

“AZ NGA stood out because we like their people and philosophy, and share their views on where the financial advice profession is going,” she said.

“We’re setting the business up for its next phase of growth and creating an opportunity for future leaders to step up and assist us in continuing to expand the business.”

“I’m passionate about my work and taking care of my clients and this partnership allows our team to continue to grow well into the future.”

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Jacobsen is currently Chief Executive Officer of AZ NGA-backed outsourcing specialist, Vital Business Partners (VBP).

Prior to VBP, Jacobsen held a number of senior executive positions including Managing Director of listed company Diverger, Managing Director of Paragem, and General Manager roles at Perpetual Private.

At AZ NGA, he will report to Group Chief Executive Officer Paul Barrett and oversee the delivery of the group’s unique proposition to accounting and advisory firms.

He will have responsibility for driving business transformation initiatives, including technology and integration, and building the systems and infrastructure to support AZ NGA’s rapid growth.

Barrett said that, after an extensive and competitive search, Jacobsen stood out as the ideal candidate to join AZ NGA’s leadership team at this critical stage in the advice platform’s journey.

“Nathan is a highly respected, proven leader and I’m excited to have him on board to help execute our vision and strategy to build Super firms and Centres of Excellence,” he said.

“Under Nathan’s leadership, VBP has achieved significant operational and cost efficiencies, boosted staff and client satisfaction, and successfully launched new services. VBP is in a strong position to continue growing and meeting the outsourcing needs of advisory businesses. “

Jacobsen said: “I’m excited about the opportunity to work closely with Paul and the team to accelerate the growth of AZ NGA and execute the group’s ambitious strategy.”

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Paul Barrett

Advice platform, AZ NGA has acquired integrated financial planning, accounting and wealth management firm, Financial Decisions, strengthening AZ NGA’s footprint on Sydney’s northern beaches and expanding its capability and capacity to serve high net worth individuals and families.

Headquartered in Mona Vale, Financial Decisions has 35 employees, including eight financial advisers, across two locations. The firm’s 16 shareholders are all employees or board members. It specialises in comprehensive strategic advice and multigenerational advice for corporate executives, professionals, small business owners, and family offices.

Paul Barrett, AZ NGA Group Chief Executive Officer, said the deal provided access to the northern beaches’ high growth corridor, an area where AZ NGA had previously lacked a meaningful presence.

“We are excited to partner with Financial Decisions to grow the business and deliver quality advice to more people,” he said.

“The firm’s integrated, multi-disciplinary model supports AZ NGA’s strategy of providing end-to-end solutions, ensuring stronger and deeper client relationships, long-term client retention and a steady stream of high-quality referrals.”

Financial Decisions’ Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Damien Cooper, said the partnership delivered succession and growth solutions, and created a pathway and opportunities for future leaders and partners.

It would also enable the firm to accelerate growth through M&A and organically by attracting experienced advisers as well as mentoring younger associates through their professional year.

“We had a good look at the various strategic capital partners in the market and their offers, and the partners and shareholders came together and agreed that AZ NGA was the right fit for us, not just in terms of their model and offer but the cultural alignment,” Cooper said.

“Succession and growth were the main areas of focus for us, and our partnership with AZ NGA positions us strongly for the future.”

The transaction will see Cooper step down as CEO to focus exclusively on advising clients, something he has wanted to do for some time. Cooper will be replaced by the group’s Managing Director and Principal Adviser, Blake Conde.

Conde said AZ NGA’s Super firm strategy reflected the natural and necessary evolution of the advice sector, drawing parallels to the accounting profession.

“Running an advice business is increasingly complex and expensive due to red tape and compliance, and additional considerations such as the compensation scheme of last resort, which is making it critical for businesses to find efficiencies in order to not only survive but thrive,” he said.

“Our focus is on delivering excellent service and advice to our clients and growing the business, and being able to leverage the resources, expertise and scale of AZ NGA gives us a competitive advantage. Advice businesses need to get bigger to meet the unmet advice needs of Australians.”

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Paul Barrett

Advice platform, AZ NGA has entered a strategic partnership with Sydney Financial Planning in a deal that delivers both succession and business growth solutions to the 38-year-old firm.

Founded in 1988 by Bill Bracey, Sydney Financial Planning has 18 employees, including five financial advisers, and over $600 million in assets under advice.

The firm also has an office in Wollongong, trading as Illawara Financial Planning.

Paul Barrett, Chief Executive Officer, AZ NGA, said Sydney Financial Planning presented a compelling strategic opportunity for the group to increase its presence in the high growth corridors of Sydney’s eastern suburbs and the Illawara region.

“Sydney Financial Planning has a loyal engaged clientbase, a strong brand and reputation, and a robust, client-centric advice model that has been developed and refined for over 38 years,” he said.

“Over that time, Bill has trained and mentored a number of exceptional advisers, who are still with the business today. There is a lot of cultural alignment between both firms and total agreement about accelerating growth and unlocking potential.”

Bracey said Sydney Financial Planning had strong, long standing and trusted client relationships and, in turn, needed a partner that it could trust to serve the best interests of clients.

“My philosophy is that I’m in the business of trust and relationships and when I’m not doing that, I’m a financial planner, and AZ NGA gets it,” he said.

“This partnership provides continuity and certainty for employees and clients, and also support to help us grow at a faster rate and provide career development opportunities for team members and future leaders.”

“It brings fresh energy, which is important because I’m in my early 60s, and I need to ensure that the business doesn’t get stale and stagnant but embraces new ideas and innovative thinking to push it forward.”

Barrett added that Sydney Financial Planning’s proven track record of identifying, training and developing talent, and putting graduates through their Professional Year, was another major attraction.

“Sydney Financial Planning has a structured development plan and adviser pairing model, which is designed to enhance the experience of PY advisers and up-and-coming client services employees,” he said.

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Paul Barrett

Advice platform, AZ NGA, has entered a strategic partnership with Adelaide-based accounting and financial planning firm, Oreon Partners, marking a significant step forward in expanding AZ NGA’s presence in South Australia and supporting Oreon’s continued growth.

Established in 2014, Oreon Partners is a highly regarded integrated firm with six partners and 70 employees. The team provides tailored accounting, business advisory, tax and financial planning services to individuals and small-tomedium-sized enterprises. Oreon leverages technology to deliver efficient, personalised service and build long-term relationships with clients.

Paul Barrett, AZ NGA Group Chief Executive Officer, said both parties demonstrated strong cultural and strategic alignment, and a shared ambition for long-term, partner-driven growth.

“Oreon Partners is a natural fit and we are excited to welcome the team to our community and work together to grow and achieve our goals,” he said.

“Oreon has deep, long lasting, trusted client relationships, and a collaborative and respectful culture, which has underpinned its success to date.”

It has built a strong referral network, which generates a steady stream of inbound leads, and fuels organic growth.”

Oreon Partner, Jarrad Dunn said the partnership would enable Oreon to tap into AZ NGA’s resources and network to further enhance its services and create new opportunities for team members. “We are passionate about providing career pathways and leadership opportunities for our people. This partnership supports our vision to grow the number of partners and strengthen our ability to serve our clients,” he said.

“The next generation of professionals is looking for meaningful career progression without the traditional financial barriers. AZ NGA’s model is appealing because it enables emerging leaders to step into partnership roles in a way that is accessible and sustainable.”

“Our partners are focused on growing the business, both organically and through strategic acquisitions. While we are not planning any exits in the near future, we are committed to creating pathways for new leaders to join the partnership and contribute to our long-term success.”

Looking ahead, Oreon remains focused on planning for the future, both in terms of business growth and succession. With AZ NGA’s support and shared mindset, Oreon is well-positioned to continue delivering exceptional outcomes for clients while creating meaningful opportunities for team members. The partnership reinforces Oreon’s commitment to its people, clients, and staff alike, and ensures the firm can maintain its strong culture and values as it grows.

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Bill O’Byrne

Advice platform, AZ NGA has increased its stake in financial advisory firm, Geographe Financial Group, one of Western Australia’s oldest financial planning businesses.

Established in 1976 by Bill O’Byrne, Geographe Financial Group provides holistic advice on superannuation, investments and insurance to clients from the South West region of Western Australia through to Perth.

The firm has five financial planners, a professional year associate, 10 employees and offices in Busselton and Bunbury.

In 2024, AZ NGA gained a minority stake in Geographe Financial Group and 15 other leading advice businesses through its acquisition of AMP’s Equity Portfolio, with ambitions to increase its shareholding in some firms over time and ultimately become a majority owner.

Paul Barrett, AZ NGA Group Chief Executive Officer, said the transaction reflected the group’s ability and preparedness to structure deals to meet the evolving needs and timeframe of advisers and business owners.

“We’ve gotten to know the exceptional team at Geographe really well in the past year and they are experts at what they do, and passionate about raising up the next generation of advisers,” he said.

“The firm provides a truly integrated advice service, giving confidence to clients who have a dream for a better and richer life, and we are excited to expand our relationship and assist with the next phase of growth.”

The deal will see Bill O’Byrne retire and longstanding Geographe Director Craig Gibson, who joined the business in 1986, wind back his involvement in day-to-day operations to focus exclusively on seeing clients.

Financial advisers, Sean Spencer and Brent O’Byrne, who is Bill’s son, will increase their shareholding and step into expanded leadership roles.

ccording to Spencer, the firm’s strategic partnership with AZ NGA delivers both succession and growth solutions, as well as greater clarity and confidence for remaining partners and staff about the future.

“The South West region is growing rapidly and there is a fantastic opportunity to serve more clients, partner with other advisers in the area and expand through M&A,” he said.

“We have ambitious plans to grow and add more planners, and also increase our productivity, efficiency and capacity by leveraging the resources, expertise and scale of AZ NGA.”

Over the past 50 years, Geographe has primarily grown through organic activity, receiving a constant stream of referrals from existing clients and centres of influence, however, M&A will be a bigger part of the firm’s growth strategy going forward.

“We have established strong relationships within our organisation, and there is significant interest from other firms in joining us. With the support of AZ NGA, we are well-positioned to accelerate our growth and successfully execute our strategic plans,” Spencer said.

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Paul Barrett

Advice platform, AZ NGA, has entered a strategic partnership with national financial advisory firm, MiQ Private Wealth (MiQ), in a deal that provides a succession solution for MiQ’s retiring partners, a pathway for future leaders to become partners, and capital to fund the group’s expansion plans.

For AZ NGA, the deal adds a large, high performing advisory firm to its thriving advice community and expands its regional presence through MiQ’s seven office locations including Geraldton, WA; Toowoomba, QLD; and Canberra, ACT.

Paul Barrett, AZ NGA Group Chief Executive, said MiQ’s unique history and evolution from a group of individual practices operating under its own AFSL to a fully integrated, corporatised business had resulted in an exceptional business, underpinned by a diverse, collaborative and entrepreneurial culture.

“Over the past ten years, MiQ has grown significantly through both organic activity and a disciplined M&A strategy focused on acquiring firms within its AFSL community and known regional opportunities,” he said. “

The group services a broad client base ranging from wealth accumulators and retirees to high-net-worth individuals, as well as a specialist Asian business servicing Chinese, Singaporean and Taiwanese clients.”

David Brown, MiQ Chairman said the group commenced a formal process for a strategic partner in 2024 and attracted interest from six parties, of which AZ NGA stood out for its ability to support businesses to grow while also meeting the needs of both those exiting the business and those continuing on.

“We were looking for a way to enable retiring and retired partners to realise the value of their equity and allow others to buy in,” he said.

“We also wanted to continue growing, particularly through M&A. We could have borrowed more money from the bank and grown alone, but we decided to bring on a strategic partner who could help us scale up and accelerate our journey.”

“We are excited to partner with AZ NGA and take MiQ to the next level.” Established in 2015 and headquartered in Upper Mount Gravatt, Queensland, MiQ is a corporatised business with over 50 employees and 15 financial advisers.

Over the past ten years, the business has grown significantly through both organic and M&A activity. It has eight advice partners and a number of additional shareholders, some of which have retired but retained equity in the business.

“The Board wanted a partner who could provide professional development and career opportunities for our team, and also a network of peers for advisers in our regional offices,” Brown said.

“We can’t provide that at the moment, but AZ NGA has people all over the country and specifically in areas where we are, which will expose our advisers to local, like-minded advisers and new opportunities.”

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