The appointments of Eima Alkheder and Ben Donald, bring extensive experience from across the financial services and advice industries.

Ms Alkheder previously served as an Executive Director and Head of Operations, overseeing operations across highly regulated environments including superannuation, insurance and pensions. Mr Donald is a Life Insurance Specialist at Life Advice Partners, with active industry involvement through insurer advisory boards, and the FAAA Life Insurance Committee.

Their appointments support PFAN’s continued focus on strengthening partnerships, expanding adviser participation and delivering high‑quality pro bono advice to Australians in need.

According to PFAN’s Chair Nicola Beswick, since its inception in 2014, participation from advisers, practices and partners has become more coordinated.

“Firms are embedding pro bono advice into their culture as part of professional advice, not as an exception to it. This has changed what’s possible for PFAN in terms of our outlook for growth and the people we support. Eima and Ben both bring hands-on experience across operations, insurance and advice, which will help us keep building momentum and reach more people.”

Today, PFAN works with more than 170 financial advisers, delivering over 850 hours of pro bono financial advice. Since it was established, PFAN has connected Australians living with serious illness or disability to qualified financial advisers willing to provide pro bono advice.

Working closely with referral partners such as the Multiple Sclerosis and MND networks across Australia, PFAN matches individuals in financial hardship with locally based advisers who can support them through complex financial decisions. These initiatives have been supported by PFAN’s corporate partners over several years, reflecting the collective focus on delivering financial advice to more Australians.

Parachute Cover Founder and PFAN Adviser, Natalie Lackner said her involvement with the network allows her to support people she wouldn’t typically encounter in her day-to-day work.

“It creates a pathway for advisers to use their expertise where it can have the greatest impact, helping people navigate complex financial decisions at an incredibly difficult time.”

The new appointments join existing Board members Nicola Beswick, Natalie Kleibert, Stephen Knight, Anne McDonnell, Niall McConville, Paul Harding‑Davis and Aleks Vickovich.

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Nicola Beswick

The Pro Bono Financial Advice Network (PFAN) is pleased to announce new partnerships with Pancare and MND Victoria, creating more opportunities for people living with a serious illness or disability to access pro bono advice.

Established in 2014, PFAN is a network of financial advisers who provide pro bono financial advice to those in need. Since inception, PFAN has been working with the Multiple Sclerosis network throughout Australia, connecting individuals through referral partners to locally based advisers. Now, through new partnerships with Pancare and MND Victoria, PFAN will also support people affected by pancreatic and Upper GI cancers, and those diagonosed with motor neurone disease.

Advisers registered with PFAN are given the opportunity to take on one pro bono client per year.

PFAN Chair Nicola Beswick said the opportunity to connect more individuals living with a personal health crisis with local based advisers is central to the organisation’s mission.

“Helping to improve the financial wellbeing of Australians living with a serious illness or disability is the reason behind PFAN’s inception. So being able to extend the network of charities we work with means we can help more people in need with access to financial advice.

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Established in 2014, PFAN is a trusted network of industry professionals who are focused on providing pro bono financial advice to those in need. Currently, PFAN works with the Multiple Sclerosis network throughout Australia, connecting individuals through referral partners to locally based advisers. Advisers registered with PFAN are given the opportunity to take on one pro bono client per year.

PFAN Chair Nicola Beswick said she is delighted that Zurich Assure, Inteprac and Sequoia have joined the PFAN network to help improve the financial wellbeing of people in need.

“Our mission is to help improve the financial wellbeing of Australian’s living with serious illness or disability, by providing pro bono financial advice, and to inspire others to do the same. Through our PFAN adviser network, we’re able to connect advisers with people who need financial advice assistance and are experiencing significant financial hardship because of a personal health crisis.

“Having the support from trusted brands like Zurich Assure, InterPrac and Sequoia enables us to service more clients and ultimately extend our services to others that need our assistance. We also hope to inspire the next generation of advisers and increase awareness of the value that we bring to others through our profession.”

As a market leader in helping advised clients to navigate the insurance claims process, Zurich Assure has offered its support and assistance to the PFAN community.

Head of Zurich Assure Sandhya Maini said: “Recent research conducted by Zurich shows that in the event of an illness or injury impacting their primary income, almost 40 per cent of individuals would only have sufficient financial resources for up to two weeks. In addition, one in three people indicated they had no financial backup plan in these circumstances.

“Seeking and obtaining the right advice at the right time can make a significant and positive difference. For this reason, and consistent with our values as an organisation, Zurich remains committed to helping those most in need.”

Through PFAN, InterPrac and Sequoia’s network of advisers can now register their interest in providing pro bono financial advice.

InterPrac CEO Garry Crole said: “InterPrac and Sequoia are pleased to support those who need advice the most, by participating in this program. In our opinion, the best investment any one can make, is to appoint a financial planner or wealth coach.”

Feedback from advisers who have signed up to the PFAN network have expressed the importance of giving back by offering their professional services in kind to those who need it the most.

Sovereign Advisors Managing Director Zaheer Lalani said: “As trusted professionals in the business of providing financial advice, it is not only suggested but incumbent on us all to share our time and knowledge with those who need us most.”

Border Financial Advice Managing Director Tom Border said: “I understand that financial literacy isn’t necessarily accessible to everyone – it can be costly and involve complicated concepts and legislation. I would like to use the knowledge I’ve gained over 25 years in the industry to help others.”

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Nicola Beswick

The Pro Bono Financial Advice Network (PFAN) is pleased to announce the appointment of existing Board members, Nicola Beswick as Chair, and Natalie Kleibert as Deputy Chair.

Ms Beswick and Ms Kleibert will be responsible for leading PFAN into the next phase of its purpose – improving the financial wellbeing of Australians living with serious illness and/or disability by providing pro bono financial advice. Western Australian financial adviser, Stephen Knight, has also joined the Board.

“I am privileged to take on the role of Chair of PFAN,” Ms Beswick said. “As a financial adviser I understand the many small, yet powerful actions that people can take to change their financial future, and by their very nature, the course of their lives.”

Established in 2014, PFAN is a trusted network of industry professionals who are focused on providing pro bono financial advice to those in need. Advisers connected to PFAN provide trusted, quality financial advice that improves the sense of security for these clients.

In 2016, PFAN partnered with MS Queensland to provide pro bono financial advice to people with MS who had identified financial advice as one of their most needed services. PFAN has also formed a partnership with MS Limited, who provide services to those located in Victoria, NSW, ACT and Tasmania.

Ms Beswick succeeds Nick Hakes, who has stepped down as PFAN Chair after four years of service, but remains on as Treasurer. Tim Meggitt has stepped down as a director after seven years.

“I’d like to thank Tim for his contribution and many years of service. I’d also like to extend a special thank you to Nick for leading the Board with passion and enthusiasm during his time as Chair,” Ms Beswick said. “I am looking forward to working with him and the rest of the Board in continuing to grow the PFAN network and promoting the value and the positive difference that our PFAN advisers are delivering to individuals living with multiple sclerosis.”

Ms Beswick, a financial adviser, based in Melbourne, Victoria, said supporting people, particularly when they are experiencing a health crisis, highlights the importance of the work of advisers.

“I have a deep personal understanding of this as my dad was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis many years ago,” she said. “An income protection policy changed his financial future. This is why I am passionate about leading PFAN and the work we do to support the MS community.”

Ms Beswick also thanked TAL and the Association of Financial Advisers, who provide support with PFAN’s administration and operations.

During the pandemic this year, 17 clients have been connected with a PFAN adviser.

“It is pleasing to see we are connecting individuals who are living with multiple sclerosis, who cannot otherwise afford or access financial advice, with a PFAN adviser,” Ms Beswick said. “We have much more to do, to continue to promote the significant difference that financial advice can make, and to inspire other partners and advisers to join us on our important mission.”

Ms Beswick encouraged more advisers to make themselves available to support a pro bono advice case. “I welcome any adviser who wants to help someone in need to get in touch with us and find out how little of their own time it can take to support just one more person. They will be giving that person vital financial advice at a time when they need it. It’s often a small contribution that makes a massive difference.”

Other board members include Paul Harding-Davis, Brad Fox, Kate Humphries and Niall McConville.

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