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        <title>AdviserVoiceThe BFO - The Board of The Banking and Finance Oath Archives - AdviserVoice</title>
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                <title>MetLife CX consultant named 2022 BFO Young Ambassador</title>
                <link>https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2022/06/metlife-cx-consultant-named-2022-bfo-young-ambassador/</link>
                <comments>https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2022/06/metlife-cx-consultant-named-2022-bfo-young-ambassador/#respond</comments>
                <pubDate>Mon, 13 Jun 2022 21:50:23 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator>
                                    </dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Business Excellence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aoife Donnelly]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cris Parker]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kat Ilieska]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Phillip Lowe]]></category>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.adviservoice.com.au/?p=82682</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<h3>MetLife Australia’s Customer Experience Consultant, Kat Ilieska, has been named one of The Banking and Finance Oath (BFO) Young Ambassadors for 2022.</h3>
<p>Ms Ilieska and seven others were announced as this year’s BFO Young Ambassador cohort at an event held last week at The Ethics Centre. The BFO Young Ambassadors represent organisations from across the financial services and banking industries.</p>
<p>The BFO Young Ambassador Program encourages and supports young professionals to embrace a strong ethical foundation as they begin their careers in the banking and finance industry. Ms Ilieska is the only BFO Young Ambassador from a life insurance company for the second year running. Last year, MetLife auditor Aoife Donnelly was chosen by The BFO for the 2021 program.</p>
<p>Phillip Lowe, Governor of the Reserve Bank, Dr Simon Longstaff AO, Executive Director of The Ethics Centre, Anna Bligh, CEO Australian Banking Association, and other senior leaders from the financial services industry attended the event announcing this year’s BFO Young Ambassadors.</p>
<p>With a background in customer service, Ms Ilieska will bring a customer focused lens to the Young Ambassador program: “I connect with our customers every day and understand how important those interactions are – they are based on care and trust. I believe ethical thinking and behaviour should be embedded in everything we do, every day. I’m looking forward to expanding my knowledge, networking with others from across the industry and contributing to raising awareness of the role of ethics in our lives.”</p>
<p>Commenting on the BFO Young Ambassador Program, Head of The BFO, Cris Parker said: “The BFO Young Ambassador program continues to go from strength to strength, and it’s wonderful to see so many different sectors within banking and financial services represented. We’re pleased to see MetLife continue to lead within the insurance sector by raising awareness of The BFO and supporting the Young Ambassador program. I can’t wait to see what this year’s cohort will achieve.”</p>
<p>MetLife has a long-standing commitment to The BFO and runs an annual campaign to engage staff with the guiding principles of the BFO, achieving a 40% uptake of the Oath in 2021. MetLife has also led the life insurance industry by encouraging others to take the Oath and advocating for improved ethical standards.</p>
]]></description>
                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<h3>MetLife Australia’s Customer Experience Consultant, Kat Ilieska, has been named one of The Banking and Finance Oath (BFO) Young Ambassadors for 2022.</h3>
<p>Ms Ilieska and seven others were announced as this year’s BFO Young Ambassador cohort at an event held last week at The Ethics Centre. The BFO Young Ambassadors represent organisations from across the financial services and banking industries.</p>
<p>The BFO Young Ambassador Program encourages and supports young professionals to embrace a strong ethical foundation as they begin their careers in the banking and finance industry. Ms Ilieska is the only BFO Young Ambassador from a life insurance company for the second year running. Last year, MetLife auditor Aoife Donnelly was chosen by The BFO for the 2021 program.</p>
<p>Phillip Lowe, Governor of the Reserve Bank, Dr Simon Longstaff AO, Executive Director of The Ethics Centre, Anna Bligh, CEO Australian Banking Association, and other senior leaders from the financial services industry attended the event announcing this year’s BFO Young Ambassadors.</p>
<p>With a background in customer service, Ms Ilieska will bring a customer focused lens to the Young Ambassador program: “I connect with our customers every day and understand how important those interactions are – they are based on care and trust. I believe ethical thinking and behaviour should be embedded in everything we do, every day. I’m looking forward to expanding my knowledge, networking with others from across the industry and contributing to raising awareness of the role of ethics in our lives.”</p>
<p>Commenting on the BFO Young Ambassador Program, Head of The BFO, Cris Parker said: “The BFO Young Ambassador program continues to go from strength to strength, and it’s wonderful to see so many different sectors within banking and financial services represented. We’re pleased to see MetLife continue to lead within the insurance sector by raising awareness of The BFO and supporting the Young Ambassador program. I can’t wait to see what this year’s cohort will achieve.”</p>
<p>MetLife has a long-standing commitment to The BFO and runs an annual campaign to engage staff with the guiding principles of the BFO, achieving a 40% uptake of the Oath in 2021. MetLife has also led the life insurance industry by encouraging others to take the Oath and advocating for improved ethical standards.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2022/06/metlife-cx-consultant-named-2022-bfo-young-ambassador/">MetLife CX consultant named 2022 BFO Young Ambassador</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.adviservoice.com.au">AdviserVoice</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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                <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title>The BFO invites future leaders in finance to be ambassadors for ethics</title>
                <link>https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2021/03/the-bfo-invites-future-leaders-in-finance-to-be-ambassadors-for-ethics/</link>
                <comments>https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2021/03/the-bfo-invites-future-leaders-in-finance-to-be-ambassadors-for-ethics/#respond</comments>
                <pubDate>Thu, 18 Mar 2021 20:50:58 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator>
                                    </dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Regulation/Reform]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cris Parker]]></category>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://adviservoice.com.au/?p=73006</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_72713" style="width: 660px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-72713" class="size-full wp-image-72713" src="https://adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Parker-Cris-650.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="350" srcset="https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Parker-Cris-650.jpg 650w, https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Parker-Cris-650-300x162.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /><p id="caption-attachment-72713" class="wp-caption-text">Cris Parker</p></div>
<h3>The Banking and Finance Oath (The BFO) has announced applications are now open for its 2021-2022 Young Ambassador Program. The Program encourages and supports students and graduates to adopt a strong ethical foundation as they begin their careers in the banking and finance industry.</h3>
<p>Recognising students as the future leaders of the banking and finance industry, each year The BFO selects up to seven students, graduates and young people new to the industry, who demonstrate a commitment to ethics in banking and finance.</p>
<p>This is an opportunity for individuals with strong ethical principles and integrity to assert themselves, reflect on what they want to stand for as a future leader, and consider how they can contribute to the betterment of the industry going forward.</p>
<p>The Young Ambassadors Program offers the opportunity for young people to participate in a 12-month program, including training and development, exposure to industry leaders, full access to The BFO events and a chance to connect with an elder of the industry.</p>
<p>Head of The Banking and Finance Oath Cris Parker, said, “The BFO provides young people with an opportunity to unite, not just in terms of where but also how they choose to work as professionals.</p>
<p>“While the Program provides value to the individuals through the offerings and challenges, it also creates an opportunity for these young industry professionals to lead. The BFO is working with universities to drive awareness of the Program and encourage students who are passionate about upholding strong ethical values as they embark on their career”, said Ms Parker.</p>
<p>The BFO is an initiative founded by industry leaders and part of The Ethics Centre. The Oath contains a set of commitments that individuals can adopt and apply as personal principles in their work.</p>
]]></description>
                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_72713" style="width: 660px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-72713" class="size-full wp-image-72713" src="https://adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Parker-Cris-650.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="350" srcset="https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Parker-Cris-650.jpg 650w, https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Parker-Cris-650-300x162.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /><p id="caption-attachment-72713" class="wp-caption-text">Cris Parker</p></div>
<h3>The Banking and Finance Oath (The BFO) has announced applications are now open for its 2021-2022 Young Ambassador Program. The Program encourages and supports students and graduates to adopt a strong ethical foundation as they begin their careers in the banking and finance industry.</h3>
<p>Recognising students as the future leaders of the banking and finance industry, each year The BFO selects up to seven students, graduates and young people new to the industry, who demonstrate a commitment to ethics in banking and finance.</p>
<p>This is an opportunity for individuals with strong ethical principles and integrity to assert themselves, reflect on what they want to stand for as a future leader, and consider how they can contribute to the betterment of the industry going forward.</p>
<p>The Young Ambassadors Program offers the opportunity for young people to participate in a 12-month program, including training and development, exposure to industry leaders, full access to The BFO events and a chance to connect with an elder of the industry.</p>
<p>Head of The Banking and Finance Oath Cris Parker, said, “The BFO provides young people with an opportunity to unite, not just in terms of where but also how they choose to work as professionals.</p>
<p>“While the Program provides value to the individuals through the offerings and challenges, it also creates an opportunity for these young industry professionals to lead. The BFO is working with universities to drive awareness of the Program and encourage students who are passionate about upholding strong ethical values as they embark on their career”, said Ms Parker.</p>
<p>The BFO is an initiative founded by industry leaders and part of The Ethics Centre. The Oath contains a set of commitments that individuals can adopt and apply as personal principles in their work.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2021/03/the-bfo-invites-future-leaders-in-finance-to-be-ambassadors-for-ethics/">The BFO invites future leaders in finance to be ambassadors for ethics</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.adviservoice.com.au">AdviserVoice</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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                <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title>The Banking and Finance Oath joins forces with The Ethics Centre</title>
                <link>https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2021/03/the-banking-and-finance-oath-joins-forces-with-the-ethics-centre/</link>
                <comments>https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2021/03/the-banking-and-finance-oath-joins-forces-with-the-ethics-centre/#respond</comments>
                <pubDate>Tue, 02 Mar 2021 20:45:54 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator>
                                    </dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[From the Source]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cris Parker]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jodi O’Callaghan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[John Laker]]></category>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://adviservoice.com.au/?p=72711</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_72713" style="width: 660px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-72713" class="size-full wp-image-72713" src="https://adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Parker-Cris-650.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="350" srcset="https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Parker-Cris-650.jpg 650w, https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Parker-Cris-650-300x162.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /><p id="caption-attachment-72713" class="wp-caption-text">Cris Parker</p></div>
<h3 class="x_MsoNormal">The purpose-driven organisation The Banking and Finance Oath (The BFO) has announced a merger with The Ethics Centre, signifying a major step forward in expanding and enriching conversations within the banking and finance industries on ethical issues.</h3>
<p><span lang="EN-AU">The BFO has always enjoyed a close association with The Ethics Centre, with its executive director Simon Longstaff playing a key role in initiating and drafting the Oath. The Ethics Centre is also the sole institutional member of The Banking and Finance Oath Ltd, which administers the Oath<sup>[1]</sup>.</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal">The merger is designed to build on the momentum already generated by senior leaders, especially with the industry’s younger generation through universities and induction programs in the financial service industry.</p>
<p><span lang="EN-AU">Under the new arrangements, The BFO will become a distinct program of The Ethics Centre under the management of Ms Cris Parker, Head of the Ethics Alliance and a Director of The BFO Ltd, with support from Ms Jodi O’Callaghan, who will transfer to The Ethics Centre after serving as The BFO Ltd’s Executive Officer.</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-AU">The BFO program will continue to be funded by signatories and with specific contributions from financial institutions. These funds will be reserved for the support of BFO activities.</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-AU">The BFO will retain its identity – including its website – both of which are important elements underpinning the transparency of individual commitments to The BFO.</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-AU">As a result of this change, The Banking and Finance Oath Ltd will be deregistered – with former Directors being available to support The BFO in an advisory capacity.</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-AU">Dr John Laker, outgoing Chair of the Banking and Finance Oath Ltd., said: “The transfer of The BFO into The Ethics Centre will locate The BFO initiative squarely within its ‘spiritual home’, with clear benefits to both parties. The BFO has been gaining traction, and our Board believes that joining forces with The Ethics Centre, as the industry continues to rebuild community trust, makes good sense. Both organisations will be more effective as one than as two.”</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-AU">Dr Longstaff said: “The BFO was born out of the dark days of the GFC and the need to affirm the ethical foundations on which people working in banking and finance ultimately stand. It reminds us that, at its best, banking and finance can be a noble calling. The Ethics Centre welcomes the opportunity to work with a new generation of ethical leaders ready to build on the legacy of those who launched and nurtured this inspiring initiative.”</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-AU">The new arrangements came into effect from 1 March 2021 this year.</span></p>
<h2><span lang="EN-AU">Background</span></h2>
<p><span lang="EN-AU">The Banking and Finance Oath (The BFO) is a unique, independent organisation whose purpose is to improve our society by raising the moral and ethical standards of the banking and finance industry through the implementation of the Oath. The BFO was incubated at The Ethics Centre as an industry-led initiative and launched online in 2013.<b></b></span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-AU">The Vision of The BFO is “A banking and finance industry that meets the community’s needs and has its full confidence, thereby fulfilling its integral role in society.”</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-AU">The BFO has two clear aims:</span></p>
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">to encourage a strong ethical framework for individuals in our financial services industry. The values of integrity, honesty and trust must underpin the industry’s dealings with the Australian community. The BFO is uniquely targeted at the behaviour of the individual and, building on that behaviour, can help to shape a positive culture within institutions themselves; and</span></li>
<li class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">to provide a public platform on which signatories have the opportunity to demonstrate their integrity and in turn their commitment to the industry. An oath needs to be public, ideally taken publicly but also visible beyond the act. This transparency encourages peer-to-peer accountability and allows the signatory to be held to account by all stakeholders.</span></li>
</ol>
<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-</p>
<h6><b><span lang="EN-AU">[1] The Banking and Finance Oath:<br />
</span></b><span lang="EN-AU">Trust is the foundation of my profession<br />
I will serve all interests in good faith<br />
I will compete with honour<br />
I will pursue my ends with ethical restraint<br />
I will help create a sustainable future<br />
I will help create a more just society<br />
I will speak out against wrongdoing and support others who do the same<br />
I will accept responsibility for my actions<br />
In these and all other matters; My word is my bond.</span></h6>
]]></description>
                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_72713" style="width: 660px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-72713" class="size-full wp-image-72713" src="https://adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Parker-Cris-650.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="350" srcset="https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Parker-Cris-650.jpg 650w, https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Parker-Cris-650-300x162.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /><p id="caption-attachment-72713" class="wp-caption-text">Cris Parker</p></div>
<h3 class="x_MsoNormal">The purpose-driven organisation The Banking and Finance Oath (The BFO) has announced a merger with The Ethics Centre, signifying a major step forward in expanding and enriching conversations within the banking and finance industries on ethical issues.</h3>
<p><span lang="EN-AU">The BFO has always enjoyed a close association with The Ethics Centre, with its executive director Simon Longstaff playing a key role in initiating and drafting the Oath. The Ethics Centre is also the sole institutional member of The Banking and Finance Oath Ltd, which administers the Oath<sup>[1]</sup>.</span></p>
<p class="x_MsoNormal">The merger is designed to build on the momentum already generated by senior leaders, especially with the industry’s younger generation through universities and induction programs in the financial service industry.</p>
<p><span lang="EN-AU">Under the new arrangements, The BFO will become a distinct program of The Ethics Centre under the management of Ms Cris Parker, Head of the Ethics Alliance and a Director of The BFO Ltd, with support from Ms Jodi O’Callaghan, who will transfer to The Ethics Centre after serving as The BFO Ltd’s Executive Officer.</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-AU">The BFO program will continue to be funded by signatories and with specific contributions from financial institutions. These funds will be reserved for the support of BFO activities.</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-AU">The BFO will retain its identity – including its website – both of which are important elements underpinning the transparency of individual commitments to The BFO.</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-AU">As a result of this change, The Banking and Finance Oath Ltd will be deregistered – with former Directors being available to support The BFO in an advisory capacity.</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-AU">Dr John Laker, outgoing Chair of the Banking and Finance Oath Ltd., said: “The transfer of The BFO into The Ethics Centre will locate The BFO initiative squarely within its ‘spiritual home’, with clear benefits to both parties. The BFO has been gaining traction, and our Board believes that joining forces with The Ethics Centre, as the industry continues to rebuild community trust, makes good sense. Both organisations will be more effective as one than as two.”</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-AU">Dr Longstaff said: “The BFO was born out of the dark days of the GFC and the need to affirm the ethical foundations on which people working in banking and finance ultimately stand. It reminds us that, at its best, banking and finance can be a noble calling. The Ethics Centre welcomes the opportunity to work with a new generation of ethical leaders ready to build on the legacy of those who launched and nurtured this inspiring initiative.”</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-AU">The new arrangements came into effect from 1 March 2021 this year.</span></p>
<h2><span lang="EN-AU">Background</span></h2>
<p><span lang="EN-AU">The Banking and Finance Oath (The BFO) is a unique, independent organisation whose purpose is to improve our society by raising the moral and ethical standards of the banking and finance industry through the implementation of the Oath. The BFO was incubated at The Ethics Centre as an industry-led initiative and launched online in 2013.<b></b></span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-AU">The Vision of The BFO is “A banking and finance industry that meets the community’s needs and has its full confidence, thereby fulfilling its integral role in society.”</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-AU">The BFO has two clear aims:</span></p>
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">to encourage a strong ethical framework for individuals in our financial services industry. The values of integrity, honesty and trust must underpin the industry’s dealings with the Australian community. The BFO is uniquely targeted at the behaviour of the individual and, building on that behaviour, can help to shape a positive culture within institutions themselves; and</span></li>
<li class="x_MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">to provide a public platform on which signatories have the opportunity to demonstrate their integrity and in turn their commitment to the industry. An oath needs to be public, ideally taken publicly but also visible beyond the act. This transparency encourages peer-to-peer accountability and allows the signatory to be held to account by all stakeholders.</span></li>
</ol>
<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-</p>
<h6><b><span lang="EN-AU">[1] The Banking and Finance Oath:<br />
</span></b><span lang="EN-AU">Trust is the foundation of my profession<br />
I will serve all interests in good faith<br />
I will compete with honour<br />
I will pursue my ends with ethical restraint<br />
I will help create a sustainable future<br />
I will help create a more just society<br />
I will speak out against wrongdoing and support others who do the same<br />
I will accept responsibility for my actions<br />
In these and all other matters; My word is my bond.</span></h6>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2021/03/the-banking-and-finance-oath-joins-forces-with-the-ethics-centre/">The Banking and Finance Oath joins forces with The Ethics Centre</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.adviservoice.com.au">AdviserVoice</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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                <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title>The BFO and RBA Governor Lowe announce 2020 cohort of Young Ambassadors</title>
                <link>https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2020/05/the-bfo-and-rba-governor-lowe-announce-2020-cohort-of-young-ambassadors/</link>
                <comments>https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2020/05/the-bfo-and-rba-governor-lowe-announce-2020-cohort-of-young-ambassadors/#respond</comments>
                <pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2020 21:55:40 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator>
                                    </dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Industry Bodies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Anu Sharma]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[David Goldfeld]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Elle Griffin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jillian Broadbent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[John Laker]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Louisa Brown]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michelle Lim]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Philip Lowe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ricky Rangra]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sarah Valente]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stephen Dunne]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tracy Wilcox]]></category>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://adviservoice.com.au/?p=67977</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_67985" style="width: 660px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-67985" class="size-full wp-image-67985" src="https://adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ambassador-650.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="350" srcset="https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ambassador-650.jpg 650w, https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ambassador-650-300x162.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /><p id="caption-attachment-67985" class="wp-caption-text">The BFO unveils the 2020 cohort of Young Ambassadors.</p></div>
<h3>The Banking and Finance Oath (The BFO) is proud to introduce the 2020 cohort of Young Ambassadors – a Program encouraging and supporting students, graduates and young people to contribute to a strong ethical foundation as they begin their careers in the banking and finance industry.</h3>
<p>As a strong supporter of The BFO, the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Philip Lowe, has announced the 2020 cohort, acknowledging the importance of trust, integrity and ethics in fostering a positive culture within the industry.</p>
<p>“Finance is all about trust. When a deposit is placed in a bank, we trust it will be repaid. We also trust financial institutions to invest our hard-earned savings for us. And we trust them to provide us with sound advice. Without this trust, the financial system cannot operate properly and the economy cannot prosper. As the first line of The Banking and Finance Oath says: ‘Trust is the foundation of my profession’. The Young Ambassadors, as future leaders in the industry can help to rebuild trust in finance through the example they set” said Governor Lowe.</p>
<p>Recognising young people as the future leaders of the industry, Governor Lowe congratulated the seven successful candidates, who have demonstrated a strong commitment to ethics in banking and finance:</p>
<ul>
<li>Louisa Brown, Graduate, NAB</li>
<li>David Goldfeld, Graduate, UBank</li>
<li>Elle Griffin, Senior Analyst, CBA</li>
<li>Michelle Lim, Consultant, KPMG</li>
<li>Ricky Rangra, Student, The University of Sydney</li>
<li>Anu Sharma, Graduate, NAB</li>
<li>Sarah Valente, Graduate, ANZ</li>
</ul>
<p>Chair of The BFO, Dr John Laker AO said, “In these unprecedented times, the banking and finance industry is playing a vital role in supporting the Australian community through hardship. Our industry may change after the COVID-19 pandemic is tamed but that is difficult to know. What we do know, though, is that our Young Ambassadors have the leadership qualities to help influence positive change and set an example of honesty and integrity for their peers&#8221;.</p>
<p>Recognising the Young Ambassador Program can reach only a limited amount of young people within tertiary institutions, The BFO is working with universities across Australia to introduce the Oath to young people in their banking and finance degrees. The aim of this collaboration is to support young people going into financial services who lead with their values, and work with their organisations to strengthen the ethical foundation of the industry.</p>
<p>Academic Director for Postgraduate Programs in the University of New South Wales Business School, Tracy Wilcox said, “We know that young people are more interested in living a life with purpose. And we are seeing the importance of trust and integrity in underpinning flourishing societies and economies. The BFO Young Ambassador Program enables emerging leaders in the banking and finance industry to make a positive difference in their field. I hope to see more and more of our students embrace the values and practices that The BFO embodies.”</p>
<p>The Young Ambassador Program offers the opportunity for young people to participate in a 12-month Program, including training and development, exposure to industry leaders, access to The BFO events and a chance to connect with an elder of the industry. The Program allows participants to harness the full potential of The BFO in their workplace. On completion of the Program the group is required to deliver a project that contributes to the ongoing conversation exploring ethics.</p>
<p>You can find out more about the Program, past projects and the 2020 Young Ambassadors on <a href="https://thebfo.org/programs/young-ambassador">The BFO website</a>.</p>
<h2>The BFO presents &#8216;<em>Ethics in Financial Services</em>&#8216; podcast series</h2>
<p>The project delivered by the 2019 Young Ambassadors saw the group produce a podcast series featuring interviews with senior members of the banking and financial services industry. Among those interviewed were Jillian Broadbent AC, member of the board of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Chair of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and Chancellor of the University of Wollongong, and Stephen Dunne, former CEO of AMP Capital and first Chairman of The BFO Ltd.</p>
<p>In each interview, guests shared their story about an ethically challenging decision they were faced with during their career. Each episode presents a tangible case study from which other members of the industry can draw when facing their own ethical challenges.</p>
<p>You can listen to the podcast series ‘Ethics in financial services’ on <a href="https://thebfo.org/programs/ambassador-podcast-project">The BFO website and other podcast platforms.</a></p>
<p>This podcast series will continue to provide past and present Young Ambassadors the opportunity to talk with leaders who are able to share challenging times. This will allow a continuous learning for future leaders.</p>
]]></description>
                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_67985" style="width: 660px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-67985" class="size-full wp-image-67985" src="https://adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ambassador-650.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="350" srcset="https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ambassador-650.jpg 650w, https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ambassador-650-300x162.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /><p id="caption-attachment-67985" class="wp-caption-text">The BFO unveils the 2020 cohort of Young Ambassadors.</p></div>
<h3>The Banking and Finance Oath (The BFO) is proud to introduce the 2020 cohort of Young Ambassadors – a Program encouraging and supporting students, graduates and young people to contribute to a strong ethical foundation as they begin their careers in the banking and finance industry.</h3>
<p>As a strong supporter of The BFO, the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Philip Lowe, has announced the 2020 cohort, acknowledging the importance of trust, integrity and ethics in fostering a positive culture within the industry.</p>
<p>“Finance is all about trust. When a deposit is placed in a bank, we trust it will be repaid. We also trust financial institutions to invest our hard-earned savings for us. And we trust them to provide us with sound advice. Without this trust, the financial system cannot operate properly and the economy cannot prosper. As the first line of The Banking and Finance Oath says: ‘Trust is the foundation of my profession’. The Young Ambassadors, as future leaders in the industry can help to rebuild trust in finance through the example they set” said Governor Lowe.</p>
<p>Recognising young people as the future leaders of the industry, Governor Lowe congratulated the seven successful candidates, who have demonstrated a strong commitment to ethics in banking and finance:</p>
<ul>
<li>Louisa Brown, Graduate, NAB</li>
<li>David Goldfeld, Graduate, UBank</li>
<li>Elle Griffin, Senior Analyst, CBA</li>
<li>Michelle Lim, Consultant, KPMG</li>
<li>Ricky Rangra, Student, The University of Sydney</li>
<li>Anu Sharma, Graduate, NAB</li>
<li>Sarah Valente, Graduate, ANZ</li>
</ul>
<p>Chair of The BFO, Dr John Laker AO said, “In these unprecedented times, the banking and finance industry is playing a vital role in supporting the Australian community through hardship. Our industry may change after the COVID-19 pandemic is tamed but that is difficult to know. What we do know, though, is that our Young Ambassadors have the leadership qualities to help influence positive change and set an example of honesty and integrity for their peers&#8221;.</p>
<p>Recognising the Young Ambassador Program can reach only a limited amount of young people within tertiary institutions, The BFO is working with universities across Australia to introduce the Oath to young people in their banking and finance degrees. The aim of this collaboration is to support young people going into financial services who lead with their values, and work with their organisations to strengthen the ethical foundation of the industry.</p>
<p>Academic Director for Postgraduate Programs in the University of New South Wales Business School, Tracy Wilcox said, “We know that young people are more interested in living a life with purpose. And we are seeing the importance of trust and integrity in underpinning flourishing societies and economies. The BFO Young Ambassador Program enables emerging leaders in the banking and finance industry to make a positive difference in their field. I hope to see more and more of our students embrace the values and practices that The BFO embodies.”</p>
<p>The Young Ambassador Program offers the opportunity for young people to participate in a 12-month Program, including training and development, exposure to industry leaders, access to The BFO events and a chance to connect with an elder of the industry. The Program allows participants to harness the full potential of The BFO in their workplace. On completion of the Program the group is required to deliver a project that contributes to the ongoing conversation exploring ethics.</p>
<p>You can find out more about the Program, past projects and the 2020 Young Ambassadors on <a href="https://thebfo.org/programs/young-ambassador">The BFO website</a>.</p>
<h2>The BFO presents &#8216;<em>Ethics in Financial Services</em>&#8216; podcast series</h2>
<p>The project delivered by the 2019 Young Ambassadors saw the group produce a podcast series featuring interviews with senior members of the banking and financial services industry. Among those interviewed were Jillian Broadbent AC, member of the board of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Chair of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and Chancellor of the University of Wollongong, and Stephen Dunne, former CEO of AMP Capital and first Chairman of The BFO Ltd.</p>
<p>In each interview, guests shared their story about an ethically challenging decision they were faced with during their career. Each episode presents a tangible case study from which other members of the industry can draw when facing their own ethical challenges.</p>
<p>You can listen to the podcast series ‘Ethics in financial services’ on <a href="https://thebfo.org/programs/ambassador-podcast-project">The BFO website and other podcast platforms.</a></p>
<p>This podcast series will continue to provide past and present Young Ambassadors the opportunity to talk with leaders who are able to share challenging times. This will allow a continuous learning for future leaders.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2020/05/the-bfo-and-rba-governor-lowe-announce-2020-cohort-of-young-ambassadors/">The BFO and RBA Governor Lowe announce 2020 cohort of Young Ambassadors</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.adviservoice.com.au">AdviserVoice</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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                <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title>The BFO invites future leaders in financial services to be ambassadors for ethics</title>
                <link>https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2019/11/the-bfo-invites-future-leaders-in-financial-services-to-be-ambassadors-for-ethics/</link>
                <comments>https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2019/11/the-bfo-invites-future-leaders-in-financial-services-to-be-ambassadors-for-ethics/#respond</comments>
                <pubDate>Tue, 12 Nov 2019 21:00:37 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator>
                                    </dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Industry Bodies]]></category>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://adviservoice.com.au/?p=64855</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_64857" style="width: 660px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-64857" class="size-full wp-image-64857" src="https://adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/O’Callaghan-jodi-650.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="350" srcset="https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/O’Callaghan-jodi-650.jpg 650w, https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/O’Callaghan-jodi-650-300x162.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /><p id="caption-attachment-64857" class="wp-caption-text">Jodi O’Callaghan</p></div>
<h3>The Banking and Finance Oath (The BFO) has announced applications are now open for its Young Ambassador Program. The Program encourages and supports students and graduates to adopt a strong ethical foundation as they begin their careers in the banking and finance industry.</h3>
<p>Recognising students as the future leaders of the banking and finance industry, The BFO Board each year selects six students, and young people new to the industry, who demonstrate a commitment to ethics in banking and finance.</p>
<p>The Young Ambassador Program offers the opportunity for young people to participate in a 12-month program, including training and development, exposure to industry leaders, full access to The BFO events and a chance to connect with an elder of the industry.</p>
<p>The BFO Executive Officer, Jodi O’Callaghan said, “This is a wonderful opportunity for young people passionate about making a difference in financial services to embed themselves in the principles The BFO stands for – ethics, integrity and trust – and take these with them throughout their careers.”</p>
<p>The BFO is working with universities to drive awareness of the Program and encourage students who are passionate about upholding strong ethical values as they embark on their career.</p>
<p>In collaboration with Entropico production house, the 2019 Young Ambassadors produced a powerful video on the importance of self-reflection and serving all interests in good faith – <a href="https://vimeo.com/320657380">watch it here</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.thebfo.org/Programs/Young-Ambassador">More information about the Young Ambassador Program</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_64857" style="width: 660px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-64857" class="size-full wp-image-64857" src="https://adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/O’Callaghan-jodi-650.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="350" srcset="https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/O’Callaghan-jodi-650.jpg 650w, https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/O’Callaghan-jodi-650-300x162.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /><p id="caption-attachment-64857" class="wp-caption-text">Jodi O’Callaghan</p></div>
<h3>The Banking and Finance Oath (The BFO) has announced applications are now open for its Young Ambassador Program. The Program encourages and supports students and graduates to adopt a strong ethical foundation as they begin their careers in the banking and finance industry.</h3>
<p>Recognising students as the future leaders of the banking and finance industry, The BFO Board each year selects six students, and young people new to the industry, who demonstrate a commitment to ethics in banking and finance.</p>
<p>The Young Ambassador Program offers the opportunity for young people to participate in a 12-month program, including training and development, exposure to industry leaders, full access to The BFO events and a chance to connect with an elder of the industry.</p>
<p>The BFO Executive Officer, Jodi O’Callaghan said, “This is a wonderful opportunity for young people passionate about making a difference in financial services to embed themselves in the principles The BFO stands for – ethics, integrity and trust – and take these with them throughout their careers.”</p>
<p>The BFO is working with universities to drive awareness of the Program and encourage students who are passionate about upholding strong ethical values as they embark on their career.</p>
<p>In collaboration with Entropico production house, the 2019 Young Ambassadors produced a powerful video on the importance of self-reflection and serving all interests in good faith – <a href="https://vimeo.com/320657380">watch it here</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.thebfo.org/Programs/Young-Ambassador">More information about the Young Ambassador Program</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2019/11/the-bfo-invites-future-leaders-in-financial-services-to-be-ambassadors-for-ethics/">The BFO invites future leaders in financial services to be ambassadors for ethics</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.adviservoice.com.au">AdviserVoice</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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                <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title>Creating a sustainable future: Grameen&#8217;s model is not a hand-out, but a hand-up</title>
                <link>https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2019/08/creating-a-sustainable-future-grameens-model-is-not-a-hand-out-but-a-hand-up/</link>
                <comments>https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2019/08/creating-a-sustainable-future-grameens-model-is-not-a-hand-out-but-a-hand-up/#respond</comments>
                <pubDate>Sun, 04 Aug 2019 21:55:59 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator>
                                    </dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Thought Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kat Dunn]]></category>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://adviservoice.com.au/?p=63089</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_63091" style="width: 660px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-63091" class="size-full wp-image-63091" src="https://adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/dunn-kat-650.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="350" srcset="https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/dunn-kat-650.jpg 650w, https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/dunn-kat-650-300x162.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /><p id="caption-attachment-63091" class="wp-caption-text">Kat Dunn</p></div>
<h3>An executive high-flyer who spent her first years on the poverty-stricken streets of Manila has told how she walked away from corporate life &#8211; as she felt like a fraud.</h3>
<p>Though Kat Dunn, who will be speaking at The BFO Crossroads Conference next month next month, is now back – this time a chief executive.</p>
<p>But the trained lawyer is doing it on her own terms, following the dreams she had as a child to make the world a better place, at the helm of Grameen Australia.</p>
<p>The story about her roller coaster career and that of the social financier she now works for makes salutary reading for anyone looking into how financial services really can make a difference.</p>
<p>By the age of 32, her ambition to become a human rights lawyer had been subsumed by an ambition to make money. She was very good at it, making deals worth three billion dollars in the previous year and a half.</p>
<p>Kat said: “I remember on the outside looking in, it looked like I had won the professional lottery. But on the inside, I felt like a fraud.</p>
<p>“I loved how business could work to generate the kind of money that had the power to transform people&#8217;s lives.</p>
<p>“But the way I was seeing traditional business work was that it was actually causing social problems, not fixing them.</p>
<p>“Things like cutting costs and adopting environmentally damaging practices,  which would make investors richer &#8211; but at the expense of other people.</p>
<p>“It was a mindset that chased personal wins over community balance. I aspired to grow up to have a career that valued generosity, but then ended up in one that valued greed.”</p>
<p>So she quit, without a job to go to.</p>
<p>But it looks as though she really did win the lottery when she was approached to be CEO of Grameen Australia to work for a Nobel Peace Prize winner.</p>
<p>Professor Muhammad Yunus, who founded Grameen Bank in Bangladesh which has now been replicated over 100 times around the world, is a rockstar in the social enterprise world and is widely credited as single-handedly lifting an entire nation out of poverty.</p>
<p>Kat said: “Many call him the Bangladeshi Mother Theresa or Nelson Mandela. And yet, what he did was really simple, and it started with just $27.”</p>
<p>The Fulbright Scholar Nobel Laureate and social entrepreneur saw people dying of starvation in the streets in a country where the job market was decimated and there was no money to go around.</p>
<p>“People were so poor that they didn&#8217;t qualify for bank loans,” Kat shared of Professor Yunus’ real world experience, which is set out in his book “The Banker to the Poor”.</p>
<p>“These poor people were mostly women. They would set up little businesses making bamboo furniture, and sell it to the market. But in order to this, they needed to have money to buy the bamboo.</p>
<p>“The women  were so poor that the banks wouldn&#8217;t give them a loan, and they would have no choice but to go to loan sharks, who would charge them crazy high interest rates.</p>
<p>“It meant that once they sold their furniture, and paid back their debt with interest, they had no money left over to feed their family, educate their kids, and get ahead.”</p>
<p>Professor Yunus decided to solve this social problem by performing an experiment which challenged conventional wisdom that poor people didn’t have the character to pay back loans. He initially lent the women small amounts of money from his own pocket, so they wouldn&#8217;t have to go through loan sharks – being $27USD between 42 women</p>
<p>“Because he wasn&#8217;t trying to make a profit from them, his interest rates were reasonable and when they sold their furniture, made a profit, and paid the debt back with interest, they had enough money left to get ahead.</p>
<p>“Instead of losing all his money by backing these women, they paid him back at a rate of 100%.</p>
<p>“What started out as $27 between 42 women, has become 27 billion dollars across ten million people. With worldwide repayment rates of 97%.”</p>
<p>The unique thing about this model is that, unlike charity, it is not a hand out – but a hand-up. Instead of worrying about what happens if charitable grants run out, future funding of the solution comes from the business model itself. And unlike traditional business, the primary goal of microfinance isn’t to make investors richer, but to give financially excluded people access to capital that can transform their lives and educate an entire generation of otherwise marginalised children.</p>
<p>This message ties into the BFO’s 5<sup>th</sup> tenant being “I will help create a sustainable future”.</p>
<p>Professor Yunus often states that the only thing stopping us from changing the world is our imagination. We can see through just one example that it is possible to imagine a future where appropriate moral and ethical standards are upheld and a good quality of life is enjoyed by all, whilst leveraging the powerful tool of business to generate resources to solve social problems that create self-employment opportunities for people that traditional banks have written off.</p>
<p>What has happened to these original borrowers of Grameen Bank? They have now collectively accumulated deposits within Grameen Bank that exceed the loans being issued – that means the women borrowers initially deemed “un-creditworthy” by traditional banks have become women lenders.</p>
<p><em><strong>By Katrina Dunn, CEO of Grameen Australia</strong></em></p>
<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-</p>
<p>You can hear Kat Dunn speak at The BFO Crossroads Conference on Thursday 8 August 2019 at Westpac, Barangaroo, Sydney. The Program, full list of speakers and tickets are available <a href="https://campaign.finsia.com/BFO-Conference-2019-BFO" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_63091" style="width: 660px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-63091" class="size-full wp-image-63091" src="https://adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/dunn-kat-650.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="350" srcset="https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/dunn-kat-650.jpg 650w, https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/dunn-kat-650-300x162.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /><p id="caption-attachment-63091" class="wp-caption-text">Kat Dunn</p></div>
<h3>An executive high-flyer who spent her first years on the poverty-stricken streets of Manila has told how she walked away from corporate life &#8211; as she felt like a fraud.</h3>
<p>Though Kat Dunn, who will be speaking at The BFO Crossroads Conference next month next month, is now back – this time a chief executive.</p>
<p>But the trained lawyer is doing it on her own terms, following the dreams she had as a child to make the world a better place, at the helm of Grameen Australia.</p>
<p>The story about her roller coaster career and that of the social financier she now works for makes salutary reading for anyone looking into how financial services really can make a difference.</p>
<p>By the age of 32, her ambition to become a human rights lawyer had been subsumed by an ambition to make money. She was very good at it, making deals worth three billion dollars in the previous year and a half.</p>
<p>Kat said: “I remember on the outside looking in, it looked like I had won the professional lottery. But on the inside, I felt like a fraud.</p>
<p>“I loved how business could work to generate the kind of money that had the power to transform people&#8217;s lives.</p>
<p>“But the way I was seeing traditional business work was that it was actually causing social problems, not fixing them.</p>
<p>“Things like cutting costs and adopting environmentally damaging practices,  which would make investors richer &#8211; but at the expense of other people.</p>
<p>“It was a mindset that chased personal wins over community balance. I aspired to grow up to have a career that valued generosity, but then ended up in one that valued greed.”</p>
<p>So she quit, without a job to go to.</p>
<p>But it looks as though she really did win the lottery when she was approached to be CEO of Grameen Australia to work for a Nobel Peace Prize winner.</p>
<p>Professor Muhammad Yunus, who founded Grameen Bank in Bangladesh which has now been replicated over 100 times around the world, is a rockstar in the social enterprise world and is widely credited as single-handedly lifting an entire nation out of poverty.</p>
<p>Kat said: “Many call him the Bangladeshi Mother Theresa or Nelson Mandela. And yet, what he did was really simple, and it started with just $27.”</p>
<p>The Fulbright Scholar Nobel Laureate and social entrepreneur saw people dying of starvation in the streets in a country where the job market was decimated and there was no money to go around.</p>
<p>“People were so poor that they didn&#8217;t qualify for bank loans,” Kat shared of Professor Yunus’ real world experience, which is set out in his book “The Banker to the Poor”.</p>
<p>“These poor people were mostly women. They would set up little businesses making bamboo furniture, and sell it to the market. But in order to this, they needed to have money to buy the bamboo.</p>
<p>“The women  were so poor that the banks wouldn&#8217;t give them a loan, and they would have no choice but to go to loan sharks, who would charge them crazy high interest rates.</p>
<p>“It meant that once they sold their furniture, and paid back their debt with interest, they had no money left over to feed their family, educate their kids, and get ahead.”</p>
<p>Professor Yunus decided to solve this social problem by performing an experiment which challenged conventional wisdom that poor people didn’t have the character to pay back loans. He initially lent the women small amounts of money from his own pocket, so they wouldn&#8217;t have to go through loan sharks – being $27USD between 42 women</p>
<p>“Because he wasn&#8217;t trying to make a profit from them, his interest rates were reasonable and when they sold their furniture, made a profit, and paid the debt back with interest, they had enough money left to get ahead.</p>
<p>“Instead of losing all his money by backing these women, they paid him back at a rate of 100%.</p>
<p>“What started out as $27 between 42 women, has become 27 billion dollars across ten million people. With worldwide repayment rates of 97%.”</p>
<p>The unique thing about this model is that, unlike charity, it is not a hand out – but a hand-up. Instead of worrying about what happens if charitable grants run out, future funding of the solution comes from the business model itself. And unlike traditional business, the primary goal of microfinance isn’t to make investors richer, but to give financially excluded people access to capital that can transform their lives and educate an entire generation of otherwise marginalised children.</p>
<p>This message ties into the BFO’s 5<sup>th</sup> tenant being “I will help create a sustainable future”.</p>
<p>Professor Yunus often states that the only thing stopping us from changing the world is our imagination. We can see through just one example that it is possible to imagine a future where appropriate moral and ethical standards are upheld and a good quality of life is enjoyed by all, whilst leveraging the powerful tool of business to generate resources to solve social problems that create self-employment opportunities for people that traditional banks have written off.</p>
<p>What has happened to these original borrowers of Grameen Bank? They have now collectively accumulated deposits within Grameen Bank that exceed the loans being issued – that means the women borrowers initially deemed “un-creditworthy” by traditional banks have become women lenders.</p>
<p><em><strong>By Katrina Dunn, CEO of Grameen Australia</strong></em></p>
<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-</p>
<p>You can hear Kat Dunn speak at The BFO Crossroads Conference on Thursday 8 August 2019 at Westpac, Barangaroo, Sydney. The Program, full list of speakers and tickets are available <a href="https://campaign.finsia.com/BFO-Conference-2019-BFO" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2019/08/creating-a-sustainable-future-grameens-model-is-not-a-hand-out-but-a-hand-up/">Creating a sustainable future: Grameen&#8217;s model is not a hand-out, but a hand-up</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.adviservoice.com.au">AdviserVoice</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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                <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title>The Banking and Finance Royal Commission: Will this time be different?</title>
                <link>https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2019/07/the-banking-and-finance-royal-commission-will-this-time-be-different/</link>
                <comments>https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2019/07/the-banking-and-finance-royal-commission-will-this-time-be-different/#respond</comments>
                <pubDate>Sun, 28 Jul 2019 21:50:42 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator>
                                    </dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Thought Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leslie Cannold]]></category>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://adviservoice.com.au/?p=63082</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_63084" style="width: 660px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-63084" class="size-full wp-image-63084" src="https://adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Cannold-Leslie-650.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="350" srcset="https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Cannold-Leslie-650.jpg 650w, https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Cannold-Leslie-650-300x162.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /><p id="caption-attachment-63084" class="wp-caption-text">Leslie Cannold</p></div>
<h3>The imputations of Commissioner Kenneth Hayne’s final report on the Royal Commission into <em>Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry </em>were blistering. The Banking and Finance industry are led and staffed by the greedy who are more than willing and able to exploit the needy.</h3>
<p>The industries’ systems are fine-tuned to measure profit – their profit – and to be inexcusably blind to the losses worn by those whose interests they claim and are bound to protect. Namely, their customers. Despite knowing these facts for many years courtesy of multiple government reports, business as usual continues to prevail while some banking executives and the regulators meant to oversight them minimise and excuse this behaviour as careless “administrative errors.”</p>
<p>Hayne was having none of it. In lucid prose marked by restraint, he was brave and outraged enough to deploy precisely the non-Weasel words the industry hates to call a spade a spade:<br />
“In the <em>Interim Report</em>, I identified several considerations that pointed towards the conclusion that the root cause of the fees for no service conduct was greed: greed by licensees, and greed by advisers. The evidence that emerged in later rounds of the Commission’s hearings only served to reinforce that conclusion…It was, as I have said, entities taking money for nothing…On its face, taking money for nothing is dishonest conduct.” (138, 154)</p>
<p>As an ethicist, my view is that greed had company in driving the unethical, corrupt or unlawful decisions and actions documented in the Royal Commission’s final report. Naked and aggressive self-interest, base disregard of one’s duties to less powerful others as well as callous indifference to the resulting harm are also in the mix. But after countless reports into the finance sector, the problems are clear and even a six year-old would have no trouble explaining why taking fees for no service is wrong. The Commissioner’s job was to explain why &#8211; despite this – the industry’s bad behaviour continues on. Naming the factor in the way of real progress and daring to speak its name – greed – is key.</p>
<p>What else? What we need now are a fresh slate of industry leaders motivated by a sense of fair play and a thirst to restore public trust. Men and women who are ethical leaders in the true sense of the word: willing to take responsibility for what’s happened and for making the radical, profound, robust, sincere and sustained changes in their institution and the sector at large to make things right. Such changes must revamp corporate culture, radically upgrade and formalise the professional duties and ethical literacy of the workforce and improve the breadth, effectiveness, transparency and accountability of both internal and external systems and frameworks for monitoring and oversight.</p>
<p>We’ll know things are changing when we see:</p>
<ol>
<li>The structural elimination of conflicts of interest and of duty and formal recognition that while disclosure is a necessary part of managing any conflicts that do arise, it will rarely be sufficient.</li>
<li>The replacement of process-based leadership training with Ethical Leadership Training that emphasises key values of duty, accountability, integrity, honesty, transparency, courage and real-world reasoning skills that recognise vulnerability and take account of power.</li>
<li>Ethical values and reasoning defined as a core competency in all qualifying degrees, certification standards and continuing professional development.</li>
<li>The personal commitment of everyone from customer-facing clerks to the CEOs of the majors to maintain their own integrity whatever storms surround them and to be accountable for that oath. One good way would be to sign the <a href="http://www.thebfo.org/The-Oath/Take-the-oath">Banking and Finance Oath available online.</a></li>
<li>Diversification around the Board Table.</li>
</ol>
<p>Personally, I’ll know the institutions I bank with are really interested in change when I see more people like me appointed to banking and finance industry boards: more women, more experts with a deep knowledge of ethics and of social licensing and individuals who can serve as links to key stakeholder groups like employees and customers. Those of different ages, racial and cultural backgrounds as well as different sexual orientations must also take their seat at the table for the sector to connect and start the slow work of re-building trust with communities they are meant to serve.</p>
<p><strong><em>By Leslie Cannold, writer, ethicist and educator. </em></strong></p>
<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-</p>
<p>You can hear Leslie speak at The BFO Crossroads Conference on Thursday 8 August 2019 at Westpac, Barangaroo, Sydney. The Program, full list of speakers and tickets are available <a href="https://campaign.finsia.com/BFO-Conference-2019-BFO" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_63084" style="width: 660px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-63084" class="size-full wp-image-63084" src="https://adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Cannold-Leslie-650.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="350" srcset="https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Cannold-Leslie-650.jpg 650w, https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Cannold-Leslie-650-300x162.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /><p id="caption-attachment-63084" class="wp-caption-text">Leslie Cannold</p></div>
<h3>The imputations of Commissioner Kenneth Hayne’s final report on the Royal Commission into <em>Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry </em>were blistering. The Banking and Finance industry are led and staffed by the greedy who are more than willing and able to exploit the needy.</h3>
<p>The industries’ systems are fine-tuned to measure profit – their profit – and to be inexcusably blind to the losses worn by those whose interests they claim and are bound to protect. Namely, their customers. Despite knowing these facts for many years courtesy of multiple government reports, business as usual continues to prevail while some banking executives and the regulators meant to oversight them minimise and excuse this behaviour as careless “administrative errors.”</p>
<p>Hayne was having none of it. In lucid prose marked by restraint, he was brave and outraged enough to deploy precisely the non-Weasel words the industry hates to call a spade a spade:<br />
“In the <em>Interim Report</em>, I identified several considerations that pointed towards the conclusion that the root cause of the fees for no service conduct was greed: greed by licensees, and greed by advisers. The evidence that emerged in later rounds of the Commission’s hearings only served to reinforce that conclusion…It was, as I have said, entities taking money for nothing…On its face, taking money for nothing is dishonest conduct.” (138, 154)</p>
<p>As an ethicist, my view is that greed had company in driving the unethical, corrupt or unlawful decisions and actions documented in the Royal Commission’s final report. Naked and aggressive self-interest, base disregard of one’s duties to less powerful others as well as callous indifference to the resulting harm are also in the mix. But after countless reports into the finance sector, the problems are clear and even a six year-old would have no trouble explaining why taking fees for no service is wrong. The Commissioner’s job was to explain why &#8211; despite this – the industry’s bad behaviour continues on. Naming the factor in the way of real progress and daring to speak its name – greed – is key.</p>
<p>What else? What we need now are a fresh slate of industry leaders motivated by a sense of fair play and a thirst to restore public trust. Men and women who are ethical leaders in the true sense of the word: willing to take responsibility for what’s happened and for making the radical, profound, robust, sincere and sustained changes in their institution and the sector at large to make things right. Such changes must revamp corporate culture, radically upgrade and formalise the professional duties and ethical literacy of the workforce and improve the breadth, effectiveness, transparency and accountability of both internal and external systems and frameworks for monitoring and oversight.</p>
<p>We’ll know things are changing when we see:</p>
<ol>
<li>The structural elimination of conflicts of interest and of duty and formal recognition that while disclosure is a necessary part of managing any conflicts that do arise, it will rarely be sufficient.</li>
<li>The replacement of process-based leadership training with Ethical Leadership Training that emphasises key values of duty, accountability, integrity, honesty, transparency, courage and real-world reasoning skills that recognise vulnerability and take account of power.</li>
<li>Ethical values and reasoning defined as a core competency in all qualifying degrees, certification standards and continuing professional development.</li>
<li>The personal commitment of everyone from customer-facing clerks to the CEOs of the majors to maintain their own integrity whatever storms surround them and to be accountable for that oath. One good way would be to sign the <a href="http://www.thebfo.org/The-Oath/Take-the-oath">Banking and Finance Oath available online.</a></li>
<li>Diversification around the Board Table.</li>
</ol>
<p>Personally, I’ll know the institutions I bank with are really interested in change when I see more people like me appointed to banking and finance industry boards: more women, more experts with a deep knowledge of ethics and of social licensing and individuals who can serve as links to key stakeholder groups like employees and customers. Those of different ages, racial and cultural backgrounds as well as different sexual orientations must also take their seat at the table for the sector to connect and start the slow work of re-building trust with communities they are meant to serve.</p>
<p><strong><em>By Leslie Cannold, writer, ethicist and educator. </em></strong></p>
<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-</p>
<p>You can hear Leslie speak at The BFO Crossroads Conference on Thursday 8 August 2019 at Westpac, Barangaroo, Sydney. The Program, full list of speakers and tickets are available <a href="https://campaign.finsia.com/BFO-Conference-2019-BFO" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2019/07/the-banking-and-finance-royal-commission-will-this-time-be-different/">The Banking and Finance Royal Commission: Will this time be different?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.adviservoice.com.au">AdviserVoice</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
                                    <wfw:commentRss>https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2019/07/the-banking-and-finance-royal-commission-will-this-time-be-different/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
                <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title>To the young people of banking and finance: Please seize the opportunity and break the shackles of conformity</title>
                <link>https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2019/07/to-the-young-people-of-banking-and-finance-please-seize-the-opportunity-and-break-the-shackles-of-conformity/</link>
                <comments>https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2019/07/to-the-young-people-of-banking-and-finance-please-seize-the-opportunity-and-break-the-shackles-of-conformity/#respond</comments>
                <pubDate>Thu, 25 Jul 2019 22:00:29 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator>
                                    </dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Thought Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Simon Longstaff]]></category>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://adviservoice.com.au/?p=63080</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_59733" style="width: 660px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-59733" class="size-full wp-image-59733" src="https://adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/longstaff-simon-650.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="350" srcset="https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/longstaff-simon-650.jpg 650w, https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/longstaff-simon-650-300x162.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /><p id="caption-attachment-59733" class="wp-caption-text">Dr Simon Longstaff</p></div>
<h3>To my mind, Kenneth Hayne was to the banking and finance industry what a building surveyor is to a rickety house. He ripped off the gleaming cladding to reveal cracked foundations, some rotten beams and a few broken tiles that let in the rain.</h3>
<p>But he did more. He also afforded us a glimpse of the occupants of the house – the industry’s customers. Most turned out to be fine. However, a few were shown to have suffered real detriment – and they are justifiably hurt and angry – as are the rest of us on their behalf.</p>
<p>The challenge now is to refurbish the structure – which is basically sound.</p>
<p>However, who is to do this work? Do we leave it to the people who failed to notice or ignored the signs of disrepair? Perhaps not. For my part, I’m counting on a younger cohort to renovate the banking and finance industry – for it is they who have most to gain.</p>
<p>If I was one of these young people, then I would be really annoyed that an older generation had allowed my aspirations to be tainted. I would want to mount a ‘guerilla’ campaign to reclaim my industry’s noble purpose; to champion its ideals. I would not target the top. Instead, I would focus on recruiting my peers; I would enrol them in a campaign of change from the bottom. I would use social media. I would stand outside the doors of each head office and sign people up. I would organise meetings in pubs, clubs, wherever … I would mobilise a new generation of people working in banking and finance and drive the change that the current crop of leaders either cannot or will not lead.</p>
<p>So, what would be my manifesto for change?</p>
<p>I would look to The Banking and Finance Oath (The BFO). This is not because I had a hand in its formation. It’s because the tenets speak to an underlying truth; the banking and finance industry is not merely necessary. It as a capacity to do good.</p>
<p>In my experience, today’s younger people are every bit as idealistic as their forebears. Indeed, their natural affinity for ethics is stronger than that of the generations they will supplant. However, they are also limited in their belief that they can make a difference beyond the boundaries of their immediate influence.</p>
<p>What banking and finance needs are hopeful, pragmatic idealists willing to champion and apply the precepts embedded in The BFO. This is a practical task requiring a level of inspiration, energy and commitment that is beyond the reach of those currently running the show. Today’s leadership sincerely embraces the <em>idea</em> of a solid ethical foundation for banking and finance; they just don’t want to (or perhaps can’t) bring the ideas to life at the scale required. To wait for them to get their act together would be to wait forever.</p>
<p>On the other hand, the emerging generation of leaders has everything to gain from seizing the opportunity presented by The BFO. Nobody wants to feel ashamed of their work. People wish to be proud. Nobody wants to do meaningless work. People want to serve a decent purpose.</p>
<p>The world of banking and finance is about to be turned on its head; disrupted to its core due to technological innovation. However, a place will remain for those who understand the human dimension of banking and finance – the essential need for trust, a concern for the wellbeing of those served; and so on.</p>
<p>Great bankers and financiers have always understood money, debt, credit, etc. However, great bankers and financiers have always been concerned about much more. Thus, we speak of the great banking houses of yesteryear. What of the banking houses of today? How do they stand? What of those of tomorrow.</p>
<p>Young people have the opportunity to lay the foundations for the banking and finance industry of the future. To you I say this: please seize the opportunity and break the shackles of conformity. Take on the complacent, rattle a few cages, embarrass a few ‘worthies’ and in doing so, actively shape your fate rather than meekly accepting the legacy of Hayne. And while your at it – have some fun.</p>
<p><strong><em>By Dr Simon Longstaff AO, Executive Director of The Ethics Centre</em></strong></p>
<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-</p>
<p>You can hear Simon speak at The BFO Crossroads Conference on Thursday 8 August 2019 at Westpac, Barangaroo, Sydney. The Program, full list of speakers and tickets are available <a href="https://campaign.finsia.com/BFO-Conference-2019-BFO" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_59733" style="width: 660px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-59733" class="size-full wp-image-59733" src="https://adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/longstaff-simon-650.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="350" srcset="https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/longstaff-simon-650.jpg 650w, https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/longstaff-simon-650-300x162.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /><p id="caption-attachment-59733" class="wp-caption-text">Dr Simon Longstaff</p></div>
<h3>To my mind, Kenneth Hayne was to the banking and finance industry what a building surveyor is to a rickety house. He ripped off the gleaming cladding to reveal cracked foundations, some rotten beams and a few broken tiles that let in the rain.</h3>
<p>But he did more. He also afforded us a glimpse of the occupants of the house – the industry’s customers. Most turned out to be fine. However, a few were shown to have suffered real detriment – and they are justifiably hurt and angry – as are the rest of us on their behalf.</p>
<p>The challenge now is to refurbish the structure – which is basically sound.</p>
<p>However, who is to do this work? Do we leave it to the people who failed to notice or ignored the signs of disrepair? Perhaps not. For my part, I’m counting on a younger cohort to renovate the banking and finance industry – for it is they who have most to gain.</p>
<p>If I was one of these young people, then I would be really annoyed that an older generation had allowed my aspirations to be tainted. I would want to mount a ‘guerilla’ campaign to reclaim my industry’s noble purpose; to champion its ideals. I would not target the top. Instead, I would focus on recruiting my peers; I would enrol them in a campaign of change from the bottom. I would use social media. I would stand outside the doors of each head office and sign people up. I would organise meetings in pubs, clubs, wherever … I would mobilise a new generation of people working in banking and finance and drive the change that the current crop of leaders either cannot or will not lead.</p>
<p>So, what would be my manifesto for change?</p>
<p>I would look to The Banking and Finance Oath (The BFO). This is not because I had a hand in its formation. It’s because the tenets speak to an underlying truth; the banking and finance industry is not merely necessary. It as a capacity to do good.</p>
<p>In my experience, today’s younger people are every bit as idealistic as their forebears. Indeed, their natural affinity for ethics is stronger than that of the generations they will supplant. However, they are also limited in their belief that they can make a difference beyond the boundaries of their immediate influence.</p>
<p>What banking and finance needs are hopeful, pragmatic idealists willing to champion and apply the precepts embedded in The BFO. This is a practical task requiring a level of inspiration, energy and commitment that is beyond the reach of those currently running the show. Today’s leadership sincerely embraces the <em>idea</em> of a solid ethical foundation for banking and finance; they just don’t want to (or perhaps can’t) bring the ideas to life at the scale required. To wait for them to get their act together would be to wait forever.</p>
<p>On the other hand, the emerging generation of leaders has everything to gain from seizing the opportunity presented by The BFO. Nobody wants to feel ashamed of their work. People wish to be proud. Nobody wants to do meaningless work. People want to serve a decent purpose.</p>
<p>The world of banking and finance is about to be turned on its head; disrupted to its core due to technological innovation. However, a place will remain for those who understand the human dimension of banking and finance – the essential need for trust, a concern for the wellbeing of those served; and so on.</p>
<p>Great bankers and financiers have always understood money, debt, credit, etc. However, great bankers and financiers have always been concerned about much more. Thus, we speak of the great banking houses of yesteryear. What of the banking houses of today? How do they stand? What of those of tomorrow.</p>
<p>Young people have the opportunity to lay the foundations for the banking and finance industry of the future. To you I say this: please seize the opportunity and break the shackles of conformity. Take on the complacent, rattle a few cages, embarrass a few ‘worthies’ and in doing so, actively shape your fate rather than meekly accepting the legacy of Hayne. And while your at it – have some fun.</p>
<p><strong><em>By Dr Simon Longstaff AO, Executive Director of The Ethics Centre</em></strong></p>
<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-</p>
<p>You can hear Simon speak at The BFO Crossroads Conference on Thursday 8 August 2019 at Westpac, Barangaroo, Sydney. The Program, full list of speakers and tickets are available <a href="https://campaign.finsia.com/BFO-Conference-2019-BFO" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2019/07/to-the-young-people-of-banking-and-finance-please-seize-the-opportunity-and-break-the-shackles-of-conformity/">To the young people of banking and finance: Please seize the opportunity and break the shackles of conformity</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.adviservoice.com.au">AdviserVoice</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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                <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title>Royal Commission highlights importance of individual accountability</title>
                <link>https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2019/02/royal-commission-highlights-importance-of-individual-accountability/</link>
                <comments>https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2019/02/royal-commission-highlights-importance-of-individual-accountability/#respond</comments>
                <pubDate>Wed, 06 Feb 2019 21:00:28 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator>
                                    </dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Industry Bodies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[John Laker]]></category>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://adviservoice.com.au/?p=59872</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_59886" style="width: 660px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-59886" class="size-full wp-image-59886" src="https://adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Laker-John-650.png" alt="" width="650" height="350" srcset="https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Laker-John-650.png 650w, https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Laker-John-650-300x162.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /><p id="caption-attachment-59886" class="wp-caption-text">John Laker</p></div>
<h3>The Board of The Banking and Finance Oath (The BFO) welcomes Commissioner Hayne’s focus on honesty and individual accountability in the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry.</h3>
<p>In the Report, Commissioner Hayne emphasises the need for institutions and staff in the financial services industry to have a clear understanding “of what is ethical, of what is efficient, honest and fair, of what is the &#8216;right&#8217; thing to do”. These are the values that underpin the Oath.</p>
<p>The Oath is an initiative of industry leaders, begun in 2012 in affiliation with The Ethics Centre, that is designed to strengthen the ethical foundation of the financial services industry by encouraging self-reflection and ethical decision-making. The Oath contains a set of commitments that individuals can freely adopt and apply as personal principles in their work – principles that complement and reinforce the norms of conduct highlighted by Commissioner Hayne.</p>
<p>The Final Report acknowledges the role of industry codes of ethics in fostering public confidence and practitioner integrity, and makes recommendations to strengthen their enforceability. The Oath is not an industry code – it is a personal commitment with moral but not legal force – but it sits readily alongside industry codes that set out norms of ethical behaviour expected of participants.</p>
<p>The BFO will prioritise its discussions with institutions and industry bodies on strengthening the ethical foundations of the financial services industry and, in particular, on promoting greater professionalism in the industry. The BFO provides an obvious focal point for the ethics component of any professional accreditation initiatives.</p>
<p>The BFO Chairman, Dr John Laker, says “The Final Report is a clarion call to the financial services industry to prioritise ethical decision-making and individual accountability in its dealings with the Australian community. This is the time for individuals committed to the good of the industry to reflect on what they want to stand for and take responsibility for their own behaviour. We know the right culture – one built on ethics, honesty and accountability – allows the right behaviour to thrive.”</p>
<p>A growing number of industry professionals at all levels – executives, middle managers and other staff – have expressed their commitment to the industry by signing the Oath. Others who wish to put ethics at the forefront of driving change in the industry are encouraged to join them. The Royal Commission has created a tipping point for the financial services industry, and if ever there was a time to take the Oath, it is now.</p>
<p>Anyone who would like to become a signatory to The BFO can find out more at<a href="http://www.thebfo.org"> www.thebfo.org</a></p>
]]></description>
                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_59886" style="width: 660px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-59886" class="size-full wp-image-59886" src="https://adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Laker-John-650.png" alt="" width="650" height="350" srcset="https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Laker-John-650.png 650w, https://www.adviservoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Laker-John-650-300x162.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px" /><p id="caption-attachment-59886" class="wp-caption-text">John Laker</p></div>
<h3>The Board of The Banking and Finance Oath (The BFO) welcomes Commissioner Hayne’s focus on honesty and individual accountability in the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry.</h3>
<p>In the Report, Commissioner Hayne emphasises the need for institutions and staff in the financial services industry to have a clear understanding “of what is ethical, of what is efficient, honest and fair, of what is the &#8216;right&#8217; thing to do”. These are the values that underpin the Oath.</p>
<p>The Oath is an initiative of industry leaders, begun in 2012 in affiliation with The Ethics Centre, that is designed to strengthen the ethical foundation of the financial services industry by encouraging self-reflection and ethical decision-making. The Oath contains a set of commitments that individuals can freely adopt and apply as personal principles in their work – principles that complement and reinforce the norms of conduct highlighted by Commissioner Hayne.</p>
<p>The Final Report acknowledges the role of industry codes of ethics in fostering public confidence and practitioner integrity, and makes recommendations to strengthen their enforceability. The Oath is not an industry code – it is a personal commitment with moral but not legal force – but it sits readily alongside industry codes that set out norms of ethical behaviour expected of participants.</p>
<p>The BFO will prioritise its discussions with institutions and industry bodies on strengthening the ethical foundations of the financial services industry and, in particular, on promoting greater professionalism in the industry. The BFO provides an obvious focal point for the ethics component of any professional accreditation initiatives.</p>
<p>The BFO Chairman, Dr John Laker, says “The Final Report is a clarion call to the financial services industry to prioritise ethical decision-making and individual accountability in its dealings with the Australian community. This is the time for individuals committed to the good of the industry to reflect on what they want to stand for and take responsibility for their own behaviour. We know the right culture – one built on ethics, honesty and accountability – allows the right behaviour to thrive.”</p>
<p>A growing number of industry professionals at all levels – executives, middle managers and other staff – have expressed their commitment to the industry by signing the Oath. Others who wish to put ethics at the forefront of driving change in the industry are encouraged to join them. The Royal Commission has created a tipping point for the financial services industry, and if ever there was a time to take the Oath, it is now.</p>
<p>Anyone who would like to become a signatory to The BFO can find out more at<a href="http://www.thebfo.org"> www.thebfo.org</a></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.adviservoice.com.au/2019/02/royal-commission-highlights-importance-of-individual-accountability/">Royal Commission highlights importance of individual accountability</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.adviservoice.com.au">AdviserVoice</a>.</p>
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